Complete Bibliography

The books are listed in reverse chronological order (i.e. the most recent publications first).

Published by Abrams Young Readers, New York
ISBN-10: 0810994216
ISBN-13:  978-0810994218
and by McRae Books, Florence, Italy
ISBN-13: 978-8860980632
First published in 2008

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Published by Franklin Watts, London
ISBN-10: 074967685X
ISBN-13: 978-0749676858
First published in 2007

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Published by Franklin Watts
ISBN-10: 0749681608 (paperback, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0749681609
First published in 2006

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Published by McRae Books, Florence, Italy
ISBN-10: 8889272589
ISBN-13: 978-8889272589
First published in 2005

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Published by Reader’s Digest Books
Edited by Toucan Books, London
ISBN-10: 0276 44078 1
First published in 2005

Part of a series of encyclopaedia-cum-quiz books, accompanied by 1000 questions.

Published by Franklin Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0749662662 (hardback)
ISBN-13: 978-0749662660
ISBN-10: 0749670142 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-0749670146
First published in 2005

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Published by Reader’s Digest Books
Edited by Toucan Books, London
ISBN-10: 0276429397
ISBN-13: 978-0276429392
First published in2004.

Part of a series of encyclopaedia-cum-quiz books, accompanied by 1000 questions.

Published by McRae Books, Florence
Italy ISBN 8888166718
and by Gareth Stevens Publishing, Strongsville, Ohio
ISBN-10: 083685649X
ISBN-13: 978-0836856491
First published in 2004

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Published by McRae Books, Florence, Italy
ISBN 10: 88881669X
and by Gareth Stevens Publishing, Strongsville, Ohio
ISBN 10: 0836856511
ISBN 13: 978-0836856514
First published in 2004

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Published by McRae Books, Florence, Italy
ISBN-10: 8888166890
and by Gareth Stevens Publishing, Strongsville, Ohio
ISBN-10: 083685599X (library binding)
ISBN-13: 978-0836855999
First published in 2004

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Published by Dorling Kindersley, London 
ISBN-10: 1405321148 (2008 edn)
ISBN-13: 978-1405321143
First published in 2004

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Published by Oval Books, London
ISBN-10: 1903096995 (2006 edn)
ISBN-13: 978-1903096994
First published in 2004

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Published by Miles Kelly, Great Bardfield, Essex,
ISBN-10: 1 84236 223 2
and by Mason Crest, Broomall, Pennsylvania,
ISBN-10: 1 5908 4475 0
First published in 2003

Published by Miles Kelly, Great Bardfield, Essex
ISBN-10: 1 8423 6227 5
and by Mason Crest, Broomall, Pennsylvania
ISBN-10: 1 5908 4479 3
First published in 2003

Published by Miles Kelly, Great Bardfield, Essex
ISBN-10: 1 84236 226 7
and by Mason Crest, Broomall, Pennsylvania
ISBN-10: 1 5908 4478 5
First published in 2003

Published by Miles Kelly, Great Bardfield, Essex
ISBN-10: 1 84236 222 4
Mason Crest, Broomall, Pennsylvania
ISBN-10: 1 5908 4481 5
First published in 2003

Published by Kingfisher, London
ISBN-10: 0 7534 0718 3
and by Larousse Kingfisher Chambers, Boston
ISBN-10: 0 7534 5497 1
First published in 2002

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Published by Cadogan Guides, London
ISBN-10: 1860112137 (2005 edn)
ISBN-13: 978-1860112133
First published in 2002

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Published by Cadogan Guides, London
ISBN-10: 1860112153 (2005 edn)
ISBN-13: 978-1860112157
First published in 2002

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Published by Aladdin/Watts, London Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 4461 3 (hardcover)
and by Copper Beech, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 0 7613 2713 4 (library binding)
ISBN-10: 0 7613 1628 0 (paperback)
First published in 2002

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Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 4413 3 (hardcover)
and by Copper Beech, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 0 7613 2455 0 (library binding)
ISBN-10: 0 7613 2284 1(paperback)
First published in 2002

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Published by Aladdin/Watts, London, (hardcover)
and by ISBN 0 7496 4412 5
and by Copper Beech, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 0 7613 2285 X (paperback)
ISBN-10: 0 7613 2456 9 (library binding)
First published in 2001

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Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 4462 1 (hardcover)
and by Copper Beech, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 0 7613 2714 2 (library binding)
ISBN 0 7613 1629 9 (paperback)
First published in 2001

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Published by BBC Worldwide, London
ISBN-10: 0563 53759 0
Published by Dorling Kindersley, New York
ISBN-13: 0 7894 7831 5
First published in 2001

A concise sweep through the history of North and South America, from prehistoric times to the 19th century.

