As the world's largest land animals, elephants inspire awe in all of us - an awe that has led to myths of might and memory. Despite its immense strength, however, the elephant is a timid creature that uses its power only to defend itself against predators. Kids will learn many facts about these gentle pachyderms, including the social structure of elephants, in which the female is the leader, the animal's many dexterous uses for its trunk, the history of the elephant's even larger ancestors, including woolly mammoths, and the dangers that poaching, loss of habitat, and the ivory trade pose to the elephants future.
This up-to-date new book describes the alarming events of 2010 after an oil rig toppled over in the Gulf of Mexico releasing millions of gallons of oil into the water. The largest accidental oil spill in history, it killed untold numbers of wildlife, poisoned over a hundred miles of coastal land, and devastated the commercial fishing and tourism industries in an area still reeling from the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Katrina.
Bullying is about power and controlling another person. The two reader's theater-style plays in this book look at bullying first from two different viewpoints - that of the victim, and that of the bully. Young people will learn how to recognize it and how to change it.
People often tend to link their personal identity to their physical body. Two reader's theater-style plays focus on both male and female characters and their body images. Clarisse believes she is too fat and becomes obsessed with dieting. Sam's story focuses on a males impatience for change to occur - will he always be 411 and 98 pounds? Young people will learn that they may have more control over self-image than they imagine.
It's always important to appreciate how much we all have in common. But sometimes it's just as important to appreciate the ways in which we are different. A change of attitude is often needed when it comes to accepting diversity. These two reader's theater-style plays look at the personal consequences of rumors and bigotry.
For adolescents, a sense of belonging to a group is an essential step in self-discovery. And yet not all popular kids are stress-free. How others view us is important, but these two reader's theater-style plays help readers distinguish the difference between social acceptance and personal acceptance.
Resentment and compassion link these two reader's theater-style plays that help teach young people how to deal with real situations. Both deal with traumatic changes within a familya separation between the two most important people in a childs life and the loss of a home and a beloved furry family member.
A flashpoint is the critical stage in some process at which action - often violence - occurs. As young people will learn in these two reader's theater-style plays, however, flashpoints can also trigger change. The plays focus on both physical and verbal outbursts of anger and ways to regain control of ones emotions.
From oil spills to water shortages, the world's natural habitats seem to be constantly under assault from both natural and human activity. Thirteen kinds of disasters are featured in this informative book, showing the process and science of the disaster from the action that triggered it to its dire consequences. Topics include global warming, ocean blooms, desertification, deforestation, over fishing, and waste pollution.
In March 2011 the worlds second-largest nuclear disaster occurred on the eastern coast of Japan. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake caused a nearly 50-foot tsunami that flooded the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The devastating tidal wave caused equipment failures that led the nuclear reactors to overheat to the point of meltdown. Dangerous radioactive materials released into the air continue to threaten the health of the ocean and people around the world today. Topics include how movements in the earth's crust below water can cause seismic waves , the evacuation of more than 300,000 people from their homes near the power plant, contamination of crops and water, decontamination and repair work, and continued concern about leaking radiation from the power plant.
By the time Superstorm Sandy had hit New York City on October 22, 2012, it had left a trail of death and destruction across the Caribbean and the eastern seaboard of the United States. Affecting 24 U.S. states, Sandy is the second-costliest superstorm in United States history. This informative book follows the timeline of the superstorm and features personal accounts by those who experienced the destruction in many New York City and New Jersey neighborhoods. Topics include how Superstorm Sandy developed, the response by state and federal relief agencies, the effects on air travel, subway transit, electricity, and the New York Stock Exchange, and the recovery and rebuilding.
This eco-friendly title focuses on green homes. Readers will learn how architects apply sustainable practices to earth-friendly structures. Recycled materials, solar panels, and more are explored through engaging illustrations and accessible text.
Marsupials are the only mammals that have a pouch on their body in which they carry their young. Most of these amazing animals live in Australia, where they have adapted to the harsh conditions of life in the outback. In What is a Marsupial? children will learn astounding facts about marsupials, including the important differences between marsupials and placentals, how kangaroos, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, opossums, and bilbies are related, how marsupials reproduce and raise their young, the ways in which they hunt and feed, and why some marsupials are in danger.
Children will be fascinated by the life cycle of these enormous polar animals. Stunning pictures and clear text guide readers through each stage of a polar bears life from cub to adult. Children will also learn how polar bears are being affected by global warming. Beautiful images and well-written text describe polar bear dens, how cubs grow and learn to live in the Arctic, and polar bear hunting techniques.
