What happened to Amelia Earhart? Was there really an ancient city called Atlantis? What caused the fire in the sky over Siberia in 1908? This book features 12 puzzling mysteries, some centuries old, that remain unsolved. Yet people today still wonder about them and try to find answers. Each story includes attention-grabbing photos and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-stories encourage further exploration.
Harry Houdini escaped from handcuffs, straightjackets, jails, and boxes, sometimes while underwater. Willie Harris broke barriers for black stuntmen. Kitty O’Neil reached 618 miles per hour in a rocket car. This book features 12 thrilling stories about people who braved injury and worse to do impossible things. Each includes attention-grabbing photos and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-stories encourage further exploration.
Video game technology is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource on the history of video games for elementary students. The saga of video games is rife with epic quests, thievery, and competition. It took Ralph Baer about 15 years to complete his quest to play video games on home TVs, finally selling the first gaming console. Then Atari stole his table tennis game and made Pong and arcade history. Shortly after, Atari would also ignite the console wars with its Atari 2600. From Spacewar! to Mario Bros. to Fortnite, gaming has gone from geek to mainstream, with top Esports winners taking home millions of dollars. With virtual reality, where will gaming go next?
The technology of taking pictures is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource on the history of photography for elementary students. So much science went into that selfie! First, people had to figure out how light even worked. Then, a French guy smeared sticky black stuff on a silver plate and the black stuff hardened in sunlight. And we had our first picture. (It was not a selfie.) People tried new chemicals and lenses and film to take better, faster pictures. Then came the digital revolution. Cameras got into cellphones and now there are SO many selfies. Will 3-D bring our photos right into reality?
Telephone technology is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource on the history of landlines and cell phones for elementary students. Once upon a time, no one carried a phone around. Phones plugged into a wall and you could only move as far as the cord let you. And it basically stayed that way for 100 years! When we finally got cordless phones, you still had to stay in your house to call. The first mobile phones weighed 80 pounds and had to be carried around in a car—hence the term car phone. The dawn of the cell phone was the 1980s with the Motorola Dynatec. Phones changed forever. Now we have smart phones in our pockets!
The history of movie technology is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource for elementary students. It took 50 years from the invention of photographs to the magical motion of movies. In the 1890s, Thomas Edison’s company decided to make a camera that could take a bunch of pictures really fast. Next came silent films, talkies, and Technicolor. New technology gave us widescreens, 3-D, IMAX, and, finally, the digital revolution. How will virtual reality change movie-going in the future?
Computer technology is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource on the history of computing for elementary students. Back in the 1950s, computers were only for employees of the government and universities. They were way too expensive for the average person. In 1975, the Altair 8800 kit made them affordable. It also inspired a guy named Steve Wozniak to start Apple Computers with his friend Steve Jobs. Then came mice, GUIs, MacIntosh versus PC, and the World Wide Web. In the 2000s, computers got into cell phones and now everyone carries a computer in their pocket. Where will artificial intelligence take computers in the future?
The technological history of airplanes is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource for elementary students. Bird envy drove aviation history. We studied bird wings to understand flight and made gliders. Then the Wright Brothers said, “Let’s add an engine!” and we left birds in the dust. Since then, we’ve flown faster, better, and bigger. What will happen next? Can Boeing or Airbus bring us hypersonic passenger jets? Would you ride in a self-flying taxi drone?
Describes the Great Wall of China, including how and why it was built, the dynasties behind its construction, what it was used for, and what it’s like today.
Describes the mystery of Machu Picchu, including how and why it was built, the emperor who lived there, why it was abandoned, and what the ruin is like today.
Describes the mysteries behind Stonehenge, including how and why it was built, the people who built it, and what the ruins are like today.
Describes the Taj Mahal, including how and why it was built, how it was ruined and has been restored, and what it is like today.
