The Mattel Archive

The Mattel Archive 

by Ynon Kreiz 

Language: English 

New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 2025. 

352 pages : illustrations ; 31 cm. 

ISBN: 9780847875894, 084787589X 

Summary: "Celebrating eighty years of the most influential toy company in the world, this landmark publication is a captivating journey through the vibrant history of Mattel, a name synonymous with imagination and creativity for generations. Beautifully illustrated with full pages from Mattel's original printed catalogs--design objects in themselves, with a wealth of imagery and typography that reflects the style of each passing decade--the book chronicles the evolution of the company from its humble beginnings in 1945 to its status today as a global leader in the toy industry. Encompassing the evolution of a remarkable archive of toys with special focus on those universal icons of childhood, Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price, the book reveals behind-the-scenes stories of the visionaries who brought these toys to life, and explores the cultural impact they have had on children and families worldwide."

Street Unicorns: Extravagant Fashion Photography from NYC Streets and Beyond

Street Unicorns: Extravagant Fashion Photography from NYC Streets and Beyond 

by Robbie Quinn 

Language: English 

New York, NY: Cernunnos, an imprint of Abrams, 2022. 

239 pages : color illustrations ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781419762048, 1419762044 

Summary: "In a world where stores, clothes, and trends have become increasingly standardized, fashion is one of the most powerful ways to explore and express our personalities, identities, and individuality. For years, renowned photographer Robbie Quinn has come across style rebels and bold expressionists on the streets of NYC and the world's largest cities, stopping them for impromptu photoshoots and testimonials. He's even given these eccentric lovers of style a name: Street Unicorns. In these pages, Quinn shares the portraits, viewpoints, and aspirations of more than 250 Street Unicorns with the hopes of inspiring readers to rediscover the most authentic parts of themselves. A vibrant declaration against ageism, racism, homophobia, and all other discriminations, this book is a love letter to those who aren't afraid to stand out, embrace nonconformity, and share who they are with the world."--Supplied by publisher

Studio Ghibli: The Complete Works

Studio Ghibli: The Complete Works 

Language: English 

New York: Kodansha USA Publishing, 2022. 

159 pages : color illustrations ; 27 cm. 

ISBN: 9781647291495, 1647291496 

Summary: "A beautiful, full-color dive into the history and future of Studio Ghibli, Japan's preeminent animation house. In-depth looks at every one of their 26 feature films - including the latest, Earwig and the Witch - means there's something for everyone, while exclusive interviews and rare director's commentary plus behind-the-scenes tidbits will excite even the most devoted Ghibli afficionados. A gorgeous, stirring must-have for Studio Ghibli fans and newcomers alike! From classics like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind to the latest work, Earwig and the Witch, this beautiful art book introduces all 26 acclaimed Studio Ghibli films. Take a deep look into Ghibli's first 3D feature film, Earwig and the Witch, with an exclusive interview with director Goro Miyazaki."

Take Me Home: Rescue Dogs

Take Me Home: Rescue Dogs 

by Andrew Grant 

Language: English 

Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2022. 

288 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm. 

ISBN: 9780228103042, 0228103045 

Summary: "In 2009, Andrew Grant began photographing dogs, starting with two French bulldogs at an unrelated commercial "shoot." Then he discovered the sad fact that millions of lost or abandoned dogs enter animal shelters every year. And only a few leave, through rescue and adoption. The rest are euthanized or live out a lonely, caged life. Andrew Grant began to photograph dogs that should be rescued, and dogs that have been rescued. Over 6 years he raised nearly $2million for shelter dogs through his photographic project. He did this with the sale of four limited-edition books of dog portraits, each called Rover. Each was bigger than the previous, and helped by hundreds of sponsoring dog owners. Those editions are all sold out, and fetch up to $400 on the rare book market -- when available. Most, though, are as treasured as their canine subjects. At least one copy is prized by Ellen DeGeneres, dog lover extraordinaire, who featured the book on her show. Now, Firefly Books is publishing a popularly-priced trade edition called Take Me Home. It contains 265 of Andrew Grant's most appealing photographs of dogs. Some are the best friends of lucky owners, and some, sadly, are homeless. All are splendidly realized in sharp, large and very lifelike color portraits. All were captured by state-of-the-art equipment and are truly the most beautiful dog pictures you have ever seen. They feature purebreds of almost every kind, and mixed breeds, too."-- Provided by publisher

Ants: A Visual Guide

Ants: A Visual Guide 

by Heather Campbell, Benjamin Blanchard 

Language: English 

Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2023. 

