Botanists and seed collectors Rod and Rachel Saunders set out on what seemed to some to be an impossible mission – to find and photograph, in full bloom, all gladioli species found in South Africa and to collect and share their observations in a field guide. They had found all but one species before their untimely deaths at the hands of kidnappers in a forest in KwaZulu-Natal.

In the wake of this tragic event, friends and colleagues collaborated to keep the Saunders’ dream alive. This book is the result their collective efforts.

Gladioli are showy bulbous plants that fall within the Iris family, and the bulk of species are endemic to South Africa. Comprehensive and lavishly illustrated with more than 1,300 photographs, this guide covers the 166 Gladiolus species known to occur in the region.

The book is divided into seven taxonomic sections, according to the species’ distinguishing features. Each species is presented on a double-page spread, with a full plate of color photographs, including close-ups of diagnostic features, different color forms and habitats. Botanical descriptions cover identification (corm, cataphyll, spike, bracts, anthers, pollen, capsules, seeds, and scent), distribution, pollination, conservation status, and notes on ecology and the authors’ personal observations in the field. Distribution maps and flowering periods are given for each species, and tables highlight differences between similar-looking gladioli.

There are almost 300 recognized species, widely distributed across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with more than half of the species found in southern Africa, making this book useful to botanists world-wide, as well as to horticulturist, propagators, students, gardeners and anyone with an interest in natural history.

An imaginative and engaging exploration of childhood emotions through poetry and evocative illustration. Emotions are like animals: No two are quite the same. Some are quiet; some are fierce; And all are hard to tame. Children experience all sorts of emotions: sometimes going through several very different ones before breakfast. Yet they can struggle to put these feelings into words. An inability to understand and communicate their moods can lead to bad behavior, deep frustration, and a whole host of difficulties further down the line. Like adults, they need help to recognize and verbalize their inner state. The greater their emotional vocabulary, the more likely they are to grow into happy, healthy, and fulfilled adults. An Emotional Menagerie is an emotional glossary for children. A book of 26 rhyming poems, arranged alphabetically, that bring our feelings to life--Anger, Boredom, Curiosity, Dreaminess, Embarrassment, Fear, Guilt, and more. The poems transform each emotion into a different animal to provide a clear and engaging illustration of its character: how it arises; how it makes us behave and how we can learn to manage its effects. Boasting a rich vocabulary, the poems also give children a wide variety of options for describing their feelings to others. Filled with wise, therapeutic advice, brought to life through musical language and beautiful illustrations, An Emotional Menagerie is an imaginative and universally appealing way of increasing emotional literacy. AN EMOTIONAL GLOSSARY FOR CHILDREN: with 26 rhyming poems, arranged alphabetically. ILLUSTRATED BY RACHAEL SAUNDERS: whimsical and humorous full color illustrations throughout. TEACHES CHILDREN EMOTIONAL LITERACY: through imaginative poems connecting different animals to common emotions. IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS: by helping children articulate their feelings. FOR AGES 5 AND UP

Welcome to Puppy Club! Join Jaya, Willow, Daniel, Elsa, Arlo and Harper as they all navigate the ups and downs of life with a brand-new puppy! When Jaya’s aunt reveals that Underdogs Rescue Centre needs funding for a new wing of kennels, the Puppy Clubbers have the perfect solution: a sponsored dog walk! There’s only one problem. Arlo’s puppy Dash is always racing about, and despite attending training classes, shows no signs of slowing down. Arlo is trying all he can to get Dash to work with him. Will he learn to listen in time to join the others on the Waggy Tails Walk? A heart-warming new series for young animal-loving readers, perfect for fans of Holly Webb and Helen Peters.

This pocket-sized adventure guide teaches young adventurers about all the fun you can have at the seaside: what to pack, how to spot sea creatures and wildlife, how to catch a fish and much, much more! Children will also learn exactly what not to do, from getting stung by a jellyfish to getting caught in a rip current. With fun games to play, interesting information about protecting the coastline, and a useful chapter on what to do in a seaside emergency, this is the perfect book for young costal adventurers!

Alex and Ruby are back in their THIRD time-slip adventure, tumbling back into the time of the French Revolution! From multi-award-winning author Sally Nicholls comes another brilliant action-packed adventure for 7+ readers, beautifully illustrated by Rachael Dean. When Alex and Ruby fall through the mirror in their aunt's house, they find themselves in a different historical period, each time with a different task to perform before they can return to the present. From Edwardian crime capers to Victorian Christmasses, their time-slip stories are always exciting and beautifully told. When a furious French aristocrat lands in Alex and Ruby's hallway, they have to hide her in Regency England. Can they stop her causing chaos? Probably not... Full of action and humour and featuring exciting black-and-white illustrations throughout, this is another superb time-slip story which brilliantly brings history to life as part of an adventure. 'A clever vehicle for introducing the differences between then and now in an accessible way, with a fast-paced plot and a lovely spooky ending' - The Times on A Chase in Time Have you read Alex and Ruby's other adventures: A Chase in Time, A Christmas in Time and A Secret in Time? Cover illustration by Isabelle Follath.

