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.

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.

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.

Understanding the World. The Atlas of Infographics

Understanding the World: The Atlas of Infographics 

by Sandra Rendgen 

Language: English 

Köln: Taschen, 2023. 

456 pages : illustrations, maps ; 32 cm. 

ISBN: 9783836594967, 383659496X 

Summary: "Dazzling in scale, diversity and detail, the world never ceases to open our eyes and captivate our curiosity. Ever since the earliest cave paintings, humans have looked at this Earth that is our home and endeavored to understand it. This expansive visual atlas presents the most exciting, creative and inspiring ways of explaining the world in information graphics. Divided into five chapters, the book covers the environment, technology, economics, society, and culture to reveal some of the Earth's greatest intricacies in accessible visual form. Featuring more than 280 graphics, reproduced in large scale including seven fold-out spreads, the collection focuses on the 21st century, but also includes historical masterpieces to put our current situation into perspective. Nigel Holmes introduces the book with an exclusive infographic of his own, while Sandra Rendgen provides an illustrated historical essay to explore how we have studied and interpreted our world over the centuries. With graphics drawn from such sources as Fortune, National Geographic, and The Guardian, this is not only a showcase of outstanding data design, but also a fascinating digest of where and how we live"--Publisher's description

Reviews: Geographical Magazine

World's Greatest Sneaker Collectors

World's Greatest Sneaker Collectors 

by Simon Wood 

Language: English 

Köln: Taschen, 2023. 

752 pages : illustrations ; 32 cm. 

ISBN: 9783836596299, 3836596296 

Summary: "Simon "Woody" Wood, founder and editor-in-chief of Sneaker Freaker magazine, has spent the last two decades analyzing the global cult of footwear fanatics. That experience directly inspired World's Greatest Sneaker Collectors, a stonking 752-page journey into the priceless stockpiles and obsessive minds of prominent aficionados. From Tokyo to New York, via London, Philadelphia, Melbourne, and Stjordal, no crumbled midsole is left unturned as over 2,500 vintage classics, unique athlete SMUs, unobtainable samples, handmade 1-of-1 prototypes, stratospherically priced colabs, and Player Exclusives and game-worn Jordans with multi-million-dollar price tags are lauded with gusto. The endless quest for "Holy Grails" is both blessing and curse as our collectors fiend, scheme, and dream of "the one" shoe they don't yet own Luxuriously photographed profiles are augmented with a series of informative "How-to" guides stuffed with pro tips on sneaker photography, storage, insurance, cleaning, and avoiding the counterfeit curse. The expertise is priceless. The stories will entertain for days as we seek out the fundamentals of what it means, and takes, to define yourself as a "true collector.""--Publisher's description

Knowledge is Beautiful

Knowledge is Beautiful 

by David McCandless 

Language: English 

New York: Harper Design, 2020. 

255 pages : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9780062188229, 9780007427925, 0062188224, 0007427921 

Summary: Delves into the world of visualized data where stunning infographics that blend the facts with their connections, contexts, and relationships make information meaningful, entertaining, and beautiful.

Reviews: New Scientist; Communication Arts

Temples of Books: Magnificent Libraries Around the World

Temples of Books: Magnificent Libraries Around the World 

by Marianne Julia Strauss 

Language: English 

Berlin: Gestalten, 2022. 

301 pages : color illustrations ; 31 cm. 

ISBN: 9783967040241, 3967040240 

Summary: "Temples of Books celebrates the world’s oldest and grandest shrines to the written word, as well as new and tiny ones: from baroque palaces to micro-libraries made of recycled plastics, and the unlikely ones in between. Looking at the diverse architecture of global libraries throughout the ages, Temples of Books goes further and explores the very idea of libraries themselves. This is a book about the beauty of books, a book for book lovers and for those who believe in the power of ideals."--Provided by publisher

The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries

The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries 

by Massimo Listri, Georg Ruppelt, Elisabeth Sladek 

Language: English 

Cologne: Taschen, 2023. 

510 pages : illustrations (chiefly colour) ; 22 cm. 

ISBN: 9783836593816, 3836593815 

Summary: "From the mighty halls of ancient Alexandria to the coffered ceilings of the Morgan Library in New York, human beings have had a long, enraptured relationship with libraries. Like no other concept and like no other space, the collection of knowledge, learning, and imagination offers a sense of infinite possibility. It?s the unrivaled realm of discovery, where every faded manuscript or mighty clothbound tome might reveal a provocative new idea, a far-flung fantasy, an ancient belief, a religious conviction, or a whole new way of being in the world. In this new photographic journey, Massimo Listri travels to some of the oldest and finest libraries to reveal their architectural, historical, and imaginative wonder. Through great wooden doors, up spiraling staircases, and along exquisite, shelf-lined corridors, he leads us through outstanding private, public, educational, and monastic libraries, dating as far back as 766. Between them, these medieval, classical, baroque, rococo, and 19th-century institutions hold some of the most precious records of human thought and deed, inscribed and printed in manuscripts, volumes, papyrus scrolls, and incunabula. In each, Listri?s poised images capture the library?s unique atmosphere, as much as their most prized holdings and design details. Featured libraries include the papal collections of the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Trinity College Library, home to the Book of Kells and Book of Durrow. With meticulous descriptions accompanying each featured library, we learn not only of the libraries? astonishing holdings--from which highlights are illustrated--but also of their often lively, turbulent, or controversial pasts. Like the Franciscan monastery in Lima, Peru, with its horde of archival Inquisition documents. At once a bibliophile beauty pageant, an ode to knowledge, and an evocation of the particular magic of print, this compact edition of our best-selling XXL-title is above all a cultural-historical pilgrimage to the heart of our halls of learning, to the stories they tell, as much as those they gather in printed matter along polished shelves."--Publisher

Reviews: Architectual Digest

Treasures of Egypt: A Legacy in Photographs From the Pyramids to Cleopatra

Treasures of Egypt: A Legacy in Photographs From the Pyramids to Cleopatra 

Language: English 

Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2022. 

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

ISBN: 9781426222634, 1426222637 

Summary: "The images in this breathtaking volume celebrate the vibrant beauty and rich cultural heritage of Egypt on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tut's tomb"-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Booklist

The rainbow atlas : a guide to the world's 500 most colorful places

The rainbow atlas : a guide to the world's 500 most colorful places

by Taylor Fuller 

Language: English 

San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2020. 

400 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm. 

ISBN: 9781452182827, 1452182825 

Summary: "This vibrant book takes readers on a tour of 500 eye-poppingly colorful spots around the world. It spans natural phenomena, architectural wonders, art installations, and more, ranging from the pink lakes of the Yucatan Peninsula to China's Rainbow Mountains, and from the colorful streets of Cape Town to the Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco. Each entry pairs a stunning photo with an evocative caption, and the book's rich content is organized by longitude, creating fun and unexpected juxtapositions"-- Provided by publisher