This is a beautifully bound gift edition of this classic tale of a girl and her horse. Velvet Brown is a 14 year old girl living in small coastal village in the 1920s. She dreams of owning and training horses one day. When she and her friend Mi see a piebald horse jump a five foot fence, they decide to follow Velvet's dream to ride in the Grand National. But will Velvet be allowed to ride in the race? And can The Pie really win the most prestigious prize in all of steeplechasing? A horse-racing classic, National Velvet has entertained generations of horse lovers with dreams of riding in races themselves.

Walter the Baker is famous for his breads, rolls, cookies, tarts, and pies. The Duke and Duchess especially love his warm sweet rolls, delivered fresh to their castle every morning. But one day the cat spills the milk, and Walter is forced to serve the Duke and Duchess rolls made with water. After one bite the Duke throws down his roll in disgust and summons Walter to the castle. He threatens to banish the baker unless he can take the same dough and make a good-tasting roll that the rising sun can shine through three times. Will Walter succeed in his task, or will he have to leave his town forever? With good humor and the vibrantly colored paper collages that are known and loved the world over, Eric Carle has concocted a delicious book that kids will savor as much as they love eating... shhh... pretzels!

«Until now, many sinister events that transpired in the clash of the world's superpowers at the close of World War II and the ensuing Cold War era have been ignored, distorted, and kept hidden from the public. Through a meticulous examination of primary sources and disclosure of formerly secret records, this riveting account of the widespread infiltration of the federal government by Stalin's «agents of influence» and the damage they inflicted will shock readers. Focusing on the wartime conferences of Teheran and Yalta, veteran journalist M. Stanton Evans and intelligence expert Herbert Romerstein, the former head of the U.S. Office to Counter Soviet Disinformation, draw upon years of research and a meticulous examination of primary sources to trace the vast deception that kept Stalin's henchmen on the federal payroll and sabotaged policy overseas in favor of the Soviet Union. While FDR's health and mental capacities weakened, aides such as Lauchlin Currie and Harry Hopkins exerted pro-Red influence on U.S. policy — leading to massive breaches of internal security and the betrayal of free-world interests. Along with revealing the extent to which the Soviet threat was obfuscated or denied, this in-depth analysis exposes the rigging of at least two grand juries and the subsequent multilayered cover-up to protect those who let the infiltration happen. Countless officials of the Roosevelt and Truman administrations turned a blind eye to the penetration problem. The documents and facts presented in this thoroughly researched expose indict in historical retrospect the people responsible for these corruptions of justice.»

In The Wind Through the Keyhole, Stephen King returns to the rich landscape of Mid-World, the spectacular territory of the Dark Tower fantasy saga that stands as his most beguiling achievement. Roland Deschain and his ka-tet — Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy, the billy-bumbler — encounter a ferocious storm just after crossing the River Whye on their way to the Outer Baronies. As they shelter from the howling gale, Roland tells his friends not just one strange story but two... and in so doing, casts new light on his own troubled past. In his early days as a gunslinger, in the guilt-ridden year following his mother’s death, Roland is sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape-shifter, a “skin-man” preying upon the population around Debaria. Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, the brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast’s most recent slaughter. Only a teenager himself, Roland calms the boy and prepares him for the following day’s trials by reciting a story from the Magic Tales of the Eld that his mother often read to him at bedtime. A person’s never too old for stories, Roland says to Bill. “Man and boy, girl and woman, never too old. We live for them.” And indeed, the tale that Roland unfolds, the legend of Tim Stoutheart, is a timeless treasure for all ages, a story that lives for us. King began the Dark Tower series in 1974; it gained momentum in the 1980s; and he brought it to a thrilling conclusion when the last three novels were published in 2003 and 2004. The Wind Through the Keyhole is sure to fascinate avid fans of the Dark Tower epic. But this novel also stands on its own for all readers, an enchanting and haunting journey to Roland’s world and testimony to the power of Stephen King’s storytelling magi

Music and photography have always shared a special relationship—when an iconic musician is portrayed by a first-rate photographer, the result is often transformative and transcendent, and a classic pop culture image is born. Music Box gathers more than 340 such legendary photographs of musicians—covering the stars of jazz, blues, rock and roll, soul, and all of their contemporary offshoots. Music Box is arranged in thematic chapters that look at the music scene from a witty and fresh perspective, collecting photographs such as Philippe Halsman’s seminal portrait of Louis Armstrong, Jim Marshall’s vision of Jimi Hendrix kneeling over his burning guitar, Annie Leibovitz’s anthemic shot of Bruce Springsteen leaping in front of the American flag, and many more. It is an amazing collection of memorable photographs in an irresistible package.

