Ripley's Believe It or Not! is guaranteed to amaze and entertain children and adults alike with its unique blend of weird but true stories and jaw-dropping facts gathered from all over the world.

This year... Marvel at the ice caves of Alaska. Find out what very unusual food Icelanders eat at their traditional mid-winter feast. Discover why Lucas the penguin has to wear rubber boots. Hear about the woman who sailed down the Missouri River in a giant hollowed-out pumpkin. And take the 'Funny Bones' test to see whether you can match photographs of skeletons to their animal owners.

No Christmas is complete without Ripley's!

A handbook designed to help the appraiser in selecting phrases and words that accurately describe a broad range of critical rating factors.

THE TOP 100 GREATEST GAMING CHARACTERS

Explore the coolest records across the most popular consoles, developers and games through a brand-new list from the ultimate authority on record breaking.

From Lara Croft to Link and the crew of Mass Effect to the Creepers of Minecraft, see where the biggest and best characters ranked. Do you agree and did your favourites make the list?

Plus!
· Get the lowdown on the most popular Roblox games
· Count down the coolest and rarest Fortnite skins
· Check out the most played Mobile Games from Pokémon GO to Brawl Stars
· Discover the origins of games like Batman, Spider-Man and Midnight Suns in the Comics and Videogames feature
· Trace the history of recording-breaking Sports Games with amazing facts on gaming versions of F1, American Football, soccer and more
· Learn how Videogame Voice Actors use different skills and inspirations to bring your favourite characters to life[AB1]
· Have fun and relax with Cosy Gaming – whether professional cleaning, cute kitties, or idyllic farms are your thing

An encyclopaedia of mind-bogglingly random science facts that will lodge in your brain and refuse to leave.

Heard about the poisonous tree in the Amazon rainforest that grows exploding fruit? Did you know that manatees control their buoyancy with farts? Or that the first vending machine was invented in ancient Egypt?

In this compendium of obscure facts readers will be treated to baffling scientific knowledge they would never learn at school. Broken into chapters including engineering, space, and biology, a team of experts has scoured the margins to find the silliest and most pointless science facts that the world has to offer.

Accompanied by hilarious illustrations, kids will meet the ants turned to zombies by a deadly fungus, discover why astronauts left their poo on the Moon, and find out about the rainstorm that lasted a million years (before umbrellas were invented!). They will also learn completely useless information like that all of the hair on your head could hold the weight of two elephants.

(SPOILER: the information in this book isn’t really useless. It will inspire, shock, and amuse the reader–and maybe spark an interest that will last a lifetime. It just won’t help you with any exams!)

The invaluable on-the-water reference guide to the essentials of the racing rules, updated for the latest 2017-2020 Racing Rules of Sailing. Every racing sailor should have a copy! The book summarises the basic principles, definitions and rules and then covers every aspect of the race. This edition includes a new section on starts as well as mark rounding, obstructions, signals, and dispute resolution. Colour diagrams throughout ensure the concepts are easily understood. Splash-proof and spiral bound, this little companion stands up to frequent use and serves as a great aide-memoire that will fit into your pocket or kit bag. Written by the acknowledged rules expert, Bryan Willis.

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Crime and Criminal Justice stands apart as the most comprehensive global reference title in its field. Featuring the work of over 250 scholars and practitioners from around the world, the Encyclopedia presents an accessible and uniquely far-reaching set of entries on topics associated with crime and criminal justice. Within this flagship work, the incredible breadth and depth of the field is captured by a diverse and international range of contributors. The Encyclopedia is curated by a team of globally renowned scholars and is ambitious in its scope – comprising thematic, regional and comparative coverage. Entries give a concise summary of the accumulated knowledge on their topic, followed by a list of references to facilitate further study. Over 300 entries Entries organised alphabetically for ease of navigation Fully cross-referenced Entries written by scholars and practitioners from around the world World class editorial team The Encyclopedia will be available online ahead of print, followed by a multi-volume print edition.

This exhaustive analysis of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) throughout history discusses the institutions and the major events, individuals, and organizations that have contributed to their existence. The oldest HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, was founded in 1837 by Quaker philanthropist Richard Humphreys as the Institute for Colored Youth. By 1902, at least 85 such schools had been established and, in subsequent years, the total grew to 105. Today approximately 16 percent of America's black college students are enrolled in HBCUs. Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Encyclopedia brings the stories of these schools together in a comprehensive volume that explores the origin and history of each Historically Black College and University in the United States. Major founders and contributors to HBCUs, including whites, free blacks, churches, and states, are discussed and distinguished alumni are profiled. Specific examples of the impact of HBCUs and their alumni on American culture and the social and political history of the United States are also examined. In addition to looking at the HBCUs themselves, the book analyzes historical events and legislation of the past 174 years that impacted the founding, funding, and growth of these history-making schools. A complete timeline of events extending from the founding of the first HBCU in 1837 through the 21st century Photographs of HBCUs and key figures in their histories over a 150-year period Presidential executive orders and transcripts of major legislation that have impacted HBCUs An exhaustive list of over 1,000 prominent alumni of HBCUs and short, professional biographies of each Biographical information on major figures and organizations that have supported HBCUs A bibliography, including online resources and DVDs