This amazing book describes the geological makeup and history of the Great Victoria Desert in Australia. Used in modern times for mining and testing of atomic bombs, this vast, sandy area has been home to a number of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Although there is little rain, the blooms with a variety of plants. Readers will learn about the Mamungari Conservation Park located in the Great Victoria Desert, which is known for a eucalyptus tree called Ooldea mallee with large, spectacular red, pink, or yellow flowers. Special sections also describe the desert's natural resources, as well as the unique problems facing this region such as the introduction of non-native species of animals.
Running almost the full length of South America on its western coast, the Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world. This remote and harsh environment saw the rise and fall of one of the great ancient civilizations of the world, the Incas. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Andes mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in South America who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
Home of two of the world's highest peaks - Mount Everest and K2 - the Himalayas are both revered and feared by mountaineers around the world. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Himalaya mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in South Asia who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
The Great Appalachian Valley, a major land form of the Appalachian mountains, played an important role in the early history of the United States. Routes through the valley, first made by Native Americans, made the mountains passable, later allowing European immigrants to expand colonization of the region. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the mountain ranges that form the Appalachians, and the people in the United States and Canada who live in their shadows. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in these mountain habitats, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
Touring, Trekking, and Traveling Green explores the many careers open to people in the fast-growing field of ecotourism. From being an ecotour leader or naturalist to managing a wildlife eco-lodge, working as a travel agent certified in ecotourism, or teaching on-the-ground tour guides and college students interested in making a living helping others enjoy nature, the opportunities for people seeking work in ecotourism are manyand growing fast. Other jobs associated with ecotourism include working in public relations or marketing ecotourism destinations, writing guidebooks, and helping visitors understand and appreciate nature as an interpreter for agencies such as the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada. Also of note: the challenges and responsibilities that jobs in ecotourism present to people who wish to make use of the environment for fun and profit without harming the ecological health of our planet.
Re-Greening the Environment covers the wide range of careers in environmental clean-up, remediation, and renewal. The response to two massive oil spills in recent years the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska in 1989 and the current Deepwater Horizon/BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico are explored. The types of jobs and careers that are associated with preventing and correcting disasters such as these include environmental scientist, hydrogeologist, enforcing clean-up regulations, and monitoring and testing waterways, soil, and groundwater for harmful pollutants. Also, the reuse and rehabbing of older commercial or industrial buildings presents opportunities in planning, designing, rebuilding, reclaiming, and restoring the natural habitats associated with these sites.
Building Green Places takes a green look at careers in planning, designing, and building energy-efficient facilities in which to live, work, and play. It also includes the development of communities built in a way that will complement and enhance Earths ecosystems.
Structures are made up of parts arranged in a way that serve a certain purpose. This book looks at human-made structures, such as bridges, and natural structures, such as plants, animal bodies, mountains, caves, rock formations, and icebergs, the materials from which they are made, and their colors, shapes, and textures. It shows structures made by animals, such as beehives and bird nests. The book also compares natural structures to human-made structures, such as natural bridges and human-made bridges, a ladybug and cars shaped like beetles, a bird and an airplane, and giraffes and construction cranes. This wonderful book with amazing photos will encourage young readers to notice colors and shapes in nature and how they relate to the purpose of structures.
Young readers are introduced to the concept and vocabulary of habitats in this colorful book. Each spread describes a different habitat and the animals that live there. Children will learn about habitats in forests, deserts, grasslands, wetlands, on mountains, and in the Arctic and Antarctic. An activity asks readers to use what they have learned to match photos of habitats with their habitat names.
Arbor Day is held on the last Friday of April across the United States. Observers are encouraged to plant trees across the nation and remember the importance of forests and the environment. Young readers will learn about the importance of environmental awareness through this unique celebration that began in the 1800s.
Caring for Earth is everyones job! Readers will discover some of the different ways they can have a positive impact on the environment. From planting trees and eating locally grown foods, to pre-cycling and protecting animal habitats, children will learn to take personal responsibility for environmental stewardship. Readers will discover how they can be effective problem-solvers when it comes to protecting the planet.
In this innovative title, young readers learn what it means to be a citizen of the global community. From water wells in Africa to global disaster relief, children will learn about different needs around the world and discover their own abilities to make the world a better place.
