Did you know that an old tradition in Scandinavia tells of a Yule Goat who wanders around villages ensuring people have properly prepared for Christmas and demanding presents from everyone? Or that in 1659 it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in Massachusetts? What on earth is a Turducken? And how many Christmas tree farms are there in America? In this fascinating audiobook, narrator Kent Harris answers all of these questions and more as he talks us through over one hundred amazing yuletide facts.
This audiobook includes two versions of each chapter: one with background Christmas music to put you in a fantastically festive mood, the other with nothing to distract from the amazing facts. Tracks 3 to 12 are chapters one to ten with music; tracks 13 to 22 are the same but without.
All background music is included under license from Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes? Do you want to know some incredible trivia about the world's greatest detective? Whether you prefer Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC's Sherlock, Robert Downey Junior's portrayal in the film series, or even Basil Rathbone's performances almost 80 years ago, this fascinating audiobook narrated expertly by Lawrence Keefe is sure to interest you regardless. With over 100 amazing facts covering everything Sherlockian - from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Gregory House - this is the perfect addition to any fan's bookshelf.
How many works in total do you think Mozart composed? What award was bestowed on him by the Pope? How many languages could he speak? And what rather unsavoury subject was he seemingly obsessed with? In this fascinating audiobook, narrator Charles King answers all these questions and more as he visits the intriguing world of one of the world's greatest ever composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Perfect for everyone from those new to the world of classical music right through to serious long term fans, this is an ideal addition to any bookshelf.
The Goonies meets Indiana Jones in Addison's second laugh-out-loud adventure! A journey through Asia in pursuit of the legendary tomb of Genghis Khan.
Fresh off of a victorious treasure hunt and rescue mission in South America, Addison Cooke just can't seem to steer clear of rogue bandits, pesky booby traps, and secret treasure troves. But it sure beats sitting around in school all day.
Addison's aunt and uncle, on the other hand, are none too happy about their habit of attracting kidnappers. When they become pawns in a dangerous gang's plan to steal the most prized possession of the notorious Mongolian leader Genghis Khan, Addison and his friends find themselves once again caught in the middle of a multi-million-dollar international heist. Armed with nothing but their wits and thirst for adventure, they travel across Asia in an attempt to rescue Addison's family and stop the treasure from falling into the wrong hands.
Brimming with round-the-clock action and tons of laughter, Addison Cooke and the Tomb of the Khan is perfect for fans of Indiana Jones, ancient history, and James Patterson's Treasure Hunters series.
Praise for Addison Cooke and the Tomb of the Khan:
"Addison Cooke is Indiana Jones and James Bond rolled intoone for the middle-grades set. Stokes' witty second adventure only improves upon the first, giving greattheatrical drama to this rollicking ride."--Booklist
Praise for Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas:
"Combines the derring-do of Indiana Jones with a genuine archaeological mystery. Stokes brings a cinematic scope to the story. This lively debut promises more seat-of-the-pants thrillsfor readers who love adventure."--Booklist
"Cinematic pacing and action drive the story, but it's Addison and his friends who will keep readers engaged. Humor is never in short supply . . . and Addison's endless optimism and irrepressible confidence in his own abilities are endearing."--School Library Journal
"Addison is often one step ahead of the adults, but his lead is constantly threatened, building steady tension throughout the novel, screenwriter Stokes's debut."--Publishers Weekly
Three incredible stories for kids.
Story 1: Noob is awkward; he is weird. Everybody has always known it, but few have sympathized with his alternative brain. Even after fighting and killing a dangerous sea creature, he doesn’t get acknowledged by the crowd. But will they finally see his potential after he proves himself to be a skillful competitor as a businessperson? Will he turn his life around with his active mind-set? Learn more and read about Noob, a genius in disguise.
Story 2: Speter is a spider who hates the rain, but in the tropical climate you have to create a good web in order for it to be durable. Salem is a little confused when his web breaks. Should he go hunting without webs? Should he attack the humans? Or should he just join a group of spiders? Find out what this spider decides after being confronted with a robot, an aggressive villager, and a fellow spider who shows him the way.
