Nonfiction World

Departing from a simple linear history, The Soviet Century traces all the continuities and ruptures that led from the founding revolution of October 1917, to the final collapse of the late 1980s and early 1990s, passing through the Stalinist dictatorship, the impossible reforms of the Khrushchev years, and the glasnost and perestroika policies of Gorbachev.

Haiti is a country that has experienced many hardships—most recently, a devastating earthquake in January of 2010. It is also a country with a rich history and a culture that is famous for its unique, colorful painting and sculpture styles. Listeners will learn about Haiti’s landscape, its vibrant culture, and the work being done to rebuild Haiti today.

How do fireflies light up? Why do bees and wasps sting? How do butterflies get nectar from flowers? This series shows how unique insects eat, work, and live. It will have young listeners buzzing with excitement! This volume includes Ants, Dragonflies, Fireflies, Grasshoppers, and Beetles.

In February 1958, the Herrmann family began to experience strange events at their home in Seaford, New York. The first occurrences were harmless—just caps popping off of bottles. But soon things escalated. Dishes were smashed, bookshelves toppled over, and objects moved. Could these unexplained events have been the work of a devious poltergeist named Popper?

How do fireflies light up? Why do bees and wasps sting? How do butterflies get nectar from flowers? This series shows how unique insects eat, work, and live. It will have young listeners buzzing with excitement! This volume includes Butterflies, Honey Bees, Ladybugs, and Praying Mantises.

Happy birthday! Let's celebrate! All around the world people are turning another year older. What are some ways birthdays are celebrated in Asia? Or in South America? Discover the ways people celebrate birthdays in this engaging series that develops kids' understanding of our diverse global community and their place in it.

In February 1942, a reconnaissance party of US Army Air Force officers arrived in England. Firmly wedded to the doctrine of daylight precision bombing, they believed they could help turn the tide of the war in Europe. In the months that followed, they formed the Eighth Air Force—an organization that grew at an astonishing rate. To accommodate it, almost seventy airfields were built across the eastern counties of England. At the heart of the Eighth Air Force was its bombardment groups, each equipped with scores of heavily armed, four-engine bombers. This is the story of just one "Bomb Group".

The ancient Sibylline prophecies had foretold that the Roman Empire would last for 1000 years. As the time for the expected dissolution approached in the middle of the third century AD, the empire was lapsing into chaos, with seemingly interminable civil wars over the imperial succession. The western empire had seceded under a rebel emperor and the eastern empire was controlled by another usurper. Barbarians took advantage of the anarchy to kill and plunder all over the provinces.

Think you know about dinosaurs? Think again! New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Steve Brusatte brings young scientists and listeners everywhere into his world of massive herbivores and fearsome predators, daily unexpected discoveries, and all the new science used to learn about some of the world’s oldest beings.

What would it be like to live in Iran? How is Iran's culture unique? Explore the sights, traditions, and daily lives of Iranians!

Spend twenty-four hours with the ancient Chinese. Travel back to AD 17, during the fourth year of the reign of Wang Mang of the Han dynasty, a vibrant and innovative era full of conflicts and contradictions. But as different as the Han culture might have been to other great ancient civilizations, the inhabitants of ancient China faced the same problems as people have for time immemorial: earning enough money, coping with workplace dramas, and keeping your home in order.

Snakes, sharks, and spiders - oh my! Do you know what the most deadly animal in the world is? What about the difference between poison and venom? Learn the answers for yourself and discover what animals you definitely want to stay away from.

Declaring the church corrupt and urging rationality over revelation, Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason directly opposed the existing political and religious order of his time. Initially printed in pamphlet form, his work audaciously employed “vulgar” everyday language, as Paine sought to bring his message, and the appeal of deism, to the masses.

How do an owl’s wings help it fly silently through the night to sneak up on prey? How fast does an eagle dive to catch fish? Each book in Raptor World highlights a different raptor, its hunting techniques, and the physical attributes that make it an expert bird of prey.

Commander William R. Anderson of the United States Navy thought the Nautilus, the Navy’s first nuclear-powered submarine, would be the first to reach the North Pole! Will Commander R. Anderson and the Nautilus accomplish this chilly feat, or will this be the ultimate lesson for him and his crew to learn?

The height of Mount Everest was first measured in 1850, but the closest any Westerner got to Everest during the next 71 years, until 1921, was 40 miles. The Hunt for Mount Everest tells the story of the 71-year quest to find the world's highest mountain. It's a tale of high drama, of larger-than-life characters - George Everest, Francis Younghusband, George Mallory, Lord Curzon, Edward Whymper - and a few quiet heroes: Alexander Kellas, the 13th Dalai Lama, Charles Bell.

Bringing together today's leading scholars, both established seniors and younger, cutting-edge academics, Stefan Brink and Neil Price have constructed the first single work to gather innovative research from a spectrum of disciplines (including archaeology, history, philology, comparative religion, numismatics, and cultural geography) to create the most comprehensive Viking Age book of its kind ever attempted.

This book looks at the rich diversity of clothes around the world. It introduces children to similarities found in clothes in different cultures, and honors differences.

Do you crack open a piñata on your birthday? Do you eat long noodles? Learn all about different birthday customs of children around the world.

Kids will explore our world by learning about the five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing. Fun songs like “Smelly Feet” and “Can You Name These Sounds?” make learning about the five senses entertaining and fun! We will talk about “favorite” and “not so favorite” smells, learn about sound waves, foods that taste sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, and so much more!