In the United States, a bow is most often taken by a performer at the end of a concert or play. But in Japan, a bow is the traditional gesture to greet another person. This country close-up teaches upper-elementary students Japanese customs and much more about the Asian island nation.
Mexico is a cactus capital. Giant cardon, the world’s tallest cactuses, grow in the Sonoran Desert. They reach heights up to 63 feet! And Mexicans also eat the stems of prickly pear cactuses like vegetables! This country profile takes kids south of the border to explore Mexico.
Russia is a rare transcontinental country, with its small western part belonging to Europe and its large eastern part belonging to Asia. The dividing line is the Ural Mountains. Fluent readers will see both sides of Russia and discover the cultural elements that unite all of its people.
A country and a continent, Australia is home to bizarre wildlife such as platypuses, emus, and wombats. Australia also boasts the Great Barrier Reef that stretches more than 1,400 miles across its northeastern coast! Hop down under in this low-level title to learn more about a truly unique continent.
China, with over one billion people, is the most populated country in the world. China’s most famous tourist attraction is the Great Wall, which runs across about 5,000 miles of northern China. Rich with Chinese culture, this title explores Chinese food, holidays, and daily life. Eager readers will also get to challenge their tongues with a few common words from the unique Chinese language!
Japan is a nation made up of many islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Over 100 million people live in this small nation of islands. Many live in the countryside, but millions live in crowded cities like Tokyo. Students will learn about the physical features of the landscape and surrounding waters as well as the cultural aspects of the Japanese from old traditions to modern everyday life. Blastoff! Series
China, with over one billion people, is the most populated country in the world. China's most famous tourist attraction is the Great Wall, which runs across about 5,000 miles of northern China. Rich with Chinese culture, this title explores Chinese food, holidays, and daily life. Eager readers will also get to challenge their tongues with a few common words from one of the many Chinese languages! Blastoff! Series
Pack your bags—it’s time for a trip to South Africa! This nation, the southernmost on the African continent, is full of beautiful landscapes, fun activities, and interesting traditions. In this title, readers will see it all! Leveled text supported by engaging photos introduce all that South Africa has to offer. Added features introduce landmarks, wildlife, a famous person profile, a recipe, and more. This fun title shows readers just why this nation shines!
Stories tell about Sir Francis Drake and his famous voyage, but fewer tell about the real reason behind the trip: attacking and looting Spanish towns and ships! This high-interest graphic novel explores Drake’s pirate side, nicknamed El Draque, or the Dragon, by the Spanish. Stunning full-color illustrations detail the early days of Drake’s piracy through his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth herself. Maps, additional facts, and a timeline make this an engaging introduction to the Queen’s favorite pirate.
In 2019, Saudi Arabia opened its doors to more tourists than ever before. But what will travelers find when they visit? Through leveled text and vibrant photos, readers will find information on the country’s landscape, people, traditions, and more. Along the way, special features show off popular landmarks, highlight native animals, and introduce popular foods. Readers will walk away with a new appreciation for all that Saudia Arabia has to offer!
The world’s oldest bookstore still in operation opened in 1732. It is found in Portugal! This small country on the Iberian Peninsula has much to offer, from mountains to coastlines to rolling plains. Beyond the landscape, Portugal is a vibrant country with excellent food, fun activities, and exciting traditions. In this title, young readers will see it all! Vibrant photos support leveled text, and exciting special features—a landmark graphic, a recipe, a language feature, a cultural activity, and more—highlight exciting parts of life in Portugal. Readers will walk away with a solid understanding of life in this beautiful nation!
Known as the “Giant of Africa,” Nigeria is bursting with culture and life! Readers of this text will learn how millions of people, hundreds of languages, and a wealth of natural resources have made this country a powerhouse in Africa and the world. Features including a language sidebar, a cultural activity, and a traditional recipe allow readers to immerse themselves in Nigerian ways of life. This fact-filled title keeps students up-to-date on one of the fastest growing countries in the world!
