Embedded and Real-Time Java Systems

Karen Hao 在《Empire of AI》中，記錄她對 OpenAI 及全球人工智慧競賽的近距離觀察。最初以安全為核心使命的非營利組織，隨著 ChatGPT 的成功與微軟資金的加入，逐漸捲入高速、資源密集且高度集中的競爭。書中不僅揭露 Altman 的辭退與復職內情，也細述 AI 產業的代價——昂貴的運算能力、全球規模的數據蒐集、低薪勞工清理資料，以及對能源與水資源的龐大消耗。透過跨洲採訪，本書展現了 AI 如何同時重塑經濟權力與加深社會不平等。An Instant New York Times Bestseller“Excellent and deeply reported.” —Tim Wu, The New York Times“Startling and intensely researched . . . an essential account of how OpenAI and ChatGPT came to be and the catastrophic places they will likely take us.” —Vulture“Hao’s reporting inside OpenAI is exceptional, and she’s persuasive in her argument that the public should focus less on A.I.’s putative ‘sentience’ and more on its implications for labor and the environment.” —Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New YorkerFrom a brilliant longtime AI insider with intimate access to the world of Sam Altman's OpenAI from the beginning, an eye-opening account of arguably the most fateful tech arms race in history, reshaping the planet in real time, from the cockpit of the company that is

An all-new Minecraft chapter book series continues with Book Three of The Ironsword Academy! When the Evoker King transformed himself into the Evoker Kid, a total noob who only wants to experience everything the world of Minecraft has to offer, he didn't leave a clue as to what he wanted Harper and her friends to do. Now that the team is closer than ever to facing the Ender Dragon, Harper takes it upon herself to figure out their whole plan down to the last detail--but she doesn't know how they're going to make it work with the odds stacked against them. Everything starts to feel overwhelming, especially since they don't really know what will happen to Eek after they beat the Ender Dragon. Find out in the only official chapter book series--based on the most popular video game of all time--that takes a group of intrepid Minecraft player on amazing journeys where they solve problems and unravel mysteries in the real world and in video game world. Don't miss these other great Minecraft Se

伊茲總希望平靜的小鎮生活能多一點驚奇，沒想到驚奇來得這麼突然。某天，妹妹亨被一段飄浮在森林中的神祕旋律吸引，消失在樹林深處。追尋過程中，伊茲發現一個奇異的洞口，通過後竟來到妖精的世界。這裡不是地球，妹妹也不是迷路——她是被帶走的。為了救回亨，伊茲必須相信自己，並與一群性格各異的變形者同行，在這片充滿魔法與危險的土地上冒險。一本關於勇氣、姊妹情誼與自我探索的奇幻小說，獻給渴望成長與奇蹟的讀者。Three-time Newbery Honor winning author Christina Soontornvat's debut novel, now with fresh new cover art for a new generation of readers!All Izzy wants is for something interesting to happen in their sleepy little town. But her wish becomes all too real when a mysterious song floats through the woods and lures her little sister Hen into the forest…where she vanishes. A frantic search leads to a strange hole in the ground that Izzy enters. But on the other side, she discovers that the hole was not a hole, this place is not Earth, and Hen is not lost. She’s been stolen away to the land of Faerie, and it’s up to Izzy to bring her home.But inside Faerie trouble is brewing—and Izzy is in way over her head. A ragtag group of outlaw Changelings offer to help, and she must decide whether a boulder t

Bluey the Autism Truck's Big Adventures is a heartwarming children's book series that follows Bluey a bright blue pickup truck with a big heart as he drives across towns and cities spreading messages of inclusion, kindness, and autism acceptance.Each story introduces young readers to new friends, different abilities, and real-life situations that encourage empathy, celebrate differences, and spark meaningful conversations. Through Bluey's adventures, children learn that everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued every day of the year.Filled with colorful illustrations and age-appropriate language, this series is perfect for young readers, educators, and families who want to inspire understanding and celebrate the beauty of neurodiversity.Because autism awareness isn't just a month it's a movement. And Bluey's leading the way, one mile at a time.