224 pages : color illustrations, color maps ; 25 cm. 

ISBN: 9780691228525, 0691228523 

Summary: "A richly illustrated natural history of ants, covering their diversity, ecology, anatomy, behavior, and more. Plentiful and familiar, ants make up an estimated one-third of the world's insect biomass and can be found in virtually every part of the globe, from rainforest canopies to city sidewalks. But their importance is about more than numbers: ants are fundamental species in a range of habitats, their interactions with plants, fungi, and other animals ensuring the survival of many fragile and complex ecosystems. This beautifully illustrated book explores the extraordinary diversity of ants and offers insights into their elaborate social systems, investigating the key collective and competitive behaviors that operate within their varied colony structures.Featuring exceptional close-up photographs and clearly organized thematic chapters, the book covers anatomy, evolution, life cycle, ecology, and other important topics. Each chapter also features profiles of stand-out genera, chosen for their fascinating characteristics, including Leafcutter Ants who build nests containing up to 7,000 chambers, Pugnacious Ants whose colonies can destroy populations of crabs within hours, and Honeypot Ants whose worker caste store food in their stomachs for other colony members to consume. Drawing on current research, Ants offers an inviting and accessible introduction to these remarkable insects. Includes more than 200 stunning color photographs, plus infographics and diagrams, presents full profiles of 42 iconic genera from across the world. Features clearly structured thematic chapters."-- Provided by publisher

Astrobiology: The Search for Alien Life: The Illustrated Edition

Astrobiology: The Search for Alien Life: The Illustrated Edition 

by Andrew May 

Language: English 

London: Icon Books, 2023. 

320 pages illustrations ; 23 cm. 

ISBN: 9781785789700, 1785789708 

Summary: "Extraterrestrial life is a common theme in science fiction, but is it a serious prospect in the real world? Astrobiology is the emerging field of science that seeks to answer this question. The possibility of life elsewhere in the cosmos is one of the most profound subjects that human beings can ponder. Astrophysicist Andrew May gives an expert overview of our current state of knowledge, looking at how life started on Earth, the tell-tale signatures it produces, and how such signatures might be detected elsewhere in the Solar System or on the many exoplanets now being discovered by the Kepler and TESS missions. Along the way the book addresses key questions such as the riddle of Fermis paradox (Where is everybody?) and the crucial role of DNA and water they're essential to life as we know it, but is the same true of alien life? And the really big question: when we eventually find extraterrestrials, will they be friendly or hostile?"--Publisher's description

The Deep Ocean: Life in the Abyss

The Deep Ocean: Life in the Abyss 

by Michael Vecchione, Louise Allcock, I. G. Priede, Hans van Haren

Language: English 

Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2023. 

288 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), maps (chiefly color) ; 29 cm. 

ISBN: 9780691226811, 0691226814 

Summary: "The deep ocean comprises more than 90 percent of our planet's biosphere and is home to some of the world's most dazzling creatures, which thrive amid extreme pressures, scarce food supplies, and frigid temperatures. Living things down here behave in remarkable and surprising ways, and cutting-edge technologies are shedding new light on these critically important ecosystems. This beautifully illustrated book leads you down into the canyons, trenches, and cold seeps of the watery abyss, presenting the deep ocean and its inhabitants as you have never seen them before"-- Publisher's description

The Lives of Beetles: A Natural History of Coleoptera

The Lives of Beetles: A Natural History of Coleoptera 

by Arthur V. Evans 

Language: English 

Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2023. 