Published by Marshall Publishing, London
ISBN-10: 1 84028 352 1
First published in 2000

A children’s project book, analysing key issues about the world we live in.

Published by Reader’s Digest Books, London, New York, Sydney, Montreal
Edited by Toucan Books, London
ISBN-10: 0 276 42380 1
First published in 1999

Published by Reader’s Digest Books, London, New York, Sydney, Montreal
Edited by Toucan Books, London
ISBN-10: 0 276 42386 0
First Published in 1999

Another in the same Millennium history series.

Published by Reader’s Digest Books, London, New York, Sydney, Montreal
Edited by Toucan Books, London
ISBN-10: 0 276 42363 1
First Published in 1999

Another in the same Millennium history series.

Published by Funfax, Woodbridge; Dorling Kindersley Inc, New York
ISBN-10: 0-7547-0128-X
First Published in 1999

A book of facts about all the states of the USA, accompanying an activity pack.

Published by Oval Books, London
ISBN-10: 1903096952 (2006 edn)
ISBN-13: 978-BB03096956
ISBN-10: 1903096561 (2005 edn)
ISBN-13: 978-1903096567
First published in 1998

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Published by Reader’s Digest Books, London, New York, Sydney, Montreal
Edited by Toucan Books, London
ISBN-10: 0 276 42221 X
First published in 1997

A volume mainly about ecosystems, for a natural history series.

Published by Marshall Publishing, London
ISBN-10: 0 9507901 8 4
and by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York
ISBN-10: 0 689 81198 5
First Published in 1997

A volume in an illustrated series describing life in that period.

Published by Marshall Publishing, London
ISBN-10: 0 9507901 7 6
and by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York
ISBN-10: 0 689 81199 3
First Published in 1997

Another volume in the above series.

Published by Marshall Publishing, London
ISBN-10: 1 84028 021 2
and by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York
ISBN-10: 0 689 80953 0
First Published in 1996

Another volume in the above series.

Published by Marshall Publishing, London
ISBN-10: 1 84028 022 0;
and by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York
ISBN-10: 0 689 80952 2
First Published in 1996

Another volume in the above series.

Published by Collins Educational/HarperCollins, London
ISBN-10: 0 00 301356
First Published in 1996

A short, paperback volume analysing the ecological issues of the various
regions of the world.

Published by Aladdin Books, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 2126 5
and by Copper Beech, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 1 5629 4626 9
First published in 1995

The madcap explorer Philip S. Flogg and his dog Passport are on a whistle-stop tour of the modern world - a journey that they must complete in just 80 pages.

Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 2220 2;
and by Copper Beech/Millbrook Press, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 0 7613 0479 7 (library binding)
First Published in 1995

Four kids are transported back to the Stone Age, armed with cunning hand-held ‘gizmos’ that can flash up encyclopaedia-like background information.

Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 2186 9;
and by Copper Beech/Millbrook Press, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 1 5629 4910 1 (library binding)
First Published in 1995

Now the same kids explore what it's like to live in the Roman era.

Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 1547 8 (hardcover)
ISBN 0 74964327 7 (paperback)
and by Barron’s Juveniles, Hauppage, New York
ISBN-10: 0 8120 6534 4 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0 8120 9426 3 (paperback)
First published in 1995

Illustrated biography for children.

Published by Oval Books, London
ISBN-10: 1902825195
ISBN-13: 978-1902825199
First published in 1995

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Published by Evans Brothers, London
ISBN-10: 0 237 51451 6
First published in 1995

A book for young readers recounting the extraordinary tales of persistence and hardship endured by these two pioneer polar explorers.

Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 1822 1(hardcover)
ISBN 0 7496 4329 3 (paperback)
and by Barron’s Juveniles, Hauppage, New York
ISBN-10: 0 8120 6496 8(hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0 8120 9175 2 (paperback)
First published in 1994

Illustrated biography for children.

