A lively introduction to the City of Lights, the capital of France, home to the Eiffel Tower, and a world center for culture and art. Each chapter features attention-grabbing photos, colorful details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Includes a timeline of major events, a page of Fun Facts, and maps showing Paris’s location in its country and the world.
A lively introduction to the world’s largest Spanish-speaking city, the capital of Mexico and its economic center. Each chapter features attention-grabbing photos, colorful details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Includes a timeline of major events, a page of Fun Facts, and maps showing Mexico City’s location in its country and the world.
Video game technology is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource on the history of video games for elementary students. The saga of video games is rife with epic quests, thievery, and competition. It took Ralph Baer about 15 years to complete his quest to play video games on home TVs, finally selling the first gaming console. Then Atari stole his table tennis game and made Pong and arcade history. Shortly after, Atari would also ignite the console wars with its Atari 2600. From Spacewar! to Mario Bros. to Fortnite, gaming has gone from geek to mainstream, with top Esports winners taking home millions of dollars. With virtual reality, where will gaming go next?
The technology of taking pictures is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource on the history of photography for elementary students. So much science went into that selfie! First, people had to figure out how light even worked. Then, a French guy smeared sticky black stuff on a silver plate and the black stuff hardened in sunlight. And we had our first picture. (It was not a selfie.) People tried new chemicals and lenses and film to take better, faster pictures. Then came the digital revolution. Cameras got into cellphones and now there are SO many selfies. Will 3-D bring our photos right into reality?
Telephone technology is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource on the history of landlines and cell phones for elementary students. Once upon a time, no one carried a phone around. Phones plugged into a wall and you could only move as far as the cord let you. And it basically stayed that way for 100 years! When we finally got cordless phones, you still had to stay in your house to call. The first mobile phones weighed 80 pounds and had to be carried around in a car—hence the term car phone. The dawn of the cell phone was the 1980s with the Motorola Dynatec. Phones changed forever. Now we have smart phones in our pockets!
The history of movie technology is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource for elementary students. It took 50 years from the invention of photographs to the magical motion of movies. In the 1890s, Thomas Edison’s company decided to make a camera that could take a bunch of pictures really fast. Next came silent films, talkies, and Technicolor. New technology gave us widescreens, 3-D, IMAX, and, finally, the digital revolution. How will virtual reality change movie-going in the future?
Computer technology is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource on the history of computing for elementary students. Back in the 1950s, computers were only for employees of the government and universities. They were way too expensive for the average person. In 1975, the Altair 8800 kit made them affordable. It also inspired a guy named Steve Wozniak to start Apple Computers with his friend Steve Jobs. Then came mice, GUIs, MacIntosh versus PC, and the World Wide Web. In the 2000s, computers got into cell phones and now everyone carries a computer in their pocket. Where will artificial intelligence take computers in the future?
The technological history of airplanes is brought to life with photo-driven design, clear text, and an integrated timeline, making this an excellent resource for elementary students. Bird envy drove aviation history. We studied bird wings to understand flight and made gliders. Then the Wright Brothers said, “Let’s add an engine!” and we left birds in the dust. Since then, we’ve flown faster, better, and bigger. What will happen next? Can Boeing or Airbus bring us hypersonic passenger jets? Would you ride in a self-flying taxi drone?
Describes the statues of Easter Island, including theories on how they were built, the people who built them, and what the statues are like today.
Describes the Great Wall of China, including how and why it was built, the dynasties behind its construction, what it was used for, and what it’s like today.
Describes the mystery of Machu Picchu, including how and why it was built, the emperor who lived there, why it was abandoned, and what the ruin is like today.
Describes the mysteries behind Stonehenge, including how and why it was built, the people who built it, and what the ruins are like today.
Describes the Taj Mahal, including how and why it was built, how it was ruined and has been restored, and what it is like today.