288 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9780691236513, 0691236518 

Summary: "A richly illustrated introduction to the incredible world of beetles. With some 400,000 species, beetles are among the largest and most successful groups of organisms on earth, making up one-fifth of all plant and animal species. No other animals exhibit such a dazzling range of size, form, and color. Mostly small, sturdy, and compact, beetles are incredibly well-equipped to find food, reproduce, and avoid predators. Additionally, their collective roles as herbivores, hunters, and recyclers are critical to the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems. In this lavishly illustrated book, beetle expert and author Arthur Evans presents an inviting and comprehensive introduction to the fascinating lives of the world's beetles. Universal in scope, The Lives of Beetles is packed with the latest scientific findings, presented in an accessible way. Individual chapters cover beetles' structure and function; evolution, diversity, classification, and distribution; communication, reproduction, and development; feeding habits; uses in medicine, science, and technology; and study and conservation. Each chapter concludes with nine stunningly illustrated profiles that highlight the lives of some of the world's most beautiful and interesting species. The book also features an up-to-date family classification, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading. We need beetles for the ecological services they provide, the technological innovations they inspire, and the scientific insights they reveal, so it is essential that we all get to know beetles better and strive to conserve their habitats. The Lives of Beetles is the perfect place to begin this journey of discovery and understanding"--Amazon.com

Reviews: Quarterly Review of Biology

Shapeshifters: The Wondrous World of Jellyfish

Shapeshifters: The Wondrous World of Jellyfish 

by Lisa-Ann Gershwin 

Language: English 

New York: Abrams, 2023. 

223 pages : color illustrations ; 28 cm. 

ISBN: 9781419766107, 1419766104 

Summary: "Jellyfish come in a dazzling array of colors, shapes, and sizes, drifting through every ocean, from the surface to the deepest of the deep seas, and are even found in freshwater locations. These ancient creatures, also called sea jellies (they are not, technically, fish), are so otherworldly and luminous that it is no wonder they are often compared to mythical shapeshifters. Some are so delicate that they shatter with the smallest disturbance to the water, while the tenacity of others means they can withstand almost any temperature, any salinity, starvation, and even being dismembered. And some are truly biologically immortal. This visually breathtaking book showcases 100 species of jellyfish within its pages -- from the ubiquitous Aurelia to the enigmatic Velella -- along with astounding facts about these fascinating marine life-forms. Some are splendid, some strange, some poisonous, some deadly. Some carry surprising secrets and some are barely known, but every one of them is remarkable and has a tale to tell. An introduction by noted expert Lisa-ann Gershwin, with her commentary throughout, invites you into the wondrous world of jellyfish"--Back cover

Shoes A-Z : the collection of the museum at FIT

Shoes A-Z : the collection of the museum at FIT 

Language: English 

Cologne: Taschen, 2023. 

531 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), portraits ; 35 cm. 

ISBN: 9783836574297, 9783836596244, 3836574292, 3836596245 

Summary: Sky-high, ornate, and the pinnacle of glamour, both restrictive and liberating, art object and deeply ordinary, shoes tell the story of shifting attitudes toward desire, power, and wealth throughout history. Lace up for a journey through the most enviable shoe closet from the permanent collection at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology—and four centuries of fashion’s hardest working accessory.

Reactions: An Illustrated Exploration of Elements, Molecules, and Change in the Universe

Reactions: An Illustrated Exploration of Elements, Molecules, and Change in the Universe 

by Theodore Gray 

Language: English 

New York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2020. 

vii, 216 pages : color illustrations ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9780762497362, 076249736X 

Summary: The book begins with a brief recap of elements and molecules and then goes on to explain important concepts that characterize a chemical reaction, including Energy, Entropy, and Time.

Optical Illusions: The Science of Visual Perception

Optical Illusions: The Science of Visual Perception 

by Al Seckel 

Language: English 

Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2010. 

312 pages : chiefly color illustrations ; 27 cm. 

ISBN: 9781554071517, 1554071518 

Summary: Presents nearly three hundred optical illustions along with an explanation for how each works.

Reviews: Leonardo

The New Book of Optical Illusions

The New Book of Optical Illusions 

by Georg Rüschemeyer 

Language: English 

Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, 2015. 