Published by Kingfisher, London
ISBN-10: 0 7534 0268 8 (paperback)
and by Larousse Kingfisher Chambers, Boston
ISBN-10: 0 7534 5260 X (paperback)
Copper Beech/Econo-clad Books/Bt Bound
ISBN-10: 0 6132 1866 3 (library binding)
First published in 1994

A pictorial introduction to the mapped world.

Published by Henderson Publishing, Woodbridge
ISBN-10: 1 85597 387 1
First published in 1994

A short illustrated book about the geology, plants, animals and ways of survival in hot deserts.

Published by Henderson Publishing, Woodbridge,
ISBN-10: 1 85597 388 X
First published in 1994

Published by Henderson Publishing, Woodbridge
ISBN-10: 1 85597 387 1
First Published in 1994

A short illustrated book covering the history and mythology of the Wild West, from Native American homelands to the first Western films.

Published by Quarto Children's Books, London
ISBN-10: 1 5629 4494 0, (paperback)
and by Millbrook Press, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 1 5629 4733 8 (library binding)
First Published in 1994

Large-format illustrated history based around maps.

Funfax: Around the World

Henderson Publishing, Woodbridge
First published in 1994

Six small, illustrated books packed with whizzo facts, which could be collected in a ring-binder file.

Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 1546X (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0 7496 4328 5 (paperback)
and by Barron’s Juveniles, Hauppage, New York
ISBN-10: 0812091744 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-0812091748
First published in 1993

Illustrated biography for children.

Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 1193 6 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0 7496 4326 9 (paperback)
and by Barron’s Educational Series, Hauppage, New York
ISBN-10: 0 8120 6459 3 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0 8120 1293 3 (paperback)
First published in 1993

Illustrated biography for children.

Leonardo da Vinci (Famous Artists series)

Published by Aladdin/Watts, London
ISBN-10: 0 7496 1194 4 (hardcover)
and by Barron’s Juveniles, Hauppage, New York
ISBN-10: 0 81220 1997 0 (paperback)
First published in 1993

Illustrated biography for children

Published by Quarto Children's Books, London; RD Press, Surry Hills, Australia
ISBN-10: 0 86438 377 0
and by Millbrook Press, Brookfield, Connecticut
ISBN-10: 1 56294 711 7 (paperback)
First published in 1993

Large-format illustrated history of exploration based around maps.

World Gazetteer

Published by Geddes & Grosset, New Lanark
ISBN-10: 1 85534 093 3
First Published in 1992

A pocket alphabetical digest of all the key places in the world.

Published by Librairie du Liban, Beirut,
BN 01 C 197609
First Published in 1992

Published by Henderson Publishing, Woodbridge
ISBN-10: 1 85597 128 3
First Published in 1992

A children's spy book, part of the pack called Top Secret File.

Published by Heinemann Children’s Reference, Oxford
ISBN-10: 0 431 00467 6
First published in 1991

A concise, illustrated book covering all aspects of the region.

Soccer (Butterfly Books series)

Librairie du Liban, Beirut
Arabic edition first published in 1991
and by Cherrytree Press, Bath
ISBN-10: 0 7451 5082 9
First published in 1990

An illustrated account of the game, its rules and its records.

Published by Macmillan Children's Books, London
ISBN-10: 0 333 466115 2
and by Silver Burdett, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
ISBN-10: 0 3820 9823 4
First published in 1989

A brief illustrated survey of the geography, history, economy and culture of the region.

Published by Macmillan Children's Books, London
ISBN-10: 0 333 46612 8
and by Silver Burdett, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
ISBN-10: 0 3820 9796 3
First published in 1989

Another volume in the above series.

Published by Macmillan Children's Books, London
ISBN-10: 0 333 46606 3
and by Silver Burdett, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
ISBN-10: 0 3820 9514 6
First published in 1988

House Plants

Published by Geddes & Grosset, New Lanark
First published in 1988

A short book about the nature, history and care of the most popular house plants. This was my first book, and it was given away free with Ariel soap powder. It apparently took only six weeks to shift the entire stock of 1.7 million copies. I have been hoping to emulate this success ever since.

