Ready. Set. Read! Hydroplanes brings the speed and danger of racing and puts it on water! Feel the wind and the waves whip you in the face in these large, full-color photographs that explain and help visualize the history, capabilities, and technology of these exhilarating machines. A&D Xtreme is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Ready. Set. Read! Muscle Cars brings style and class back to racing. Admire the nostalgic look of these classic cars in large, full-color photographs that explain and help visualize the history, capabilities, and technology of these exhilarating machines.
Ready. Set. Read! Sports Cars brings the sleek side of racing to the reader in large, full-color photographs that explain and help visualize the history, capabilities, and technology of these exhilarating machines.
This title explores the development and use of the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the first US Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. Readers will follow the history of the aircraft, and learn its military and performance specifications, as well as its features and advantages in the field. Readers will learn about its weapon systems including general purpose bombs, cluster bomb units, laser guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions, missiles, rockets, illumination flares, and cannons. Features such as Night Vision Imaging Systems, titanium armor, self-sealing fuel cells, and hydraulic flight-control systems are detailed. The Warthog's two non-after burning turbofan engines are also covered, as are the achievements and future of this important aircraft.
This title explores the development and use of the AC-130H/U Gunship. Readers will follow the history of the aircraft and learn about its military and performance specifications, as well as its advantages in the field. Features such as side-firing weapons, sophisticated television and infrared sensors, navigation and fire control systems and synthetic aperture strike radar are detailed. Readers will learn about the AC-130's navigational devices, which include inertial navigation systems and global positioning systems. Readers will discover the aircraft's operational use in the Vietnam War, Operation Urgent Fury, and Operation Desert Storm and learn about its weapon systems including cannons and autocannons.
This title explores the development and use of the B-52 Stratofortress. Readers will follow the history of this long-range, heavy bomber and learn about its military and performance specifications. Features such as its bombing navigational computer and terrain computer, and its Electro-Optical Viewing System and GPS are detailed. Readers will learn about its weapon systems including the aircraft's mixture of bombs and air-launched cruise missiles, machine guns, cannon, advanced electronic systems, and terrain-avoidance radar. Readers will discover the aircraft's operational use in the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War. The Big Ugly Fat Fellow's eight engines are covered, as are the achievements and future of this important aircraft.
This title explores the development and use of the F-22 Raptor. Readers will follow the history of this stealth fighter aircraft, and learn about its military and performance specifications. Features such as its BAE Systems, radar-warning receiver, Infra-Red and Ultra-Violet Missile Approach warning systems, and radar are covered. Readers will learn about the weapon systems including compressed-carriage medium and short-range missiles. The F-22's dual afterburning Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines are covered, as are the achievements and future of this important aircraft.
This title explores the development and use of the UH-60 Black Hawk. Readers will follow the history of this front-line utility helicopter, and learn about its military and performance specifications. Features such as its radios, radar warning receiver, and infrared countermeasures system are detailed. Readers will learn about its weapon systems including pintle mounts, machine guns, and miniguns. Readers will discover the aircraft's operational use in in a variety of missions, including air assault, air cavalry, and aeromedical evacuations. The Black Hawk's two General Electric T700-GE-701 turboshaft engines are covered, as are the achievements and future of this important aircraft.
This title explores the development and use of the V-22 Osprey. Readers will follow the history of this tiltrotor vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft, and learn about its military and performance specifications. Features such as its blade fold and wing stowage system, three-bladed proprotor, payload, night-vision system, and integrated helmet display are detailed. Readers will learn about its weapon systems including machine guns, weapon turret, and miniguns. The Osprey's two Rolls-Royce AE1107C turboshaft engines are covered, as are the achievements and future of this important aircraft.
This title explores the history of the America's Cup yacht race. Readers will learn abut the race's course and how it is run, from the starting zone to the top gate. Readers will learn the rules of the race, including speed trial competitions, course boundaries, and penalties. Top captains such as John Cox Stevens, Charles Jackson Paine, J. Pierpont Morgan, and Harold S. Vanderbilt are introduced.
This title explores the history of the Iditarod sled dog race. Important people in Iditarod history are introduced, such as Dorothy Page and Joe Redington. Readers will learn abut the Iditarod Trail and how it is run from the start in Anchorage to the finish line in Nome. Readers will learn the rules of the race, from qualifying events such as the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race through checkpoints on the northern and southern routes. Readers will also learn about the sled dogs and the rules for their care. Readers will meet top mushers such as Dick Wilmarth, Rick Swenson, Susan Butcher, Martin Buser, Lance Mackey, Doug Swingley, and Jeff King, and famous dogs such as Balto, Fat Albert, Granite, and Tolstoy.
This title explores the history of the Indianapolis 500 automobile race. Readers will learn about important people in Indianapolis 500 history such as Carl Fisher. Readers will learn abut the race's track and how it is run, through four turns and straightaways. Readers will learn the rules of the race from time trials to vehicle requirements. Top drivers such as A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears, Mario Andretti are introduced, as are top cars Mercedes Benz, Lotus 38 and Penske March.
