The city in the clouds, Machu Picchu, has an air of mystery surrounding it. Historians know the site belonged to the Inca Empire, but they do not know much else. In this book, reluctant readers will explore possible reasons why Machu Picchu was first built and, in time, abandoned.
Craco’s historical happenings hint at a curse. The town faced a plague, then war, then earthquakes and landslides. In the end, the natural disasters dealt the final blow, causing Craco to physically collapse. In this book, young readers will discover a medieval town that eventually lost its uphill battle for survival.
Hashima, Japan’s sea walls give it the appearance of a ship lost at sea. This look is the reason for the Battleship Island nickname. In this title, reluctant readers will also see Battleship Island as a time capsule. Pieces from the past will point to the deserted island’s coal-mining boom time.
The beloved fictional Harry Potter calls England his home. Though his world is imaginary, it includes many of England’s actual landmarks. In this profile of the real England, kids will learn the facts about the European country that serves as the setting for many of their favorite stories.
India has its very own Hollywood—the rhyming Bollywood! The thousands of Bollywood films that are released every year put the songs, dances, and colors of India in the spotlight. Upper-elementary students are invited to a special viewing of a country with a memorable flavor.
Iraq gets a lot of bad publicity. People hear regularly about the country’s troubles without learning about its achievements. For example, you’ve maybe never heard that Iraqis invented the wheel, sailboat, and plow! This title takes young readers past news headlines to tell the full story of Iraq.
Two thousand years ago, Italy was known for its spectacles. Rome’s famous Colosseum hosted epic sports contests and gladiator fights. In this book, Italy is on display to engage fluent young readers. Kids will be especially amazed by ancient Italian architecture.
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.
Did you know that at first Parisians disliked the addition of the Eiffel Tower to their city? They thought the landmark, which is now France’s most famous, was ugly! This children’s title narrates a sightseeing trip around France. Readers can judge the beauty of the country’s landmarks and culture for themselves.
Choosing just one animal mascot to represent the country of Australia is difficult! The marsupial contenders alone include the kangaroo, koala, and wombat. Then there are the predator options like the dingo and saltwater crocodile. After learning all about Australia in this title, fluent readers just might make a mascot pick!
Brazil has a monopoly over about half of the South American landscape. The country covers more than 3 million square miles of the continent! In this snapshot of Brazil, young readers will especially enjoy touring the Amazon Rain Forest and the country’s other unique biomes.
O Canada! The opening words of the Canadian national anthem are a fitting exclamation for appreciating the country sometimes called the True North. Canada’s untouched wilderness, Arctic animals, and native peoples are all worthy of a shout-out. This read points out to capable young readers what makes Canada special.
One-fifth of all the people in the world call China home. This means Mandarin Chinese is the number one language when it comes to native speakers! In this look at a country rich in history and culture, young readers will learn a few main Mandarin characters and much more.
Considered the Holy Land for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Israel is a sacred place that holds a rich history. This small country is filled to the brim with diverse cultures and varied landscapes. Readers will discover all that Israel has to offer in this exciting title.
It is no wonder this island of green celebrates its nation on the greenest of all holidays, St. Patrick’s Day! Every March 17, the people of Ireland kick off a three-day celebration to honor their country and their patron saint. Ireland’s many celebrations, people, landscapes, and more are highlighted in this striking book.
Germany is famous for many things. Cars, art, and classical music are a few, but there is another shining star among them. It’s the wurst! Germany is the home of hundreds of types of sausages. This title will fulfill young readers’ hunger for Germany as it explores the culture, landscape, and much more!
For over a quarter century, Germany stood as a country divided. A huge concrete barrier known as the Berlin Wall physically divided the capital of Berlin. When the wall came down in 1989, Germany was reborn. Readers will learn what daily life is like today for the innovative and industrious people of Germany. Blastoff! Series
This book takes a scientific look at different records and oddities regarding weather in our world. Reading Essentials in Science.
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
This book uses math and science to help students learn about glaciers. Math challenge questions provide students with the opportunity to apply math skills as they learn about the characteristics of glaciers.
This book discusses the climate, geography, animals, and culture of India.
This book discusses the climate, geography, animals, and culture of Japan.
This book looks at the geography, history, resources, and people of the United Kingdom.