Celebrate the Creator and reconnect with your creative spirit with this one-of-a-kind 30-day women's devotional with bonus craft activities When each day feels like a marathon--between trying to meet the needs of your kids and family to putting out fires for your clients and colleagues--it can feel impossible to allow time just for yourself. But through 30 days of devotionals that include creativity-nourishing, hands-on activities, Crafted in Faith will help you give yourself the space you need to reignite your inner spark and overcome your anxieties as you rejoice in God's loving Word. With each devotional, you'll first reflect upon the day's meaningful Scripture verse and lesson, seeing how God's Word can be applied to real-life experiences. Then, you'll put the day's message into practice as you get creative with the attractive, easy-to-complete projects. Plus: each craft only requires simple materials you can find around the house or at your local craft store. Within each devotiona

From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh-grader has to figure out how to fulfill a seemingly impossible school assignment—and learns about friendship, community, and himself along the way.Herc Beal knows who he's named after—a mythical hero—but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod—and not a single Hydra in sight.Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc figures out how to take his first steps along the road that the great Hercules himself once walked. Soon, new friends, human and animal, are helping him. And though his mythical role model performed his twelve labors by himself, Herc begins to see that he may not have to go it al

A fandom-centric romcom about self-confidence and the power of finding the people who just get you, DO YOU SHIP IT is a beautifully lighthearted YA from bestselling author Beth Reekles, perfect for fans of Holly Bourne, Jenny Han, and Lynn Painter.So much fun! Prepare to meet your new One True Pairing in this witty, chaotic and feelgood romcom - Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, QueenWhen Cerys’ best friend and secret crush Jake moves to a new college, she realises she’s running out of time to take their relationship from platonic to romantic. She’ll do anything to get out of Jake’s friendzone, even if that means diving into the huge fantasy fandom he loves so much.But when Jake introduces Cerys to his shiny new friend Max, who goes to all the conventions and loves a costume, she realises she’ll need to do a lot more to grab Jake’s attention than

THE NO.1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERA TIMES, FT, ECONOMIST AND INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR'Boundlessly wise . . .important and engrossing' The New York Times'One of the most important books I've read . . .It's absolutely brilliant' Dr Rangan Chatterjee'Urgent and essential' GuardianAcclaimed psychologist Jonathan Haidt reveals how the decline of free-play in childhood and the rise of smartphone use among adolescents is changing our worldFrom 2010, as teens traded in their flip phones for smartphones packed with social media apps, unsupervised time online soared while face-to-face conversations with friends and family plummeted, and so did mental health. This profound shift took place against a backdrop of diminishing childhood freedom and over-supervision in the real world, depriving children of the experiences they most need to become strong and self-governing adults.The Anxious Generation delves into the latest research to show how this shift from free-play to smartphones disrupts deve

THE INSTANTNEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLERFrom communication expert Jefferson Fisher, the definitive book on making your next conversation the one that changes everythingNo matter who you’re talking to,The Next Conversationgives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. Jefferson Fisher, trial lawyer and one of the leading voices on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation.Fisher has gained millions of followers through short, simple, practical videos teaching people how to argue less and talk more. Whether it’s handling a heated conversation, dealing with a difficult personality, or standing your ground with confidence, his down-to-earth teachings have helped countless people navigate life’s toughest situations. Now for the first time, Fisher has distilled his three-part communication system (Say it with control, Say

ANew York Timesbestseller!AGMA3Summer Reading Squad Selection!“Ingeniously plotted, and a grin-inducing delight.” —People“Will keep young readers glued to the page…So when do I get the sequel?” —Beth McMullen, author ofMrs. Smith’s Spy School for GirlsIn this thrilling new series that Stuart Gibbs called “a must-read,” Edgar Award winner James Ponti brings together five kids from all over the world and transforms them into real-life spies—perfect for fans ofSpy SchoolandMrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls.Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.Operating out of a base

Tag along with the Timekeepers in these history-themed adventure stories and discover amazing people and events that shaped our world. Join the Timekeepers in this chapter book series for 7 to 9 year-olds covering a range of adventures that span all of history. The Timekeepers series is perfect for any adventure lover!In this installment, the Timekeepers travel back to Edo Period Japan and become mixed up in a samurai showdown.This children’s chapter book series offers:An introduction to history that blends a fun story with real facts, plus a non-fiction section with timelines, quizzes and a glossary. A fun, educational chapter book series that blends fact and fiction for children who love history. An insight into different historical time periods showing the connection between the past and present.Meet the Timekeepers, a secret organisation of kids who keep the course of history on track – and history needs them! A villain called DeLay is set on causing chaos… When the hands on their

