Tyler Brûlé, Andrew Tuck, Fiona Wilson, Joe Pickard
The Monocle team celebrates the endlessly fascinating and culturally rich country of Japan.

Ever since it launched in 2007, Monocle has had a rich and deep connection with Japan. From day one the magazine has had a Tokyo bureau – which today also encompasses a Monocle shop and radio studios – run under the watchful eye of Asia bureau chief Fiona Wilson.

Over the past decade the magazine has built up a unique understanding and passion for the nation. It has covered everything from a live journey on the Emperor’s jet and the tastiest places to eat in Kagoshima to the fashion designers crafting new levels of excellence and the businesses with remarkable stories untold outside Japan. This new book reveals the best of the nation in the run up to the 2020 Olympics. Complete with stunning photography and intriguing essays, it is a unique showcase of a country that for many remains a mystery.


Contents List
1. Introduction (illustrated) • 2. Essays • 3. The Nation (main photo section) • 4. Business & Brands • 5. Culture & Sport • 6. Portraits of the People (profiles) • 7. Architecture, Design & Fashion • 8. Retail • 9. Mobility/Transport • 10. Hospitality, Food & Drink 11. Know your cities (expos on main cities)


About the Author
Monocle is a global affairs and lifestyle magazine, 24-hour radio station, website, retailer and media brand, all produced by Winkontent Ltd. It was founded by Tyler Brûlé, a Financial Times columnist, and founder of Wallpaper* magazine. Described by CBC News reporter Harry Forestell as a ‘meeting between Foreign Policy and Vanity Fair’, the magazine aims to provide a global perspective on international affairs, business, culture, design and fashion. The magazine is edited by Andrew Tuck.


Format: Hardback without Jacket
Size: 30.0 x 22.5 cm
Extent: 304 pp
Publication date: 14 May 2020
ISBN: 9780500971079

From Annabel Gat, the author of The Astrology of Love & Sex, comes a fascinating guide that provides a deeper look at Moon signs—the zodiac sign the moon occupied at one's birth.

Most casual fans of astrology are familiar with their Sun sign, but your Moon sign is just as essential to your astrological profile. While the Sun sign symbolizes your ego and will, your Moon sign represents your inner world, your emotional landscape—your feelings, memories, and subconscious; your fears, needs, and desires.

Organized into twelve chapters, one for each Moon sign, The Moon Sign Guide details the characteristics and personality traits for each sign in relation to key aspects of life, including self-care, home, family, work, friendship, love, and compatibility. The book also includes a glimpse into progressed moons because as you age, your Moon sign changes, providing new emotional perspectives.

Illustrated throughout and packaged as a lovely hardcover with foil-stamping and gilded edges, The Moon Sign Guide is an invaluable reference for astrology enthusiasts of all levels and modern mystics looking to explore lunar energies and gain deeper insights into themselves and others.

EXPERT AUTHOR: Annabel Gat writes the daily and monthly horoscope column at VICE. She is a practicing astrologer certified by the International Society for Astrological Research.

ACCESSIBLE: Organized into twelve easy-to-navigate chapters (from Aires Moon to Pisces Moon), this guide is packed with information that will appeal to astrology fans of all levels. And every two and half years, your progressed Moon sign changes, making this guidebook a handy reference you'll turn to for many years to come.

EXCELLENT SELF-DISCOVERY TOOL: Astrology is a wonderful way to further explore and care for yourself and your emotional well-being. By learning about your Moon sign, you learn more about who you are and what you need to feel emotionally secure, safe, and nurtured.

EYE-CATCHING PACKAGE: With foil stamping on the cover, silver gilded edges, and vibrant illustrations throughout, this book makes a lovely gift for zodiac lovers and anyone captivated by the powerful and mysterious moon, and an excellent companion to The Astrology of Love & Sex.

Perfect for:

• Astrology enthusiasts of all levels, horoscope readers, and anyone who can't get enough of all things zodiac
• Fans of wicca, mysticism, spirituality, and tarot
• Those who enjoyed The Astrology of Love & Sex, The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need, and You Were Born for This

208 pages

The Most Beautiful Villages of France: Discover 164 Charming Destinations

Author Les Plus Beaux Villages De France

Discover the 158 most picturesque villages to visit in France in the newest edition of this illustrated travel guide.