Polite and perfect Princess Hannah has been so well behaved that the King and Queen have decided to get her a very special birthday present: The Marvellous Magical Pudding Machine! How can she possibly be expected to share such a wonderful thing with her friends? Discover the fanciful and vivid picture book that gives hope that even those with the sweetest tooth might learn to share...

Welcome to Puppy Club! Join Jaya, Willow, Daniel, Elsa, Arlo and Harper as they all navigate the ups and downs of life with a brand-new puppy! Elsa loves her gorgeous puppy Coco but her family's two cats aren't so welcoming. They chase the terrified pup all over the house! And to make things worse, Coco's chewing everything and it's stressing Mum out. Luckily Puppy Club is on hand to help, and soon Operation Friendship is underway, with plans to keep Coco out of trouble and help her bond with the cats. But with each day seeming to bring a new disaster, Elsa can't help worrying ... what if Mum has second thoughts about keeping the puppy? A heart-warming new series for young animal-loving readers, perfect for fans of Holly Webb and Helen Peters.

Jaya and her friends are desperate for a puppy of their own. They've even created Puppy Club to find out all they need to know. When the time comes they'll be the perfect owners! Jaya, Willow, Harper and Elsa all dream of having a dog. So when Jaya's aunt, who runs Underdogs Rescue Centre, tells Jaya that new dog Lulu is expecting puppies it feels like the girls' best chance to get their parents to agree. It's time for Operation Paw-fect Puppy! Along with new Puppy Club members, Arlo and Daniel, the children set about trying to prove to their parents what responsible owners they'd be. But will it be enough to persuade them? The first in a gorgeous new series for young, animal-loving readers, perfect for fans of Holly Webb and Helen Peters.

An outdoor guide from the National Trust for young boys and girls with a thirst for adventure. This is the ultimate pocket-sized adventure guide to all the fun you can have in the woods: how to craft your own tools, how to build a shelter, how to cook food over a campfire . . . and even how to get drinking water from wee! Children will also learn exactly what not do, from eating poisonous mushrooms to starting a forest fire. Durable and attractive small hardback format with an elastic strap - easy to pop in your pocket or rucksack and take with you to the woods. Perfect for fans of Bear Grylls! With fun games to play in the woods, advice on tracking animals, and a useful chapter on first aid, this is the perfect book for young adventurers! Other titles in the series include: Seaside, River and Mountains.

Celebrate the extraordinary life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II and discover the history of the royal houses of Great Britain. The kings and queens of Great Britain are brought to life in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Exploring the history of the monarchy, featuring expertly written histories and a timeline of the royal houses, this is the perfect book for kids to learn more about Elizabeth's life and reign.

A counting lift-the-flap farm board book with pop-up chicks, part of the FUNNY FARM series. Did you know that farmers sometimes put duck eggs under broody hens to hatch them? The duckling and hen fall in love and it's as natural as natural can be... until the duckling starts swimming! Cluck Cluck Duck is a beautifully produced, sturdy lift-the-flap board book, the first in the series about the humorous goings-on at Funny Farm. Each book has an early-learning concept underlying the story and Cluck Cluck Duck introduces early maths skills. There is a page of pop-up chicks for the children to count - four little eggs, four little chicks...plus one! An uplifting, warm-hearted story of acceptance and family love. The Funny Farm series is beautifully produced with matt laminated and embossed covers and sturdy board pages. It also includes Tractor Tractor, a book about opposites starring an old and new tractor who form the very best of friendships.

Join the UK's most-loved farmer, Adam Henson, on a fascinating journey around the farm. In this interactive non-fiction book, with over 40 flaps, you can discover where food comes from, peek inside a combine harvester, and uncover incredible facts about popular farm animals. Did you know that one sheep shearer can shear 200 sheep in a day? Or that robots can milk cows? Do you know what a beetle bank is? Or how peas are harvested? Adam - and his trusty sheepdog, Peg - are the perfect guides for your day on the farm. With colourful scenes, clever flaps that will intrigue a wide age group, and lively illustration, this is a book for all budding farmers and animal-lovers. Both entertaining and educational, this is quality, fascinating non-fiction for families.