Dramatic photographs of spewing and flowing lava will capture the attention of any child. In this fantastic book, children will be excited to learn what a volcano is and what makes it erupt. Simple explanations describe the different kinds of volcanoes, including cinder, cone-shaped, shield, and composite as well as the different kinds of lava and the land formations they create on land and under the ocean. Other topics include the reason volcanoes often erupt during earthquakes, why giant tsunami waves are sometimes created by underwater earthquakes, and how volcanoes are studied in order to predict and prepare for eruptions. Children will also enjoy making their own volcano out of household materials.
This magnificent book uses beautiful photography to help young children understand that oceans are a type of habitat or place in nature where plants and animals live. Simple text explains why some oceans are warm and some are cold, which kinds of plants and animals live in oceans, and how the bodies of ocean animals are built to help them glide through water. Other topics such as photosynthesis, tide pools, and coral reefs are briefly and simply explained. Children will be delighted by the images of seals, penguins, polar bears, dolphins, and more.
Coasts are areas of land next to oceans. Coasts can be sandy or rocky and have landforms such as cliffs, sea stacks, caves, and arches. Coasts can be next to open oceans or be sheltered in bays or coves. In this beautifully photographed book, Bobbie Kalman takes children on a tour of different coasts, where they can ride some breathtaking ocean waves or meet underwater animals that live in nearby coral reefs. Children will also be introduced to some amazing coastal cities and learn about famous coastal rock formations.
Why do people need rivers? What causes rivers to flood? These are just a few of the questions answered by this fascinating introduction to rivers by Bobbie Kalman. Topics include the paths of rivers, how rivers carve through rocks, types of rivers, waterfalls, headwaters, tributaries, estuaries, deltas, fiords, river plants and animals, people and rivers, and famous rivers.
In this fascinating book by Bobbie Kalman, children will learn about how mountains and islands form from volcanoes, how wind and rivers create canyons, how rivers and streams create underground caves, how ocean waves shape coasts, and how glaciers make valleys. They will enjoy looking for rock formations in the shapes of animals, trees, and even ghosts!
This fascinating book explains to young children why the land on Earth has different shapes in different places. Amazing photographs and illustrations show examples of continents, mountains, valleys, plains, and caves, as well as the forests, animals, and water that may be found on each landform. Simple text also describes what volcanoes are and how lava flows can create mountains. The role that weather, such as rain and strong wind, plays in shaping sand dunes, mesas, buttes, and canyons is also described.
Coasts are areas of land next to oceans. Coasts can be sandy or rocky and have landforms such as cliffs, sea stacks, caves, and arches. Coasts can be next to open oceans or be sheltered in bays or coves. In this beautifully photographed book, Bobbie Kalman takes children on a tour of different coasts, where they can ride some breathtaking ocean waves or meet underwater animals that live in nearby coral reefs. Children will also be introduced to some amazing coastal cities and learn about famous coastal rock formations.
Environmental activists are concerned for the well being of the environment, including all people, plants, and animals. This wonderfully informative title shows how environmentalists work to preserve and improve the natural environment and how young environmentalists can become positive activists themselves. Readers will learn what actions they can take to make the world a better place to live in.
This book describes resources to younger readers, including capital resources and natural resources. Emphasis is placed on how most resources are of limited supply, so producers and consumers must make choices when things they want or need become scarce. An impressive array of full-color images enhances the reading experience.
Accessible text and vibrant design combine to provide readers with a solid introduction to this form of matter. Readers will learn the unique properties of solids and the conditions under which they change state.
This colorful book describes the geological makeup and history of the Kalahari Desert in Africa. Covering most of Botswana, as well as portions of Namibia and South Africa, the Kalahari is not a true desert because it receives more than ten inches (250 mm) of rain each year. But the rain drains and evaporates quickly leaving no water on the surface of the red sand. Readers will learn about the variety of habitats in this vast desert system that support many different kinds of plants and animals such as springboks, giraffes, elephants, and zebras. Special sections also describe the Kalahari's natural resources, indigenous people, and the unique problems facing this region.
This intriguing book describes the geological makeup and history of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China. Temperatures can get very cold and frost and snow are not unusual. Readers will learn about the variety of habitats in this vast desert system that support many different kinds of plants and animals such as camels, snow leopards, and bears. The Gobi Desert is also where the first dinosaur egg fossils were found. Special sections describe the desert's natural resources, such as copper and gold, and the unique problems facing this region such as the desert's alarming rate of desertification.
From the earliest times humans have shaped and changed the landscape. Historical and modern-day examples in this interesting book show how natural habitats and wilderness areas are destroyed as people need more land for farming and to build towns and cities, and how increasing urbanization of populations is adding to the problem of carbon emissions that cause climate change.