207 pages : color illustrations ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781770855922, 1770855920 

Summary: "[A] mind-bending collection of 150 of the most significant optical phenomena, loosely grouped into 33 chapters according to particular visual effect ... Concise text describes the history of the optical illusions and their origin. Some are ancient (like a 3D Roman mosaic in a 2nd-century BC home on Malta) and others are modern (like emoticons and street art). There are rarely seen phenomena, works by great illusionists, like M.C. Escher, and well-known illusions like the Impossible Triangle and the Albert Einstein/Marilyn Monroe portrait."--Amazon.com

Reviews: Kirkus Reivews

Written in Bones: How Human Remains Unlock the Secrets of the Dead

Written in Bones: How Human Remains Unlock the Secrets of the Dead

Language: English 

Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, 2012. 

224 pages : illustrations (some color), 1 genealogical table, maps ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781554079926, 1554079926 

Summary: Human remains have much to tell us about how our ancestors lived and died, what they believed, and the rituals that were important to them. In Written in Bones, a team of international forensic anthropologists and archaeologists examines important case studies of human remains found at archaeological sites around the world. Comprehensive text and color photographs describe how the remains were analyzed using modern scientific techniques and how the data were assembled to create authentic pictures of ancient culture.

Reviews: Science Teacher

Shoe Innovations: A Visual Celebration of 60 Styles

Shoe Innovations: A Visual Celebration of 60 Styles 

by Caroline Cox 

Language: English 

Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, 2012. 

256 p. : ill. (chiefly col.), ports. (some col.) ; 23 cm. 

ISBN: 9781770850347, 1770850341 

Summary: The complete story of shoe design, from the Edwardian Louis heel, through the 1940s wedge, to today's extreme architectural designs. Cox traces the evolution of sixty iconic designs, placing each benchmark shoe in its social and cultural context, and describes the reasons for its popularity-- or fall from grace-- and in some cases, its revival.

Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities and Benefits

Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities and Benefits 

by Renée Newman 

Language: English 

Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2021. 

272 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 29 cm.

ISBN: 9780228103318, 0228103312 

Summary: "The beauty and sparkle and mystique of diamonds is unmatched by that of any other gem in the world. Since early times, diamonds have been treasured as good luck charms, remarkable tools and status symbols and have been worn, collected and presented as lavish gifts. Today, diamonds remain among the most sought-after gemstones and continue to hold their value through good times and bad. In Diamonds, author Renée Newman, a graduate gemologist and author of many trade-level handbooks on gemstones, invites the reader on a journey into the fascinating world of diamonds. This lavishly illustrated guide -- which features hundreds of photos, maps and diagrams -- covers everything from mining, cutting and evaluating diamonds to the romantic histories of some of the world's most valuable stones. Diamonds includes chapters on: What a diamond is -- its significance from antiquity to the present day and what it represents from different perspectives The process and history of mining diamonds -- the locations (both modern and historical) as well as the techniques used to mine diamonds The evolution of diamond cutting -- how a diamond is processed and what are the key cuts and shapes to know Diamond jewelry through the ages -- how diamonds have been used in jewelry from pre-Georgian times to today Evaluating and pricing diamonds -- how diamonds are priced based on their many value factors, such as color, carat weight, cut, clarity, and so on Man-made diamonds The remarkable benefits of diamonds. As beautiful as they are precious and as useful as they are decorative, diamonds continue to fascinate and allure. Diamonds will be a welcome guide for anyone who has felt the romance and power of these fascinating gems. It will also be a useful resource for professionals in the jewelry trade."-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Library Journal; Rocks & Minerals

Pavement Chalk Artist: The Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever

Pavement Chalk Artist: The Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever 

by Julian Beever 

Language: English 

Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2018. 

143 pages : color illustrations ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9780228100775, 0228100771 

Summary: Julian Beever, a master chalk artists, has delighted audiences in Europe, London and North America with his stunning three-dimensional anamorphic drawings. Anamorphic drawings are drawn in perspective and distorted so that the subject can only be viewed properly from one particular angle, and most convincingly through a camera lens. These drawings have delighted viewers foryears because they appear so realistically three-dimensional when seen through a camera lens. When the artist poses with the art, he appears to step right into the scene. Pavement Chalk Artist includes a fabulous selection of Beever's most intriguing anamorphic drawings. The photographs record the development of his unusual skill and understanding of perspective. Each one is accompanied by a description of the techniques he used and the challenges he overcame to produce original, inventive subjects in locations worldwide. This new edition includes 16 new pages of Beever's recent art, in addition to the 16 added to the second edition, for a total of 32 new pages.

