Going wild. We don't see it as a good thing. And why would we? For most of our time on earth, humanity has been running from lions and other wilderness dangers. We've worked hard to make our local landscapes as safe and convenient as possible. Sometimes that's meant paving over areas that might burst into weeds. Other times, we've dammed rivers for electricity or irrigation. But now pollution, climate change and disruptions to the water cycle are affecting the world in ways we never anticipated. What if the new key to making our lives safer (and even healthier) is to allow the wilderness back into our cities?
John Muir spoke, wrote, and lived the wilderness, including taking President Theodore Roosevelt on an overnight trip to the Yosemite Valley. This trip led to Roosevelts signing into law a bill that placed Yosemite under federal control as a national park. Because of this and his founding of the Sierra Club, John Muir is credited as one of the key shapers of the modern environmental movement.
It's springtime! Rabbit is inspired by a daffodil, and throws a party. Discover why there's bubbly foam on plants and evergreen trees in the spring. Mandy and Ben play outside and enjoy the beautiful spring weather. Sarah looks for a new spring coat. A frog sits near the meadow on a busy spring morning. Stories by Highlights for Children, Beverly J. Letchworth, Marianne Mitchell, Clara Gillow Clark, and Marilyn Kratz.
Brr! Five snowmen race down a hill, but only one makes it to the finish line. In another kind of "snowstorm," Jem uses her quick thinking to save her new friend, Vianna. Issac is excited to see snow for the first time, and Angela finds a new way to fly. Stories by Kathleen Doherty, Roxanne Werner, Nancy Dearborn, and Wendy Hogarth.
Bundle up! Maria and Grandma watch as a squirrel prepares for winter. Dad and Isabel watch different types of wild animals getting ready for the chilly winter. A fable tells of a little bird that cannot fly south for the winter. Each year before the river freezes, barges bring supplies for the long Alaskan winter. What will the barge bring for Ben? The arctic squirrel hibernates underground to survive the harsh winter. Stories by Marianne Mitchell, Bonnie Highsmith Taylor, Diana C. Conway, and Karen G. Ballen.
Seasons! Spot wants to play outside but it is too cold. Spot plays in a pile of leave. Spot is playing outside, then the weather begins to change. Spot says hello to spring. Spot enjoys summer. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
Fun in every season! In winter, Tex and Indi build a snowman. In autumn, they try to put the leaves back on the trees. In summer, Tex and Indi go to the beach and build a sandcastles. At the end of spring, Tex and Indi's class make memory books. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Nature! Tex and Indi find fun shapes in the clouds, make bird feeders, and wish on the moon. The whole family plants a garden. Then Tex and Indi go on a nature hike with their Aunt. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Seasons! The Timbertoes work hard at the end of the season. They decorate their house for spring. In autumn, they build a leaf pile. The Timbertoes get ready for winter. Stories by Rich Wallace and Marileta Robinson.
Nature! The Timbertoes make maple syrup. Tommy plays outside. Pa makes a telescope to look at the moon. The Timbertoes set out to forage nuts. Stories by Highlights for Children, Brian Berndt, Rich Wallace, and Marileta Robinson.
Make the best of a cold day with Spot! Spot plays outside on a windy day. In autumn Spot collects different color leaves. When it snows, Spot plays outside, watches snowflakes, and makes a snowball. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
Australian and arctic animals! Meet a scientist who studies wombats and another who studies arctic foxes. Enjoy a fun story about animals having a jumping competition and another about animals having a special grown-up birthday party. Stories by L.E. Carmichael, Ph.D., Douglas McInnis, Karen Steiner, and Highlights for Children.
Big animals! Find out about the biting career of a zoo animal dentist. Learn about ways in which people cure, respect, and preserve big cats in Africa and California. Stories by Pamela S. Turner, Highlights for Children, Nina Kidd, and David Richardson.
Fun at the beach! Alex packs toys for a beach trip. Duck and Goose have try a new sport at the lake. Emma realizes that the wild animals should be free, no matter how small. Learn a safe and easy trick for examining sea creatures up close. Stories by Larry Dane Brimner, Dagmar Kost, Marianne Mitchell, and Les Ewen.
Big cats! Learn how radio collars aide in conservation and answers to questions, such as, "why can't humans run as fast as cheetahs?" Follow researchers as they track Siberian tigers. Find out about efforts to conserve snow leopards in the wild. Stories by Andy Boyles, Pamela S. Turner, Linda Zajac, and Highlights for Children.
As our world's population grows, so to does our need for energy. Scientists seek the next breakthrough in new technology while constantly finding ways to make current solutions cheaper and more efficient. In this title, discover what methane energy is, its history, how we use it today, and how new technologies can contribute to our energy future. Learn how methane digesters work and how they can help people in the developing world, discover ways biogas might replace natural gas, and explore the potential future uses of methane hydrates. Sidebars, full-color photos, full-spread diagrams, well-placed graphs, charts, and maps, stories highlighting innovations in action, and a glossary enhance this engaging title. Innovative Technologies is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
In Savanna Food Chains, early fluent readers explore the savanna biome and the food chains it supports. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they explore how energy flows through plants and animals who live in this dry, grassy environment. A map helps readers locate savanna biomes around the world, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about savanna food chains using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Savanna Food Chains also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In Canyons, early fluent readers learn about the geologic process that creates a canyon out of solid rock. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about these majestic landforms. An infographic illustrates how big the Grand Canyon is, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about canyons using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Canyons also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In Caves, early fluent readers learn about the geologic processes that create caves, as well as the unique animals and formations inside. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about these fascinating landforms. An infographic illustrates how a cave column forms, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about caves using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Caves also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In Mountains, early fluent readers learn about the geologic processes that create mountains around the world. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about these gargantuan landforms. An infographic illustrates how a mountain forms, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about mountains using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Mountains also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In Rivers, early fluent readers learn about the geologic processes that create rivers around the world. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about these meandering landforms. An infographic illustrates the parts of a river, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about rivers using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Rivers also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In Volcanoes, early fluent readers learn about the geologic processes that create volcanoes around the world. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about these amazing landforms. An infographic illustrates Earth's layers, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about volcanoes using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Volcanoes also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In Waterfalls, early fluent readers learn about the geologic processes that transform the earth into waterfalls. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about these magnificent landforms. An infographic illustrates parts of a waterfall, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about waterfalls using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Waterfalls also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In Avalanches, early fluent readers learn about the conditions that turn a snowy slope into a dangerous slide. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about the deadliest avalanches and how to stay safe in avalanche conditions. An infographic illustrates how an avalanche forms, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about avalanches using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Avalanches also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
In Heat Waves, early fluent readers learn about the conditions that lead to and result from catastrophic heat waves. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about the deadliest heat waves and how to stay safe in heat wave conditions. An infographic illustrates how a heat wave forms, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about heat waves using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Heat Waves also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
