Books

A highly illustrated, fun and easy-to-read guide to politics in the modern world.

An informative guide to political systems, elections, voting and government, and issues including feminism, human rights, freedom of speech and fake news, all explained with clear text and bright, infographic style illustrations.

Includes tips on how to argue and debate, a glossary, and links to specially selected websites with more information.

"Clearly explains the basic principles of decision-making and political representation."
The Guardian

"A brilliant resource for all ages, this book explores the big issues in both the political world today & political systems throughout history."
Just Imagine

"An exciting and informative book helping children understand everyday politics."
Hive, selected as Children's Book of the Month

- A Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week
- Winner of the Junior Design Awards

Chapters in this book include:
- What is politics?
- Who's in charge?
- What is a government?

All kinds of governments
How societies have run themselves from Ancient Athens and Rome, to China, Europe and the Birth of the United States of America

Political systems
How does democracy actually work? How do countries get things done? And what about the alternatives - dictatorship, communism and even total anarchy?

Elections and voting
Who can vote? Who can't? And is there a way to count all the votes up that's fair to everyone?

Political change
How can people influence their governments in between elections - or in countries where elections don't happen at all?

Political ideologies
What are the big ideas that politicians use to decide how to run a country? What's the difference between 'left' and 'right' in politics, and why does it matter? How can work out where YO are on the political spectrum?

Big questions
Sometimes what matters most isn't who is in charge, or what they stand for, but what they're actually going to do to fix the world's problems...

- Is there such a thing as 'human rights'?
- Can war ever be justified?
- Why are some countries poor?
- What is terrorism?
- What is prison for?
- What is freedom of speech?
- How does the media affect politics?
- What is immigration?
- Am I a feminist?
- Who's responsible for the planet?
- Is corruption inevitable?
- How to argue
- Learn to debate
- What next?

Did you know there's a single spot on your brain that recognizes numbers? Or that the first computer bugs were actual insects and that most of the internet is under water? This fascinating book is filled with 100 fascinating facts, bright, infographic illustrations, a glossary and index, and links to specially selected websites to find out more.

Nobody has everything they need, all the time - so how can we make do with what we have? Economics is all about understanding the choices we make to solve this problem. With bright, infographics pictures, this informative book describes why markets are so important, how businesses work out what to sell, and how governments choose how to run a country. Includes Usborne Quicklinks to specially selected websites for more information.

Chapters in this book include:
- What is economics?
- What is an economy?
- What do economists study?
- How do you do economics?

Not enough to go around
The things we need to survive, how we choose them, and why there's never enough time: the big reasons why economies exist.

Markets
Buying and selling and how prices are set - as if by magic.

Making choices
How do people make choices and why are those choices often unexpected? How can businesses and governments change people's choices? Why would they want to?

Production, profit and competition
What big choices do businesses face? Why is competition so important? Why do some businesses produce pollution and what should we do about it?

Economic systems
Is there a set of rules that would make it possible to share everything fairly? Or is it better to have winners and losers? What systems have people tried?

Macroeconomics
What tools do governments use to measure the economy? What effects do their choices have on individual people and the economy as a whole?

International trade
Why everyone from around the world benefits from buying and selling each other's products - and why governments sometimes don't like it.

Big questions (and a few answers)
How the tools of economics help us make sense of everything, from war to famine to saving the planet.

What's next?

Philosophy is a way of thinking about just about anything. It asks big questions, such as "how can I be good?" or "what makes something beautiful?" Using lively examples, humorous illustrations and simple thought experiments, this book opens up the world of philosophy to children and adults with enquiring minds.

Chapters in this book include:
- What is philosophy?
- A world of philosophy?
- Doing philosophy
- How to argue
- Thought experiments
- Why do philosophy?

Knowledge
How do we know anything about the world around us - can we be sure that we know anything at all?

The mind
Is your mind somehow different from your body, and are you even in control of it?

Beauty and art
What is beauty, and what is art?
And why is it so hard to answer these questions?

God
If there is a God, is it possible to prove that he or she exists?

Politics
Are there any rules that everyone can agree on that would make a society a fair and happy place for everyone to live in?

How to be good
If you're not sure of the right thing to do, can the tools of philosophy help you find an answer?

Time and Identity
Everything changes with time - but how much can something change and still count as the same thing? What is time, anyway?

Logic and language
What are the rules of philosophy, and how can you follow them if people don't agree on what words themselves actually mean?

