Learn all about pharaohs and daily life (and death) in Ancient Egypt. Discover 3,000 years of an ancient civilization through amazing and amusing facts about daily life, afterlife, and how the rulers kept it all under control.
At the Olympics, the best athletes in the world compete for the gold medal. No matter the event, there are sure to be surprising moments. Someone who has never placed first can soar past the competition to win the top prize. Learn about the biggest upsets in the history of the Olympic Games!
Sometimes, a baseball team with an average season record can go on to win the World Series! Experience the thrill of professional baseball's biggest upsets, from unexpected wins to shocking errors made on the baseball diamond.
Anything can happen in a hockey game! A player can race through a field of opponents, scoring a goal just as the buzzer marks the end of the game. Explore some of professional hockey's biggest surprises and history-making moments, from memorable plays to Stanley Cup upsets.
Sports are all about great strategy and overcoming obstacles, right? Not always! Sometimes failures in sports are as exciting as successes. Learn about the biggest fails—from an NFL team blowing a 35–3 lead in a playoff game to the Boston Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Discover how athletes and teams have dealt with failure and how they've improved after their mistakes.
Explore some of history's biggest failures in medicine—from bloodletting to early remedies—and how some of those failures eventually led to success.
Without inventors, we wouldn't have cars, airplanes, or light bulbs. Inventors build devices that make our lives better. But not all inventions succeed. In fact, the history of inventions is filled with missteps and blunders. Learn about the biggest goofs—from flying cars to Smell-O-Vision. Discover how invention mistakes have also led to brand-new products, such as bubble wrap and sticky notes.
Technology is constantly changing the world we live in. But new tech doesn't always catch on right away, or even work like it's supposed to. In fact, the history of technology is filled with failures and mistakes—from computer bugs to an early version of the video phone. Discover how even successful tech companies, like Apple and Google, made major missteps along the way and learned from their mistakes.
A science career puts you at the cutting edge of innovations that can change the world, and in the STEM fields of science, the demand for science professionals is exploding. The Careers in STEM series covers exciting and rewarding jobs in the fields of physics, biology, engineering, aerospace and math. Bright and stimulating, packed with information and career advice.
A crunching sound awakens a husband and wife sailing to Hawaii. Water starts to rush into their boat. They watch from the life raft as it sinks in only 15 minutes. That is the beginning of William and Simonne Butler’s 66-day trial of survival on the ocean. Iron Will: Surviving the Sea tells the story of five shipwrecks, and what it took for the survivors to endure until they were rescued. From surviving in an air pocket in a sunken ship at the bottom of the ocean, to the longest solo survival at sea, readers will learn how these individuals persevered against all odds.
A group of friends plan a trip to explore the Amazon rainforest. They have a map and some supplies, but the jungle is thick with trees. There are very few paths. The friends realize that they are lost and no one knows where to look for them. That is the beginning of Loic Pillois and Guilhem Nayral’s dangerous adventure. Iron Will: Surviving the Jungle tells five shocking stories of being lost in the rainforest. The survivors faced deadly animals, like jaguars and poisonous spiders, and encountered dangerous terrain, with heavy rains, flooding, and waterfalls. But readers will learn how they each made it out alive, with little more than an iron will.
A woman is getting her gear ready for a day of skiing. It’s a beautiful day at the lodge and she is near the lockers setting up her ski boots. She hears a distant rumble, and the lodge is overtaken by an avalanche. This is the start of Anna Allen’s five-day ordeal of being trapped under snow and debris. Iron Will: Surviving the Mountain retells 5 stories of adventure and survival on cold, dangerous mountains around the world. Some people lost limbs, and others lost fingers and toes to the cold. Even the most prepared can become the mountain’s victim. But somehow, with grit and determination, these survivors didn’t lose their lives.
A man is driving through the Australian outback. His car breaks down, miles away from any help. He is surrounded by nothing but dry earth and bare trees, which offer very little shade. He knows he won’t make it if he tries to walk to a town. This is the beginning of Ricky Megee’s 71-day ordeal in the Australian wilderness. Iron Will: Surviving the Desert relates the experiences of five people alone in deserts around the world, and how they made it out alive. If the poisonous snakes and lizards don’t pose a major threat, the lack of water and high temperatures will. It takes a special will to survive to make it through such harsh a environment.
Gives readers a thrilling, behind-the-scenes look into how World War II spies gathered information for the Allied and Axis powers. Learn about the tools that daring spies used during this conflict, and how spies such as Josephine Baker and Juan Pujol risked their lives to defeat Nazi Germany. Additional features include a Fast Facts spread, critical thinking questions, a phonetic glossary, resources for further study, and an index.
Gives readers a thrilling, behind-the-scenes look into how World War I spies gathered information for the Allied and Central powers. Learn about the tools that daring spies used during this conflict, and how spies such as Louise de Bettignies and Edith Cavell worked in secret to help their side win the war. Additional features include a Fast Facts spread, critical thinking questions, a phonetic glossary, resources for further study, and an index.
It is the most famous house in the United States. Major moments in world history have taken place within its walls. World leaders, children, and even animals have roamed the halls. War once destroyed it. But now the house stands as a symbol of freedom and democracy in the U.S. This is the story of the White House.
What do underwater cameras, bandages, the Mona Lisa, and an ice cave all have in common? They have all histories in Europe, one of Earth’s seven continents. In this exciting learning adventure, Great Minds and Finds in Europe, you'll discover these great inventions and more from ancient and modern Europe!
What do kangaroos, movie special effects, an opera house, and electric refrigerators have in common? They all have histories in Australia, one of Earth’s seven continents. In this exciting learning adventure, Great Minds and Finds in Australia, you'll discover these great inventions and more from ancient and modern Australia!
What do telescopes, rainforests, earthquake-proof buildings, and lizards all have in common? They have histories in South America, one of Earth’s seven continents. In this exciting learning adventure, Great Minds and Finds in South America, you'll discover these great inventions and more from ancient and modern South America!
What do eyeglasses, fossils, chewing gum, and color television all have in common? They all have histories in North America, one of Earth’s seven continents. In this exciting learning adventure, Great Minds and Finds in North America, you'll discover these great inventions and more from ancient and modern North America!
What do ancient ice, deep-sea creatures, a red waterfall, and amazing journeys have in common? They all have histories in Antarctica, one of Earth’s seven continents. In this exciting learning adventure, Great Minds and Finds in Antarctica, you'll discover these great inventions and more from ancient and modern Antarctica!
What do writing, surgery, glaciers, and fossils have in common? They all have histories in Africa, one of Earth’s seven continents. In this exciting learning adventure, Great Minds and Finds in Africa, you'll discover these great inventions and more from ancient and modern Africa!
What do kites, writing, gunpowder, and the number zero have in common? They all have histories in Asia, the world’s largest continent! In this exciting learning adventure, Great Minds and Finds in Asia, you'll discover these great inventions and more from ancient and modern Asia!
Explore the powerful records set in baseball, including who set them and if they might ever be broken
All Olympic competitors are elite athletes. But only the very best have risen to legendary status. Meet some of the world's most amazing Olympians and nd out how they won their gold medals in these exciting books. Action photos and interesting infographics are accompanied by straightforward text to create these fascinating mini-biographies.