Books with author John Foster

<P>This volume, aimed at the general reader, presents life and times of the amazing animals that inhabited Earth more than 500 million years ago. The Cambrian Period was a critical time in Earth’s history. During this immense span of time nearly every modern group of animals appeared. Although life had been around for more than 2 million millennia, Cambrian rocks preserve the record of the first appearance of complex animals with eyes, protective skeletons, antennae, and complex ecologies. Grazing, predation, and multi-tiered ecosystems with animals living in, on, or above the sea floor became common. The cascade of interaction led to an ever-increasing diversification of animal body types. By the end of the period, the ancestors of sponges, corals, jellyfish, worms, mollusks, brachiopods, arthropods, echinoderms, and vertebrates were all in place. The evidence of this Cambrian "explosion" is preserved in rocks all over the world, including North America, where the seemingly strange animals of the period are preserved in exquisite detail in deposits such as the Burgess Shale in British Columbia. Cambrian Ocean World tells the story of what is, for us, the most important period in our planet’s long history.</P>

The Oxford Children's Rhyming Dictionary is the perfect tool to help children write their own poetry. The alphabetical list of words that rhyme with an index of sounds make it simple to find a rhyme and reinforce spelling skills. These are accompanied by lively illustrations, and amusing and inspiring poems by John Foster.At the back of the book engaging activities are included, which explain different types of rhymes, from raps and chants to limericks and couplets, to help children understand different varieties of poetry. These are combined with activities, tips and prompts to encourage children to write their own verses.Developing language and creative writing skills, supporting an emphasis on reading and writing, the Oxford Children's Rhyming Dictionary is the essential guide to rhyming for children.

For centuries, mages perfected magic at the Order of the Dawn. Mastery over fire, wind, and storm. They live in the last free city in a world plagued by dark sorcerers. Talis Storm and friend Mara discover a terrible secret: the Jiserian Empire has targeted their city for attack. An army of undead soldiers. Flying necromancers. None have ever survived. When a surprise aerial invasion hits the Order's temple, Talis casts fire magic for the first time, but his spell is wild and does more harm than good. Sorcerers try to capture Talis and Mara and they flee into the temple crypts. Awoken from an ancient rest, a fallen champion slays the sorcerers and gives Talis a legendary map. The map leads them on a quest to discover the lost temple of the sun. To save his city, Talis must discover the power of magic locked away inside the ancient temple. And become a true fire mage. Lord of the Fallen, book 1 in the Maledorian Chronicles, is now available. Blacklight Chronicles series: Fire Mage, Sun Mage, Shadow Mage, Dragon Mage, Star Mage, Death Mage, Origin Mage Theft of Dragons & Lord of Dragons, part of a new fantasy series, is also available.

If you thought dinosaurs were extinct, then think again! They live on in the stomping, chomping, growling, howling poems in this collection. So if you're looking for poetry with a prehistoric twist, look no further than this sensational selection.The collection is put together by John Foster and illustrated with creative genius by Korky Paul. There are poems by a range of authors about all kinds of dinosaursfrom dancing dinosaurs to dinosaurs in the park. Guaranteed to delight, this is a perfect introduction to poetry either at home or atschool.

Have fun in the sun, drink lemonade in the shade and be inspired to write about pirates, kings and magic rings in the Oxford First Rhyming Dictionary. The dictionary contains a clear and simple alphabetical list of over 1,000 words that rhyme along with rhyming sounds, and an index to make finding words simple. John Foster's lively poems accompany the rhyming sounds, and every page features bright and colourful illustrations. Children can expand their vocabulary, practice phonic sounds to help with spelling, and being to write their own rhymes.Access even more downloadable rhyming games, puzzles, activities and much more at: www.oxforddictionaries.com/schools

This volume, aimed at the general reader, presents life and times of the amazing animals that inhabited Earth more than 500 million years ago. The Cambrian Period was a critical time in Earth’s history. During this immense span of time nearly every modern group of animals appeared. Although life had been around for more than 2 million millennia, Cambrian rocks preserve the record of the first appearance of complex animals with eyes, protective skeletons, antennae, and complex ecologies. Grazing, predation, and multi-tiered ecosystems with animals living in, on, or above the sea floor became common. The cascade of interaction led to an ever-increasing diversification of animal body types. By the end of the period, the ancestors of sponges, corals, jellyfish, worms, mollusks, brachiopods, arthropods, echinoderms, and vertebrates were all in place. The evidence of this Cambrian "explosion" is preserved in rocks all over the world, including North America, where the seemingly strange animals of the period are preserved in exquisite detail in deposits such as the Burgess Shale in British Columbia. Cambrian Ocean World tells the story of what is, for us, the most important period in our planet’s long history.

From seeing shapes in clouds to the colourful peacock, and from the silly old baboon to the sounds of the sea and the rhythm of the banjo dance, here is a wonderfully varied collection of first poems drawn together by best-selling anthologist John Foster. Children will love the mix of poems covering familiar surroundings and those that are more exotic or nonsensical which capture their imagination. A huge range of favourite poets is included, such as Edward Lear, Ogden Nash, Ted Hughes, Charles Causley, James Berry, Eleanor Farjeon, and Spike Milligan. Beautifully illustrated in colour throughout by a number of different artists, this book is a very useful resource and an ideal gift.

A companion volume to the newly-published My First Oxford Book of Stories, this new anthology is designed to introduce children ages 4 to 7 to the captivating beauty of fine poetry. John Foster--a popular editor of poetry anthologies for children--has collected both traditional and modern poems here, allowing children to share old favorites and discover new ones. The 88 verses are grouped thematically under six headings: Creatures (animal poems), Weather and Seasons, Fantastical and Nonsensical, Beside the Sea (beach/sea poems) From Dusk till Dawn (bedtime poems), and Out and About (nature poems). Let your children get their first taste of the classics, like Byron's "The Wild, the Free," Eleanor Farjeon's "Bedtime," Robert Louis Stevenson's "Where Go the Boats?" and D.H. Lawrence's "Little Fish." Reread the poems of your own childhood, from John Updike's "January" to Edward Lear's "The Owl and the Pussy Cat." And find plenty of new favorites, such as Adrian Mitchell's "Mesopotamia," Charles Causley's "High in the Heaven," Ted Hughes's "Roger the Dog," and Spike Milligan's "Silly Old Baboon." Expect to see the dogeared covers of this wonderful collection on your bookshelf through children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.