For fans of Finding Winnie, a warm, lovingly detailed picture book that tells the true story of the beloved classic The Velveteen Rabbit and its creator, Margery Williams.Since its publication over one hundred years ago, The Velveteen Rabbit has been a touchstone for generations of children. Here, for the first time, is the story of how this cherished character came to be, and of the writer who brought him to life.As a child, Margery Williams was encouraged to embrace her creativity and imagination, which later helped her cope with challenging times of war and loss. Rich, expressive artwork that’s made to be pored over and a warm, reassuring text draw readers into Margery’s world and show them how they can use their own creativity to get through hard times. This gorgeous, giftable picture book will resonate with anyone who’s ever wished their beloved toys would become real—and with those who believe they already are.

Alex Rider is nowa Freevee original series!From internationally bestselling author Anthony Horowitz comes the fourteenth thrilling installment of the Alex Rider series! Follow the world's greatest teen spy as he sets off to California to battle Nightshade once again—this time, for good.When Alex Rider thwarted the plans of the criminal organization Nightshade, he knew he'd made a new, blatantly evil enemy. But he hadn't expected to get sucked back into the spy game so quickly—that is, until the Nightshade masterminds kidnap his best friend, forcing Alex to do their bidding if he ever wants to see his pal alive again.As Alex dives deep into this latest mission, his friend isn't the only one whose life is on the line. Nightshade has entered the world of virtual reality gaming, and the lines between what's real and what's digital are being blurred everywhere. With a ruthless enemy fighting dirty and not caring who gets hurt along the way, the stakes have never been higher—and this time, i

A must-have guide for helping your child conquer worry, fear, and overwhelmAN OPEN FIELD PUBLICATION FROM MARIA SHRIVERKids today are more susceptible than ever to anxiety and stress. As a parent, you want to shield your child from these overwhelming feelings, but it can be daunting in an unpredictable world. Fortunately, there are ways to help, andRaising Calm Kids in a World of Worryshows how.Psychotherapists and parent coaching team Ashley Graber, LMFT, and Maria Evans, LMFT, introduce SAFER Parenting—a simple yet powerful five-step approach designed to help children ages 6-12 regulate emotions and build lasting self-esteem. Offering real-life examples and drawing on their experience working with thousands of families struggling with anxiety, they outline key practices to reduce worry both in the moment and over time. You’ll learn how to:Recognize often-missed signs of anxiety and uncover their root causesManage big feelings and guide your child toward useful coping toolsNavigate di

Step up to the barre with Angelina Ballerina as she tackles new challenges in this paperback bind-up of four chapter books full of beautiful black-and-white illustrations and with sparkly foil on the cover.Angelina Ballerina welcomes her little sister and other new students to school with a special ballet show, goes on tour like a real ballerina, has a ball dancing with a princess her age, and sashays to the finish line in Fancy Dress Day in this beautiful paper over board bind-up of four illustrated chapter books about everyone’s favorite dancing mouse! This charming book is perfect for Angelina Ballerina fans who are beginning to read on their own, or for reading aloud at bedtime or story time!This paperback bind-up includes:Best Big Sister Ever!Angelina Ballerina’s Ballet TourAngelina Ballerina and the Dancing PrincessAngelina Ballerina and the Fancy Dress Day

●Practical applications include examples, over 500 homework problems, and computer problems.●Describes techniques to convert analog signals, the analysis of linear time-invariant discrete-time systems and signals in the time domain, and bilateral and unilateral z-transform methods.●Analyzes signals and systems in the frequency domain, the Fourier series and transform in continuous- and discrete-time signals, and the sampling and reconstruction of continuous-time signals.●Examines realizations of IIR and FIR systems and techniques to design digital filters.●Looks at sampling-rate conversion and applications to multirate digital signal processing.●Discusses linear prediction, optimum linear filters and single-channel adaptive filers based on the LMS and RLS algorithms.

