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.
Hallie Morse Daggett loved spending time outdoors, hiking among the tall trees of the forests in California's Siskiyou Mountains. She wasn't afraid of the bears, coyotes, and wildcats. But Hallie was afraid of fire and understood the threat it posed to the forests, wildlife, and people. And more than anything, she wanted to devote her life to protecting her beloved outdoors; she decided she would work for the US Forest Service. But in the 1880s the Forest Service didn't hire women, thinking they couldn't handle the physical challenges of the work or the isolation. But the Forest Service didn't know Hallie or how determined she could be. This picture-book biography tells the story of Hallie Morse Daggett, the first woman "fire guard" hired by the US Forest Service, whose hard work and dedication led the way for other women to join the Forest Service.
Eighteenth-century mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker was widely known and respected in his time. Most of what he knew, he taught himself. His letter to Thomas Jefferson asked the future president to reconsider his racial prejudices. Learn about Banneker, who abolitionists would use as proof that people of any race can be equally intelligent. Additional features include detailed captions and sidebars, critical-thinking questions, a phonetic glossary, an index, and sources for further research.
Ice mummies hold fascinating secrets. They teach us hidden facts about the past. This narrative nonfiction book examines ice mummies from all over the world. Look inside to uncover these ancient treasures! Each book includes a table of contents, glossary of key words, index, author biography, sidebars, and mummy map.
Bog mummies hold fascinating secrets. They teach us hidden facts about the past. This narrative nonfiction book examines bog mummies from all over Europe. Look inside to unearth these ancient treasures! Each book includes a table of contents, glossary of key words, index, author biography, sidebars, and mummy map.
One Earth profiles Black, Indigenous and People of Color who live and work as environmental defenders. Through their individual stories, the book shows that the intersection of environment and ethnicity is an asset to achieving environmental goals. The twenty short biographies introduce readers to diverse activists from all around the world, who are of many ages and ethnicities. From saving ancient trees on the West Coast of Canada, to protecting the Irrawaddy dolphins of India, to uncovering racial inequalities in the food system in the United States, these environmental heroes are celebrated by author and biologist Anuradha Rao, who outlines how they went from being kids who cared about the environment to community leaders in their field. One Earth is full of environmental role models waiting to be found.
The Living Arts Library is specially designed to stimulate children's interest and imagination in all aspects of the international arts. The activity-based approach encourages readers to try for themselves a variety of skills and techniques.
The idea of preserving bodies has been around for thousands of years. Mummies are intriguing to everyone, especially when so well preserved. Great for science and history.
The first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison has broken barriers in science and medicine to become one of the most admired women worldwide. This fascinating book describes how Jemison refused to let anyone stand in the way of her dreams. She became a doctor and worked in the Peace Corps until NASA invited her to join the astronaut program. Today, she is an important advocate for science in education - especially for girls and women. Jemison also continues to push scientific research to improve life in developing countries.
Imagine your family had to choose between sending you to school or having enough food to eat. This book tells how William Kamkwamba was forced to drop out of his school in Wimbe, Malawi, when a famine struck his village and his family, who relied on farming, could no longer afford his tuition fee. Instead of giving up on his education, William visited his local library often. It was here that he read a book about wind power. At the age of 14, William used what he learned from the book to build a windmill that brought power to his family’s home. He has since built his village’s first drinking water pump. William’s ingenuity, perseverance, and initiative are an inspiration to many people around the world.
Did you know the first recorded chemist in history was a woman? Tapputi-Belatekallim lived about 1200 BCE and was the head perfumer for the King of Babylon—a big deal in ancient times when perfume was used in medicine and important ceremonies. This informative book offers an overview of the amazing, and often hidden or forgotten achievements of women in science, who developed vaccines and cancer treatments, and unlocked the secrets of nuclear power and DNA—the building blocks of life.
