Books published by publisher Thames and Hudson Ltd

This classic reissue of a Finnish fairy tale first published in 1964 tells the story of twin pixie brothers who find their family a new home.Button and Popper tells the story of a family of pixies―mother, father, and twelve children―who live in an apple tree. They enjoy its warmth and shelter, eating apple pie all spring and summer long. But when fall comes, the leaves begin to drop and the apple tree becomes a cold and wet place to live. Twin brothers Button and Popper decide to find their family a new home, but when they trek into the city and start inquiring about an apartment with room for twelve children and their parents, people laugh in their faces or politely excuse themselves.Luck strikes when, through a most fortunate mix-up at the market, the pixies find themselves in the home of Professor Pilli. When he hears their story, he invites them to look after his house while he’s away at the South Pole. When the rest of their pixie family finds out the good news, everyone is relieved and happy again.First published in 1964, Button and Popper was written and illustrated by Oili Tanninen, one of Finland’s most celebrated illustrators and authors. Bold, on-trend, midcentury illustrations support this new translation of a classic Finnish story that’s quirky and charming in equal measure. Illustrated in three Pantones

Undeciphered scripts have long tantalized the public, whether it’s the possibility of hearing the voices of ancient peoples or the puzzle solver’s taste for the challenges posed by breaking codes. Here, Andrew Robinson investigates the most famous examples, beginning with the stories of three great decipherments: Egyptian hieroglyphs, Maya glyphs, and the Minoan Linear B clay tablets. He then covers the important scripts that have yet to be cracked, such as the Etruscan alphabet and Rongorongo from Easter Island.Whether it's the possibility of hearing the voices of ancient peoples or the puzzle solver's taste for the challenges posed by breaking codes, undeciphered scripts have long tantalized the public. Here, Andrew Robinson investigates the most famous examples, beginning with the stories of three great decipherments: Egyptian hieroglyphs, Maya glyphs, and the Minoan Linear B clay tablets.He then tackles the important scripts that have yet to be cracked. Perhaps the greatest challenge is the Indus script, the onl writing of the four "first" civilizations that cannot be read and a potential key to better understanding the impressive Indus Valley civilization. Then there are the Etruscans, builders of sensational tombs and the cultural conduit through whom the Greek alphabet reached Rome and the rest of Europe. Yet the language spoken by the Etruscans remains wrapped in mystery. And on isolated Easter Island, the Rongorongo script, inscribed on wood with sharks' teeth, has long been an irresistible magnet for ambitious scholars.The struggle to decipher these three scripts and six others--including the Phaistos disc of Crete and the Zapotec script of Mexico--is recounted with extraordinary depth and erudition in this wonderfully illustrated book. Lost Languages is an archaeological and linguistic detective story that will appeal to anyone interested in ancient peoples and the intricacies of language.Andrew Robinson's many books include The Story of Writing. 350+ color illustrations

A glorious celebration of the beauty, diversity, importance and sheer wonder of the most remarkable plants that shape our world, with exquisite illustrations from the incomparable collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The authors are expert guides to the intriguing histories, significance and uses of over 80 key plants, revealing our complex relationship with them, both for use and beauty. Rich in cultural, historical, botanical and symbolic associations, the plants presented here, from every corner of the globe, both familiar and bizarre, all have fascinating stories to tell.Sections cover every aspect of our interaction with plants, starting with foods that laid the foundations for the development of civilizations, such as wheat, rice and maize, and those that enliven our diet, such as saffron and spices. Other sections look at plants that have helped to house us, including bamboo and the oak, or crops that have made people rich, notably tea, coffee and sugar cane. Many plants have been used medicinally, from willow to the Madagascar periwinkle. Some are the objects of obsession or are revered, including the tulip, the rose and the lotus, and some are bizarre, such as the world's largest flower, rafflesia, which smells of rotting flesh. For anyone interested in the beauty and diversity of plants, this beautiful book, richly illustrated with over 200 drawings and paintings, will be an inspiration and a delight.

An engaging activity book that gives primary school children a way into how contemporary artists think and create by way of fun ideas for making their own artThink and Make Like an Artist is an art activity book that encourages sophisticated thinking and gives budding artists a chance to develop their imaginations in a whimsical, colorful, and fun package. Children learn to experiment with different materials and ideas, make their own creative decisions, and produce their own unique artworks by way of engaging projects inspired by the work of eight contemporary artists working in media as diverse as painting, sculpture, collage, illustration, costume design, collaborative works, and architecture. The creative process is brought to life by the author and illustrator’s energetic approach, which includes clever visual prompts and suggestions, specially commissioned comic strips, and more. Projects are clear and manageable but never prescriptive, putting the young artist in control. Whether engrossed in making their own superhero cape, underwater city, or collage series, children who love art or haven’t yet discovered that they love it will be thrilled with this intelligent and innovative activity book. Illustrated in color throughout

