Books published by Random House Children's Books

A striking, nuanced biography of Nero—the controversial populist ruler and last of the Caesars—and a vivid portrait of ancient Rome“Exciting and provocative . . . Nero is a pleasure to read.”—Barry Strauss, author of The War That Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at ActiumThe Roman emperor Nero’s name has long been a byword for cruelty, decadence, and despotism. As the stories go, he set fire to Rome and thrummed his lyre as it burned. He then cleared the charred ruins and built a vast palace. He committed incest with his mother, who had schemed and killed to place him on the throne, and later murdered her.But these stories, left behind by contemporary historians who hated him, are hardly the full picture, and in this nuanced biography, celebrated historian Anthony Everitt and investigative journalist Roddy Ashworth reveal the contradictions inherent in Nero and offer a reappraisal of his life. Contrary to popular memory, the empire was well managed during his reign. He presided over diplomatic triumphs, and his legions overcame the fiery British queen Boudica who led one of the greatest revolts Rome had ever had to face. He loved art, culture, and music, and he won the loyalty of the lower classes with fantastic spectacles. He did not set fire to Rome.In Nero, ancient Rome comes to life: the fire-prone streets, the deadly political intrigues, and the ongoing architectural projects. In this teeming, politically unstable world, Nero was vulnerable to fierce reproach from the nobility and relatives who would gladly usurp him, and he was often too ready to murder rivals. He had a vision for Rome, but, racked by insecurity, he perhaps lacked the stomach to govern it.This is the bloodstained story of one of Rome’s most notorious emperors: but in Everitt and Ashworth’s hands, Nero’s life is also a complicated, cautionary tale about the mettle required to rule.

"Savvy students can get a head start on the PSAT and SAT by learning the ins and outs of the PSAT 8/9. This clear, easy-to-follow guide from the test prep experts at The Princeton Review is complete with straightforward content overviews, practical strategies for scoring higher, and 2 complete PSAT 8/9 practice tests."--

"In his previous books, outdoorsman and wild cuisine enthusiast Steven Rinella brought wild foods into the kitchen, teaching readers how to hunt, butcher, and cook wild fish and game to create gourmet dishes. Now, Rinella is bringing the kitchen into the wild in a cookbook that shows readers how to cook delectable meals in the peaceful solace of nature. Each chapter covers a different outdoor cooking method, such as grilling, smoking, and portable burner cooking, and each recipe indicates whether it's ideal for backyard cooking, car camping, or backpacking. The over 100 easy-to-follow recipes include: Stuffed Game Burgers 3 Ways Bulgogi Backstrap Lettuce Wraps Beaver Thigh Confit Grilled Lobster with Kelp Butter Bear Grease Biscuits Sweet Iron Pies As well as sharing these recipes, complete with mouthwatering photos, Rinella explains how to build an outdoor kitchen, build the perfect fire. With recipes ranging from simple to complex for outdoorists of all kinds, be they backyard grillmasters or backcountry big game hunters, The MeatEater Outdoor Cookbook is the essential companion for anyone who wants to eat well in the wild"--

This stunning picture book biography of the extraordinary wife of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton is illustrated with Shapiro's exquisite, thoroughly researched art and includes an Afterword by Soo, the actress who originated the role of Eliza in the original Broadway production of the musical "Hamilton." Full color.

Harley Quinn's journey gets even more chaotic as she falls in love and embraces her inner Super-Villain in the thrilling second book of the Harley Quinn origin trilogy.When Harleen Quinzel wakes up in a hospital bed with no recollection of the past few months, she scrambles to pick up the pieces of her life. As she starts classes at Gotham University and an internship at Arkham Asylum, Harleen is determined to make her mark, getting paired with the most high-profile female inmate at Arkham—the notorious Talia al Ghūl. Talia is brilliant and fascinating, and as they spend more time together, the lines between good and bad begin to blur for Harleen. When she starts to see Talia less as a patient and more as a mentor, all of Harleen’s dark and dangerous pieces begin finding their way to the surface again. The only way to stop the terror that haunts the halls of Arkham Asylum may be to let her darkness out. . . .Follow Harleen’s rise from anxious college student to ravenous, chaotic feminist icon in the second installment of the Harley Quinn origin story.