Readers will have a blast learning about Skyscrapers. From apartment buildings to the Empire State Building, this book explores how they are built, how they are used, and the engineer’s job to build and plan for them. Bright, full-page photos fill the pages of this fun title, while easy-to-read text introduces readers to key STEM concepts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Readers will have a blast learning about Dams. From beaver dams to the Hoover Dam, this book explores how they are built, how they are used, and the engineer’s job to build and care for them. Bright, full-page photos fill the pages of this fun title, while easy-to-read text introduces readers to key STEM concepts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
For thousands of years, people found rocks that they thought were giant dragon tongues that had fallen from the sky. But they were looking in the wrong direction! These fossils were actually the teeth and bones of creatures that lived in the waters long, long ago. What other mega-sized, mega-cool creatures lived in the ancient seas? Let's explore MEGA Creatures of Ancient Seas! The MegaCool MegaFauna series explores the history of some of the most massive creatures that ever lived. They swam in the seas, walked the lands, and soared through the skies. Some are even still alive today! Learn how mega-cool megafauna are related to (or are even examples of) modern living things. These awesome extra-large animals have an amazing history, so let's start exploring
In 2009, scientists found the bones of "Dracula" in Transylvania – that was what they named the fossils of a new pterosaur whose wings could spread 12 meters wide! Millions of years ago, gigantic reptiles like “Dracula” ruled the skies. What other mega-cool, mega-sized creatures flew in the ancient skies? Let's explore MEGA Creatures of Ancient Skies! The MegaCool MegaFauna series explores the history of some of the most massive creatures that ever lived. They swam in the seas, walked the lands, and soared through the skies. Some are even still alive today! Learn how mega-cool megafauna are related to (or are even examples of) modern living things. These awesome extra-large animals have an amazing history, so let's start exploring
What is the biggest living thing right now? In Mega Creatures of Today, you'll find that the answer to that question can be found on land, in the sky, and in the seas. Let's discover the mega-sized, mega-cool creatures living on Earth today and learn what makes them so amazing!
People have been finding fossils for thousands of years. When scientists found claws that were 3 feet long, they thought they had found a massive turtle. After more bones were found, they realized that the claws belonged to a dinosaur that weighed more than 10,000 pounds! What other mega-sized, mega-cool creatures roamed ancient lands millions of years ago? Let's explore MEGA Creatures of Ancient Lands!
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.
This narrative nonfiction title introduces young readers to the 2014 Peoples Climate March. This large protest, filled with powerful and courageous voices, shined a light on important environmental issues. Each book includes a table of contents, glossary of key words, index, author biography, sidebars, and timeline.
Human modification of the environment always carries a risk of accident and folly. Explore the causes and consequences of the Centralia, Pennsylvania mining disaster of 1947. Guided by compelling questions such as, "What led to this disaster?," "Who was impacted by it?," and "What changed in its aftermath?" the interdisciplinary content blends social studies and science. Ultimately, it pushes students to consider how humans can meet their need for resources in a safe, sustainable way. Books include table of contents, index, glossary, author biography, and timeline.
Human modification of the environment always carries a risk of accident and folly. Explore the causes and consequences of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Guided by compelling questions such as, "What led to this disaster?," "Who was impacted by it?," and "What changed in its aftermath?" the interdisciplinary content blends social studies and science. Ultimately, it pushes students to consider how humans can meet their need for resources in a safe, sustainable way. Books include table of contents, index, glossary, author biography, and timeline.
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.
In this book, early fluent readers will learn about the causes, main events, key players, and lasting impacts of the September 11th Attacks. Interesting photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about this important event in American history. An infographic enhances understanding of the September 11th attacks, and What Do You Think? sidebars encourage deeper inquiry. A timeline highlights key events and dates. September 11th Attacks also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In this book, early fluent readers will learn about the causes, main events, key players, and lasting impacts of the Texas Revolution. Interesting photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about this important event in American history. An infographic enhances understanding of the Texas Revolution, and What Do You Think? sidebars encourage deeper inquiry. A timeline highlights key events and dates. Texas Revolution also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