A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the YearA Bank Street College Best Book of the Year"As delectable as a mooncake." —Kirkus ReviewsAcclaimed author Gloria Chao creates real-world magic in this luminous romance about teens who devote themselves to granting other people's wishes but are too afraid to let themselves have their own hearts' desires—each other.Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked the Biggest Misunderstanding of All Time—and they haven't spoken since.Then Liya discovers her family's wishing-lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can't do it alone . . . and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help.While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship—and maybe mor

Rabbit and Mouse find a mitten! But who could it belong to? Join the two friends as they journey through the forest in this graphic novel for emerging readers.Oh no! A lost red mitten. Rabbit and Mouse want to return the mitten, but first they’ll have to figure out who it belongs to. Squirrel? No. Badger? Nope. As they continue through the forest and meet new creatures, Rabbit and Mouse are excited to find the real owner. They’re doing a good deed!But when the time comes, can Rabbit give up the mitten? Red is his favorite color, after all! With a knowing ear and eye for the moods of young children, Jannie Ho has crafted a tale about doing the right thing (even if it’s hard) for young readers with bright colors and cute woodland figures. Simple panels and targeted vocabulary will aid beginning readers as they enjoy the gentle banter between true friends. I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number o

《The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks》延續Lottie的超糗日記系列，這次她的聖誕節一如既往──充滿笑料與災難！Lottie熱愛聖誕：有滿滿的KitKat巧克力、兩週不用上學、還能寫給聖誕老公公長長的願望清單。但當全家親戚都來過節、秘密交換禮物出現意外、倉鼠攻擊小精靈裝飾時，聖誕節變得一團亂！Katie Kirby以幽默筆調捕捉青春期的尷尬與溫情，是笑中帶暖的聖誕特別篇。・人氣系列第五集，聖誕節特別篇。・以爆笑筆調描繪家庭與友情的混亂與甜蜜。・適合8–12歲讀者，輕鬆閱讀、共鳴滿分。From hilarious bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a brand-new Lottie Brooks story. This time it's CHRISTMAS!!!Dear Santa,For Christmas this year, I would like:Two hundred KitKat chunkies (full-size not multipack)Baby Bella to stop shouting 'BUM' in public spacesA new brother who doesn't fart on me and call it a 'tasty air biscuit'Antoine or Daniel (I can't decide!) to surprise me on Christmas Day with a grand romantic gestureCash (lots of it!)A new diary (I'm really getting through them!)Lots of love,Lottie xxxPS. Please could you put a chocolate orange instead of a real orange in my stocking this year? Lottie Brooks LOVES Christmas - there's presents, all the KitKat Chunkys you can eat AND no school for two we

Bestselling and award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes reimagines the classic novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson in this thrilling adventure set in modern-day Manhattan, in which three children must navigate the city’s hidden history, dodge a threatening crew of skater kids, and decide who they can really trust in order to hunt down a long-buried treasure. Three kids. One dog. And the island of Manhattan, laid out in an old treasure map.Zane is itching for an adventure that will take him away from his family’s boarding house in Rockaway, Queens. So when he is entrusted with a real treasure map, leading to a spot somewhere in Manhattan, Zane wastes no time in riding the ferry over to the city to start the search with his friends Kiko and Jack and his dog, Hip-Hop.Through strange coincidence, they meet a man who is eager to help them find the treasure: John, a sailor who knows all about the buried history of Black New Yorkers of centuries past—and the gold that is hidden

Six acclaimed novels from Alice Oseman, the author of the 2021 YA Book Prize winning Loveless and creator of the beloved graphic novel series Heartstopper, now a major Netflix series.SOLITAIREMy name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Now there’s Solitaire. And Michael Holden.RADIO SILENCEWhen Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken.I WAS BORN FOR THISFor Angel Rahimi life is about one thing: The Ark – a pop-rock trio of teenage boys who are taking the world by storm.Jimmy Kaga-Ricci owes everything to The Ark. And playing in a band with his mates is all he e

An internationally bestselling series of board books with amazing real-life sounds!It’s time to listen to beautiful music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker! Push the buttons to hear the songs!Aimed at babies and toddlers, this ground-breaking series of interactive board books has a button on every spread, which plays one of six different exceptional quality sound effects. Children of every age will be captivated as they bring the artwork to life with six amazing real-life sounds.