Inspired by the upcoming 3-D fantasy-adventure film, Rise of the Guardians Deluxe Pop-Up book captures the excitement of this screen saga with dramatic pop-ups and fold-out flaps. More than a collection of the well-known childhood legends, The Guardians are a group of heroes-each with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit named Pitch tries to disable the immortal guardians, a battle ensues for the happiness of children everywhere. From North (Santa Claus) to Bunnymund (Easter Bunny), Tooth (Tooth Fairy) and Jack Frost, the Guardians join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs, and imagination of children all over the world. In the Rise of the Guardians A Deluxe Pop Up Book, the movie story is retold in 14 lush pages filled with fold-out flaps and spectacular pop-ups of the characters and scenes -which practically leap off the pages.

Between 1680 and 1807 British publishers produced a sequence of double-hemisphere world maps each printed on two sheets and conjoined. These maps are a peculiarly British phenomenon of this period and they provide a key indicator of the way the British map trade specifically targeted a newly prosperous and upwardly aspiring class of purchasers. The buyers were hungry for geographical information, but were also eager to acquire such maps for display, as a statement of their intellectual pursuits. The scientific appearance of the maps was more important as a selling point than standards of contemporary geographical accuracy, which few of them achieved. This is the first time that this type of map has been studied as a genre, partly because of their great rarity. The British Library holds the most comprehensive collection of these maps and studying them together has enabled the identification of broader themes. In particular, a greater understanding of the British map trade in the 18th century, its business practices, the economics of map-making and new techniques of marketing emerges.

Thrum-thrum. Bong-bong. Choppetta-choppetta-choppetta. The world is a big and noisy place, filled with wonderful things to do, see, and hear. This book shows them all, from an airport, a train station, and a shopping mall, to school and a swimming pool! Kids will happily explore the many sites and sounds captured in Britta Teckentrup's bright and colorful pictures.

Olive learns the hard way that keeping secrets is tough, and telling them can make for a whole lot of trouble! When Molly shares a secret with Olive, the urge to tell is just too great! Olive tells Joe who tells Matt who tells Lola. But Lola is best friends with Molly. Uh-oh, the secret is out, and Olive is in for it!

J.R.R. Tolkien's admirers form an international community of writers, scholars, and artists. This richly illustrated anthology gathers together three decades of work dedicated to the master of fantasy. With poems, stories, songs, and dozens of illustrations, A Tolkien Treasur, y is a unique celebration of the author and his creations — the mythical world of Middle-Earth and the magical creatures who inhabit it. Critical essays by W.H. Auden, Edmund Wilson, Colin Wilson, and others explore Tolkien's imaginative world. Scenes from, The Hobbit, and, Lord of the Rings, are brought to life in drawings by Michael Green and full-color paintings by Tom Kirk. Also included is a concise biography that offers insights into the author's life, quizzes, recipes, and more.

With an introduction by Sheila Heti A unique love story and a classic work of philosophy, rooted in the mysterious workings of the human heart and mind. Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing, we cannot properly speak until there is someone who can understand what we are saying in essence, we are not wholly alive until we are loved. A man and a woman meet over casual conversation on a flight from Paris to London, and so begins a love story — from first kiss to first argument, elation to heartbreak, and everything in between. Each stage of the relationship is illuminated with startling clarity, as de Botton explores emotions often felt but rarely understood. With the verve of a novelist and the insight of a philosopher, Alain de Botton uncovers the mysteries of the human heart. Essays In Love is an iconic book — one that should be read by anyone who has ever fallen in love.

First read this beautifully detailed pop-up book, then unfold it to transform it into a 3D farmyard landscape playmat, with stand-up cardboard animals and a tractor that you can move all around the farm! A unique and ingenious novelty book that folds away again in its own box.

The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning.Cinema's longest-running franchise, James Bond made his debut in this 1953 novel by Ian Fleming. The unstoppable British agent is dispatched to the French casino Royale-les-Eaux, where he must bankrupt the dissolute and sadistic spy Le Chiffre, in the hope that this Russian pawn will beretiredby his paymasters. It will require more than luck, however; after a brutal night at the gaming tables, Bond finds himself dodging would-be assassins, fighting off torturers, and trying to save the life of his beautiful female counterpart, Vesper Lynd.

Take an imaginary journey as a young cabin boy on a pirate ship. Meet Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Mary Read, Anne Bonny, and Black Bart; climb into the crow's nest to fix the rigging, and learn about other tough jobs on board; help the pirates capture a treasure ship; and bury your booty on a desert island. This engaging history book is filled with pop-up features, flaps to open, and mini-booklets of information, presenting facts and trivia in a colorful scrapbook format for readers 6 to 10.

