What Are You Looking For?

A broad introduction to the role of machines in daily life, the rise of factories and the shift towards computer-directed production.

A broad historical account links the 1918 armistice with later political and economic changes, while also asking how the war dead are remembered.

This is a history of cotton told through people whose lives were shaped by farming, slavery, sharecropping and textile mills. Personal voices and photographs sit alongside a broader account of American change.

This offers a focused introduction to dynastic China by connecting rulers, peasants and other social groups with wider historical change.

Expect a football-centred childhood story rather than an account of Burglar Bill. Its unofficial team, friendships and setbacks provide comic energy, while the reflective voice gives the book a poignant, nostalgic dimension.

This is a structured introduction to how popular music changes: genres are placed alongside social and cultural events, technology, artists and industry developments. Its broad sweep and case studies may help readers see music as part of wider history rather than as isolated songs or performers.

A fact-rich investigation of rubbish as a cultural, economic and environmental problem, combining statistics and history with vivid people and practical examples of communities reducing waste.

This is a history-led tour of the White House, mixing anecdotes, personal recollections and practical details about occupants, workers, rooms, customs and change across two centuries.

This is a lively guide to finding creativity and confidence through magic, comedy, circus skills and science. It mixes practical activities with encouragement to practise, check facts, share ideas and accept that people can grow and change.

A lively introduction to women’s contributions across history and different fields, presented through colourful illustrations, short profiles, facts and quotations. Its page-by-page structure supports dipping in, revisiting individual figures and noticing links between personal achievement and wider social change.

A vividly remembered village childhood, told through family routines, school, work, local characters and changing rural life. Its interest lies in crafted atmosphere and perspective rather than a complete factual account of Lee’s life.

A research-led introduction to weight and health, combining real-life case studies with scientific material and a public-health perspective.

A structured introduction to Aztec history and culture, combining explanation with visual and reference material. Its main arc runs from uncertain origins through imperial development to the factors contributing to decline.

A historical introduction to how Jacob Riis used photography and writing to draw public attention to slum poverty and immigrant hardship, while showing that reform did not end urban poverty.

A historically framed biography about Daisy Gordon Low’s creation of a national girls’ organisation, with particular attention to outdoor participation, wider opportunities for women and inclusion of girls with disabilities.

A chronological introduction to LGBT civil-rights history, told through people’s experiences, major struggles and contributions. Its creative activities make the subject participatory, while the historical scope connects earlier activism with more recent events.