What was the First World War really like? Step into the boots of 14-year-old soldier James Marchbank and find out. Inspired by the real-life diary of a Scottish boy soldier, each easy-to-read chapter mixes James's story with timelines, letters, diagrams and illustrations to create a fact-tastic account of the First World War, which is both fun and emotionally engaging for younger readers. Why was rat hunting a popular hobby in the trenches? How did parachuting pigeons help win the war? Why would a really good friend rub whale oil on your feet? What did it feel like to be a teenager at war? Take a journey through time and discover all the most important and incredible bits of the First World War. A Secret Diary of the First World War is the first in a new brilliant series, which blends together intriguing facts and fascinating fiction to bring the most exciting, gruesome and crucial moments of Scottish history alive for young readers.

She was Queen of Scotland and of France, and a possible Queen of England; she was involved in a series of mysterious deaths; in the end she lost her head... But what was life really like for Mary, Queen of Scots? Put on your ruff and step into the sixteenth century for a unique glimpse into the dramatic life of the infamous queen. Mary's story is told from the perspective of her young servant Alec. Each easy-to-read chapter mixes the involving story of the queen's life with timelines, charts and revealing illustrations to create a Fact-tastic account that is both educational and emotionally engaging for younger readers. Take a journey through time and find out: -- Why did Mary become Queen of Scots when she was just six days old? -- What exotic animals lived with the young queen? -- How did Mary escape from Lochleven Castle? -- Why did Mary's cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, arrange her beheading? The Amazing Life of Mary, Queen of Scots continues the brilliant Fact-tastic series, which blends intriguing facts and fascinating fiction to bring the most exciting, gruesome and crucial moments of Scottish history alive for young readers.

THE STORY OF THE HUMAN JOURNEY TO SPACE

Long before anyone had designed a rocket, the Montgolfier brothers were making hot air balloons. In October 1783, they became the first people to experience controlled flight. Balloon to the Moon starts there and leads to Neil Armstrong's 'small step' and beyond. But why stop there?

Learn about the great innovations of the past, then get ready for BLAST OFF into an unknown but exciting future.

A Beginners Guide to the Periodic Table is a mind-blowing guide to the elements that make up the periodic table. By linking each element to a story, wacky science analogy or fascinating fact, Gill creates a unique first reference to the periodic table. From smelly sulphur and exploding hydrogen to why Stevie Wonder is blind and everything in between, Gill seamlessly explains the mind-boggling 92 elements which will make you look at the periodic table in a whole new light!??Packed full of eye-catching illustrations and fantastic explanatory diagrams, prepare to be amazed by the most wacky and informative first introductory to the periodic table ever! Packed full of eye-catching illustrations and fantastic explanatory diagrams, prepare to be amazed by the most wacky and informative first introductory to the periodic table ever!

What exactly is a living thing? And what is it made of? A Beginner's Guide to Life on Earth starts with the very basics of life and provides manageable bite sized chunks of information to explain away the mystery behind life on Earth. From bacteria to blue whales, slime moulds to sequoias and everything in-between, discover what exactly makes a living thing. Packed full of fantastic artwork and brilliant photos along with amazing facts, A Beginner's Guide to Life on Earth is the perfect guide to life on Earth.

What Makes You You? is a mind-blowing introduction to the building blocks of life, DNA, what it is, how it works, and what we can do with it. Breaking down complex scientific concepts and processes into digestible bite-sized chunks; Gill Arbuthnott seamlessly explains everything from the basics of evolution to the incredible achievements of modern day genetic research in an accessible, insightful and brilliantly interesting way. Packed with amazing 3D style illustrations and explanatory diagrams that jump off the page as well as amazing tales of scientific discoveries and what's in store for the future, Gill truly brings science to life.

