Books in Single Subject Reference series

From the battlefields of Flanders, to the banquet halls of the great English manor houses, this gloriously appointed book offers page after page of splendorous illustration and information. Everything a young person could want to know about knights is included: shields, scutcheons, jousts, castles, sieges, chivalry and fearless steeds, all depicted in a colorful abundance of detailed battlescapes, scenarios and maps. Topics include the knight's place in feudal society, how he trained for war, his code of honor, heraldry and armor, and famous battles; knights' popular companions including the various types of horses -- chargers, palfreys, hackneys -- and other animals such as mastiffs and carrier pigeons that accompanied them on campaigns; knights in other cultures -- Sioux braves and Polish lancers in the West to Japanese samurai in the East -- and the knight of medieval romances and today's blockbuster films. The knight in shining armor may have disappeared from the battlefield, but rides on in an ageless fascination shared by children and people of all ages. Includes an illustrated glossary and index.

Intricate and meticulous illustrations bring history to life in this wide-ranging castle tour that covers both the majestic splendour of the great halls and the hardships of living in a feudal society - from the building of a castle to shopping in a medieval marketplace. A magnificent 8-page gatefold opens up to a cutaway view of the castle -- both inside and out -- and lets viewers get an up-close view of all the rooms and people going about their everyday tasks. Includes an illustrated glossary and index.

Written by a former member of The Royal Ballet company, this book offers a true insider's view of absolutely everything a budding balletomane wants to know about dance from the costumes, the steps, the choreographers, and the dance companies to what it's like in a class, a rehearsal and a performance. The illustrations --luscious and atmospheric -- thrill and inspire. Also a terrific reference, this book provides detailed coverage of the history of ballet, retellings of favorite ballet stories, and a glossary of dancers, choreographers, companies and technical terms, as well as a timeline of performances. A beautiful gift book as exciting as opening night!

Full steam ahead! Join the crew for a stirring voyage through the world of ships in this generously illustrated compendium of everything nautical. Investigate the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle, find out what role ironclad warships played in the Civil War, and observe a container ship loading its cargo! Detailed cutaway artwork lets you explore the inner workings of all kinds of ships -- from ocean liners and aircraft carriers to sailboats and steamships. A useful reference section includes an illustrated glossary and index. The perfect gift for the budding seafarer.

From the domestic popularity of the Golden Retriever to the wrinkly charm of the regal Shar-Pei, this generously illustrated compendium of everything canine is the perfect gift for the young dog enthusiast. The colorful, fact-filled pages and informative text provide children with a wide-ranging overview of the world of dogs. Kids will not only learn how to care for their dogs but also how to interpret their moods and understand their behavior, and physiology. The various breeds and their evolution are covered, as well as dogs in film, art, fiction, and mythology. Liz Taylor's lapdogs are given appropriate celebrity treatment, while Sirius the "Dog Star" is given credit for warning ancient Egyptians of the coming flood season. Special features include an illustrated glossary, index, and a canine family tree. From wet nose to wagging tail, this is the perfect gift for the young dog lover.

Here's the ultimate guide for the young dinosaur enthusiast who craves the latest information from the lost world of prehistoric animals. With its winning combination of dramatic artwork, and exciting, narrative text, this title goes far beyond the basic facts about dinosaurs, presenting up-to-date information from dinosaur experts and realistic color illustrations by top dinosaur artists. Find out where the world's most important excavations are located and how scientists piece together tiny clues that help them reconstruct these incredible beasts. See Oviraptors babysitting their young in late cretaceous Mongolia. Escape from a pack of Deinonychus in prehistoric Wyoming. The colorful spreads include a geological time-scale that helps the inquisitive reader locate the appearance of the various species of dinosaur. Finally, discover how some of the creatures that shared the dinosaurs' world survived the catastrophe that experts believe led to the dinosaurs' extinction. A special reference section at the end of the book provides an at-a-glance family tree of these fascinating prehistoric animals, along with a helpful illustrated glossary and index.

Throughout history there have been sudden, terrible events that have shaken the world. Sometimes they are natural disasters, such as the catastrophic eruption of the island of Krakatau or the devastating Tokyo earthquake of 1923, while others are man-made, ranging from the infamous sinking of the Titanic to the deadly Chernobyl meltdown of 1986. This fascinating book delves into the causes of both natural and man-made disasters, and studies people's attempts to learn from them. Dramatic, full-color illustrations and photographs depict the natural calamities that sometimes confront life on our planet, including tsunamis, tornadoes, pandemics, volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, and earthquakes, not to mention cataclysms of man's own making, such as airplane crashes, radioactive fallout, and fuel-spills from oil tankers. Informative text and captions explore the causes and consequences of these events, and make this a valuable reference for any budding environmentalist. The book concludes with a look at environmental dangers, such as global warming, and suggests some of the ways in which they might be avoided. Includes a glossary and comprehensive index.

Prepare to scramble! From man's first attempts at flight to the exploits of the space shuttle and the elusive stealth bomber, this is a generously illustrated compendium of the world of flight. Flight not only gives aspiring young pilots an insider's look at aircraft and how they have evolved, but also explores the role of aircraft in the history of warfare and civil aviation. Detailed artwork brings to life all kinds of aircraft from wide-body jetliners to spaceplanes of the future. An incredible array of flying machines and famous pilots are covered, including the inventive designs of da Vinci, the Wright brothers first Flyer, the fastest fighter planes, and the amazing vertical takeoff aircraft of today. A fact-filled reference section at the back of the book includes an illustrated timeline, glossary, and index. The perfect gift for the budding aviator.

Journey back to another century and visit the untamed American West -- the land of the Gold Rush and home to many Native American tribes. See what life was like in a covered wagon, in a frontier town, or on a cattle ranch. Confront dangerous outlaws and the hardships of living in an unsettled land. Plenty of realistic illustrations, as well as period photographs and paintings, dramatize the gritty truths of the mythic Wild West. A splendid gift for any child fascinated by the stories and legends of this period. Includes a biographical section, a glossary, and an index.