Books with author Whitecap Books

THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF DOING UP OLD JUNK offers a wealth of ideas for sourcing and refurbishing junk in a broad range of styles. From a dull chipboard cabinet in the attic to an old chair at a garage sale, this book offers detailed information and step-by-step techniques for rescuing these bargains and transforming them into beautiful works of art to treasure and use every day. Included are over 50 projects covering a wide variety of styles and decorative finishes. From the rustic fell of Shaker-style painted furniture to the more exotic allure of lacquer from Asia, there's something for everyone.

Australia is the smallest continent in the world, but one of the largest islands. Most people live along the coast, as close as possible to the sea. Many who live inland are so far from the nearest town that they do their schoolwork at home. This ancient land is home to many unusual animals - kangaroos and koalas (marsupials that carry their young in pouches), platypuses (mammals that lay eggs and have the bill and webbed feet of a duck) and funnel webs (spiders that can kill humans with their deadly venom). In summer time surfboard riders take to the waves, a bushfire alert may mean that people can't light outdoor fires, and thousands of fans flock to cricket matches. Find out where the six states are on the colorful maps and look out for the stickers in the middle of the book.

Have you ever kept tadpoles and watched them grow into frogs or toads? It's fascinating to see how they absorb their tail and grow legs. This book is full of amazing information about how this happens and much, much more. It introduces you to frogs that hide so cleverly from their predators that they look like bird droppings. You'll meet the world's largest frog (it's as big as a human baby!) and a frog that's only the size of your fingernail. Learn how to make different frog calls, and find out how to keep a Gokiath frog in your bathroom!

For as long as there have been cars, people have wanted to race them. Motor racing takes many forms, from children's go-karts to souped-up family cars and racing trucks, to the exciting world of Formula 1 racing. The name 'Ferrari' make people think of the famous original red racer, but what do the latest Ferraris look like? Do they come in colors other than red? The thrill and action for racing is captured in the detailed pictures in this book, such as a close-up view of a racing car cockpit and engine. Other spreads show how to modify the family car so you can race it on a track, what happens at a pit stop, new safety features for tracks and drivers and much, much more. And what about the problems you'd face if you took your Formula 1 racing car to the supermarket.

Have you ever wondered how scary it must have been flying in the flimsy planes built at the beginning of the twentieth century? Plane trips are quite common today, but in days gone by this form of travel was unbelievable. Unlocking the secrets of flight was a lifelong goal of pioneers such as the Wright Brothers, and modern day explorers break new boundaries in the space shuttle. This book shows you the old and the new: from the inventions of George Cayley and Lawrence Hargrave and the first hot air balloons to the planes used in both world wars to stealth fighter and trips beyond Earth. And it even provides handy hints for those of you who want to keep a Harrier jump jet in your family garage!

Can you imagine a world in which palm trees grew in Alaska and there were coral reefs in the mountains of Canada? Well, the world of the dinosaurs was much warmer than it is today and the climate suited them perfectly. Many different types of dinosaurs lived together, from the Brachiosaurus (as tall as a four-story building and heavier than ten adult elephants) to dinosaurs no bigger than a chicken. Some of these were ferocious meat-eaters and some were gentle giants that ate only plants. Over millions of years the landscape changed and so did the creatures that roamed the land. And then, the dinosaurs died out! What happened to them? Do you have any theories? But what if there was still one left alive and you were lucky enough to keep a baby dinosaur as a pet?

Whenever a whale comes close to shore, hundreds of people flock to see it frolicking in the water -- rolling over, spouting and slapping its tail at the waves. They hold their breath until it swims safely out to sea again in case the whale beaches itself on the sand and dies. Scientists have theories about why whales do this but no-one really knows why. Whales, dolphins and porpoises are mammals of the sea and have captivated people for centuries. These beautiful creatures come in all shapes and sizes, and each one has its own personality, way of feeding, communicating, and so on. Look inside this book and see the actual size illustration of a blue whale's eye, a fight between a giant squid and a sperm whale, how we can protect whales and how you can keep a whale in your swimming pool!

Some of the most colorful and amazing creatures in the world make the continent of South America their home. The jaguar (the biggest cat on the continent), the anaconda (the biggest snake in the world), the sloth (often covered with green algae) and the toucan (a bird with an enormous beak and bright feathers) are just some of these. Find out about South America's jungles, Spanish past and lost cities. They're all in this book! User-friendly maps let you know exactly where everything is. You'll find each colorful flag displayed for each country. And look out for the page of removable stickers in the center and the interesting activity, useful glossary and index and the end of the book.

Have you ever wondered how scary it must have been flying in the flimsy planes built at the beginning of the twentieth century? Plane trips are quite common today, but in days gone by this form of travel was unbelievable. Unlocking the secrets of flight was a lifelong goal of pioneers such as the Wright Brothers, and modern day explorers break new boundaries in the space shuttle. This book shows you the old and the new: from the inventions of George Cayley and Lawrence Hargrave and the first hot air balloons to the planes used in both world wars to stealth fighter and trips beyond Earth. And it even provides handy hints for those of you who want to keep a Harrier jump jet in your family garage!