"Nature's largest and longest-lived creations, trees play an extraordinarily important role in our cityscapes, living landmarks that define space, cool the air, soothe our psyches, and connect us to nature and our past. Today, four fifths of Americans live in or near cities, surrounded by millions of trees, urban forests containing hundreds of species. Despite the ubiquity and familiarity of those trees, most of us take them for granted and know little of their specific natural history or civic virtues. Jill Jonnes's Urban Forests is a passionate, wide-ranging, and fascinating natural history of the tree in American cities over the course of the past two centuries. Jonnes's survey ranges from early sponsors for the Urban Tree Movement to the fascinating stories of particular species (including Washington, DC's famed cherry trees, and the American chestnut and elm, and the diseases that almost destroyed them) to the institution of Arbor Day to the most recent generation of tree evangelists who are identifying the best species to populate our cities' leafy canopies. The book examines such questions as the character of American urban forests and the effect that tree-rich landscaping might have on commerce, crime, and human well-being. As we wrestle with how to repair the damage we have wrought on nature and how to slow climate change, urban forests offer an obvious, low-tech solution. (In 2006, U.S. Forest Service scientist Greg McPherson and his colleagues calculated that New York City's 592,000 street trees annually saved $28 million in energy costs through shading and cooling, or $47.63 per tree.)"--Amazon.com.

This series of visually rich instuction books for LEGO creations is perfect for children ages 5 and up. From animals to airplanes, street scenes to seascapes, and much more, you'll find a range of creativity-sparking ideas inside these pages.

"Renowned for her unique eye for color and her ability to mix paint, pattern and texture to fabulous effect in creating beautiful spaces, Tricia Guild has now, for the first time ever, resolved to lay bare the secrets of her working methods and spell them out simply for us to follow -- not to copy what she does but to learn how to use these skills in our own rooms. Taking inspiration from nature, the cityscape, a different period or culture or from the space itself, Paint Box provides visual inspiration, expert advice, a box of tricks and 45 of Tricia's tried-and-tested palettes."--provided by Amazon.com.

Big city style meets classic design in this gorgeous guide for the contemporary crafter! Inspired by 20th century architectural elements, Urban Knit Collection offers 18 DIY projects for women and men with a decidedly metropolitan vibe. From Art Deco- and stained glass-inspired sweaters to the beaded Ritz Cowl and Skyscraper Hat, author Kyle Kunnecke's innovative designs evoke the beauty of a cityscape in runway-worthy knits that you can customize to reflect your personal style. Written for would-be and longtime knitters alike, Kyle's detailed patterns include tutorials on a variety of construction and finishing techniques, from locking floats and knitting on round needles to reading charts and choosing yarn. Whether your style is uptown, downtown, or somewhere in between, Urban Knit Collection has you covered!

"Whether you find beauty in a remote forest or a sparkling nighttime cityscape, Illinois offers jaw-dropping scenery and opportunities for adventure with stunning landscapes, natural wonders, small town charms, and big city thrills. Join photographers Lee Mandrell and DeeDee Niederhouse-Mandrell on a visual journey across the Prairie state, as they travel from the beaches of Lake Michigan over rolling forested hills and picturesque farmland, through covered bridges, past historic barns and windmills, and up to the edge of the awe-inspiring rocky cliffs of the Garden of the Gods. Featuring more than 140 gorgeous photos, Illinois Across the Land inspires travelers to explore the state and discover historic landmarks at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historical Site, rushing waterfalls in Starved Rock State Park, native wildlife in Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, breathtaking sunsets at Carlyle Lake, and so much more!"--Provided by publisher.

When respected American religious symbology expert Dr. Robert Langdon is summoned to the Louvre by French Captain Bezu Fache, he soon discovered that he is the number 1 suspect for the murder of a historian Langdon had been scheduled to meet with. Assisted by a French cryptographer and government agent named Sophie, Langdon is challenged to decipher a chain of cryptic codes and puzzles, all the while trying to stay ahead of Fache's lawmen in a chase through the Louvre, and out into the Parisian cityscape, and finally across the channel to England.

"Imagine a very different New York City-one whose streets are filled with horses and buggies and people on foot. Now imagine that vehicles that shared the road-block-long freight trains trying to deliver goods to the west-side factories. How did New York in the 1800s solve the problem of trains barreling through busy city streets? They built the High Line. But the High Line's story doesn't end there. Once cars became common, innovative New Yorkers began to find and fight for new ways to breathe life into the old, raised train tracks. Since it opened as a 1.45-mile-long park in 2009, the High Line has become an iconic, must-see attraction and a marvel of landscape architecture admired worldwide for its history, beauty, and creative union of urban design with greenspace. As one of the best (and most unique) ways to view the NYC cityscape, it is a major tourist destination and its influence has been global; it was a pioneer in elevated parks, inspiring innovative infrastructure re-use projects around the world. But as the community changed rapidly over the years, longtime residents needed the park to still feel like their home, and they came up with ideas for how the High Line could make not only a global impact, but also help their local neighborhoods. Packed with historical information, gorgeously illustrated, and full of wonder, this nonfiction picture book from author-illustrator Victoria Tentler-Krylov is also a story of the people of New York City, from the imagination and ingenuity of architects and city planners who first built the High Line for the needs of industry, to those who reinvented the High Line for art, recreation, and preservation of nature"--