One big tractor, shiny and new. One small tractor, rusty and blue... TRACTOR TRACTOR is the second book in a series of lift-the-flap books about the humorous goings-on at Funny Farm. Each book has an early-learning aspect and TRACTOR TRACTOR is all about opposites. It has sliders too, so children can make the tractors move forward and back, fast and slow. It's harvest time and Red arrives shiny, fast and strong. Blue is an old faithful - small and rusty but wise and calm. So when Red decides to race home after a hard day's harvesting, Blue lets him go, only to find Red in a ditch, no longer shiny and clean but the dirtiest - and smelliest! - tractor he's ever seen. A warm-hearted story that shows, despite being opposites, young and old can make a great team, and be the very best of friends. The Funny Farm series is beautifully produced with matt laminated and embossed covers and sturdy board pages. It also includes Cluck, Cluck, Duck, a counting lift-the-flap book.

This pocket-sized adventure guide teaches young adventurers about all the fun you can have on the river: what to pack, how to spot river animals and wildlife, how to build your own raft, how to catch a fish and much, much more! Children will also learn exactly what not to do, from getting caught in a current to slipping down waterfalls. With fun games to play on and around the river, interesting information about the water cycle, and a useful chapter on what to do in a river emergency, this is the perfect book for young adventurers!

A tale-of-truest friendship book A fill-my-heart with love book A read-again-and-again book An epic tale of love, loss, reunion and adventure on the high seas told through the friendship of a girl and her dog, Fidget. Written by debut picture-book author Trish Forde and illustrated by rising star Rachael Saunders, this is a book that combines humour and heart with a faultless read-aloud rhythm

A new threat emerges, and the darkness can no longer be contained... Under the command of its bloodthirsty general, the Supremacy joins forces with a deadly new ally, unleashing carnage with fanatical precision. With war spreading to all corners of Atala, Nadon undergoes a dark metamorphosis; one that threatens to fracture the already-cracking continent and to undermine Nadon's very humanity. As he alienates those around him and more earth-shattering secrets are revealed, Nadon fights to overcome the darkness inside and to stem the tide of annihilation. In the end, however, there is only one choice to be made, and Nadon must decide what matters to him most-survival or victory.

In the fight to save a dying land, can there still be a victor? Their champion lost, those who still stand against the Supremacy fight on in the wake of their latest defeat. Cornered at last, and with no hope of escape, the family Nadon left behind must unite the land against a common foe. It's become a war of survival, but, when things are at their darkest, hope returns to rally Atala's defenders for one final, desperate gambit. With the noose ever-tightening, Nadon's family is pushed to their limit, but, as the earth beneath them crumbles and the conflict of the millennium comes crashing down, a fatal truth is revealed; only those already lost may escape the impending destruction.

In the heart of a forgotten continent, a spark ignites in the strangest of places... Nadon-Kesh grows up like any other child abandoned to the Saget riverbank, but his life takes a dangerous turn when the Supremacy, the tyrannical force enslaving the realm, drives him from his home. Thrust into the dangerous world beyond the riverbank alongside his closest friends, Nadon learns of his place in an age-old conflict that may change the face of the land forever. Ensnared in the battle to reclaim a kingdom, Nadon struggles to harness a rising power within in the hope of saving his family from destruction. But, as his dark legacy threatens to destroy the land itself, Nadon discovers that it may not always be possible to escape one's fate.

A mountain guide for young boys and girls with a thirst for adventure This is the ultimate pocket-sized adventure guide to all the fun you can have in the mountains: rock climbing, pitching a tent, tracking mountain animals and much, much more! Children will also learn exactly what not do, from being attacked by mountain lions to getting caught in an avalanche. Durable and attractive small hardback format with an elastic strap - easy to pop in your pocket or rucksack and take with you to the mountains. Perfect for fans of Bear Grylls! With interesting information about navigation and mountain sports, safety tips and even a fun quiz, this is the perfect book for young mountain adventurers! Other titles in the series include: Woods, Seaside and River.

Polite and perfect Princess Hannah has been so well behaved that the King and Queen have decided to get her a very special birthday present: The Marvellous Magical Pudding Machine! How can she possibly be expected to share such a wonderful thing with her friends? Discover the fanciful and vivid picture book that gives hope that even those with the sweetest tooth might learn to share...

Turn the pages to match the farm animals and their noises in this beautiful, bright baby book.

Turn the pages of the brilliant book within a book to match the animals and their noises in this stylish, interactive board book. Bright colours and simple words introduce children to farm animals and their noises and the mix-and-match game makes learning fun. A perfect first book to share with your baby.