Books as co-author

Published by Oval Books, London
ISBN-10: 1903096308
ISBN-13: 978-1903096307
First published in 2004

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Published by Miles Kelly Publishing, Great Bardfield, Essex
ISBN-10: 1842362739
ISBN-13: 978-1842362730
First published in 2003

Published by Cadogan Guides, London,
ISBN-10: 86011 939 5
First published in 1999

A guidebook catering for travellers focussing on these two cities.

Published by Cadogan Books, London
ISBN-10: 0946313 86 5
First published in 1989

Considered a bit of a classic in its day, now sadly out of print. It achieved stardom in the 1999 film Notting Hill: this is the book that the shoplifter (Dylan Moran), in Hugh Grant's travel bookshop, has hidden down his trousers.

Publishing projects to which I have contributed

Books

Facts at Your Fingertips

Published by Reader's Digest Books, London etc
Edited by Toucan Books
ISBN-10: 0 276 42498 0
First published in 2001

A heavily illustrated compendium of essential facts; I wrote the section on ‘The History of Mankind’.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Britain

Published by Reader's Digest Books, London etc
ISBN-10: 0 276 42412 3
First published in 1999

I wrote 12 entries, including ‘Britannia Rules’ (the legacy of the Victorian Age).

Yesterday’s Britain

Published by Reader's Digest Books, London etc
ISBN-10: 0 276 42391 7
First published in 1998

An illustrated history of what it was like to live in 20th-century Britain; I wrote the chapter on the 1920s.

Ideas that Shaped our World

Published by Marshall Publishing, London,
ISBN-10: 1 84028 000 X
First published in 1997

I wrote the section on the Arts.

How Was It Done?

Published by Reader's Digest Books, London etc
ISBN-10: 0 276 42192 2 9
First published in 1995

How things were made or done in the past; I wrote 25 of the articles.

The Kingfisher Encyclopedia of Lands and People

Published by Kingfisher/Larousse, London
ISBN-10: 1 85697 292 5
First published in 1995

A children’s illustrated book covering all the countries in the world; I wrote the section on South America.

The Atlas of Dream Places

Published by Marshall Editions, London; Rand McNally, Chicago
ISBN-10: 0 528 83774 5
First published in 1995

An illustrated guide to a selection of real but dream-inspiring places; I wrote nine of the articles.

Discovering the Wonders of Our World

Published by Reader's Digest, London etc
ISBN-10: 0 276 42108 6
First published in 1993

An illustrated guide to selected natural wonders; I wrote 16 of the articles.

Treasures in Your Home

Reader's Digest, London etc
ISBN-10: 0 276 42038 1
First published in 1993

An illustrated guide to antiques; I wrote the opening 90-page section on ‘The Story of Style’.

Illustrated Guide to Ireland

Published by Reader's Digest, London etc
ISBN-10: 0 276 42033 0
First published in 1992

I wrote the sections on Counties Mayo and Galway.

The Dorling Kindersley Children’s Encyclopedia

Published by Dorling Kindersley, London etc
ISBN-10: 0 86318 629 7
First published in 1991

I wrote the text for 18 of the subjects.

Part works

The Secrets of the Universe

Produced by M-Press, London
First published in 1999–2000

I contributed 40 articles, mainly on geography and astronomy, as well as weird phenomena.

True Action Adventures of the 20th Century

Tucker-Slingsby for a BBC Worldwide part work
First published in 1997

I contributed 24 articles on exploration, pioneer travel and rescue.

Translations from French

These books, all heavily illustrated, involved a mixture of translation and rewriting.

Discover The Indian Subcontinent

Published by Reader’s Digest Books, London etc
Edited by Toucan Books
ISBN-10: 0 276 42523 5
First published in 2003

Discover The Islands of the Pacific

Published by Reader's Digest Books, London etc
Edited by Toucan Books
ISBN-10: 0 276 42518 9
First published in 2002

Discover Southern Europe

Published by Reader's Digest Books, London etc
Edited by Toucan Books
ISBN-10: 0 276 42443 3
First published in 2001

Discover Western Europe

Published by Reader's Digest Books, London etc
Edited by Toucan Books
ISBN-10: 0 276 42511 1
First published in 1999

Water, Water, Everywhere (Kaleidoscope series)

Published by Kingfisher
ISBN-10:1 85697 424 3
First published in 1996

The Story of Printmaking (Kaleidoscope series)

Published by Larousse-Kingfishe
ISBN-10:1 85697 422
First published in 1996