What can be found in the Vatican's Secret Archive? How many books did Charles Darwin's library aboard the Beagle hold? Which library is home to a colony of bats? Bursting with potted histories, quirky facts and enlightening lists, this book explores every aspect of the library, celebrating not only these remarkable institutions but also the individuals behind their awe-inspiring collections. From the ancient library at Alexandria to the Library of Congress in Washington DC, A Library Miscellany explores institutions both old and new, from the university library to that of the humble village. It opens the door to unusual collections such as herbaria, art libraries, magic libraries and even the library of smells, and charts the difficulties of cataloguing books deemed to be subversive, heretical, libellous or obscene. Packed with unusual facts and statistics, this is the perfect volume for library enthusiasts, bibliophiles and readers everywhere.

Cats were first domesticated - or, more likely, noticed a warm fireside and chose to domesticate themselves - many thousands of years ago. Over the centuries they have performed a useful role as pest controllers, but much more as friends and companions of humans. Cats have always inspired writers and artists. They appear in Egyptian papyri and tomb paintings, in Roman mosaics, in Japanese prints, in Old Master drawings and engravings. At different times and places they have been worshipped, mummified, associated with superstition and black magic, and bred as domestic pets. This delightful illustrated anthology includes a selection of the many poems, anecdotes and quotations about cats which have been written over the centuries: the charming, the funny, the sad, the exasperated, and the heartfelt. In a fresh new paperback format with a selection of new images, this is an irresistible gift for anyone who likes cats.

Let your fellow human beans know that everything will be okale with this little book of upbeat and adorkable fruit puns. #cosyoureworthit About the series This cute and colourful series of fruit-pun-filled gift books are the perfect pick-me-ups for you, your friend or your partner in crime. Do you need to avocuddle, or are you grapeful for someone who's a bit of a melon? Then share the clove with these little books: AVOCUDDLE, WHATAMELON, YOU ARE MY RAISIN FOR LIVING, DON'T GIVE A FIG, I AM GRAPEFUL, YOU ARE 24 CARROT GOLD. *veg, nuts and seeds are fair game

The United States has been re-stated. One impudent Brit and his cell-phone gremlin take on the people, institutions and events that have shaped the land of the free, autocorrecting as they go and uncovering some shocking truths from across the Pond. From Grotesque Washing to the first Man on the Moose, and delicately touching on the Control Negligence Agency*, this fresh take at what makes the greatest country in the world what it is today will raise as many eyebrows as it will laughs. God bless the Untied States of Africa! * George Washington, Man on the Moon, Central Intelligence Agency

Tin Tin's Snowy, Odysseus's Argos, Darwin's Polly, Mary Queen of Scots's 22 lap-dogs, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Flush... Behind every great man or woman is a dog. A Dictionary of Interesting and Important Dogs is a rich compendium of the world's most significant and beloved dogs. Embracing the intriguing and the provocative, the essential and the trivial, Peter J. Conradi forays into history, literature and personal anecdotes to unearth a treasure trove of canine characters. Discover the stories behind Karl Marx's and his daughter's Dogberry Club; the lapdogs who were secreted in first-class cabins on the Titanic and how they survived; Edinburgh's Greyfriars Bobby who stayed by his master's grave for 14 years; and the one undisputed fact about Shakespeare - his singular dislike for dogs. A Dictionary of Interesting and Important Dogs is a wonderful and witty homage to man's most faithful friend.

Dive into this book of hilarious and relatable memes as told by the internet's favourite animal: cats! For life's every up and down, there's a meme to capture the feeling - and with their sassy personalities, their endless curiosity and their distinct capacity for being that little bit odd, who better to live these moments with us than our cuddly feline friends? You might not realize it, but some of the everyday moments in our lives are actually universal - and these cats are here to tell it like it is. Have you ever experienced: The awkward moment someone says "Just smile naturally" and you forget what natural is? The moment you accidentally open the front-facing camera and you're confronted with your many chins? The flash of terror when you're home alone and you hear an odd noise? The satisfaction of walking in time to your music? The crushing awkwardness of saying "you too" when a waiter tells you to enjoy your meal? If you answered "yes" to any of the above, then this book is for you! Look no further and dive into this collection, which contains the most hilarious and relatable memes about life, told through the expressive brilliance of cats.