Emission of harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide is posing a grave challenge to nature. The problem of global warming needs to be addressed as soon as possible. How to Reduce your Carbon Footprint clearly explains what an individuals carbon footprint is and what we all can do to make a difference. Special case studies show how these ideas are currently being put into practice around the world.
While it may not be as simple as pouring water into a gas tank, water, or at least the hydrogen that makes up water, will one day become a significant source of energy. In this important new book, children will discover not only what hydrogen is, but also how this simple element can create clean energy. Hydrogens past deals with hot air balloons and airships, its present, space shuttles and fuel cells. What fascinating technologies await its future? Other topics include what energy is, the reasons why clean energy is so important, the technologies that convert hydrogen to usable energy, the obstacles that must be overcome before hydrogen can be a reliable energy source, a case study highlighting Iceland's plan to switch to a society run on hydrogen, what a hydrogen economy is, and a timeline that provides dates for historical breakthroughs in energy production.
Bears are some of the most loved animals on Earth. All over the world, however, bears are at risk. In Endangered Bears, kids will learn about the lives of these beautiful animals and why they are at risk of becoming extinct. Topics include a bear's life cycle, the many habitats in which bears live around the world, how bears communicate through body language and sounds, and threats from hunting, poaching, shrinking habitats and global warming.
Habitat loss, pesticide use, and the collecting of rare species are putting some of the world's most beautiful butterflies in danger. Without action now, it is possible that some species may actually become extinct. In this book, stunning full-color images of these magnificent insects will appeal to young readers and encourage them to take an interest in helping butterflies and their habitats. Children will be fascinated by butterfly bodies, habitats, and defenses, the amazing changes that occur during metamorphosis, and the ways that people are helping protect butterflies and the natural places where they live.
Kids will love reading about these clever and sociable primates! Through beautiful images and descriptive text, kids will learn about the lives of chimpanzees in their African habitats, including what they eat, how they use tools, why they are endangered, and what people all over the world are doing to help save them.
The largest land-dwelling mammals on Earth, elephants are in danger of becoming extinct! Endangered Elephants details both the African and Asian habitats of these animals, the stages of the elephant life cycle, the social structure of elephant herds, and how habitat loss, war, and poaching have contributed to the endangerment of elephants. what people are doing to help save them from extinction
Frogs live both in water and on land and require not one, but two, safe and healthy habitats in which to live and find food. It's no wonder then that some frogs are in danger. This important book explains how sensitive frogs are to changes in their environments and why people need to protect them. Children will be fascinated to learn where frogs live and what they eat, how tadpoles turn into frogs, the dangers of habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, and how people are helping frogs.
Over hunting of the wolf in Europe and North America almost led to the extinction of the species in the twentieth century. Today, the beauty and mystique of wolves has created a new wave of support for these animals. Beautiful photographs and informative text help children discover the life cycle of a wolf, wolf bodies, a pack's need for territory and prey, the dangers of habitat loss, and the preserves, national parks, and other places where wolves are protected.
Hundreds of thousands of beetles live all over the world in habitats as diverse as swamps, rainforests, and deserts. The Life Cycle of a Beetle describes the growth and development of these fascinating insects from egg to adult. Full-color images of all kinds of beetles, from the familiar to the extraordinary, are included. Illustrations and photographs illuminate topics such as where beetles lay their eggs, the transformation from larva to pupa to beetle, differences between male and female beetles, how beetles defend themselves against predators, the dangers faced by beetles, and how children can help beetles.
Although there are over 9,000 species of birds in the world, each develops from a single-celled egg, is incubated, hatches, and grows to adulthood. Some bird life cycles involve migration. The Life Cycle of a Bird focuses on the various stages and explains the differences in the length of time birds incubate their eggs and care for their young, the development of a chicken embryo and how a chick hatches, the dangers to nesting habitats, and the effects of pollution and how these affect the life cycle of birds.
A monarch born in the fall has two major challenges! In addition to metamorphosis, these butterflies fly 4,000 miles on a two-way migration trek! The Life Cycle of a Butterfly explains butterfly metamorphosis and migration in simple terms. The text is beautifully illustrated with photographs and art, making this book a joy to read. Topics include where butterflies lay their eggs, the "eating machine" caterpillar, the transformation from pupa to chrysalis to butterfly, the monarch migration, and butterfly facts and activity suggestions about how to protect butterflies.