Readers will have a blast learning about Skyscrapers. From apartment buildings to the Empire State Building, this book explores how they are built, how they are used, and the engineer’s job to build and plan for them. Bright, full-page photos fill the pages of this fun title, while easy-to-read text introduces readers to key STEM concepts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Readers will have a blast learning about Dams. From beaver dams to the Hoover Dam, this book explores how they are built, how they are used, and the engineer’s job to build and care for them. Bright, full-page photos fill the pages of this fun title, while easy-to-read text introduces readers to key STEM concepts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Welcome to Venezuela – home of the world’s highest cable car and South America’s largest natural lake! Maps, a timeline with photos, and fun facts complement the text. The book closes with a facts page including Venezuela’s population and total area, as well as images of the country’s flag and currency.
This fun combination of original fable and factual information introduces young readers to the state of Texas through an entertaining and educational story based on the state symbols, history and geography. Take a trip through Texas as Sam, the star travels the state. Along the way Sam meets new friends and learns about the animals, plants, geography, and culture that make Illinois a great state! In addition to the illustrated story, interesting and informative factual sidebars about the state are found throughout the book. A treasure-hunt map plots the journey and a cultural recipe is also included. This book ends with state facts at a glance, a reading comprehension quiz, and more things to see and do around Sam with a map showing the locations.
It's summertime! Ana & Andrew travel to visit their grandparents in Savannah, Georgia. While they are there, they learn Grandma and Grandpa's church was built by slaves. With some help from an unusual source! Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Calico Kid is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.
For thousands of years, people found rocks that they thought were giant dragon tongues that had fallen from the sky. But they were looking in the wrong direction! These fossils were actually the teeth and bones of creatures that lived in the waters long, long ago. What other mega-sized, mega-cool creatures lived in the ancient seas? Let's explore MEGA Creatures of Ancient Seas! The MegaCool MegaFauna series explores the history of some of the most massive creatures that ever lived. They swam in the seas, walked the lands, and soared through the skies. Some are even still alive today! Learn how mega-cool megafauna are related to (or are even examples of) modern living things. These awesome extra-large animals have an amazing history, so let's start exploring
In 2009, scientists found the bones of "Dracula" in Transylvania – that was what they named the fossils of a new pterosaur whose wings could spread 12 meters wide! Millions of years ago, gigantic reptiles like “Dracula” ruled the skies. What other mega-cool, mega-sized creatures flew in the ancient skies? Let's explore MEGA Creatures of Ancient Skies! The MegaCool MegaFauna series explores the history of some of the most massive creatures that ever lived. They swam in the seas, walked the lands, and soared through the skies. Some are even still alive today! Learn how mega-cool megafauna are related to (or are even examples of) modern living things. These awesome extra-large animals have an amazing history, so let's start exploring
What is the biggest living thing right now? In Mega Creatures of Today, you'll find that the answer to that question can be found on land, in the sky, and in the seas. Let's discover the mega-sized, mega-cool creatures living on Earth today and learn what makes them so amazing!
People have been finding fossils for thousands of years. When scientists found claws that were 3 feet long, they thought they had found a massive turtle. After more bones were found, they realized that the claws belonged to a dinosaur that weighed more than 10,000 pounds! What other mega-sized, mega-cool creatures roamed ancient lands millions of years ago? Let's explore MEGA Creatures of Ancient Lands!
Mexico is a cactus capital. Giant cardon, the world’s tallest cactuses, grow in the Sonoran Desert. They reach heights up to 63 feet! And Mexicans also eat the stems of prickly pear cactuses like vegetables! This country profile takes kids south of the border to explore Mexico.
During World War I, while stationed overseas in France with the United States Army, Private James Donovan literally stumbles upon a small dog cowering on the streets of Paris. Named Rags for his disheveled appearance, the little stray quickly finds a home with Donovan and a place in his heart. Although the Army did not have an official canine division, Rags accompanies Donovan to the battlefield, making himself a useful companion delivering messages and providing a much-appreciated morale boost to the soldiers. News about Rags spreads and soon the little dog's battlefield exploits become the stuff of legend. But during a fierce battle near the end of the war, both Rags and Donovan are wounded. Severely injured, Donovan is sent back to the United States. And the little dog with the big heart refuses to leave his best friend's side.
Millions of Americans have marched and protested to fight inequality and to bring about social change. These large gatherings, filled with powerful and courageous voices, have shined a light on important issues and resulted in new laws. This book covers some of the most famous marches in U.S. history--and encourages readers to stand up for the things they believe in.