THE UNMISSABLE NEW BOOK FROM GUENTHER STEINER, AUTHOR OF THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, SURVIVING TO DRIVE. Fasten your seatbelts as Formula 1's favourite underdog, Guenther Steiner, takes you on a wild ride through his ten years at Team Haas. From the first seeds of his idea to establish a new F1 team to the challenges of funding and building that team from the ground up, Guenther shares the real story of the origins of Team Haas, immerses readers in the high and lows of its first decade on the grid, and opens up about his departure from the team at the end of 2023.As Guenther recalls his proudest achievements and the many, many disasters he has faced, he takes readers behind the scenes, into the pit lanes and garages, and out on to the circuits of the world's greatest race tracks. We spend time with drivers, mechanics, executives, sponsors, commentators and fans, and take in many personal moments too, all the while grappling with the big challenges and small details that keep the wh

THE UNMISSABLE NEW BOOK FROM GUENTHER STEINER, AUTHOR OF THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, SURVIVING TO DRIVE.Fasten your seatbelts as Formula 1's favourite underdog, Guenther Steiner, takes you on a wild ride through his ten years at Team Haas.From the first seeds of his idea to establish a new F1 team to the challenges of funding and building that team from the ground up, Guenther shares the real story of the origins of Team Haas, immerses readers in the high and lows of its first decade on the grid, and opens up about his departure from the team at the end of 2023.As Guenther recalls his proudest achievements and the many, many disasters he has faced, he takes readers behind the scenes, into the pit lanes and garages, and out on to the circuits of the world's greatest race tracks. We spend time with drivers, mechanics, executives, sponsors, commentators and fans, and take in many personal moments too, all the while grappling with the big challenges and small details that keep the whee

The New York Times bestseller and basis for the Tony Award-winning hit musical, soon to be a major motion picture starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.With millions of copies in print around the world, Gregory Maguire's Wicked is established not only as a commentary on our time but as a novel to revisit for years to come. Wicked relishes the inspired inventions of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, while playing sleight of hand with our collective memories of the 1939 MGM film starring Margaret Hamilton (and Judy Garland). In this fast-paced, fantastically real, and supremely entertaining novel, Maguire has populated the largely unknown world of Oz with the power of his own imagination. Years before Dorothy and her dog crash-land, another little girl makes her presence known in Oz. This girl, Elphaba, is born with emerald-green skin--no easy burden in a land as mean and poor as Oz, where superstition and magic are not strong enough to explain or overcome the na

Dear Diary,Life's been awfully busy since the Coronation. Those tiaras don't choose themselves and managing Charles is a full time job when he's giving it the full King at the drop of a hat. I've barely enough time to watch Bargain Hunt. Is it any wonder I have to smoke so much?Cheerio for now,CamillaFrom Hilary Rose, the sharp witted writer for The Times, comes her first book, a hilarious royal parody. Taking us from coronations to overseas tours, from a royally doomed family Christmas to TV dinners with Below Deck Med, Queen Camilla reveals in her personal diary how she keeps it real when life is anything but. With a cast of characters including the King, wily courtier Sir Clive, sidekick sister Annabel and assorted Jack Russell terriers, The Secret Diary of Queen Camilla is a wickedly funny, entirely fictitious, insight into life behind palace walls.

Bluey and Bingo are told a real-life fairy tale by Dad!Bluey and Bingo are told a real-life fairy tale by Dad. There’s a mean brother who ends up good, a curse and a princess! Enjoy the magic of a real-life fairytale with Bluey and Bingo."This story's set a long, long time ago in a place called the 80s . . . "Do you believe in real-life fairytales? Find out in this hilarious picture book..Want more Bluey? Try:Bluey: Road TripBluey: BedroomBluey: PerfectBluey: QueensBluey is an Emmy award-winning Australian children's television programme following the adventures of a loveable six-year-old Blue Heeler Puppy, Bluey and her family. It’s currently showing on Disney+, BBC iPlayer and CBeebies in the UK. Bluey enjoys exploring the world and using her imagination to turn everyday life into an amazing adventure. Join Bluey in this fun collection of story, activity and novelty books that celebrate play.

13歲的魔女琪琪與黑貓吉吉一同飛往海邊小鎮，展開一年的修行生活。離開熟悉的家，獨自面對未知與挑戰，她將在這座溫暖城市中學習獨立、發現自我。本書以圖像重現這段關於勇氣與成長的動人旅程。A young witch named Kiki sets off on a journey to become a witch--what does she find at the seaside city where she settles? Now that she's 13 years old, it's time for young Kiki to start thinking about her future. One night, under the shine of a full moon, she grabs her black cat Jiji, hops on her mother's broom and heads off into the night. The next day she arrives at a friendly seaside city, and this, she tells her loyal and furry companion, is where she'll spend the next year learning how to become a real, honest-to-goodness witch.

