International

They Lost Their Heads!: What Happened to Washington’s Teeth, Einstein’s Brain, and Other Famous Body Parts

From the kidnapping of Einstein’s brain to the horrifying end of Louis XIV’s heart, the mysteries surrounding some of history’s most famous body parts range from medical to macabre. Carlyn Beccia explores the misadventures of noteworthy body parts through history and uses them as springboards for exploring topics such as forensics, DNA testing, brain science, organ donation, and cloning. The engaging, conversational tone of the text, the wonderfully creepy subject matter, and the delightfully detailed art are sure to capture even the most reluctant readers. The famous people and their body parts include: Galileo Galilei / Fingers ; Louis XIV / Heart ; George Washington / Teeth ; Franz Hayden / Head ; Beethoven / Hair ; Abraham Lincoln / Body ; Cheng and Eng Bunker / Liver ; Phineas Gage / Skull ; John Wilkes Booth / Neck vertebrae ; Vincent Van Gogh / Ear ; Sarah Bernhardt / Leg ; Mata Hari / Head ; Albert Einstein / Brain ; Elvis Presley / Wart ; Thomas Edison / Last Breath.

Journeys: Tales Of Travel And Trailblazers

Throughout history, human beings have been fascinated by travel. From the earliest days of hunting and gathering, to the first journeys across land and sea, to modern advances in space exploration, we have always wanted to know more and do more.

Disappearing Acts

Disappearing Acts is a beautifully illustrated search-and-find book. Each page features a densely detailed landscape: rainforest, savannah, coral reef, and more. Within these landscapes are hiding threatened species such as the Adelie penguin, elephant, panda, and snow leopard, and children are invited to search the picture to find each one. Alongside each illustration run descriptions of the animals, their numbers, their habitats, and why they are endangered. At the back of the book an index of animals provides further context. Isabella Bunnell’s warm, intricate watercolors provide a delightful way to learn about our planet’s rich diversity and fragile ecosystems.eco

Flying Colors

By exploring the designs of flags, we can learn all about the histories and aspirations of the countries they represent. Did you know that only the flag of Nepal has more than four sides? Or that the flag of Mozambique features a book, a hoe and an AK47? Robert Fresson’s vintage-inflected illustrations shed fresh light on the wonders of vexillology.

Impossible Inventors

This book collects ancient and modern inventions. Some are revolutionary, others comical, others simply impossible. But each testifies to the extraordinary imagination of its inventor. You’ll find a flying bicycle, a bubble telegraph, passenger clouds and passenger birds, mechanical chess players, a water clock, a concentration hood, and many more incredible ideas.

Here And There

Explore the amazing dieversity of our planet’s people and cultures in full technicolor. Find out how people celebrate the New Year in Thailand, discover Iran’s incredible Fire Festival, and much, much more.

What a Wonderful Word

This handpicked collection of untranslatable words from all over the world celebrates the magic of language, with gorgeous original artwork and fascinating facts about each word and the culture it comes from.

Featured in Volume XIII, Issue 2 of WOW Review.

The Triumphant Tale Of The House Sparrow

So begins Jan Thornhill’s riveting, beautifully illustrated story of the House Sparrow. She traces the history of this perky little bird, one of the most adaptable creatures on Earth, from its beginnings in the Middle East to its spread with the growth of agriculture into India, North Africa and Europe. Everywhere the House Sparrow went, it competed with humans for grain, becoming such a pest that in some places “sparrow catcher” became an actual job and bounties were paid to those who got rid of it.