Well-written, loaded with information, and with a rich assortment of illustrations, each Discoveries RM volume is a look at one facet of art, archaeology, music, history, philosophy, popular culture, science, or nature. These innovatively designed, affordably priced, compact paperbacks bring ideas to life and amplify our understanding of civilization in a new way.

What is fashion? This engaging book from the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers myriad answers to that question, pairing selected works in the museum's collection with concise observations. The simple reflections accompanying the illustrations encourage readers to think about the role of fashion in our culture and to develop their own definitions of what it means to them. Including costumes, regional dress, haute couture and accessories from the fifteenth century to the present, as well as paintings, sculpture and decorative arts relating to modes of dress, this clever little book is sure to inspire fashion lovers around the world.

The next installment in the bestselling “Selby” series, Fashionable Selby explores the kaleidoscopic world of fashion, featuring profiles of today’s most interesting designers, stylists, haberdashers, models, shoemakers, and more. The subjects include a mix of the avant-garde, the traditional, the must-haves, and the totally unexpected. Chapters on individual artists bring readers inside their studios, workshops, and homes, and include Selby’s signature photographs and watercolors of not only the artists and their environments, but also the things that inspire them, the materials they use, their creative process, the people who work alongside them, and the final pieces. From the showroom of one of the Antwerp Six to the studios of Central St. Martins in London to a punk knitter in Brooklyn, Selby captures some of fashion’s biggest names, rising stars, and best-kept secrets.

At McQuarrie Middle School, the war against the FunTime Menace—aka test prep—wages on. Our heroes have one battle under their belts, and they’ve even found a surprising ally in Jabba the Puppett. But to defeat the Dark Standardized Testing Forces they’re going to need an even bigger, even more surprising ally: Principal Rabbski. But with great forces-aka the school board-pushing her from above, will the gang’s former enemy don a finger puppet and join the Rebellion-or will her transformation to Empress Rabbski, Dark Lord of the Sith, be complete? With this timely episode in the blockbuster Origami Yoda series, Tom Angleberger demonstrates once again that his “grasp of middle-school emotions, humor and behavior is spot-on” (Scripps Howard News Service).

The traditional textiles of Central Asia are unknown treasures. Straddling the legendary Silk Road, this vast region stretches from Russia in the west to China in the east. Whether nomadic or sedentary, its peoples created textiles for every aspect of their way of life, from ceremonial objects marking rites of passage, to everyday garments, to practical items for the home. There were suzanis for the marriage bed; prayer mats; patchwork quilts; bridal ensembles; bags for tea, scissors, and mirrors; lovingly embroidered hats and bibs; and robes of every color and pattern. Author Susan Meller has spent years assembling the 590 textiles illustrated in this book. She documents their history, use, and meaning through archival photographs and fascinating travelers’ narratives spanning many centuries. Her book will be a revelation to designers, collectors, students of Central Asia, and travelers to the region. Silk and Cotton is destined to become a classic.

Since 2003, Alexandre Gauthier has been the chef at La Grenouillere, a sixteenth-century farmhouse by the river Canche. There, he creates a highly personal cuisine, a snapshot of every season. Powerful, warm, sensuous, earthy yet delicate, it rests on the building blocks of a classic French cuisine that he has stripped of its formality and unnecessary intricacies. Gauthier has received the distinction of being named a Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government and is one of the leading figures of new European cooking. Through this book, he offers a hundred of his culinary creations to read, to cook, to consider. Superb photographs by Marie Pierre Morel showcase Gauthier's food and the beauty of the region, where La Grenouillere has become an important destination for foodlovers from all over the world.

«This is the hilarious, clever and much-anticipated follow-up to the breakout hit, «The Strange Case of Origami Yoda». Tom is an exciting new voice in middle grade fiction. His spot-on portrayals of secondary school and the dynamics that exist between kids are realistic and humorous. He's definitely a rising author to watch. This is the fantastic book for boys and reluctant readers especially. «Publishers Weekly» said Tom's writing included 'spot-on boy banter', «100 Scope Notes» called Yoda 'reluctant reader platinum', and «Fuse Number 8» said, 'It's been a while since I found a book that can truly be called genderless (in that it has wide appeal across the board)'. «Lucasfilm» is enthusiastically back on board with us for the second book. It includes instructions for making your own original origami Darth Vader. Darth Vader is the most popular «Star Wars» character, their 'Mickey Mouse' according to Lucas.»