Become a moggy mastermind with nine fun and easy-to-score personality tests. From cat speak to curious quirks, discover your feline's true nature to better nurture your bond. It begins with a simple question: what are your cat's classic behaviours? Whether they're testily knocking over your mug of piping hot tea or affectionately cuddling into your arms for a morning squeeze, each of these enigmatic actions and strange habits, pet peeves and preferences, tells us something about who they are and what they're really thinking. This hilarious book is kitty psychology 101. Begin your lifelong quest of demystifying your pet's mysterious mind by answering 81 multiple choice questions. Each code-breaking quiz represents a different area of a cat's life (all nine of them!) and links to the Feline Five (Neuroticism, Extroversion, Dominance, Impulsiveness, Agreeableness). Moocher or Tearaway? Pragmatist or Intellectual? Screwball or Sheriff? Match your answers to one or more of the 36 colourful puss profiles, adorably illustrated by #caturday artist Alissa Levy (@levysfriends), to discover a little more about their tells and traits and what these can teach you about them. Tests include: TOP CAT: Reflect on your cat's social circle and how they interact with others. DAY-TO-DAY KITTY: Every daily habit offers a meaningful clue, from their preferred routine to how they handle disruptions. MOGGY MASTERMIND: Penetrate the powers of your kitty's mind, from problem solving techniques to how they handle you! PUSS-IN-BOOTS: Grooming is much more than looking at your insta-cat finest. Unpick their wellbeing, general moods and energy levels. PAWS, SNOOZE, REPEAT: See what your cat's snoozing positions, patterns and behaviours reveal. PURR TIME: Find out what each favourite toy or game signifies. CATTITUDE: Unique, laugh-out-loud and bizarre quirks all offer tell-tale signs of different feline traits. CHAT WITH A CAT: Whether two- or simply one-way, oral and physical communication are what bonds cats and owners. MOGGY ON THE MOVE: Investigate how your cat acts when its out and about. Dedicated to cat lovers everywhere.

A cat's-eye view of history! Discover secrets, stories and facts about history’s most fascinating felines! Young historians may never look at the past - or cats! - in quite the same way again. Cats have prowled Earth for millennia, yet the history of the world has always been told through the eyes of humans. But now it's time to - finally! - set the record straight and uncover the key role that cats have played in shaping the course of history. Did you know that ancient Egyptians loved cats so much that they had special laws to protect them? Or that Isaac Newton's cat helped him develop the theory of gravity? How about that Féliette, a French street cat, was the first cat to go into space in 1963? A History of the World (According to Cats!) introduces us to fur-raising facts and adventures from around the world and across the centuries. Discover unknown stories about real-life felines, including WWII heroes, courageous adventurers and even an astrocat that travelled in space (and made it back to Earth to tell the tale), this book places cats as the heroes of their own stories. Full of real-life stories, with all the boring stuff left out, this book takes a look at the world's history through feline eyes.

This book offers a fresh take on the Victorian notion of expressing oneself with the symbolic language of flowers. Happy Day features bright, cheery flowers with uplifting sentiments. Each spread features a flower that "flips up" from the page, a brief description of the flower's meaning, and its special message for the recipient. When all of the blossoms are popped up, the book can be displayed on a desk just like a vase of flowers.

A celebration of Harry Styles - we Adore You! Harry Styles is a global superstar and fashion icon who has broken records, won awards and was the first solo man to grace the cover of Vogue, but he is also grounded, humble and down to earth. He doesn't care what other people think, isn't afraid to be vulnerable and truly loves his fans. We could all do with being a bit more like Harry. With chapters on finding your style, building confidence and supporting charities, The Book of Harry explores Harry's incredible journey to stardom and the lessons we can take from his music, career and wider approach to life. Learning from his example, it will arm readers with tips, tricks and wisdom to empower them to be fearless, be themselves and above all, Treat People With Kindness.

Welcome to the round-food revolution! The recipes in this book will prove once and for all that ball-shaped foods reign supreme: from quick and easy energy-boosting health heroes to decadent sweet and savoury snacks, this book has vegetarian and vegan treats to satisfy every craving. Whether you fancy some nutritious energy balls you can whizz together in seconds or you want to impress your friends with some impressive cake pops, mini doughnuts or other indulgent goodies, these tasty recipes are all you need to keep your hunger pangs at bay. matcha and cacao buzz balls plum and poppy seed dumplings mac and cheese balls lemon and coconut delights moringa flower fritters dough balls with garlic butter summer fruit bursts cheese and mustard arancini

The future is ours - let's enjoy it! This hilarious fully illustrated book will help ease you into this strange and perplexing new stage of your life. After all those years of routine you're suddenly free! You're bound to be a bit nervous - it is your first time. No more being bossed about - well, apart from by your other half, of course. No more getting up at the crack of dawn to go to work - though at your age you may have to get up at the crack of dawn anyway to use the loo. No more wage slavery - er, no more wages... But it's going to be fine, because you can now do what you want to do - within reason, naturally. Within these pages you'll discover: - What your new job as "retiree" involves, the hours (all of them) and the pay (let's face it, if anyone advertised a job with this salary, no one would take it) - Conversations you will no longer have to have - Things you no longer have to feel guilty about - Pursuits for bored retirees - Truths that will slowly dawn on you - Ways to supplement your pension ...and all the other perks (and niggles) that come with your new position (and no, we don't mean "horizontal on the sofa").

Plant Ladies are the new (cooler) cat ladies. Less disappointing than a boyfriend, less demanding than a cat, plants are the perfect partners for anyone who is trying to balance work, money, commitments and a desire to live surrounded by beauty. Plants make you feel good (#science) and looking after your green frondy friends brings joy into your life. Plant Lady will matchmake you with the perfect plants for your lifestyle and teach you not only how to keep them alive but how to get them to love you back. With the help of this book you can add some low-cost, high-pleasure greenness into your life and embrace your inner plant lady.