From Vézelay with its UNESCO listed Sainte-Madeleine basilica, to Piana’s dramatic cliffs in Corsica, and from Ménerbes’s Provençal charm to Olargues’s origins dating back to prehistory, this illustrated guide unveils the beauty of rural France, providing complete visitor information for these exceptionally preserved destinations. Carefully selected each year, the featured French villages are replete with historical, architectural, and natural riches.

A brief history of each village is accompanied by recommendations for monuments, museums, places to visit, accommodation options ranging from hotels to campsites, restaurants, markets, artisanal products and local specialties. Details on leisure activities encompass festivals, events, and excursions that encourage visitors to explore the surrounding area on foot, by canoe, or on horseback.

This fully updated new edition includes a supplement on the history of more than twenty sweet gourmet regional specialties. In addition to an overview map of France, each village is featured on an easy-to-read detail road map, accompanied by indications for the best way to arrive by car, train, and airplane. Suggestions for neighboring villages that should not be missed simplify itinerary planning. Cross references and an index by region complete this practical, authoritative, and accessible illustrated guide.



About The Author

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, founded in 1982, protects and promotes the heritage of villages rigorously selected for their patrimonial wealth and architectural quality. It pioneered an international federation of the Most Beautiful Villages of the World, which is committed to sustainable development and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage in Belgium, Quebec, Italy, and Japan.


Publish Date: May 03, 2022

Format: Trade Paperback

Category: Travel - Europe - France

Publisher: Flammarion

Pages: 280

Mark Ottaway

A visual celebration of the loveliest villages in Greece, all set in landscapes of overwhelming magnificence

From the Ionian Islands in the west to the brilliant blue and white of the Aegean, the villages of Greece and its islands present a picture of incomparable beauty.

The variety of village life and building springs from a multitude of histories and influences, often through foreign occupation. Yet this cannot disguise the fact that these villages are all, in their separate ways, an expression of Greekness, one of the most durable ideals in history.

Here are the most beautiful villages created by that spirit. Complete with appendices of useful information for the traveller, The Most Beautiful Villages of Greece and the Greek Islands presents a fabulous picture of a culture largely lost to other countries of Europe, but loved by visitors every year.

Contents List
Introduction • The Mainland The Peloponnese: Arkadia, Messinia, Lakonia, The Mani Pelion, Epiros, Evritania • The Islands • The Cyclades • Other Aegean Islands: The Dodecanese, Chios, The Argo-Saronic • The Ionian • A Traveller’s Guide

About the Author
Mark Ottaway is the former ChiefTravelWriter at the The Sunday Times.
Hugh Palmer is one of most renowned photographers in the UK of gardens and rural life. He has contributed extensively to the Most Beautiful Villages... series.

Format: PLC (no jacket)
Edition Type: Compact edition
Size: 24.2 x 19.5 cm
Extent: 216 pp
Illustrations: 285
Publication date: 16 May 2011
ISBN: 9780500515747

Michael Jacobs

A tribute to Provence, its villages and its spirit of place which continues to entrance visitors

The Greeks, the Romans, the barbarians of the North and the Moors have all left their traces in its villages and small towns, from the hills and mountains of the Lubéron to the villages perchés of the Alpes-Maritimes.

It is in smaller communities that the true Provençal spirit can be found: in sunlight falling across the tightly grouped terracotta roofs, or in the velvety shade in an ancient square – the country of Marcel Pagnol and Jean de Florette. Such scenes come alive here in Hugh Palmer’s radiant photographs and Michael Jacobs’ evocative accounts.

The book opens with the villages of the Vaucluse and the Bouches-du-Rhône then moves east to the Var and eventually the mountains of the Alpine départements, drawing out the special characteristics of each region. Here are the tranquil villages of the centre, but in stark contrast are the fortified hill villages of the east, perched on crests or terraced along the mountainside.

