Maps Special Edition, £25
This book was already popular in our children’s department and has been made even better with this special edition, which includes 16 new maps. The collection of 68 maps takes you through 58 countries and six continents. It is packed with illustrated information, which includes famous historical figures, local dishes, festivals, wild animals and landmarks. Each page is a work of art to revisit, because each time you look you will notice something new.
Illuminatlas, £20
The cleverly designed Illuminatlas comes with three coloured lenses so you can look at the pages in three different ways. Use the red lens to see cultural highlights, the green to study the map, and the blue to find out about natural wonders from each continent. Clear descriptions of the cultural highlights and those natural wonders are then looked at in detail, in black and white, on separate pages – so you don’t miss anything.
Maps of the United Kingdom, £17.99
We held the launch for Maps of the United Kingdom at the Stanfords store in London, and lots of people admitted that their knowledge of UK counties could be better. Technically aimed at children, it contains lots of information and facts that adults won’t mind learning. It’s so well put together, especially when it comes to choosing the seven famous people with a connection to each county: Norfolk, for example, includes Boudicca and Philip Pullman.
Harry Potter’s London: The Film Location Walk, £3.99
Harry Potter’s London is a map that features information on three walks taking in the best of the central London locations featured in the hugely popular films. The walks cover Piccadilly Circus to Westminster Bridge via Trafalgar Square; King’s Cross station, with its famous Platform 9¾; and the Monument and Leadenhall market to St Paul’s Cathedral via Borough Market and the Millennium Bridge.
Doodle World Map Pillowcase, £14.99
This 100% cotton, machine-washable world map pillowcase features lots of wonderful illustrations, including animals, the seven wonders of the modern world and interesting facts, such as the first solo round the world hot air balloon, the route of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the world record migration of the humpback whale. It comes with wash-out pens so you can wash off the old design and colour it in all over again, and again. Perfect for sleepovers.
Usborne First Sticker Book Flags, £5.99
Learn the flags of every country in the world by placing the flag stickers on the correct countries on the maps. This contains fascinating facts about countries and why certain flags feature their particular designs. There are fun questions throughout, including, “Which country has a flag with the sun on it?” and “Some African flags have a diagonal stripe. How many can you find?” There are also illustrations of landmarks and traditional iconography of countries.
Atlas of Dinosaur Adventures: Step Into a Prehistoric World, £20
Palaeontology meets cartography in this atlas that is perfect for any dinosaur-obsessed child. It is by the award-winning team behind Atlas of Animal Adventures and Lucy Leatherland’s inky illustrations make the book a joy to look at. It covers the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and includes maps on the shifting continents and fossil finds. On every page you meet a different creature and discover its behaviours, hunting techniques, defence tactics and migration patterns.
Seeing Stars: A Complete Guide to the 88 Constellations, £17.95
Stars have always been so important to navigation and an integral part of cartography. This book is a wonderful depiction of all 88 internationally recognised constellations. It explains the stories behind them and shows you how to spot them, with a how-to-find-it map that shows it in relation to the other constellations. Clearly set out, so it is easy to browse, this is ideal for budding stargazers, including adults – it’s an extensive beginners’ guide.
Alastair Humphreys’ Great Adventurers, £16.99
Adventurer Alastair Humphreys introduces us to 20 of the world’s greatest explorers and tells of their daring feats and epic journeys. The book includes a mixture of adventurers from different backgrounds throughout history – up to the present day – including aviation pioneers Amelia Earhart and Beryl Markham; the Paralympian Rick Hansen, who wheeled around the world; Sacagawea, the Native American who led the Lewis and Clark expedition across America, and one of our favourites, Ranulph Fiennes. It also includes maps and kit lists.
Usborne Atlas and Jigsaw Europe, £9.99
You get two gifts in one here. This 300-piece jigsaw of Europe comes with a 32-page picture atlas, so you can see and discover the continent in more detail with the maps and learn more about the countries as you are building the puzzle. Beautiful illustrations of animals, landmarks and attractions cover every centimetre of the jigsaw, making it challenging (but not too hard) to put together for children age 5+.
