Almost anything we build requires some sort of digging. Buildings, tunnels, and swimming pools all start with holes in the ground. Readers will find out how different kinds of diggers are used to create these holes. They will also learn about how diggers are used to help scientists learn more about the Earth.
Tall cranes tower above construction sites and line the edges of shipping ports. Readers will find out how different types of cranes are used to help build skyscrapers, load cargo ships, and much more.
Ambulances can help save lives when people are sick or injured. Readers will learn about the different kinds of lifesaving equipment found on an ambulance. They will also learn about the paramedics and EMTs that staff these important vehicles.
Originally built in 1921 to race in the ocean, a sailboat named Bernida captures the attention and heart of a Michigan sailor. He buys the boat and brings her to the Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit. In 1925 the sailor enters Bernida in the very first Port Huron to Mackinac Island Race.
Did you know that helicopters can fly forward, backward, and side-to-side? Or that the wingspan of a jumbo jet is almost twice as long as the distance of the Wright Brothers' first flight? Since recorded time, man has looked to the sky and dreamed of ways to fly there. A is for Airplane: An Aviation Alphabet celebrates the roots, inventions, and spirit of the science of flight. Young readers will learn about famous events such as the Spirit of St. Louis's nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean and the launch of Columbia STS-1 (the first space shuttle), as well as meet courageous aviators who broke barriers in the air and on Earth like the Tuskegee Airmen and Amelia Earhart. Aircraft of all kinds, including giant airships, wind-dependent gliders, and awe-inspiring F-16s, are depicted in spectacular artwork. The glory of flight is brought to stunning life.
Could Henry Ford have taken his idea for an automobile assembly line from the elves at the North Pole? Maybe so. Set just before Christmas in 1908, this charming tale finds Henry Ford puzzling over a way to make his Model T affordable for the average family. His little son Edsel suggests that Daddy write to Santa for advice. Since Santa makes toys for millions of children, Edsel points out, he must know a better way. Henry writes the letter just to please his son, but Santa actually answers by taking Henry to visit his North Pole workshop. When he sees the elves working in a line, each completing just one specific task on every toy that's made, Henry Ford envisions an automobile assembly line. The story not only illustrates that children can teach adults how to dream, but it also provides an author's note with factual information about Henry Ford and the Model T.
The potential dangers of riding in automobiles are presented, and readers are taught about seatbelt safety and how to avoid distracting a driver.
Blimps were once a popular form of transportation. Find out how they work and why they are not so common anymore.
Since airplanes were first invented, they have often been used for military purposes. Learn about different kinds of fighter planes and find out how they are different from regular planes.
Discover what makes bomber planes different from regular airplanes and learn how they have been used throughout history.
Learn how a spinning set of blades makes a helicopter fly and find out how pilots steer these interesting vehicles.
Learn all about how these speedy airplanes were created, how they work, and how they help us travel.
Find out how lighthouses work and how they have changed throughout history.
In 1932, Akron, Ohio was no better off than other parts of the country. Since Black Tuesday in '29, companies are closed, men all over the state are out of work, and families are running out of hope. Thirteen-year-old Rudy wants to help but doesn't know where to turn. His father, sullen and withdrawn, spends his time sulking on their front porch. His mother is desperate, not knowing how she will feed and care for her family. When Rudy learns of other boys leaving town and heading west to seek their fortunes, he hops a train figuring at least there will be one less mouth to feed at home. As Rudy lives the hobo life while he "rides the rails" to California, young readers are given a snapshot view and testament of Depression-era America.
Leaving port from Superior, Wisconsin on a sunny November day, the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald is looking forward to a routine crossing of deep Lake Superior. Heading for a port in Cleveland, the giant transport ship is loaded with ore that will be used to build cars. But disaster is building in the wind as a gale storm begins to track after the great ship. This suspenseful retelling of the last hours of the doomed vessel pays homage to all sailors who traverse deep waters, in fair skies and foul. Atmospheric paintings from award-winning artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen bring the story to life.
Set in the late 1950s, this is the moving story of a young boy whose father operates a ferryboat between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas. As young Mark witnesses the building of the new Mackinac Bridge, he is torn between family loyalty and eager anticipation. He can't help being awestruck by the majesty of the five-mile-long bridge that will connect the two peninsulas and change the lives of so many. But the Mighty Mac will also put Mark's father out of business. As his father struggles with the flow of progress, Mark dreams of future bridges he will build. Details of the complex construction of the bridge will fascinate children as they learn an important part of America's history and come to understand the meaning of change. The Mackinac Bridge Authority provides history notes at the back of the book.
Get answers in this nonfiction storybook to your fascinating questions! Colorful pictures, short sentences, and a small amount of predictable text per page make this book perfect for reluctant and struggling readers. I Wonder Series
Get answers in this nonfiction storybook to your fascinating questions! Colorful pictures, short sentences, and a small amount of predictable text per page make this book perfect for reluctant and struggling readers. I Wonder Series
Find out how these beautiful balloons float through the air and discover what makes them fly.
Explains how bicycles are made from different materials; discusses how bicycles are assembled in a factory; and how bicycles become available to consumers.
In Tunnels, early fluent readers will learn about the engineering that goes into building tunnels and making them safe. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they explore the built world around them. An infographic illustrates aspects of the Channel Tunnel, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about tunnels using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Tunnels also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
Trucks equipped with four-wheel drive are able to travel over many difficult kinds of terrain. Readers will explore the history of 4x4 trucks and the technology that makes it possible for them to travel almost anywhere.
A medium-lift assault helicopter, CH-46 Sea Knights are used to deliver heavily armed troops into battle. They are also used on several other missions. Readers will learn about these large helicopters, how they work, and the many missions they perform for the United States Marine Corps.
When there is danger in shallow water, Littoral Combat Ships are called into action. These ships can go in water too shallow for other ships of the United States Navy. Armed with high-tech weapons and carrying helicopters and other aircraft, Littoral Combat Ships can fight any threat. This title introduces the newest craft of the Navy and shows how the technology behind the ships has led to their early success.
The high maneuverability and speed of jet fighters cause pilots to experience g-forces nine times that of gravity! Students will learn about the history, technology, and future of the fastest jet fighters in the world.
