Janet Sacks

During the reign of Queen Victoria, industrialisation changed every aspect of rural life. Industrial diversification led to a decline in agriculture and mass migration from country to town and city – in 1851 half the population lived in the countryside, but by 1901 only a quarter did so. This book outlines the changes and why they occurred. It paints a picture of country life as it was when Victoria came to the throne and shows how a recognisably modern version of the British countryside had established itself by the end of her reign. Cheap food from overseas meant that Britain was no longer self-sufficient but it freed up money to be spent on other goods: village industries and handcrafts were undercut by the new industrial technology that brought about mass production, and markets were replaced by shops that grew into department stores.

The lives of children during the Victorian era differed dramatically between the rich and the poor. The children of the wealthy lived in comfort with good education, while the poorest children grew up with little food or care, no education, and were often exploited for work. Janet Sacks explores the world of Victorian children, and how their experiences changed as laws were introduced to stop child employment, and education became compulsory, how holidays became possible by train, and the introduction of mass-produced toys. Using archive photographs and illustrations, she paints a picture of what it was like to grow up in Victorian Britain, and how changing attitudes towards children led to a very different upbringing by the end of the period.

Over 100,000 children were sent across the seas to Canada between 1869 and the late 1930s. Thousands of others were dispatched to Australia as well as to New Zealand, South Africa and Rhodesia up to and even after the Second World War. These young migrants came from charitable organizations or children's homes, and were sent to find a better life as agricultural workers and servants, mechanics and skilled artisans. They were the superfluous thousands of Britain's cities, including workhouse paupers, reformatory inmates, children from industrial schools and those rescued from slums and the streets. Ranging from five- and six-year olds to teenagers, all were thrust into an alien world from which there was little chance of return. This compelling book tells the story of this controversial practice, from the accounts of those involved and the authentic records of the time. It traces the people behind the migrations exploring their beliefs and aspirations for the children in their care. It considers the roles that different organizations (including the Childrens Society, National Childrens Home and the Catholic Nugent Society Care Homes) played as well as the shipping lines that carried the children from Liverpool, Glasgow and other ports and the centers that received them overseas. Most importantly, it describes the experiences of the children themselves. Clear-sighted and objective, this is a gripping tale of the good, the bad and the ugly based on original documents from The National Archives and other sources. Above all, it celebrates those who welcomed the migrants and the children who managed, against all the odds, to adapt to their new lives.

Art activities give young ecologists a way to express what they have learned about oceans. This book also answers such questions as why is water blue?; how do some animals in the deepest part of the ocean make their own light?; and what makes some oceans salty? Topics include: - the deep blue sea and a 3-D underwater scene - seaweed, algae, kelp and a seaweed collage - marine invertebrates and jellyfish art - ocean crustaceans and clicking castanets - Arctic Ocean animals and penguin portraits - ocean pollution and diving bird mobile - salt water and flamingo dough sculpture - mangrove plants, animals and mangrove tree poster - islands, pirates and treasure map - weird sea creatures and octopus tentacle art - ocean mammals and papier mache whale - exploring oceans and deep-sea diver model - ocean graves and shipwreck scene - tidal pools and sandy seaside craft - deep sea fish and fishy monster creation - sea cows and magical mermaid-making