This entertaining book follows the travels of Italian merchant and adventurer Marco Polo who traveled across Asia. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major journeys, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Polo to travel to China, the Silk Road, life in Central Asia, the Chinese empire, Polo's famous book, and his legacy.
This entertaining book follows the travels of Americans Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, explorers of the American West. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style that guides readers through a voyage of discovery. Topics include what led Lewis and Clark to become explorers, colonies in North America, The Corps of Discovery, and Sacagawea.
This engaging book follows the travels of French nobleman Sieur de la Salle who expanded the fur trade in North Americathen called New Franceand explored the Mississippi River down to the Gulf of Mexico. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include La Salles quest for a new trade route to China, life in New France, interactions with the Seneca, the fur trade, sailing down the Mississippi, and La Salle's legacy.
This exciting book follows the travels of Viking explorer Leif Eriksson from Iceland to Greenland and on to North America. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Eriksson to sail west, Viking exploration, life on Viking longships, North American settlements, and Eriksson's legacy.
This informative book follows the travels of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Len to the Caribbean and Florida. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include Ponce de Lens trip to the New World on Columbus second voyage, being appointed a governor in the Caribbean, his actions toward the Taino people, life in the Spanish colonies, claiming Florida for Spain, and his legacy.
This engaging book follows the travels of French mapmaker and navigator Samuel de Champlain as he mapped out the St. Lawrence River and the North American Coast. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style. Topics include what first led Samuel de Champlain to the New World, his role as the Father of New France and the St. Lawrence River, accurate mapmaking, establishing trade networks, and the legacy of Champlain.
This fascinating book follows the travels of English explorer and sea navigator Henry Hudson. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Hudson to become an explorer, Northern exploration, life on sea voyages, merchant companies, and Hudsons legacy.
This engaging book follows the travels of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style as Columbus navigates his way to the New World. Topics include what led Columbus to become an explorer, early beliefs about the geography of the world, life on sea voyages, failed colonies, and the legacy of Columbus.
This fascinating book follows French explorer Jacques Cartier to the New World where he claimed the new territory called Canada for France. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Cartier to sail west, life on board ship, Cartier's exploration along the St. Lawrence, his interactions with the Iroquois, establishing French settlements in Canada, and Cartier's legacy.
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.
This extraordinary book shows in a simple way how the Sun's light and warmth affect Earth. Children will be amazed to learn that the Sun is actually a star, and that its position and distance from the Earth cause day and night as well as changing weather and the seasons.
Best known as the home of the Inca as well as other ancient civilizations, Peru is dotted with the ruins of their ancient buildings. Children will be delighted to read about the ingenuity of these ancient people in Spotlight on Peru. From high up on Lake Titicaca where llamas roam, down to the Amazon River where jaguars live in the rainforests, the wonders of Peru are described through simple text. Wonderful photographs also capture the people of Peru today and their way of life.
Holidays, celebrations, and symbols are highlighted in this up-to-date fact-filled introduction to the United States. Spotlight on the United States of America looks at the colonial history of the U.S., its government, and some of its important leaders. Many colorful pictures, maps, and illustrations highlight the different regions, climates, cities, and wildlife of this fascinating country.
Spotlight on India introduces children to the land, people, and rich traditions of this beautiful country. Breathtaking photos feature the Himalaya Mountains, the Ganges and Indus Rivers, and major cities such as New Delhi. This joyful book also celebrates Indias unique mixture of peoples, monuments, such as the famous Taj Mahal, and its unique styles of music and dance.
Mexico is the southern neighbor of the United States. It is a country with a rich history and culture, a warm climate, diverse landscapes, and a variety of wildlife. From Mayan pyramids to busy cities to happy fiestas, Spotlight on Mexico offers a joyful experience to young readers. The book also includes recipes of some favorite Mexican foods that children will love to make!
The spotlight is on China having been host to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Maps and illustrations highlight this beautiful introduction to this vast country covered with such diverse landforms as mountains, deserts, and jungles. Stunning photographs feature the sites of its cities including Shanghai and Hong Kong as well as its architectural wonders such as the famous Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Children will also enjoy learning about Chinas people, their holidays and celebrations, high flying martial arts, Chinese cooking, and horoscopes.
This up-to-date and fact filled introduction to Australia features the unique people, land, and animals of this island country. Children will be fascinated to learn about the native Aboriginal peoples and their way of life, the harsh Outback wilderness, the Great Barrier Reef, and the many marsupials that are unique to Australia, including the kangaroo and the koala. Spectacular photographs also give young readers a close-up view of major cities.
Spotlight on Canada introduces children to Canada's multicultural people, its varied landscapes and climates, its exciting cities, and its joyful celebrations. A huge country with only one neighbor, the United States, Canada is divided into provinces and territories. French and English are its two official languages, and its rich history goes back to its French and English roots. This colorful book celebrates the diversity of this great country!
This fascinating book explores the growth and spread of Muslim peoples from the early 600s to the end of the Ottoman Empire. Early Islamic empires spread from the Middle East to the far corners of Asia and into Europe. The stories of the Umayyds, Abbasids, Al-Andalus, Fatimids, Crusades, Mongols, Safavids, and the Moghul and Ottoman empires are revealed. Key conquests and battles including the Crusades are detailed.