Story 3: Borco and his family are in the middle of a conflict. The town of Mendy Mountain is a strange one, divided by rocks, held together by huge bridges. But when one of the corrupt magistrates finds a way to summon evil ghasts and shoot fireballs at the other civilians, revolution is bound to happen, and the brave citizens of Mendy Mountain are ready to strike back. Listen to this exciting, action-packed adventure of a real hero whose only objective is to restore the peace.
In an engrossing historical novel, the Newbery Medal-winning author of Bridge to Terabithia follows a young Cuban teenager as she volunteers for Fidel Castro's national literacy campaign and travels into the impoverished countryside to teach others how to read.
When thirteen-year-old Nora tells her parents that she wants to join Premier Castro's army of young literacy teachers, her mother screeches to high heaven and her father roars like a lion. Nora has barely been outside of Havana - why would she throw away her life in a remote shack with no electricity, sleeping on a hammock in somebody's kitchen? But Nora is stubborn: didn't her parents teach her to share what she has with someone in need? Surprisingly, Nora's abuela takes her side, even as she makes Nora promise to come home if things get too hard. But how will Nora know for sure when that time has come?
Shining light on a little-known moment in history, Katherine Paterson traces a young teen's coming-of-age journey from a sheltered life to a singular mission: teaching fellow Cubans of all ages to read and write while helping with the work of their daily lives and sharing the dangers posed by counterrevolutionaries hiding in the hills nearby. Inspired by true accounts, the novel includes an author's note and a time line of Cuban history.
When Sheldon Russell Curtis told this story to his daughter, Rosa, she kept every word in her heart and was to retell it many times.
I will tell it in Sheldon's own words as nearly as I can.
He was wounded in a fierce battle and left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. Pinkus' skin was the color of polished mahogany, and he was flying Union colors like the wounded boy, and he picked him up out of the field and brought him to where the black soldier's mother, Moe Moe Bay, lived. She had soft, gentle hands and cared for him and her Pink.
But the two boys were putting her in danger, two Union soldiers in Confederate territory! They had to get back to their outfits. Scared and uncertain, the boys were faced with a hard decision, and then marauding Confederate troops rode in.
In this Civil War story passed from great-grandfather to grandmother, to son, and finally to the author-artist herself, Patricia Polacco once again celebrates the shared humanity of the peoples of this world.
Do you know what the ancient Romans used instead of soap? Which emperor made his horse into a senator? Who was the god of music, light and truth? And how would a gladiator request an honourable death in battle? John Harnish answers all these questions and more as he takes us on a fascinating trip through the ancient Roman world. Whether you're studying this amazing period in history, or are simply interested in how our ancestors lived, this is the perfect audiobook for you.
Do you know the age of the youngest soldier to receive the Victoria Cross during the First World War? What role did tanks play in the conflict? And how much were Germany ordered to pay in reparations after the war? In this fascinating audiobook, narrator Lawrence Keefe answers all these questions and more, talking us through over one hundred facts about The Great War. In addition to learning about one of history's worst ever conflicts, listen to Lawrence's moving narration of two famous poems of the time: In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae and Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen.
Are you a fan of the modern generation of royals? How much do you know about the lives of Prince William, his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and the rest of the Royal Family? In this fascinating audiobook, narrator Jason Zenobia talks us through over one hundred facts about royals both past and present, covering areas such as traditions of the monarchy, kings and queens from history, the royal family today and much more. So no matter how much or how little you currently know, this is the perfect book for you.
Do you know the main difference between the diet of a Tudor nobleman and that of a peasant? What was it that changed Henry VIII from an active and pleasant young man into a vastly overweight tyrant? What did a gong farmer do? And what was the purpose of a whipping boy? In this excellent audiobook, narrator Jason Zenobia answers all these questions and more as he talks us through over one hundred amazing facts about the Tudors. If you're interested in one of the most fascinating periods in English history, this is perfect for you!
Did you know that Shakespeare introduced thousands of words into the English language? Do you know what unusual item he left to his wife in his will? Have you heard of the conspiracy theory that suggests Shakespeare didn't write the plays we attribute to him today? In this fascinating audiobook, narrator Kent Harris talks us through all of this and more as we discover over one hundred amazing facts about the Great Bard. Whether you've seen all his plays or you're just learning about England's greatest playwright, this is the perfect audiobook for you.
