Throwing and kicking things have long been part of competitive sports. Now read about some of the weirdest sports in this category--from caber tossing to the Alaskan high-contest.
What kinds of competitions do other countries have? Well, how about unicycle polo? Or Finland's famous wife-carrying contest? Read about some of the strangest world sports inside!
Animal sports can be found all around the world. But this fun,informative book takes you beyond horse- and dog-racing to the weird world of turkey bowling and ostrich racing.
Explores global traditions surrounding the loss of first teeth, including the tooth fairy, the tooth mouse, and beliefs to make teeth strong.
Explores global traditions surrounding the arrival of a new year, including food, parties, finding good luck, and making resolutions.
Explores national day (patriotism day) traditions from around the world, including independence days and patriotic holidays.
Introduces the Greek god Eros and explains his importance; features well-known Greek myths about this god; and includes map of ancient Greece and family tree of the Greek gods.
Explores Christmas traditions from around the world, including foods, gift-giving, and religious celebrations.
Thanks to whimsical illustrations and everyday examples, kids can finally discover the true meanings behind such odd idioms as 'Break a leg!'
Introduces the Greek goddess Aphrodite and explains her importance; features well-known Greek myths about this god; and includes map of ancient Greece and family tree of the Greek gods.
Introduces the Greek god Apollo and explains his importance; features well-known Greek myths about this god; and includes map of ancient Greece and family tree of the Greek gods.
La Llorona (The Crying Woman) is a sad and haunting tale from Mexico. Parents have told the story for hundreds of years to misbehaving children and to guard against vanity. Some say the story is about Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and a native Mexican woman who served as his translator. Her loss can be compared to the loss of native Mexican culture after the Spanish conquest.
Slavery in the United States became illegal in the 1860s. Before that, many slaves found their way north by following the Big Dipper, or the Drinking Gourd as they called it. Our story begins in 1880 with Old Ellie and Old Sam, two escaped slaves who share their brave story along the path to freedom called the Underground Railroad.
In the early 1800s, white settlers and missionaries were intent on bringing the English language to the illiterate Native Americans. Sequoyah was intrigued by these leaves of paper with strange marks that talked. Doing what no one had ever done before, Sequoyah set about creating a written Cherokee languagehelping preserve the tribe's history and culture even today.
In 1845, Frederick Douglass's first autobiography became a bestseller. Many readers could not believe that such a brilliant writer was ever a slave. When Douglass wrote the book, slavery had not yet ended so he kept secret how he escaped from Maryland. By 1881, the Civil War had ended slavery and Douglass felt the time was right to reveal how he escaped. This play is adapted from Douglass's own words from The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.
One spring, a nine-year-old Cree boy is visited by a master soapstone carver named Lindy, who gives him four pieces of soapstone. The primary secret to carving, the boy learns, is recognizing that each piece of soapstone already holds its true form inside. Lindy teaches the boy to listen to the soapstone and look to the world around him for signs as to what to carve. As the seasons change, the young boy’s experiences lend him opportunities to develop his carving skills and become attuned to the signs around him. He eagerly awaits the following spring, which will bring Lindy’s return and a chance to show off his carvings.
Kids all over the world help collect seeds, weed gardens, milk goats and herd ducks. From a balcony garden with pots of lettuce to a farm with hundreds of cows, kids can pitch in to bring the best and freshest products to their families' tables and to market. Loaded with accessible information about the many facets of farming, Down to Earth takes a close look at everything from what an egg carton tells you to why genetic diversity matterseven to kids
Martha knows she is adopted, but she's well-loved and popular, at least until her mother gets pregnant and she feels her parents' attention start to shift. Upset and confused, Martha lashes out at and loses her friends. She also makes no secret about her annoyance at being forced to do a school project about sturgeon with Chance, a difficult boy whose foster parents are family friends. To add insult to injury, Martha's birth mother announces that she is getting married and moving away. Now Martha isn't number one in anybody's life. When her mom goes into labor prematurely, Martha realizes that she needs to figure out a way to be a better friend and daughter, and a great sister.
Murphy's mother has just moved him and their cat, Mousetrap, back to the reserve in Port Alberni. Although he belongs to the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, Murphy is sure that he won't fit in, and he worries about Mousetrap, who has always been an indoor cat. When a bunch of local boys drag him to their soccer practice, put him in goal and pelt him with balls, he believes that his worst fear has come true. However, he seems to be discovering a new talent at the same time. And perhaps he has misjudged. Being a light-skinned city boy thrust onto a reserve far from the city is not easy, but maybe Murphy has what it takes.
When Molly learns a talent competition is coming to town, her friend Murphy (A Different Game, Murphy and Mousetrap) becomes her manager. Molly is certain she is a good singershe has been singing in her head for as long as she can remember. She doesn't sing out loud because of a promise she made to herself. Years ago, Molly vowed that her mom would be the first one to hear her sing. The only problem is, Molly knows nothing about her mom, who left when Molly was a baby. With the talent competition only weeks away, she has to decide whether to break her promise to herself and let her voice out into the world, or wait for her mother's uncertain return before singing for anyone else.
Jesse's project about his immigrant ancestors is due tomorrow and he hasn't started. In a last-ditch effort to find some information about his great-great grandfather, Yossi, Jesse rummages through the mess in the attic until he finds a little battered travel case, full of pictures, and something else - a Star of David. At first it looks plain and unimportant, but as he holds it in his hand, the star begins to glow. Jesse is in for the surprise, and adventure, of his life as he finds himself becoming the star's first owner, his own great-great grandfather. Now a boy in Russia in the 1880s, Yossi lives in a little village, watched over by thieving soldiers who hate the Jewish community and often raid their crops before they can be stored for the winter. The whole village prays for the opportunity to slip away from their Russian keepers and escape to Canada, a land where they can be free. And nobody, even his parents, think Yossi is old enough to be of any help. But Yossi is out to prove them all wrong. If his plan works, he will set the whole village free. And he must do it alone. An adventure story for young readers, Jesse's Star is also a compelling history of one family's struggle to be free in the new world.
In Chinese New Year, early readers will learn about this Chinese holiday and the ways people celebrate it. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they explore this unique holiday. A labeled diagram helps readers understand the symbols of Chinese New Year, while a picture glossary reinforces new vocabulary. Children can learn more about Chinese New Year online using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Chinese New Year also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, and an index.
In Halloween, early readers will learn about the holiday of Halloween and the ways people celebrate it. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they explore this unique holiday. A labeled diagram helps readers understand the symbols of Halloween, while a picture glossary reinforces new vocabulary. Children can learn more about Halloween online using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Halloween also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, and an index.
In Veterans Day, early readers will learn about the American holiday of Veterans Day and the ways people celebrate it. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they explore this unique holiday. A labeled diagram helps readers understand the symbols of Veterans Day, while a picture glossary reinforces new vocabulary. Children can learn more about Veterans Day online using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Veterans Day also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, and an index.
In Thanksgiving, early readers will learn about the American holiday of Thanksgiving and the ways people celebrate it. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they explore this unique holiday. A labeled diagram helps readers understand the symbols of Thanksgiving, while a picture glossary reinforces new vocabulary. Children can learn more about Thanksgiving online using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Thanksgiving also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, and an index.