We’ve all heard of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, but very few female inventors are household names. This fascinating book illuminates the history of women who used their brainpower and skills to produce important items we use ever day. Meet Hedy LaMarr, a famous Hollywood actress by day and inventor of a radio guidance system for torpedos by night. Marvel at the cleverness of Ng Mui, who developed the martial art known as Wing Chun, which later developed into kung fu.
This engaging journey through the continent of Europe helps show how humans affect, and are affected by, the environments in which they live. Readers will gain an understanding of the continent's various landforms, resources, and human activities. Examples featured include traveling by train through a tunnel in the Alps, riding a water bus in the canals of Venice, and cycling along the Danube River.
Readers bored with seeing the same information on renewable energy will love the focus on relevant contemporary examples in this book. How does solar power give energy to medical clinics in Ghana or cut fossil fuel use in Australia? Infographics make finding detailed information easy and interesting.
How can eating better ourselves improve life for everyone on the planet? This intriguing title combines images and infographics to help explain how choosing foods that don't have to be shipped long distances, don't add to world pollution, and are not in danger of running out helps to ensure the world's food supply. Close-up boxes and case studies illustrate relevant examples of topics such as soil protection, organic vs industrial farming, and overfishing.
From urban design that suits the local landscape to zero-carbon living, this fascinating book looks at how cities around the world are adapting to environmental change. Readers are presented with real-life, eco-city solutions to issues such as water use in times of drought, and why green spaces matter.
A major societal issue in the world today, opioid addiction is causing a devastating number of deaths and is costing countries millions of dollars. This timely book includes information on the causes and effects of opioid addiction and the methods being used to combat this deadly epidemic.
Cultural beliefs surrounding illness and societal beliefs about how we should offer health care are discussed in this fascinating addition to the Our Values series. Discussions about the treatment of common diseases, as well as topics of interest, such as how a cast is made, are compared and contrasted with the way health care is provided throughout the world.
Should the Internet be a place for free thought and free sharing? Or should the government and Internet service companies be able to censor and block content? This up-to-date book will help equip readers with tangible tools to help understand the issues involved in net neutrality and encourage them to stay informed of further developments.
This colorful atlas of the world makes it easy for readers to locate specific information such as famous landmarks, festivals around the world, farming facts, food and drink, natural wonders, ancient wonders, and much more. Divided by continents and regions, this engaging book uses maps, images, and a numbering system to present fascinating information, facts, and figures in an easy-to-absorb fashion.
How many uses can you find for an old glass jam jar? This engaging book looks at the always topical issues of managing our waste in a world with finite resources. Infographic details provide ready facts such as how much energy recycling one tin can provides and what that energy can be used for.
Can modern forensic tools help us uncover new clues about who built the Great Pyramid at Giza? What can mummy forensics teach us about the mummified remains of Egyptian royals? How does the forensic analysis of Egyptian coffins help identify an unknown cause of death? Curious readers will love this interesting title, which examines how forensic science has allowed scientists, archaeologists, and historians to solve mysteries and answer questions about ancient Egypt.
How can modern DNA analysis of ancient tombs help us learn more about life in ancient Greece? Can ground-penetrating radar reveal hidden city structures? What can we learn from 3D recreations of ancient Greek structures, artifacts, and art? This fascinating title will satisfy curious readers as it examines how forensic science has allowed scientists, archaeologists, and historians to solve mysteries and answer questions about ancient Greece.
How can modern forensic tools help solve the mystery of ancient Aztec skull masks? What can we learn about Aztec life from the forensic analysis of their art? Can chemical analysis teach us about how Aztecs treated disease—and why millions were killed in an epidemic? This exciting title offers answers to these questions and more as it examines how forensic science has allowed scientists, archaeologists, and historians to solve mysteries and answer questions about the Aztecs.
What can modern DNA analysis of skeletons tell us about the lifestyle, diet, and beliefs of the Maya? How can new mapping technology uncover previously hidden Mayan cities and structures? Can we use forensic science to solve the mystery of how the Mayan civilization came to an end? Get lost in this compelling title, which examines how forensic science has allowed scientists, archaeologists, and historians to solve mysteries and answer questions about the Maya.
