Uses images, maps, historic facts, and concise analysis to provide an in-depth resource on United States history.

For moms- and dads-in-waiting, brand-new parents, curious siblings, doting grandparents, and anyone who's ever cuddled a baby, Irena Chalmers offers the ultimate baby book, full of insights on the ins and outs of babyhood. 200 photos, 50 in full-color.

Philanthropy in America is a giant undertaking—every year more than $390 billion is voluntarily given by individuals, foundations, and businesses to a riot of good causes. Donation rates are two to ten times higher in the U.S. than in comparable nations, and privately funded efforts to solve social problems, enrich culture, and strengthen society are among the most significant undertakings in the United States. The Almanac of American Philanthropy was created to serve as the definitive reference on America's distinctive philanthropy. Upon its publication it immediately became the authoritative, yet highly readable, 1,342-page bible of private giving—chronicling the greatest donors in history, the most influential achievements, the essential statistics, and summaries of vital ideas about charitable action. Now there is this new Compact Edition of the Almanac. It offers highlights of the crucial information and fascinating arguments contained in the full-length Almanac, in a condensed format. All updated to 2017!

Offers a compilation of facts and folklore on a range of topics, including weather, astronomy, gardening, animals, history, sports, and health.

It is the nature of babies to be in bliss. --Deepak Chopra Award-winning photographer Rachael Hale turns her lens on a new subject, babies. Rachael Hale's luminous four-color photography captures the essence of babies napping, laughing, and mugging for the camera. Whether the babies are splashing happily in the bath, dozing on the sofa, or gazing at the camera with wide-eyed rapture, Hale's images focus on the infants themselves, and her lens captures the inner soul, humanity, and character of each little one. Baby Love combines more than 100 expressive baby portraits with a mixture of poetry and verse, along with surprising facts and historical details that celebrate all things baby. Readers will learn where birthdays originated and how different countries around the globe celebrate the annual milestone, as well as additional baby-inspired facts and trivia. Also included are lists of the top boy and girl names to help inspire moms--and dads-to-be. Hale has been designated as a Master of Photography at the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography Awards and received her fellowship-the highest accolade a New Zealand photographer can achieve--in 2000.

A guide for music: compositions, events, forms, genres, groups, history, industry, instruments, language, live music, musicians, songs, musicology, techniques, terminology , theory, music video. Music is a human activity which involves structured and audible sounds, which is used for artistic or aesthetic, entertainment, or ceremonial purposes. The traditional or classical European aspects of music often listed are those elements given primacy in European-influenced classical music: melody, harmony, rhythm, tone color/timbre, and form. A more comprehensive list is given by stating the aspects of sound: pitch, timbre, loudness, and duration. Common terms used to discuss particular pieces include melody, which is a succession of notes heard as some sort of unit; chord, which is a simultaneity of notes heard as some sort of unit; chord progression, which is a succession of chords (simultaneity succession); harmony, which is the relationship between two or more pitches; counterpoint, which is the simultaneity and organization of different melodies; and rhythm, which is the organization of the durational aspects of music.

The first issue appeared when George Washington was president. Ever since, Americans have turned to The Old Farmer's Almanac for a yearly dollop of homespun wit, tried-and-true advice, amazing trivia, and, of course, remarkably accurate weather predictions. Editor Judson Hale has revisited two centuries' worth of back issues, and culled the most revealing, remarkable, entertaining, and irreverent articles, advertisements, and essays. The result is an enduring treasury of tips, cures, recipes, and curios -- and a fascinating, nostalgic journey through American folk history. Here's some of the unpredictable information you'll find in this first-ever Old Farmer's Almanac anthology: -- The lowdown on how a pig may have provoked the War of 1812. -- A fail-safe method for hypnotizing a lobster. Time-tested tips on how to find the perfect mate. A "sure-fire" remedy for the common cold. And much more, including the answer to that age-old question Which came first, the chicken or the egg? -- A report on the first case of artificial insemination by a bullet. Illustrated with more than three hundred cartoons, photographs, woodcuts, and movie stills, and leavened with intriguing historical sidelights -- including how Abraham Lincoln used the Almanac to free a wrongly accused murderer -- this one-of-a-kind collection is a book you'll dip into again and again whenever you need a lift, a laugh, or a bright idea. "From the Trade Paperback edition.