Books published by publisher Formac

The history of humankind is built on a series of technological innovations and inventions-from the horsebit and the wheel to the microchip and the computer. Over the centuries, the exchange of these technologies has inspired new developments and improvements. It is through trade that much of this exchange has taken place. Across Asia, the paths of the Silk and Spice Routes brought together many different peoples to trade and so gather knowledge of each other's science and inventions. In this way, some of the most fundamental technologies, including writing, weaving and agriculture, have evolved and developed. Splendidly illustrated with dozens of historic visuals, Inventions and Trade explores the process of invention technological exchange, and the massive contribution made to it by the Silk and Spice Routes.

When Maddie wakes up in the hospital, she knows she has to get out--fast! Soon her brother Alexander will be in her room, touching her stuff; soon her rival Patrick will take over her gang at school. But when she meets Black Eagle, a tough, funny kid who's in for cancer treatment, Maddie doesn't want to leave. Despite all her efforts, she's finally sent home. When she gets there, however, her grandmother has a great idea for winning back the gang, and Black Eagle at the same time. Maddie in Hospital is the touching story of a girl's first love, and of the sacrifices she makes for it.

From the Mediterranean to the China Sea, the Silk Routes stretched for over 8000 kilometres through the heart of Asia. They crossed some of the most dangerous and spectacular terrain on Earth--the Pamir Mountains, called "the Roof of the World," the Hind Kush and the notorious Taklamakan desert, whose shifting sands have been known to swallow up great cities. But for the past two thousand years, people have been tempted to travel these routes--to look for the trade or treasure or just to satisfy their curiosity. Illustrated with dozens of splendid historic visuals, Exploration by Land, tells of the adventures these travellers had, the finds and contacts they made, exploring the Silk Routes.

Although the new girl at Raffi's school is small and fragile looking, he notices that she is quick on her feet. She ducks out of the way of classmates that try to grab her head scarf. It might look like a game, but Raffi sees the tears in her eyes. Raffi knows all about being different. He suffers from sickle cell anemia, which makes it hard for him to get around and a target for bullies. The new girl, Fatima, shares Raffi's interest in birds, and they feed the mourning doves together. Sadness sets in when the kids discover that the dove nest had been destroyed by the previous day's storm, but the return of Fatima's father, who had been missing since she and her mother had immigrated, brings inspiration to everyone. The next week, Fatima's father talks to their class about how his native country is being destroyed by war. By using the example of the dove nest in the storm, he offers the class a lesson about the disruption wars cause which even the bullying kids take to heart.

This irreverent and witty book describes the building of Canada's railway. Author Ted Staunton serves up a saucy tour through the railway fiasco beginning in the 1850s with the first attempts at running a steam engine on a short length of track. With cartoon-style illustrations on every page, this book uncovers the scandals about government financing, as well as the to-ing and fro-ing about the route around the Great Lakes and the arduous labour, rotten boots and hallucinations. In place of a tedious textbook, this is history designed to entertain.

When Fred gets a letter from his friend Lola, object of his secret crush, he is too excited to open the letter immediately. Unfortunately his cat Ric shreds the letter before Fred can read it and he cannot make sense of it when he tries to put it back together. His grandmother offers to help him unravel the mystery and puts his hopes and dreams back together. This story of hope and perseverance is also one of quirky humour.

Carl's having trouble finding time to write his memoir of his beloved, deceased Mooch because his neighbour, Gary, is always dropping in with his tiresome little dog, Dumpling. Gary's dad is also spending a lot of time at the house ... with Carl's mother.When Carl finds a strange sock in the living room, he wonders if his mom's forgetting about his dad, who died even longer ago than Mooch.