Reviews: Publishers Weekly; Library Journal

Bizarre Buildings

Bizarre Buildings 

by Paul Cattermole, Ian Westwell 

Language: English 

Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, 2007. 

224 p. : col. ill. ; 28 cm. 

ISBN: 9781554073085, 1554073081 

Summary: This intriguing book selects the world's most extreme and sometimes weird buildings and structures. Some illustrate the personal expression of an individual builder or patron who has a vision well beyond the norm, while others were built by architects pushing the conventional boundaries of design. Some of the buildings are masterpieces on a larger scale. Examples include Frank Gehry's iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, with its glistening, undulating walls.

Tales From Gombe

Tales From Gombe 

by Anup Shah, Fiona Rogers 

Language: English 

Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, 2014. 

324 pages : colour illustrations, colour map, genealogical tables ; 29 x 35 cm. 

ISBN: 9781770854680, 1770854681 

Summary: An irreplaceable natural history of the famous chimpanzees of Gombe National Park. There lives a society far away that we came to know. It imposes fewer inhibitions on its citizens than perhaps any modern society. There are very few cultural constraints of appearance and behavior on its members. The meager rules of conduct that do exist are implicit and well understood. These norms are almost always followed so that there are no policemen, judges, and lawyers. This society is a fine example of self-regulated social conduct. (from the Preface) The Gombe chimpanzees are probably the most famous group of wild animals in history, having been observed and chronicled for more than 50 years. Through studies initiated by paleontologist and anthropologist Louis Leakey and carried out by primatologist Jane Goodall, people worldwide know some of the names and stories of the Gombe chimpanzees. The intimate portraits in Tales from Gombe reveal their inner lives and introduce the social dynamics, the dynasties and the key players. Over the course of the last decade, Anup Shah and Fiona Rogers have dedicated long periods of their time to studying the various dynasties, photographing the key players and observing their actions. In Tales from Gombe they introduce the different characters and tell the fascinating stories of their lives, through both words and breathtaking photography. The story turns out to be an epic saga of convoluted plots, family alliances, love, passion, suffering, ambition, politics, puzzles, surprises and controversies. But while the book intrigues and entertains, it also matches science with art to provide a thought-provoking experience that leaves the reader with greater understanding of primate life and a strong sense of empathy and respect.

Orangutans: Their History, Natural History and Conservation

Orangutans: Their History, Natural History and Conservation 

by Ronald I. Orenstein, Ian Redmond 

Language: English 

Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2024. 

352 pages : color illustrations, maps ; 29 cm. 

ISBN: 9780228103783, 0228103789 

Summary: "Native to the forests of Sumatra and Borneo, wild orangutans are listed as critically endangered. The rarest of them all, the Tapanuli orangutan, was only recognized as a separate species in 2017, and today, it is the rarest great ape in the world. In Orangutans, zoologist and conservationist Ronald Orenstein draws on the latest research to survey the natural and cultural history of these charismatic red apes as well as their present and future. Divided into three parts, the book first traces orangutan ancestry from the distant past to the present and then explores the various roles orangutans have played throughout human history, from Indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia, to European colonialism and scientific exploration, to the pop culture of today. Part two details the latest scientific discoveries about orangutans and what we currently know about their habitat, diet, behavior, social structures and abilities. The final section of the book turns to the threats orangutans face today, from the destruction of their forest homes to deliberate killings, captures and the illegal trade that supplies animals for display, collection and entertainment. The author also surveys the efforts being made to save them from extinction, to preserve their ecosystems and to return orphaned orangutans to a life in the wild. Featuring over 150 full-color photographs, maps, a list of orangutan organizations to support and an extensive bibliography, Orangutans is an important, engaging and beautiful work about one of nature's most captivating animals."-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Natural History