"What in the world? That's what you?ll say when you open this amazing large-format photo book, full of real-life riddles and puzzling pictures. Patterns, colors, shapes, hidden animals, optical illusions, double-take photo comparisons, and much more will give your brain a workout and keep you coming back for more!"--Provided by publisher.

What paintings can teach us—if we can really learn to see them What happens when we look at a painting? What do we think about? What do we imagine? How can we explain, even to ourselves, what we see or think we see? And how can art historians interpret with any seriousness what they observe? In six engaging, short narrative "fictions," each richly illustrated in color, Daniel Arasse, one of the most brilliant art historians of our time, cleverly and gracefully guides readers through a variety of adventures in seeing, from Velázquez to Titian, Bruegel to Tintoretto. By demonstrating that we don't really see what these paintings are trying to show us, Arasse makes it clear that we need to take a closer look. In chapters that each have a different form, including a letter, an interview, and an animated conversation with a colleague, the book explores how these pictures teach us about ways of seeing across the centuries. In the process, Arasse freshly lays bare the dazzling power of painting. Fast-paced and full of humor as well as insight, this is a book for anyone who cares about really looking at, seeing, and understanding paintings.

In 1939, Churchill described Russia as "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma," distilling what an uncomprehending West feels as the 'otherness' of an eccentric power. Many Westerners have but a shallow understanding of Russia. They project onto it characteristics that are not necessarily consistent with reality, or they see only part of the picture, adopting unexamined, stereotypical views. As a result, we often assess Russia on the basis of Western standards, over- or underestimating it and failing to fully understand the trends and dynamics that supervene within the country to influence its foreign policy. President Putin may not have definitively altered the face of his country, but he did regain for it a standing and prestige disproportionate to its actual capabilities, reviving national pride. There are opportunities as well as risks for Moscow in the post-Western world of multiple uncertainties. Putin the pragmatist, while not in a position to proffer an alluring alternative to Western ideology, exploits every opportunity to call into question the foundations of the existing system, which was shaped in the wake of the Second World War and further consolidated after the dissolution of the USSR, and serves first and foremost the interests of the U.S. and its European allies. Russia is seen by many in the West as a revisionist power, but it carefully chooses when, where and how it acts to further its revisionist agenda. It is manifestly more assertive in its near abroad - the post-Soviet space - but is becoming more confident in medium-abroad regions like the Middle East, where it is filling the gap left by Washington's reluctance to intervene. Moscow has even begun to leave its mark on the African region. Today's Russia seems more comfortable communicating with authoritarian regimes worldwide and capitalises on many Westerners' disappointment in and outrage at the policies of the Western establishment. Likewise, populists and extremists (e.g., Le Pen in France, Salvini in Italy, Orban in Hungary) have reached an understanding with Moscow, but we can't tell (despite the obvious indications) to what extent they coordinate their actions with the Kremlin. At the same time, Russia's economy, while not in straits as dire as some would have us believe, is not in a position to support Moscow's ambitions and certainly needs to be decentralised and become less dependent on exports of raw materials, investing in innovation and new technologies, with a focus that goes beyond the defense sector. In the current volume, we try to shed light on many factors that will define Russia's fate and its relations with the world. Twenty-six authors from diverse backgrounds and nine countries provide insightful answers to the following questions: What is the identity of Putin's Russia? How does the country's economy influence its international position? What are the main vectors of its foreign policy, and to what extent is this policy shaped by an underlying ideology? What soft-power, hard-power and hybrid tools does it employ, and what role does energy play? How are its relations with key global and regional players (the U.S., the EU, Germany, China, Egypt) shaped? And how and why is it asserting itself on the regional level: in the post-Soviet space, the Middle East and the Southeast Europe?

“This page-turning true-life adventure is filled with rich and riveting details and a timeless understanding of the things that matter most.”—Dashka Slater, author of The 57 Bus “Brilliantly told in verse, readers will love Ken Sparks.” —Patricia Reilly Giff, two-time Newbery Honor winner “Lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny. A richly detailed account of a little-known event in World War II.” —Kirkus Reviews “Middle grade Titanic fans, here’s your next read.” —BCCB “An edge-of-your seat survival tale.” —School Library Journal (starred review) A Junior Library Guild Selection The 2019 Golden Kite Middle Grade Fiction Award Winner A 2019 ALSC Notable Children’s Book The 2019–2020 Lectio Book Award Winner The 2020–2021 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award List The 2020 Oklahoma Library Association’s Children’s Sequoyah Book Award Winner The Connecticut Book Award Winner In the tradition of The War That Saved My Life and Stella By Starlight, this poignant novel in verse based on true events tells the story of a boy’s harrowing experience on a lifeboat after surviving a torpedo attack during World War II. With Nazis bombing London every night, it’s time for thirteen-year-old Ken to escape. He suspects his stepmother is glad to see him go, but his dad says he’s one of the lucky ones—one of ninety boys and girls to ship out aboard the SS City of Benares to safety in Canada. Life aboard the luxury ship is grand—nine-course meals, new friends, and a life far from the bombs, rations, and his stepmum’s glare. And after five days at sea, the ship’s officers announce that they’re out of danger. They’re wrong. Late that night, an explosion hurls Ken from his bunk. They’ve been hit. Torpedoed! The Benares is sinking fast. Terrified, Ken scrambles aboard Lifeboat 12 with five other boys. Will they get away? Will they survive? Award-winning author Susan Hood brings this little-known World War II story to life in a riveting novel of courage, hope, and compassion. Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 12 is about believing in one another, knowing that only by banding together will we have any chance to survive.

Step out your front door and begin a journey of discovery around the world! Fold out the richly illustrated pages of this expansive concertina book to clamber over mountain ranges, trek through jungles and sail across vast seas. Spot wildlife, visit amazing cities, experience different cultures and see famous landmarks as you whiz by. With so much to explore on this globetrotting adventure, it’s a good thing the book stretches to an incredible 2.5 meters long – you’ll get halfway around the world before you even have to turn the page! Stretch out the book's accordion-fold pages and take in the wonders of the world's cities and landmarks – traveling through over 60 countries. Then turn it over and explore the amazing diversity of creatures and landscapes on planet Earth. What can you spot on your travels? Explore even more of the world with the critically acclaimed The Street Beneath My Feet (March 2017) and The Skies Above My Eyes (August 2018), companion books from the Look Closer series.

The celebrated fantasy artist reveals the creative process behind his paintings, etchings, and photographs