Synopsis: Describes in simple terms why earthquakes and volcanoes occur, the damage they cause, and how instruments are used to detect movements in the earth

Synopsis: From the lightbulb to the phonograph to the movies, Thomas Edison was the mastermind behind many inventions that are taken for granted today. But how did he grow up to be a legendary inventor? Michael Dooling explores the origins of Edison's scientific genius: his interest in mixing chemicals-sometimes with explosive results-his diligence in his work as a paperboy, and his difficulty paying attention in school. Through his clear text and…

Synopsis: John James Audubon was a boy who loved the out-of-doors more than the in. He was a boy who believed in studying birds in nature, not just from books. And, in the fall of 1804, he was a boy determined to learn if the small birds nesting near his Pennsylvania home really would return the following spring. This book reveals how the youthful Audubon pioneered a technique essential to our understanding of birds. Capturing the early passion of America…

Synopsis: Presents, in question and answer format, a history of the United States from the exploration of Christopher Columbus to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Synopsis: Presents information about the people, places, birds, insects, flowers, endangered species, and more associated with each of the fifty states and the nation's capital.

Synopsis: A visual guide, accompanied by text, to the people, battles, and events of America's war for independence.

Synopsis: Meet Kobe Bryant, the youngest player ever to start an NBA All-Star game. Exciting photos and clear, dramatic text make this easy-reading biography perfect for the very youngest fans.Meet Kobe Bryant, the youngest player ever to start an NBA All-Star game. Exciting photos and clear, dramatic text make this easy-reading biography perfect for the very youngest fans.

Synopsis: Author Cheryl Bardoe and illustrator Jos. A. Smith's picture book Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas tells the true story about the father of genetics and his pea plants! An Orbis Pictus Honor Book An ALA-ALSC Notable Book An IRA Notable Book AAAS/Subaru SB…

Synopsis: Through letters, diaries, and oral histories, WE ARE AMERICANS profiles the often challenging but ultimately rewarding experiences of US immigrants during the last 20,000 years. Every child will find an ancestor or contemporary in this collection of personal narratives that tells the story, chronologically, of immigrant groups in this nation. From the first human residents of North America, to the mass of Europeans in the 1800's, to today's…

Synopsis: Sylvia Earle first lost her heart to the ocean as a young girl when she discovered the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico in her backyard. As an adult, she dives even deeper. Whether she's designing submersibles, swimming with the whales, or taking deep-water walks, Sylvia Earle has dedicated her life to learning more about what she calls "the blue heart of the planet." With stunningly detailed pictures of the wonders of the sea, Life in the Ocean…

Synopsis: A classic in children's non-fiction -- now in paper. John Roebling had a dream. He would build the world's longest bridge and he would build it in a new way. But his way was too new. It took 15 years to convince people it would work. And then, just as construction was to begin, John Roebling was killed in a freak accident. That should have been the end of the story of The Brooklyn Bridge. Instead, it was the beginning. For John wasn't the…

Synopsis: What a difference 100 years has made! Back at the turn of the century there were no televisions, airplanes, computers, plastics, movies with sound, or space travel; there were only about 8,000 automobiles in the whole country. Just turning on a light switch was a new experience. In 58 tantalizing questions and answers, author Ann McGovern gives readers a fascinating look at life in New York City at the end of the 19th century-where the rich and…

Synopsis: Level 4: Grades 2 to 4--Proficient Level 4 readers will be totally absorbed by these dramatic stories. The rich vocabulary and factual panels will set them on a lifelong path to reading for information. Launched in the spring, this exciting learning-to-read program combines DK's highly visual, non-fiction Eyewitness style with engaging, age-appropriate stories to help children learn to read. The four reading levels make up a structured literacy…

Synopsis: Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are unlikely superstars. Sosa grew up in a Dominican slum, his family so poor he had to use a milk carton for a fielder's glove. McGwire was drafted as a pitcher and didn't move to first base till he was in college. So how did the two of them manage to smash Roger Maris's record for home runs in a single season? Exciting photos and clear, dramatic text make these easy-reading biographies a winning lineup for the very…