Crimson Twill is finally taking wand lessons! But is she just too different from the other little witches to succeed? A magical new adventure in this delightful series. Crimson Twill is a unique little witch--she likes polka dots, sparkles, and sweet apples instead of rotten ones. And she finally has a real, full-length wand! Now Crimson is off to exciting New Wart City to take wand lessons with her best friends, Mauve and Wesley, and is surprised to discover that their class includes the famous young Broadwart star Miserabella Portentia! Crimson's friends are starstruck, and for good reason: Miserabella is wickedly good at wand lessons and always seems to be in the spotlight. Meanwhile, when Crimson tries to do things the way Miserabella does, everything turns out miserable--sunbeams instead of rain, donuts instead of burned bagels, and roses instead of thorns. Disaster! But when one of Miserabella's spells gets out of control, it might be time for Crimson to do things her way. Can Cr

The Black Death was a pandemic of unimaginable propotions, taking the lives of 75 - 200 million people worldwide. Lauren Tarshis's story of one girl surviving the plague pulses with terror, action, and hope.In this gripping story about the first wave of the plague, I Survived readers will travel to medieval England -- a time of knights and peasants; cathedrals and castles -- when the most deadly disease in world history sweeps across Europe and parts of Asia and Africa.New York Times bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tells the story of how one girl finds incredible hope amid illness and grief. Includes a section of nonfiction backmatter with more facts and photos about the real-life event.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, Joanna Ho, comes a fun and festive holiday story about a little girl's enthusiastic hunt for the real Santa in a city that's bustling with joy.One little girl has always hoped to stay awake long enough to meet Santa, and she knows this is her year. She just knows Santa smells like peppermint and laughs like the sun clapping its hands. When Mama takes her on a special journey to the city, they discover Santas ho-ho-ho-ing about everywhere, making it so much harder to find the real one. The little girl is sure she knows just what she's looking for, but will she find Santa in time for Christmas? From award-winning author Joanna Ho and acclaimed artist Thai Phuong, comes a whimsical tale about the true magic of the season.

Discover how there is a season for everything in this antidote to an instant world. The concept of time is hard to grasp. From a single minute to a full century, hearts beat, trees bloom and grow - and a human lives a lifetime.This book takes 18 different periods of time - from a single minute; to an hour; to over a century - to show the process of life, looking at biology in all its forms, from plants, animals and human biology too. In one minute, learn that your heart beats over 100 times. In one day, learn how a dragonfly unfurls a pair of wings.In a season, watch a bear hibernate for winter. In over 80 years, see a human live a lifetime. Packed with real science but rooted in the deeper things in life, this poetic non-fiction anthology is sure to prompt questions between a parent and child.This book is a perfect antidote to an instant world· Discover how there is a season for everything in this book that explores the process of life· A full illustrated step-by-step guide to lifecyc

The New York Times bestseller and basis for the Tony Award-winning hit musical, soon to be a major motion picture starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.With millions of copies in print around the world, Gregory Maguire's Wicked is established not only as a commentary on our time but as a novel to revisit for years to come. Wicked relishes the inspired inventions of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, while playing sleight of hand with our collective memories of the 1939 MGM film starring Margaret Hamilton (and Judy Garland). In this fast-paced, fantastically real, and supremely entertaining novel, Maguire has populated the largely unknown world of Oz with the power of his own imagination. Years before Dorothy and her dog crash-land, another little girl makes her presence known in Oz. This girl, Elphaba, is born with emerald-green skin--no easy burden in a land as mean and poor as Oz, where superstition and magic are not strong enough to explain or overcome the na

'Haunting in every way. A story thick with family secrets, human heartache, and the kind of deep magic only Harkness can conjure. You will be enchanted' LEIGH BARDUGO'The Black Bird Oracle deftly explores the nexus of memory, history, and parenthood - the magic, pain, and promises mothers pass onto their children.Harkness's lush prose makes a fantastical world real enough to touch' JODI PICOULTDiana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself - and her family history - in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved Number One Sunday Times bestselling All Souls series. The first shadows fall on a Friday afternoon when a single, dying raven lands on the pavement in front of Diana Bishop, harbinger of an invitation that reads, 'It's time you came home, Diana'. Diana is a witch and scholar; her husband Matthew Clairmont, a vampire.Their intense love for one another awoke the dark powers within her and dissolved the Covenant between the three species - Witch, Daemon and Vampi