With all the panoramic sweep of his bestselling study The Victorians, A. N. Wilson relates the exhilarating story of the Elizabethan Age. It was a time of exceptional creativity, wealth creation and political expansion. It was also a period of English history more remarkable than any other for the technicolour personalities of its leading participants. Apart from the complex character of the Virgin Queen herself, we follow the story of Francis Drake and political intriguers like William Cecil and Francis Walsingham, so important to a monarch who often made a key strategy out of her indecisiveness. Favourites like Leicester and Essex skated very close to the edge as far as Elizabeth's affections were concerned, and Essex made a big mistake when he led a rebellion against the crown. There was a Renaissance during this period in the world of words, which included the all-round hero and literary genius, Sir Philip Sidney, playwright-spy Christopher Marlowe and that myriad-minded man, William Shakespeare. Life in Elizabethan England could be very harsh. Plague swept the land. And the poor received little assistance from the State. Thumbscrews and the rack could be the grim prelude to the executioner's block. But crucially, this was the age when modern Britain was born, and established independence from mainland Europe. After Sir Walter Raleigh established the colony of Virginia, English was destined to become the language of the great globe itself, and the foundations were laid not only of later British imperial power but also of American domination of the world. With The Elizabethans, Wilson reveals himself again as the master of the definitive, single-volume study.

From Newgate Prison to Covent Garden and from his childhood home in Camden to his place of burial in Westminster Abbey, 'A Pocket Guide To Dickens' London' traces the influence of the capital on the life and work of one of Britain's best-loved and well-known authors. Featuring over forty sites — places of worship and of business, streets and bridges — 'A Pocket Guide to Dickens' London' not only locates and illustrates locations from works such as Great Expectations and Little Dorrit but demonstrates how the architecture and landscape of the city influenced Dickens' work throughout his life. Each site is illustrated with substantial quotations from Dickens' own writing about the city he loved. With this book in their pockets, visitors to London in 2012, two hundred years after Dickens' birth, will be able to slip away from the Olympic Games and explore parts of London they might otherwise never see. And the residents of London who think they know the city will be surprised by the Dickens connections to be found around every corner.

On the day after Halloween, in the year 1327, four children slip away from the cathedral city of Kingsbridge. They are a thief, a bully, a boy genius and a girl who wants to be a doctor. In the forest they see two men killed. As adults, their lives will be braided together by ambition, love, greed and revenge. They will see prosperity and famine, plague and war. One boy will travel the world but come home in the end; the other will be a powerful, corrupt nobleman. One girl will defy the might of the medieval church; the other will pursue an impossible love. And always they will live under the long shadow of the unexplained killing they witnessed on that fateful childhood day. Ken Follett's masterful epic The Pillars of the Earth enchanted millions of readers with its compelling drama of war, passion and family conflict set around the building of a cathedral. Now World Without End takes readers back to medieval Kingsbridge two centuries later, as the men, women and children of the city once again grapple with the devastating sweep of historical change.

The updated and revised edition of America's favorite cookbook, plus a bonus section of food gifts for year-round giving The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book has been an American favorite since 1930, selling 40 million copies through fourteen editions. This new food gifts edition includes the complete 15th Edition as well as inspiring projects for creating personalized food gifts that are sure to charm friends and family. Each of the projects shown includes two recipes perfectly suited to tuck inside each package idea, making this the perfect book for gift-givers who love to cook. — Contains 30 new creative package ideas that are easy and fun to create. — Showcases projects that use easy-to-find materials and include step-by-step instructions for success. — Provides how-to photos for recipes and craft ideas that require more description for success. — Includes 60 new recipes for projects, including cookies and bars, breads, cupcakes, jams, jellies, casseroles, soups, and much more. — Features the entire 15th Edition of the New Cook Book.

Quentin Blake's Magical Tales is a wonderful collection of more than a dozen tales of magical fun from all over the globe. Retold in wonderful detail by long-time Quentin Blake collaborator John Yeoman, these stories sparkle with enchantment, adventure and beautifully imagined far away places.

One of the great American iconoclasts holds forth on politics, war, books and writers, and his personal life in a series of conversations — including his last publishedinterview. During his long career Kurt Vonnegut won international praise for his novels, plays, and essays. In this new anthology of conversations with Vonnegut — which collectsinterviews from throughout his career — we learn much about what drove Vonnegut to write and how he viewed his work at the end. From Kurt Vonnegut's LastInterview Is there another book in you, by chance? No. Look, I'm 84 years old. Writers of fiction have usually done their best work bythe time they're 45. Chess masters are through when they're 35, and so are baseball players. There are plenty of other people writing. Let them do it. So what's theold man's game, then? My country is in ruins. So I'm a fish in a poisoned fishbowl. I'm mostly just heartsick about this. There should have been hope. This shouldhave been a great country. But we are despised all over the world now. I was hoping to build a country and add to its literature. That's why I served in World War II, and that's why I wrotebooks. When someone reads one of your books, what would you like them to take from the experience? Well, I'd like the guy — or the girl, ofcourse — to put the book down and think, This is the greatest man who ever lived.