Contents List
Introduction • Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhône: Ansouis; Bonnieux and Pont Julien; Crestet; Gordes; Lacoste; Lourmarin; Ménerbes; Oppède-le-Vieux; Roussillon; Séguret; Vaison-la-Romaine; Venasque; Eygalières; Les Baux-de-Provence • Var and Alpes- Maritimes: Ampus; Bargemon; Cotignac; Entrecasteaux; Les Arcs- sur-Argens; Seillans; Tourtour; Trigance; Villecroze; Éze; La Brigue; Lucéram; Peillon; Saint-Paul-de-Vence; Saorge • Alpes-de-Haute- Provence: Annot; Colmars-les-Alpes; Entrevaux; Lurs; Méailles; Riez

About the Author
Michael Jacobs has written many books on European travel, including the Penguin Guide to Provence.

Hugh Palmer is one of most renowned photographers in the UK of gardens and rural life. He has contributed extensively to the Most Beautiful Villages... series.

Lauren Li

The 'It Factor' - the French have it in spades. Discover how they apply it to their homes

Trends comes and go, but one style that remains perennially popular is the French look. The French prioritise plaisir (pleasure) in their lifestyles and it's no different for their interiors. The New French look is spirited and fresh, layered but never fussy, effortless yet always chic. It uses elements of colour and pattern confidently to create an elegant atmosphere, but with a sense of exuberance. It references history, without ever looking stale and stuffy. There's a respectful nod to the past but, at the same time, the interiors are edgy.

Interior designer Lauren Li takes practical deep-dive into some of the examples of the New French look to discover what makes them so appealing. From the city to the beach, the country and the mountains, this first book in the Style Study series showcases leading interior spaces, unpacking the guiding principles the reader can learn how to achieve the look for themselves at home.

About the Author
Lauren Li is the founding director of Melbourne interior design studio Sisällä, born of a passion to create beautifully rich spaces reflective of her clients' context, lifestyles and individual desires. She has more than 20 years of experience across the residential, retail and commercial sectors. Sisällä's projects have been recognised by several awards
programmes, including the Australian Interior Design Awards, and as a five-time finalist of House & Garden's Top 50 Rooms. Lauren is also a regular contributor to The Design Files.


Format: Hardback
Size: 23.2 x 19.4 cm
Extent: 224 pp
Illustrations: 170
Publication date: 8 February 2024
ISBN: 9781760763398

Edited by Wallace Schroeder, Selected by A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis

A collection of reviews for the 1,000 most important, popular, and influential movies of all time.

While critiques of beloved Hollywood milestones from Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, and Orson Welles are all included, this book is notably a resource for the modern cinema buff and student. Nowhere else can one find this curated collection of reviews with such special features as lists of best films by category and year, as well as unique recommendations and sidebars for the modern viewer--including what to watch and how: from DVD and Blu-Ray to streaming platforms.

In an era when most students and fans of film simply rely on the Internet for information, this category killer will prove its worth as a relevant and indispensable gift and reference.
About The Author

The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. Founded in 1851, the newspaper has won ninety-five Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other newspaper.
Wallace Schroeder is a Texas-bred journalist who has twenty-five years of newspaper experience at the New York Times. An avid moviegoer since boyhood, he remembers the train wreck in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) as his first movie experience. Topping his own best-film list are Splendor in the Grass and The Wild Bunch.

Publish Date: October 01, 2019
Format: Hardcover
Category: Performing Arts - Film - Guides & Reviews
Publisher: Universe
Trim Size: 7-1/8 x 9-1/8
Pages: 1296
ISBN: 978-0-7893-3657-6

1–5 years old
Preschool - Kindergarten

Touch and Explore: The Ocean is a multisensory journey for children who want to do more than just listen!

Scales, tails, flippers, and fins—let's dive into the ocean: The Touch and Explore™ series, already bestsellers in their original French editions, are well-crafted interactive titles that encourage hands-on engagement, learning and knowledge retention. As you move through each page, young readers can touch shiny scales and bumpy barnacles, turn a flap to find a clownfish hiding among an anemone, touch a shark's sandpapery skin, and discover who can squirt ink and change color! It's a trip to an underwater world that's just a touch away.