"The Pied Piper's little sister Clare is determined to uncover the truth behind her brother's seemingly cruel actions."--

The quintessential depiction of 1980s New York and the downtown scene from the artist, actor, musician, and composer John Lurie“A picaresque roller coaster of a story, with staggering amounts of sex and drugs and the perpetual quest to retain some kind of artistic integrity.”—The New York TimesIn the tornado that was downtown New York in the 1980s, John Lurie stood at the vortex. After founding the band The Lounge Lizards with his brother, Evan, in 1979, Lurie quickly became a centrifugal figure in the world of outsider artists, cutting-edge filmmakers, and cultural rebels. Now Lurie vibrantly brings to life the whole wash of 1980s New York as he developed his artistic soul over the course of the decade and came into orbit with all the prominent artists of that time and place, including Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry, Boris Policeband, and, especially, Jean-Michel Basquiat, the enigmatic prodigy who spent a year sleeping on the floor of Lurie’s East Third Street apartment.  It may feel like Disney World now, but in The History of Bones, the East Village, through Lurie’s clear-eyed reminiscence, comes to teeming, gritty life. The book is full of grime and frank humor—Lurie holds nothing back in this journey to one of the most significant moments in our cultural history, one whose reverberations are still strongly felt today.  History may repeat itself, but the way downtown New York happened in the 1980s will never happen again. Luckily, through this beautiful memoir, we all have a front-row seat.

When eleven-year-old foster kid Mo finds a handmade cookbook filled with someone else's family recipes, she collects the stories behind them and builds a website to share them, secretly hoping a long-lost relative will find her and give her a family recipe all her own.

Matteo can't believe it's almost time to move from kindergarten to first grade! He and his classmates have learned so much and they've had a lot of fun. Now they're getting ready for their graduation celebration. Matteo is especially going to miss the class guinea pig, Gus. But maybe guinea pigs can graduate too!

"Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about music icon and 'Rocket Man,' Elton John. Little Golden Book biographies are the perfect introduction to nonfiction for young readers as well as fans of all ages!"

This nonfiction Little Golden Book is filled with amazing facts about whales and beautiful illustrations--perfect for preschoolers!Let your little one discover the wonderful world of whales! This informative Little Golden Book introduces little ones to these gentle giants with colorful illustrations and cool facts. How many kinds of whales are there? What do they eat? How do they communicate? Dive in and find out!

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • USA TODAY BESTSELLER TODAY Show co-host and meteorologist Dylan Dreyer launches a new picture book series featuring Misty—a little cloud with big feelings! The author combines her extensive weather knowledge with her experience as a mom in this very special social-emotional learning franchise. When Misty the Cloud wakes up feeling stormy, nothing seems to make her day better! And Misty’s grumbly mood affects everyone when her big emotions cause a thunderstorm to rumble across the sky. But with help from friends and family, Misty accepts that sometimes she’s just going to be a little stormy—and it will always pass. Read the first book in a sky-high series about how to deal with good days, bad days, and everything in between!

"Ramadan Mubarak! Teach children about the holy month of Ramadan--the tradition of fasting, what the Qur'an is, what kind of food is served between fasts, and how a modern family celebrates. Filled with colorful illustrations and simple, yet informative text, this Little Golden Book is perfect to share with your family this Ramadan!"--Amazon website.

"Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about comedian, actor, and filmmaker Mel Brooks."--

"Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about primatologist, Jane Goodall."--

"Help your little one dream big with a Little Gold Book biography about body-builder, movie star, and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger."--

GET THE EXTRA PRACTICE YOU NEED FOR MCAT EXCELLENCE, with the help of The Princeton Review!MCAT Workout is designed specifically to provide ample practice with realistic MCAT-style questions and test passages, so that you'll approach this challenging and important test with confidence. This book includes more than 830 total practice questions, divided into content silos—Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics & Math, Psychology & Sociology, and CARS!375+ MCAT-style passages and passage-based questions, and nearly 400 freestanding questions inside the book55+ additional passages and questions onlineDetailed answer explanations for all questionsAccess to our online Student Tools portal for up-to-the-moment updates on AAMC news and exam info

"2 full length practice tests with audio tracks, proven techniques for success, complete content review"--Cover.

"The struggle for equal rights continues. This account of the Little Rock Nine shows how the United States has come a mighty long way...but still has a long way to go."--Page 4 of cover.