An ideal book for children fascinated by wild animals and eager to find out more about the daily lives of big cats.In his latest wildlife book for children, Steve Bloom takes us on an expedition to photograph awe-inspiring big-cat predators―lions, leopards, cheetahs, and tigers―in their natural environments. We follow Bloom as he travels across continents observing the lives of big cats: their family structures, hunting techniques, and how they survive in tough conditions.Presented as a visual journal with a clear and engaging day-by-day format, the book features firsthand commentary on life in the wild along with detailed photographs. It concludes with a section on how Bloom photographs wild animals, accompanied by helpful tips so that children can photograph their own pets at home. 90 illustrations, 70 in color

Here is the definitive account of the Valley of the Kings, visited by millions of tourists and famous throughout the world as the burial place of the great New Kingdom pharaohs.Some eighty tombs were dug in the valley at the height of Egyptian power more than 3,000 years ago, their chambers stocked with incredible treasures and decorated with magnificent wall paintings. It was here, in 1922, that Howard Carter stumbled upon the virtually intact tomb of the boy-king, Tutankhamun. Recently the valley has made international headlines with the discovery of the burial chapels of Ramesses the Great's many sons; The Complete Valley of the Kings is the first book to publish an account of these remarkable findings.Reeves and Wilkinson, both acknowledged authorities on the valley, bring together the art, archaeology and history in one exciting account.

Nineteenth-century explorers of the American continent were amazed to find great monuments built of earth in the Eastern Woodlands.Thousands of these mounds were discovered in the plains and forestssome up to a hundred feet high, some overgrown hillocks, some conical, others flat-topped. Speculation was rife as to the identity of the moundbuilders.As George Milner shows, research over the past century demonstrates conclusively that Native Americans built these mounds. In a period ranging from 3000 BC to the sixteenth century AD, North American Indians quarried tons of earth to form the monuments, which vary widely in location, size, and purpose. Some contained thousands of burials, others served as platforms for chiefs' residences, and many were low-lying "effigy" mounds in the form of serpents, panthers, and other sacred beasts. Moundbuilding was a key element in society―how people worshiped gods, buried the dead, remembered their ancestors, and respected their leaders―and many beautiful objects have been found inside the mounds, including artifacts of shell, copper, and mica.The Moundbuilders covers the entire sweep of Eastern Woodlands prehistory, with an emphasis on how societies developed from hunter-gatherers to village farmers and town-dwellers. Great strides have been made in recent research, and many of the most impressive mounds, such as Poverty Point, Cahokia, and Moundville, are described and discussed in detail. This wide-ranging and copiously illustrated book, complete with information on dozens of sites to visit, is the perfect guide to the region for tourists, archaeologists, and students. 153 illustrations, 20 in color

A provocative introduction to science which enables children to ask the questions that interest them most. Why Can’t I Feel the Earth Spinning? is an irreverent and informative introduction to tricky questions about science. How do we know what dinosaurs looked like? Why does medicine taste so bad? Why don’t airplanes fall down?Why Can’t I Feel the Earth Spinning? encourages children to start asking and answering questions for themselves. The book is structured around twenty-two questions. Each section explores the question and answer with detailed illustrations, photographs, or diagrams and then asks further questions on a similar theme. Children learn about how their bodies work, why trees’ leaves are green, why people dream, and whether “The Cloud” is really a cloud.Written with humor and full of fun illustrations, Why Can’t I Feel the Earth Spinning? is the perfect primer for young inquisitive minds and budding scientists. Illustrated in color throughout

“Engaging. . . . The text and illustrations exude the glamour, passion, and lyricism of opera.”―Publishers Weekly Jane Rosenberg’s delightful retellings for children of the greatest operas―whether the tales are read as introductions to a opera or to relive a production already seen, art and text combine to give a clear understanding of plot, scene, and character. Young children in particular will enjoy reading the stories―or having them read―both as lovely fairy tales and to help them share in the magic of a real dramatic performance. Here are the gaiety of The Barber of Seville and the lavish spectacle of Aida. Sets, costumes, and lighting are re-created to give the true flavor of authentic productions and to approximate, as fully as possible, the experience of attending the opera oneself. 44 illustrations, 29 in color

A new adventure where Franklin and Luna follow their friend the tortoise into a dusty fairy-tale kingdom. Who will they meet there?Franklin and Luna are back again and this time it’s Franklin’s birthday! Luna and all the villagers are planning a surprise party. While the party is being set up, Luna takes Franklin book shopping, and Luna’s tortoise, Neil, finds a padlocked book of fairy tales and can’t help picking the lock. But when he peers inside, the book swallows him whole! Franklin and Luna dive into the book to rescue Neil and tumble into a cobwebbed forest where they meet dusty fairy-tale characters who have been trapped inside the pages for hundreds of years.In this new Franklin and Luna adventure, the adorable duo meet three pig architects, a wolf with a New Age attitude, and a very bored princess. Desperate to be brought to life, these fairy-tale characters join Franklin and Luna on their hunt for Neil, realizing that the only way to escape the book is to trek all the way through it. Find out if Franklin and Luna find Neil and make it back in time for Franklin’s party in this exciting, new, picture-book adventure.In the third volume of the Franklin and Luna series, well-loved fairy-tale characters are vividly and wittily recreated to great effect. Illustrated in color throughout