Embrace the transformative power of solitude, self-care and silence Do you often experience FOMO - the fear of missing out? If so, this is the book you've been waiting for. It's time to start missing out on peer pressure and making time for the things that bring you true happiness. This friendly little book is full of restorative bite-sized tips to help you celebrate the joys of quality time alone, and discover the importance of nurturing your own well-being. Forget FOMO, here's to JOMO.

Prince Philip was a man of many, many words. For almost eighty years since he first entered the public's eye, Prince Philip had been telling the world exactly what he thought of it. Over the years, Prince Philip's quips and wisecracks have been labelled as shocking and even outrageous, but at the root of this colourful royal was a very funny man who seemingly never took life too seriously. He was an icon of the royal family and a reminder of a time when the world was a different place - and for that, we, the Great British public, salute him. This tiny tome is a celebration of his extraordinary life in the service of his subjects, as well as a compilation of his best (and worst) one-liners, in his own inimitable style. 'I rather doubt whether anyone has ever been genuinely shocked by anything I have said.' Prince Philip, in an interview, 1999. Smashing Fact No.1: Philip was 13 years old when he met his future wife, Elizabeth. They were both attending the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and the Duke of Kent in 1934. Elizabeth was eight at the time. The pair met again five years later.

Wild Weather is a fun, easy-to-read guide to understanding the wonders of weather - from why it rains to cloud formations, from extreme weather events to the benefits of sunlight. Wild Weather is a beautifully illustrated book that explores the science of weather events and how they happen, but also the myth and folklore associated with weather patterns. Chapters include: sunshine and rainbows, wind, rain, thunder and lightning, snow and ice. The book also includes a cloud spotting guide and is packed with exercises on how to make the most of even the rainiest of days. This perfect gift for weather enthusiast everywhere and those who want to reconnect with the weather and embrace what is happening on the other side of the window.

Challenge yourself at home with word puzzles

A super-sized challenge for crossword lovers, selected by the Times2 Crossword Editor John Grimshaw.

This Crossword appears weekly in the Saturday edition of The Times. The puzzles offer the same challenge as the times2 daily crossword but the larger grid packs an extra punch!

The clues are also a little more testing than the daily times2 crossword, to stretch the crossword enthusiast just a bit further, and provide hours of entertainment.

Challenge yourself at home with number puzzles

The latest volume in the hugely popular Killer Su Doku series from The Times, featuring the highest-quality puzzles with an extra element of arithmetic.

This addition to the successful Times Killer Su Doku series will test your skills to the limit, adding the challenge of arithmetic and taking Su Doku to a new and even deadlier level of difficulty.

The puzzles use the same 9x9 grid as Su Doku but with an added mathematical challenge. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the numbers 1-9, it is also necessary to ensure that the outlined cubes add up to the same number as well.

With 200 new Moderate, Tricky, Tough and Deadly Killer Su Doku puzzles, there is no chance to ease yourself in with simple puzzles. For those who like to live dangerously and push beyond their mental comfort zone, steel yourself for The Times' next, terribly tough instalment.

"Llama Llama, morning light.
Feeling yucky, just not right.
Down to breakfast.
Tiny sneeze.
Sniffle, snuffle.
Tissues, please "
"Ah-choo " Uh-oh, Llama Llama's nose is feeling tickly, his throat is feeling scratchy, and his head is feeling stuffy. Back to bed, no school today for Llama Llama Instead, he's home with Mama. By lunchtime, though, he's beginning to feel a tiny bit better. But now someone else has the sneezes . . . Mama And who will help her feel better? Why, Llama Llama, of course Anna Dewdney's fun-to-read rhymes are sure to help children and their parents get through those under-the-weather days.

The iconic Instagram page @DadSaysJokes returns with a fresh batch of dad jokes to share with your nearest and dearest. With cringeworthy gags for every occasion, Dad Jokes: The Laugh-out-loud Edition is the perfect gift for Father's Day, birthdays, Christmastime and beyond. @DadSaysJokes is a community-run Dad jokes network on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, with nearly 6 million followers, inspired by the daily jokes of author Kit Chilvers' dad, Andrew. Every day, followers submit their jokes and the team picks their favourites - or Dad just drops in his own zinger! Kit, a young social networking influencer, started his career at the tender age of 14 when he created his original platform, Football.Newz. He has since added another fourteen platforms, including @PubityPets and monster meme Instagram page @Pubity with over 31 million followers. This is his sixth book.

Founded in 1879, Sunderland AFC quickly became one of the greatest clubs in English football. This history of the club takes the reader step by step through the club's development, beginning with the club's foundation, the early triumphs and subsequent tragedies, through conflicts with Sunderland Albion to league and cup domination, from Raich Carter and Bobby Gurney to Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn. Along the way great players, matches and successes are highlighted, in an accessible style suitable for football fans of all ages.