• A splashy treat for visual learners and pre-readers, kids can discover the facts, feel, and functions of over two dozen marine animals
• Bright illustrations encourage kids to immerse themselves in a fascinating beyond-the-bathtub habitat
• Sturdy board book design is just the right size for small hands

Fans of other books in the Touch and Explore series will also enjoy the interactive learning and excitement found in Touch and Explore: The Ocean.

• Great family read-aloud book
• Books for 3–5 years old
• Books for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school children

Author Ines de la Fressange and Sophie Gachet, Photographs by Benoît Peverelli

At last, model and designer Ines de la Fressange offers an essential guide of sartorial advice for men, curated from the most stylish guys in her entourage.

From fashion, grooming, and impeccable manners to the best addresses and sartorial tips and tricks, Ines de la Fressange and Sophie Gachet reveal the secrets of truly stylish men with both humor and savoir faire.

While Parisian style for women has been dissected from all angles, this is the first volume from the best-selling authors of Parisian Chic to offer a complete and practical guide to style for all men. With advice on accessories, tailoring, and what to wear in every situation—from casual attire to black-tie events—and complete with an appendix of fashion don’ts, this must-have field guide is essential reading to show every man how to navigate the runway of life with style and panache.
About The Author

Ines de la Fressange, a runway model in the 1980s, was selected by Karl Lagerfeld as the “face” of Chanel. The essence of Parisian style and elegance, she is creative consultant for Roger Vivier, designs a line for Uniqlo, and has relaunched her own brand and boutique Ines de la Fressange Paris. Along with Sophie Gachet, seasoned fashion journalist for Elle and veritable trend barometer, she has coauthored the New York Times best-seller Parisian Chic, which was published in seventeen languages, along with Parisian Chic City Guide and Parisian Chic Look Book.

Publish Date: May 15, 2018
Format: Trade Paperback Original
Category: Self-Help - Fashion & Style
Publisher: Flammarion
Trim Size: 6-1/4 x 9-1/2
Pages: 240
ISBN: 978-2-08-020342-7

Pierre Paul Zeiher, Jean Michel Truchelut

728 pages, Hardcover

Published March 11, 2025

Format: 728 pages, Hardcover
Published: March 11, 2025 by BPI
ISBN: 9782386220647 (ISBN10: 2386220648)
Language: English

This beautiful gift book sets out in a clear and simple way what makes certain foods more or less environmentally friendly, in terms of water, land and energy use as well as other considerations. Contains 30 recipes and lots of helpful stats and advice for working out which foods are sustainable depending on where you live and your lifestyle

We all have the power to make a difference

We know our planet's resources are stretched to the limits. We know that without significant changes to our diets and shopping habits, nature will continue to suffer. But sometimes it feels like we're bombarded with mixed messages, and it can be hard to work out which foods are truly eco-friendly. This book sets out the facts in a clear and straightforward way, helping you to make informed choices about environmentally conscious ways to shop, the products to avoid, the best foods to buy, and sustainable ways to prepare them.

With over 30 delicious recipes that you, and the earth, will love, The Planet-Friendly Cookbook contains all the tips and advice you need to start making small changes that have big impacts. The choices we make can help create a kinder way of feeding the world, and will preserve our beautiful planet for many generations to come.

128 pages, Hardcover

Published May 13, 2021

This edition
Format
128 pages, Hardcover
Published
May 13, 2021 by Summersdale
ISBN
9781787836914 (ISBN10: 1787836916)
ASIN
1787836916
Language
English

Combining immersive photography with expertly researched travel writing, this is the ultimate guidebook for LGBTQ+ travelers—whether you're planning your next getaway, daydreaming from the comfort of your armchair, or seeking to learn about queer culture in other parts of the world.

This swoon-worthy guide to the best places and events the queer world has to offer spans the globe, taking you from metropolitan must-sees, like the birthplace of Pride in New York or the world’s first gayborhood in Berlin, to lesser-known gems, like a trans designer’s clothing store in São Paulo or the first LGBTQ+ bar in Nepal.

