Books published by publisher Universal

The counterpart to his bestselling Barn: The Art of a Working Building and years in the making, David Larkin's latest visual documentary book is a tour of the intriguing architecture of mills from their medieval beginnings to present day uses. Windmills, watermills, gristmills, sawmills and other kinds of naturally powered buildings from throughout the United States and Europe are revealed in unique, stunning photographs and drawings. Here, you'll discover mills still in full use, historically restored mills, as well as mills that have been converted into splendidly charming contemporary living spaces. In one chapter, stories documenting the complete restoration of gristmills are captured in picture-by-picture sequences. Also documented is the transformation of a towering early nineteenth-centruy English windmill into a beautifully appointed home-an outstanding representation of the possibilities these structures offer of today's lifestyle.The highly engaging history and profound beauty of these handcrafted structures-all presented in print for the first time-will attract anyone interested in history, architecture, and historic preservation.

The Family Christmas Treasures collection of fine art and literature, at once both classic and contemporary, celebrates the warm, loving, family Christmas as it is enjoyed throughout the world. It focuses on the secular aspects of a family Christmas: spending time with loved ones, exchanging gifts, anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus, decorating the tree and home, cooking and feasting, caroling, and all the other delights that we associate with the magic of the season. Included are excerpts from such classics as Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker, as well as selections—including those from John Donne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and L. Frank Baum—that appear in their entirety. Christmas stories by major contemporary writers such as Maeve Binchy and Anna Quindlen provide a balance of old and new. Whether the family faithfully returns to such well-known classics as William Dean Howell’s Christmas Every Day or whether they eagerly devour lesser-known gems such as Theodore Roosevelt’s The Tree in the White House Closet, they are sure to find tales that fill their hearts with cheer. Accompanying these texts is a collection of exquisite art in full-page, full-color format. Ranging from classic to modern, this collection includes the imaginative creations of such esteemed artists as Norman Rockwell, Thomas Nast, N. C. Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and many others.

This is the first book to present soccer’s rich history, statistics, and culture through highly detailed yet accessible infographics. Who is soccer’s greatest player: Pelé, Maradona, Messi, or Ronaldo? Which national team has garnered the most fouls? Where is the best place to aim a penalty kick? Just like the great game itself, World Soccer Infographics is rich entertainment and takes fans of all ages on a visually compelling statistical journey of revelations about the game. This book is a fresh, colorful approach to depicting the history and statistics of soccer in an insightful diagrammatic form. The “Beautiful Game” has been portrayed in many ways over the years, but never in such a dynamic and interactive fashion that makes for addictive and easily browsable reading. The book covers every aspect of the game, from statistical information about goals scored, red and yellow cards given, and number of championships won by individual teams, to aspects of the culture surrounding the sports institution and the nature of fandom. It includes information on the World Cup, the Copa America, the Africa Cup of Nations, the UEFA Champions League, and all the world’s most famous domestic club leagues.

An exquisitely illustrated edition of a timeless poem. Robert Frost’s realistic depictions of rural life, especially of New England in the early twentieth century, are beautifully paired with the art created by Grandma Moses, the artist who epitomizes contemporary folk art. The result is a treasure to be enjoyed the whole year long. In spring, we give thanks for the natural and spiritual joys of the season. Moses’s illustrations complement Frost’s descriptions of the flowers, trees, bees, and other sights and sounds, which evoke a time of renewal and rebirth with illustrations that depict a place of quiet contemplation and endless possibility. A Prayer in Spring is a wonderful gift for lovers of Frost, Moses, poetry, and folk art, as well as for Easter baskets, birthdays, new babies, or for children and adults who can’t wait for the season.

Seen from outside and then inside, London’s sights reveal the majesty that makes this city so intensely historic and uniquely civilized. Awakening all of the senses with her sweeping perspectives, vivid colors, and abundant details, artist Roxie Munro whisks readers to London—and what a feast for the eye that great city proves to be! Munro balances her playful sense of fun with taking the reader to the highlights of one of the world’s great capitals. Some of the big tourist spots are pictured—Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament—but her inclusion of smaller venues, such as a New Oxford Street scene in the rain, is inspired, giving readers the daily flavor of London life. From riding atop a double-decker bus down Regent Street to watching the Queen’s Royal Procession, The Inside-Outside Book of London is a taste of all things London for children and tourists of all ages.

It takes a Herculean effort to get my child to: a) brush his or her teeth b) go to sleep c) take a bath d) eat his or her vegetables. If any (or all) of these apply, continue reading. From the treasure chest of Munro Leaf comes another classic in which the beloved author and illustrator uses his time-proven method of talking to children straight—simply getting them to see it how it is. In Brushing Your Teeth Can Be Fun (originally published in 1943 as Health Can Be Fun), Leaf leaves his audience in no doubt that not only can health be fun, but good sense, as well. This book will help boys and girls understand why they should drink their milk, eat their vegetables, get exercise, go to bed on time, brush their teeth, keep clean, and a dozen other things both big and small that are important to building strong, healthy, and happy bodies.With his trademark stick figure drawings and witty text, Leaf will once again elicit peals of mirthful laughter from his little readers, not to mention some big ones who will find this humorous hygiene handbook an indispensable aid in the all-too-familiar night-time (come to think of it, all the time) war with their children about the merits of keeping good health.

Originally published in 1926, Up & Down New York is an imaginative, charming, quirky, and delightful period piece-but it is also timeless. This facsimile edition of the nostalgic classic reproduces Sarg's delightful illustrations of the dynamic and vibrant streets and famous places in New York. The surprise is in finding how much remains the same in many New York neighborhoods after 80 years, including Grand Central Station, Times Square, The American Museum of Natural History, City Hall, the Stock Exchange, the Great White Way (Broadway), the shuttle in the subway-not to mention the busyness and vibrancy that characterizes the city. The places that do not exist anymore, including the aquarium at the Battery and Washington Market, give us a glimpse of New York in its first heyday. This new edition of Tony Sarg's Up & Down New York will appeal to kids of all ages, to designers, illustrators, and book collectors, as well as anyone interested in New York or 1920s-era drawings.

Fishing for the Moon is an illustrated gift pop-up book that features nine classic and centuries-old Zen stories. Beautifully and simply painted in Sumi ink, these spreads cleverly illustrate in 3-dimensional artwork classic Zen parables. Each story ends with a lesson, imparting accessible Zen tenets of how to achieve simplicity and harmony for everyday things for a more joyous, meaningful, and more richly experienced life. Fishing for the Moon is a refreshing and engaging presentation of Zen, and is the perfect gift for not only the Zen enthusiast but readers of all ages interested in these timeless lessons for humanity.

Like the most seasoned en plein air painters, Robert Bowden has skillfully painted the Manhattan landscape and presents a watercolor chronicle that has a timeless quality. Bowden’s painting style and the charming medium gives his cityscapes both an intimacy and immediacy that perfectly capture the most alluring aspects of New York. Some subjects in this book are welcomely familiar, some are more anonymous, but all capture the heart and life of Manhattan. Landmarks include: The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain; The Guggenheim; the Flatiron building; the Central Park West skyline; Washington Square Park; and Vesuvio Bakery, to name only a few. Manhattan in Detail is a little jewel of a book perfect for the resident, visitor, or armchair traveler alike.