On January 24, 1848 a man named James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. This compelling title explains how Marshalls discovery sparked gold fever and lured thousands of people west in search of great fortunes. Primary source accounts and historical photographs trace the history of the gold rush in California as well as the later Klondike gold rush.
This title takes us behind the scenes into president Abraham Lincoln's decision to end slavery 150 years ago.
As the 50th anniversary of the 1963 march for Civil Rights in Washington, D.C. approaches, this timely book looks at its organization, the key players, and why it is still relevant today.
This fascinating title takes the reader to one of the most isolated prisons on the planet where some America's worst criminals were held. This is the story of how Alcatraz was created, what it was like to live there, and why it was virtually impossible to escape from.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Life Cycle of a Flower looks at the growth of a flower from seed to the time it is a mature plant capable of producing new seeds. Delightful illustrations, stunning photographs and easy-to-read text help young readers learn how seeds are formed and what different types of seeds look like, the various ways flowers are pollinated, the conditions necessary for a seed to germinate and begin to make a new plant, and how flowering plants benefit animals, people, and the environment.
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.
These busy insects have intrigued people of all ages for thousands of years. The Life Cycle of a Honeybee describes each stage of a honeybee's life cycle from egg to adult. Full-color photographs, beautiful illustrations, and easy-to-understand text highlight how a queen lays eggs and forms a new hive, how eggs develop into workers, drones, or queen bees, how the body of a larva changes to that of an adult through metamorphosis, the roles of workers, drones, and queens in the hive, and how honeybees find food.
Frogs begin their lives as tiny tadpoles living in water. As adults, they live both on land and in the water. The Life Cycle of a Frog details the changes in a frog at the four stages: egg, tadpole, froglet, and adult. Illustrations, photographs, and easy-to-read text explain the facts about how the frog breathes and eats at each stage, the differences in the metamorphosis of frogs in southern and northern climates, and the dangers to frogs from pollution, pesticides, and destruction of habitat.
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.
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.
Opportunitiesin environmental law are explored in Legally Green. Jobs include working for public service or governmental agencies and environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) as environmental investigators, officers, inspectors, and policy advisors. Careers in this field also include working as attorneys and legal support staff for law firms that offer services related to environmental law, and for corporations that need to keep on top of compliance and other regulatory issues as a part of doing their daily business. Opportunities also exist in education, law enforcement, and even politics.
Re-Greening the Environment covers the wide range of careers in environmental clean-up, remediation, and renewal. The response to two massive oil spills in recent years the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska in 1989 and the current Deepwater Horizon/BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico are explored. The types of jobs and careers that are associated with preventing and correcting disasters such as these include environmental scientist, hydrogeologist, enforcing clean-up regulations, and monitoring and testing waterways, soil, and groundwater for harmful pollutants. Also, the reuse and rehabbing of older commercial or industrial buildings presents opportunities in planning, designing, rebuilding, reclaiming, and restoring the natural habitats associated with these sites.
This exciting title provides students with a comparative look between a modern-day classroom and a one-room schoolhouse from long ago. From slates to whiteboards, question boxes encourage students to compare and contrast how they learn today with how students learned long ago.
Once upon a time, doctors made house calls, fire trucks were pulled by horses, and the milkman delivered fresh milk right to peoples doors. In this innovative title, students will love learning about their favorite community helpers and how their jobs have evolved over time.