From the Big Bang to the abundance of life that surrounds us today, this beautiful book - the third by the award-winning duo Gill Arbuthnott and Chris Nielsen - is the story of evolution, from the very first cells to ourselves. How old exactly is the Earth? How do we know what was here before us? Are we still evolving? From Cells to Ourselves is the story of the beginnings of life around 3.8 billion years ago, to the millions of species alive today, including humans. Learn about mythology giants who formed the Earth, analyse fossils, walk with the dinosaurs, join Charles Darwin on his exploration of the Galápagos islands and marvel at some of the random and bizarre acts that have shaped our world in this beautifully illustrated book. Created by the author and illustrator duo of the award-winning Balloon to the Moon.

From sandy beaches to mysterious, inky depths, this beautiful book is the story of ocean exploration, from shore to ocean floor. Seen from space, Earth is a swirl of blue and white. The blue is Earth's oceans, which cover 70% of its surface... yet the ocean in the most unexplored region of our planet. From Shore to Ocean Floor is the story of how humans went from building the first boats, to discovering the secrets of the deep. Marvel at incredible scientific discoveries, be dazzled by some of the most exciting new species and admire the incredible men and women who took the very first steps below the surface. This spectacularly illustrated book comes from the author and illustrator duo of the award-winning Balloon to the Moon.

THE STORY OF THE HUMAN JOURNEY TO SPACE Long before anyone had designed a rocket, the Montgolfier brothers were making hot air balloons. In October 1783, they became the first people to experience controlled flight. Balloon to the Moon starts there and leads to Neil Armstrong's 'small step' and beyond. But why stop there? Learn about the great innovations of the past, then get ready for BLAST OFF into an unknown but exciting future.

'She plunged beneath the surface, her eyes blind in the murky, green water: dived again and again until she couldn't take another breath. There was no trace. Freya was gone.' Jess has heard the rumours, old folk tales of creatures that live beneath the water: dangerous shapeshifters with a taste for human children. She's dismissed them as crazy stories -- until her best friend is stolen and Jess discovers all the legends are true... Trying to rescue her friend, she meets one of them -- a kelpie -- but he turns out to be nothing like she imagined. Caught between two worlds, between kelpies and humans, and between mysterious Finn and brave Magnus, Jess must chose between what she's always known -- and what lies beneath. Gill Arbuthnott creates an enthralling world of love and revenge, divided loyalties and imminent danger in this brilliant fantasy novel for young teens set in 16th century Scotland.

Since the beginning of human history, we have been at war with an invisible enemy. Microbes. These tiny organisms can spread terrible diseases. Ramses V, Pharaoh of Egypt may have died of smallpox; in 1918 a new illness called the Spanish Flu killed 50 million people in 18 months; and in the fourteenth century the black death killed more than a quarter of the population. In more recent times Covid 19 has changed the way we live. But there's good news too! Human scientists have learned to fight back. In the 18th century edward Jenner developed the first vaccine, and since the 1930s penicillin has saved millions of lives. And many microbes are helpful. They help our digestion, give us powerful medicines and even food. This is the Microbe Wars. It's good, it's bad sometimes it's ugly, but it's a scientific journey filled with innovation and hope.

Shortlisted for the Scottish Children's Book Awards 2015 15-year-old Callie Hall has just found out she's a witch, and things keep going wrong. Sometimes her mind seems to make things happen, things she can't control. She can set fire to things without a match, and when she's angry people can get hurt. Her friend Josh understands she's a bit weird, but it's only on a dark and dangerous visit to the tunnels under the ruins of St Andrews' Castle that he realises just how strange she really is. Something comes back with Callie -- in Callie -- something she can't escape. Can Callie control her power long enough to send back the darkness, before it takes over her life? And will Josh ever understand her secret? A brilliant, engrossing teen fantasy from the author of Winterbringers and The Keeper's Daughter.

Ice-covered sand and frozen seas -- not exactly what you'd expect on your summer holiday, even in St Andrews. But this isn't just awful Scottish weather; Josh soon discovers that something terrible is happening to the seaside town. With his new friend Callie and her enormous dog Luath, Josh is thrown headlong into a storm of witches, ice creatures, magic and the Winter King. Eternal winter threatens, unless they can stop the Winterbringers once and for all ... A brilliant fantasy adventure from Gill Arbuthnott. Prequel to dangerous and spooky Dark Spell.