This title explores the history of the Kentucky Derby. Readers will meet important people in Kentucky Derby history such as Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr. Readers will learn about the race's dirt track at historic Churchill Downs. Readers will learn the rules of the race from the Kentucky Derby Championship Series qualifying events to the finish line. Famous horses such as Aristides, Regret and Citation, Secretariat and Seattle Slew are introduced, as are top jockeys such as Bill Hartack, Willie Schumacher.
This title explores the history of The National Championship Air Races. Readers will meet important people in Reno Air Races history such as Bill Stead. Readers will learn the seven classes of planes and the rules for each course, from qualifying heats to flying through the course pylons. Famous pilots and planes such as Rod Lewis and the Champion Seafury #232, Chuck Greenhill and the Super Seafury "Furias", and Jimmy Leeward and the Galloping Ghost are covered.
This title introduces readers to bareback riding, a roughstock rodeo event. Readers will discover and the challenge of a full eight-second ride while learning the rules of competition, judging and scoring, such as marking out, spurring, and style for the rider, and powerful, high-kicking twists for the bronc. Safety equipment such as padded clothing, neck braces and gloves are covered. Sanctioning bodies such as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) are also discussed. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
This title explores the history of the Tour de France. Readers will meet important people in Tour de France history such as Géo Lefèvre. Readers will learn about the race's course through the 21 daily stages of The Loop. Readers will learn the rules of the race from time trials to Le Grand Départ, and the meaning of different colored jerseys that are awarded along the way. Top cyclists such as Lance Armstrong and Eddy Merckx are also introduced.
This title introduces readers to barrel racing, a timed rodeo event. Readers will learn the rules of competition, such as how to steer the horse and navigate the barrels. Sanctioning bodies such as the National Barrel Racing Association (NBRA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) are introduced, as are competitions such as the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR). Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
This title introduces readers to bull riding, rodeo's most dangerous event. Readers will learn the rules of competition, such as how long a rider must stay on the bull and safety equipment such as leather chaps and helmets are covered. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
This title introduces readers to roping, a timed rodeo event. Readers will learn the rules of tie-down, break-away, and team roping competitions, from tying the piggin' string in a hooey, dropping the flag, to the finish signals of cowboys, herders, and heelers. Sanctioning bodies such as the Professional Cowboy Rodeo Association (PRCA) are also introduced. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Expand your young reader's universe! Simple, straightforward text paired with color and historic photos discusses the history and modern use of space stations. Readers will learn how astronauts use them to make observations and conduct experiments. Also discussed is how space stations are launched into space to be built by astronauts, as well as what life is like for astronauts living on a space station. Well-known stations Salyut, Skylab, Mir, and the International Space Station are highlighted. Features include a table of contents, fun facts, a glossary with phonetics, and an index.
Expand your young reader's universe! Simple, straightforward text paired with color and historic photos discusses how rockets and satellites are used to explore the universe. Readers will learn how powerful rockets launch spacecraft. Also discussed are natural satellites and artificial satellites, including space probes and piloted spacecraft. The history and future goals of rockets and satellites are covered as well. Features include a table of contents, fun facts, a glossary with phonetics, and an index.
Take readers on a journey through space! Simple, straightforward text paired with color and historic photos discusses the topic of space exploration. Beginning with the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States, readers will learn about the first space launches, early astronauts, the first moon landing, and future space goals. Also discussed is the development of space probes, space capsules, space shuttles, and space stations, including the International Space Station. Readers will learn what life is like for an astronaut in space. Features include a table of contents, fun facts, a glossary with phonetics, and an index
Expand your young reader's universe! Simple, straightforward text paired with color and historic photos discusses NASA and its major accomplishments in space travel. Beginning with the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States, readers will learn about the first space launches, the establishment of NASA and its early missions, Project Apollo and the moon landing, and NASA's future goals. Also discussed is NASA's development of spacecraft from space capsules to space shuttles to space stations, including the International Space Station. Features include a table of contents, fun facts, a glossary with phonetics, and an index.
Colorful graphics, oversized photos, and short, engaging sentences draw reluctant readers in to the fascinating life of 2011 American Idol winner Scotty McCreery! This book describes McCreery's childhood in North Carolina, family, education, rise to fame, and future plans. Readers will follow McCreery's budding career, starting with his early talent playing the guitar and singing in his church choir to his audition for American Idol and eventually to the release of his first album, Clear As Day. McCreery's performance on American Idol is described, as well as the process of American Idol and the famous singers who have been discovered on the show. From recording albums to performing live on stage, readers will discover what it's like to be a professional singer! Features include a table of contents, maps, "Did You Know" fun facts, a "Snapshot" page with vital information, a glossary with phonetic spellings, and an index
Colorful graphics, oversized photographs, and short, engaging sentences draw reluctant readers in to the fascinating life of country music star Blake Shelton! Readers will learn about Shelton's family background, his early interest in music, and his start in Nashville, leading up to his success in the country music scene. Albums covered include Blake Shelton, The Dreamer, Blake Shelton's Barn and Grill, Startin' Fires, Hillbilly Bone, and Red River Blue. Also discussed are Shelton's role on the popular show The Voice, his induction into the Grand Ole Opry, and his marriage to fellow country star Miranda Lambert. Features include a table of contents, a map, "Did You Know" fact boxes, a "Snapshot" page with vital information, a glossary with phonetic spellings, and an index.