Maartje Hensen and a diverse team of international travel writers have put together information on the best drag shows, Pride parades, and film festivals all around the world, as well as resources regarding laws, restrictions, and cultural attitudes—ensuring that travelers can safely enjoy their sojourns and find community wherever they go. Whether you're looking for relaxation, romance, or adventure, The Pride Atlas will help you plan your next gaycation.

SERIOUS EYE CANDY: Bursting at the seams with full-color photographs, The Pride Atlas is a colorful addition to any bookshelf or coffee table. It offers an immersive, take-me-there reading experience, as well as the nuts-and-bolts practical information that will transform armchair travel into actual trip planning.

INCLUSIVE AND INFORMATIVE: Whether you are a drag show fanatic, a gay couple in search of international community, an ally planning an ethical and informed vacation, or a cohort of queers looking for a good time—this is the travel book for you. With information on both festivities for and frustrations facing queer travelers, written by a diverse team of LGBTQ+ travel bloggers, The Pride Atlas is a unique and valuable resource.

Perfect for:

LGBTQ+ vacation planners and armchair travelers
Informed, ethical travelers who want to know about LGBTQ+ rights and culture in the places they visit
A practical and inspiring birthday, graduation, wedding, bon voyage, or special occasion gift for all who love to explore

400 pages

C.K. Smouha , Suzanna Hubbard (Illustrator)

A fussy cat ruffles the feathers of two neighbours who couldn’t be more different...

Alan and Betram are next-door neighbours. They are also best friends. They are also very, very different to one another. Bertram is extremely neat, and Alan is wildly messy. When Bertram gets a cat, called Pierre, he is dismayed to find that Pierre prefers it at Alan’s house.

Alan tries to help his friend out – giving him his old sheepskin coat, his chipped bowl and finally, his beat up old sofa. At last, Pierre and Bertram are happy, but Alan is not – he has no company and no sofa. Fortunately, Bertram comes up with a brilliant solution to the problem...

The Problem With Pierre plays with the format of the book, the gutter acting as the dividing wall between the two neighbours’ contrasting living rooms. A twist at the end brings together form and content in a way that is sure to delight readers young and old.

The Silver Spoon Kitchen

344 pages, Hardcover
Published April 10, 2025
Format: 344 pages, Hardcover
Published: April 10, 2025 by Phaidon Press
ISBN: 9780714849218 (ISBN10: 0714849219)
Language: English

April 1, 2025
by Emma Roberts (Author), Raahat Kaduji (Illustrator), Mira Miroslavova (Illustrator)

This sumptuous gift book contains a second, hidden handbook in a secret compartment at the back

Do you believe in fairies? Would you like to join a secret club of fairy experts, who search for and look after fairies and other magical creatures in the wild? Now is the time to earn your place in the Secret Fairy Club.

Earn ten badges on your journey towards becoming an official Secret Fairy Club member and learn all about:

the perfect fairy wardrobe
where fairies make their homes
how fairies help the nature around them
how fairies get ready for a Fairy Ball

. . . and so much more!

Guard the precious knowledge within these pages for the good of all magical kind . . . · This novelty format contains a surprise, second book in the back · Artwork offers an inclusive, 21st-century take on an ever-popular topic · Intricate artwork and full cover decorative foiling make this the perfect gift

5 - 7 years

The Seriously Good Kids Cookbook is packed with over 50 simple, delicious and fun recipes containing easy-to-follow captions and 300 photos in a unique cartoon-strip style to inspire children of all ages to get busy in the kitchen.

Original and creative projects will capture kids' imaginations, such as the paper bag breakfast of a bacon and egg sandwich in a paper bag cooked on a barbecue. The kick'n'roll tin can ice cream is bound to be the project of the summer: pack a large tin can with ice and rock salt, insert a sealed ziplock bag containing cream, sugar and vanilla and kick it to the park or the beach... within 25 minutes... homemade ice cream!

Kids will also learn as they go along; each recipe contains a culinary technique such as beating, whipping, piping or baking and 'Adult alerts' appear throughout the book and ensure the recipes are all easy and safe to make.

This is a book which will become treasured as it helps children to discover the endless fun to be had in the kitchen and to learn skills which will stay with them for life.

128 pages