Iceland is one of the happiest countries in the world! When you consider the island’s beautiful landscape and fun activities, it’s easy to see why. This title introduces young readers to everything Iceland has to offer. Fact-filled text and relevant photos highlight the basics of Iceland’s geography, climate, people, traditions, and more. Added features, such as a landmark sidebar, a famous person profile, and a recipe, further support the text.
Welcome to the Czech Republic! There is much to see in this beautiful country, from the sprawling expanse of Bohemian Switzerland National Park to the cultural attractions in historic Prague. Through fact-filled text and colorful photos, this engaging title takes young readers on a journey to see it all! Readers will explore the country’s landscape, wildlife, traditions, and day-to-day life. Along the way, special features show off native animals, introduce popular foods, teach basic Czech phrases, and more. This title is sure to inspire readers to explore the world!
What may look like a leaning mailbox or a poorly fitted window sill may actually be a warning of danger below! In this engaging title, young readers will learn all they need to know about these surprise disasters. Special features such as a map, a profile, a severity chart, and a formation graphic offer even more information about these surprise disasters!
It takes just three simple ingredients to create a flaming wildfire that spreads across the land and impacts life hundreds of miles away! This fascinating title uses leveled text and vivid photos to introduce readers to powerful wildfires. Special features offer readers even more about these natural disasters. They include a map, a formation graphic, a famous wildfire profile, and more!
The peninsula nation of South Korea is stamped by urban centers and technological advances. Towering buildings stretch into the sky while high-speed trains whiz South Koreans and travelers wherever they need to go. Open the cover of this informative read to discover engaging text and vivid photos alongside labeled maps, a language feature, a recipe, a historical timeline, and more!
When conditions are right, there is no stopping the power of ice storms! They leave roads slick and cause trees and power lines to snap. The engaging text and vivid images in this book are sure to interest readers in disastrous ice storms. Special features such as a map, a formation graphic, a profile, and a severity chart add even more information to this fact-filled title.
From flash floods to storm surges to rivers overflowing their banks, floods can devastate an area in a matter of moments! These waters can damage structures and strand survivors. This title introduces readers to different types of floods, how they form, and how to stay safe. Features such as a map, a flood profile, and a severity chart prove the power of these natural disasters!
History has proven that droughts can bring doom as they leave land barren. These disasters are difficult to predict, but can they be avoided? Between the covers of this early reader, find out how droughts form, how they are predicted, and how to stay safe when the world dries up! Special features include a map, a severity chart, and a profile of a famous drought.
El Salvador may be the smallest country in Central America, but it is filled with rich life and beauty! The hidden pyramid of Tazumel attracts many adventurers, while the sounds of cumbia music delight locals in the streets. Readers will dive into this and more as each chapter highlights different elements of El Salvador. Special features such as maps, fun facts, a recipe, an activity, and a timeline provide a deeper look into this nation in the tropics!
Reaching speeds of more than 80 miles per hour, avalanches plow down mountain slopes and flatten everything in their paths! Discover major avalanche danger zones, how these disasters form, how they are rated, and a profile of a devastating past disaster in this title covering catastrophic avalanches!
Stretching long and thin along South America’s southwestern coast is the diverse nation of Chile. Its landscape features the jagged Andes, the dry Atacama Desert, varied forests, and chilling glaciers. The people and cultures provide as much contrast as the land! Readers will explore Chile’s uniqueness through engaging text, labeled maps, a language feature, a traditional recipe, a historical timeline, and much more!
Boasting cultural riches, Belgium is where readers dreaming of travel can experience castle-filled towns, visual and musical arts, and buzzing urban hubs. Each bright page of this title provides engaging text and photos, while labeled maps, a traditional recipe, a language feature, a timeline, and more give readers a chance to experience the nation from afar!
Signs of life are everywhere in the Roman city of Pompeii. Graffiti decorates the walls. Ancient homes and restaurants still stand. Colorful frescoes and mosaics are still visible. But this city is a graveyard. More than 2,000 years ago, Mount Vesuvius rained fire and ash onto the city. Many who died there were perfectly preserved in ash, only to be discovered centuries later. This high-interest title uses maps, graphs, and profiles of important discoveries to explore the fascinating history of the doomed city of Pompeii.