The meaning of life
Is philosophy merely a way asking questions about the world - or can it also be a way of life itself? Can it answer the ultimate question: what is the meaning of life?

What next?
Multiple mysteries
Famous Philosophers

The Lion and the Mouse by Susanna Davidson

It’s tough in the wild, whether you’re a tiny mouse or a big, scary lion. But friends can be found in the strangest of places. Aesop’s charming fable is specially retold for beginner readers in this lively retelling, and features beautiful illustrations by John Joven throughout.

Grasshopper sings all summer, happy and carefree. Ant is busy, busy, busy, collecting food for winter. But what will Grasshopper do when winter comes? Find out in this lively retelling of the classic Aesop's fable, specially written for beginner readers and with beautiful illustrations by John Joven throughout.

"I'm so fast!" boasts hare. "Humph!" says Tortoise, in a grump. "Hare, I challenge you to a race!" But who will win? Find out in this lively retelling of the classic Aesop's Fable, specially written for children who are just learning to read, with charming illustrations by John Joven throughout.

When Mother Duck's eggs hatch, one duckling is different from the others. He is big and scruffy. Wherever he goes, nobody wants the Ugly Duckling. Will he ever find any friends of his own? Find out in this retelling of the classic fairy tale, specially written for children who are just learning to read, with charming illustrations by Valentina Fontana throughout.

Titles in this set:

1. Earthquakes & Tsunamis
2. Sun Moon and Stars
3. Living in Space
4. Storms and Hurricanes
5. Volcanoes
6. Astronomy
7. The Solar System
8. Your Body
9. Planet Earth
10. Weather

Description:

Earthquakes & Tsunamis
This is a fantastic addition to the popular Beginners series, providing an informative introduction to the fascinating world of earthquakes for young readers. There are clear explanations of the science behind different types of earthquakes and their effects, including tsunamis and landslides. This title features real-life earthquakes, and describes how people are kept safe and rescued when disaster strikes. Striking colour photographs and step-by-step illustrations engage readers with the subject matter. This title is developed with a reading expert from Roehampton University to help young readers grow in confidence

Sun, Moon and Stars
What is the Sun made of? How did astronauts get to the Moon and what did they find there? For children beginning to read on their own, this book is an exciting introduction to space. Includes vivid, full-colour illustrations and photographs on every page, and easy-to-read text specially written with the help of a reading expert.

Living in Space
How do astronauts travel into space? Where do they live when they get there? What do they do all day? In this book, you'll find the answers and lots more amazing facts about living in space. This non-fiction series aims to encourage children to access the wonder of the world around them. The easy-to-read text has been specially written with the help of a reading expert.

Storms and Hurricanes
How do astronauts travel into space? Where do they live when they get there? What do they do all day? In this book, you'll find the answers and lots more amazing facts about living in space. This non-fiction series aims to encourage children to access the wonder of the world around them. The easy-to-read text has been specially written with the help of a reading expert.

Volcanoes
Did you know that somewhere in the world, a volcano is erupting right now? In this fascinating book, you can read about amazing eruptions and find out about fiery lava rivers, deadly ash clouds, steaming springs and much more.

Astronomy
A straightforward book telling you all a beginner needs to know about the planets, stars, moons, nebulae, galaxies, asteroids and more, through easy-to-read text, full-colour photographs and step-by-step visual explanations. Recommended websites accessed via Usborne Quick links provide further online resources.

The Solar System
What is the surface of Mars like? Why does Venus glow in the dark? How do scientists explore faraway planets? Beginner readers can find answers to these questions and more in this colourful information book.

Your Body
Have you ever wondered what's inside you? Take a tour around your amazing body and find out what your heart and lungs do, how you see and hear, where food goes and lots more.

Planet Earth
What makes planet Earth so special? It's the only planet to have anything living on it for a start. But it also has fiery volcanoes, magnificent mountains, scorching deserts and icy landscapes. Find out all about it in this fantastic book.

Weather
What makes the wind blow? How can rain sometimes be red? Why are tornadoes like vacuum cleaners? You'll find out the answers and lots more about weird and wonderful weather in this fascinating book. Usborne Beginners are colourful information books for children beginning to read on their own.

Town Mouse loves to live the high life, while his cousin Country Mouse prefers a quieter life. When the two visit each other's homes, will they realise that sometimes differences aren't always a bad thing? Find out in this lively retelling of the classic story, specially written for beginner readers and with beautiful illustrations by John Young throughout.