The Secret Lives Of Dragons

Discover a whole new world of dragons in this beautifully illustrated book on the scaliest of magical creatures. From every detail of their wings to the history of their treasure, you'll learn about famous dragons from around the world. The latest research into dragon culture will be revealed, and you'll meet some incredible dragon leaders along the way. If you thought the world's most famous fire-breathing creatures lived only in myth and fairytale, think again. Dragon researchers will introduce you to amazing beasts from tiny to huge, from sweet to ferocious. Soon you'll be a dragon expert to rival them all!

The perfect tale of friendship and adventure for young explorers aged 8+, shortlisted for the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards. 'So if you're not an animal that's alive today, and you're not an animal that's extinct either, what on earth are you?' Mari Jones is desperate to be a real scientist, even though she's only eleven. So when she discovers a tiny dragon while fossil hunting on the beach, she's sure she can find a good scientific explanation - as long as she can keep it hidden long enough to study it. Unfortunately for Mari, this is one secret that doesn't want to be kept. And as she starts to form a deeper bond with the mischievous dragon, she might have to admit that, when it comes to friendship, science might not have all the answers... 'A heart-warming story' - Guardian 'Utterly enchanting' - Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island 'Seamless storytelling interwoven with fascinating science . . . perfect for reading aloud!' - Piers Torday, author of The Lost Magician

Discover a whole new world of dragons in this beautifully illustrated book on the scaliest of magical creatures. From every detail of their wings to the history of their treasure, you'll learn about famous dragons from around the world. The latest research into dragon culture will be revealed, and you'll meet some incredible dragon leaders along the way. If you thought the world's most famous fire-breathing creatures lived only in myth and fairytale, think again. Dragon researchers will introduce you to amazing beasts from tiny to huge, from sweet to ferocious. Soon you'll be a dragon expert to rival them all!

If you thought unicorns were imaginary, think again. Anatomy, evolution, life cycle, magical properties: prepare to learn just how much you didn't know about these fantastic, magical equines. A full encyclopedia of all things unicorns--an upgrade for fans of My Little Pony and fun for kids who love magic. Meet species from the fjords of the north to the unforgiving deserts of the equator as you discover the wonders of this enchanting creature from past to present.

Dive in to discover all there is to know about mermaids in this beautifully illustrated book. But wait - if you thought mermaids were fantasy creatures who existed only in myth and fairytale, think again! New research has uncovered what a rich and varied group of beings they are. The famed merologist Professor Tola's great work covers everything from their long and sinewy tails to the magical properties of merpeople from the Pacific Ocean to the frozen Arctic. Merperson researchers from the Institute of Merology have discovered a secret underwater kingdom where these magical beings swim, play, learn and sing. Now you can become a mermaid expert too!

Set in the 1960s, Judy Fong Bates’s much-talked-about debut novel is the story of a young girl, the daughter of a small Ontario town’s solitary Chinese family, whose life is changed over the course of one summer when she learns the burden of secrets. Through Su-Jen’s eyes, the hard life behind the scenes at the Dragon Café unfolds. As Su-Jen’s father works continually for a better future, her mother, a beautiful but embittered woman, settles uneasily into their new life. Su-Jen feels the weight of her mother’s unhappiness as Su-Jen’s life takes her outside the restaurant and far from the customs of the traditional past. When Su-Jen’s half-brother arrives, smouldering under the responsibilities he must bear as the dutiful Chinese son, he forms an alliance with Su-Jen’s mother, one that will have devastating consequences. Written in spare, intimate prose, Midnight at the Dragon Café is a vivid portrait of a childhood divided by two cultures and touched by unfulfilled longings and unspoken secrets.

'That's not a bird,' Mari said, disbelievingly. 'That's another dragon . . .' A year after she discovered a tiny dragon on the beach, life is getting back to normal for Mari Jones and Gweeb, when two unexpected events turn it upside down again. First comes the news that Mari's mum Rhian is expecting a baby, meaning that her boyfriend Gareth and Mari's best friend Dylan will be moving in with them on the farm. Even more incredibly, Gweeb's family have returned to lay their eggs in the same cave where Mari first found her secret dragon. With tourists flocking to the beach for the summer, Mari has her work cut out to keep the dragons hidden and safe, especially when disgraced scientist Dr Griff Griffiths turns up on the hunt for a story. And when Griff manages to find and steal Gweeb's precious egg, Mari must stage a daring rescue mission before it's too late . . .

Dungeons & Dragons. It’s the fantasy role-playing game first conceived over fifty years ago by the now-legendary company TSR ,which has enthralled millions of devoted gamers around the world for generations. It’s a test of skill, intelligence, audacity, and survival. But no D&D game ever played could compare to the stunning behind-the-scenes melee for power and dominance that was the true story of TSR. Slaying the Dragon chronicles the rise and fall of TSR (Tactical Studies Rules), how the brilliant and wild minds of the legendary Gary Gygax and his co-creator Dave Arneson gave birth to a game that would capture the imagination of outsiders and underdogs throughout the world. From its humble beginnings in the small town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to its emergence as a cultural phenomenon, TSR soon spawned an unlikely empire of games and geekdom—with Dungeons & Dragons leading the way—that was decades ahead of its time, inviting both hyper-devoted fans as well as hysteria surrounding the game’s supposed corrupting influence on America’s youth. TSR was in the news, in the money, and on top of the world. But success soon took its toll, with creative control and rivalries within the firm threatening the stability of TSR. Former allies grew apart personally and professionally, and the formerly fun, freewheeling firm founded by a band of misfits collapsed into a desperate struggle for survival. Despite attempts to grow in a changing market, setbacks and management decisions put TSR in a downward spiral in the 1990s which resulted in the company's death and then resurrection by the most unlikely of saviors. With author access to previously unreleased documents and insider stories, and interviews with former TSR employees and associates who witnessed the high-stakes machinations and maneuvering that would eventually seal the company’s fate, Slaying the Dragon is a fascinating, revealing tale of friends turned enemies, success and failure, and loyalty and betrayal that no roll of the die could predict... "Riggs has written a fascinating and dishy account of the business hits and whistling misses of a band of dreamers, writers, artists, and geeks... A must-read for fighters, magic-users, and even bards -- and everyone else, too." — Brad Ricca, Edgar-nominated author of Mrs. Sherlock Holmes and True Raiders"Far from a fluff piece on a beloved hobby, this book goes behind the GM's screen to take a hard-nosed look at the people and circumstances that first gave rise to D&D, then nearly killed it -- twice. Riggs takes you on a roller-coaster from boom to near bankruptcy, but never loses sight of the individuals involved, the good, the bad, and the geeky." — Marie Brennan, Hugo-Award nominated author of the Memoirs of Lady Trent series