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.
Bulldozers are huge, loud, and powerful. Readers will learn all about the different parts of these mighty machines. They will also learn how operators use these tools to help clear paths, move heavy objects, and build new roads.
The books in the Community Connections Library help kids understand the world around them. What Do They Do? Veterinarians, gives young readers an idea of the role that Veterianians play in keeping their animal friends healthy.
From the five lines on a music staff to the seven colors of the rainbow, all the way up to the famous 100th day of school, Number 1 Teacher: A School Counting Book takes a by-the-numbers approach to helping young readers understand and identify many of the concepts and lessons they'll learn in elementary school. There are 3 forms of matter we learn in science class-- One is liquid; two is solid; and the third is gas. Geography, music, and how to tell time are just a few of the many topics featured.
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.
When Finn and her dog Skeeter set out on a hike to cure their restless feet, they literally take a step into nature. A big gooey step...right into scat (also known as poop). And just like the animal it comes from, scat comes in all shapes and sizes. Scat, along with foot or paw tracks, can tell a lot about the creature who produced it. As Finn's hike takes her further into the woods, she happens along some scat and tracks from a variety of woodland creatures. Pairing punchy rhyme with science writing, Lisa Morlock has created the perfect nature guide, providing detailed descriptions of the prints, diets, and behaviors of the animals that Finn and Skeeter encounter along their hike. Watch your step!
The books in the Community Connections Library help kids understand the world around them. What Do They Do? Nurses, gives young readers an idea of the role that Nurses play in keeping the members of the community healthy.
Every town or city is filled with houses of all shapes and sizes, but we don't often stop to think about how they are built. Readers will learn all about the construction process, from foundations to roofs.
Tall, twisting slides, gigantic wave pools, and powerful waterfalls are all common sights at a water park. Readers will find out what it takes to plan and build these fun places.
The books in the Community Connections Library help kids understand the world around them. What Do They Do? Dentists, gives young readers an idea of the role that Dentists play in their community.
Discover how windmills work and how they can be used to create electricity without causing pollution.
Readers learn what to do if they are caught in a burning building, how to prepare for such events ahead of time, and how to react to firefighters.
Blimps were once a popular form of transportation. Find out how they work and why they are not so common anymore.
Learn how zoos are built and what sorts of things zoo builders need to think of before construction begins.
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.
Find out how these interesting vehicles can fly without engines.
Learn all about how these speedy airplanes were created, how they work, and how they help us travel.
Learn about the different parts of a combine and find out how these interesting machines are used to harvest crops.
Find out how lighthouses work and how they have changed throughout history.
Why do onions make us cry? What popular nut really isn't a nut at all? And what makes a forest a rainforest? The answers to these questions and many other fascinating facts can be found in V is for Venus Flytrap: A Plant Alphabet. Mankind's dependence upon the plant kingdom goes far beyond the food on our table and the air that we breathe. Plants have also provided shelter and led to important advances in medicine and science. Using the alphabet, horticulturalist Eugene Gagliano covers a wide range of topics including exotic species and their locations; plants' role in a healthy lifestyle; food crops and the world economy; and the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship in our world today. After reading V is for Venus Flytrap, young readers will be eager to get their hands dirty and their thumbs green!
What clutter-busting need was behind the invention of the World Wide Web? Which stain-fighting chemical got its start when a lab assistant dropped a beaker on a lab floor? In S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet, the origins behind some of the most important scientific discoveries are explored. Budding young scientists will learn what Galileo witnessed in a church that led to his theory of measurement; how biologist Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, helped to spur the first call to action in the environmental movement; and why Ivan Pavlov's study of a drooling dog laid the foundations for a new branch of psychology. From discoveries that fundamentally changed scientific methods to everyday inventions that are now taken for granted, S is for Scientists sheds light on the events and people who have shaped our lives today.
For every budding scientist who would like to think beyond the smoking volcano, diorama, and colored graphs of the typical school science fair. I is for Idea explores the development of bicycles, zippers, toilets, computers, and many other inventions that we now take for granted in our daily lives. Readers will learn about the inventors and the genesis behind these ever-present and useful items. Curious kids will find plenty of inspiration as they discover the answers to their continuous questions. What is the basis for the phrase "the real McCoy"? What actually is the mother of invention? What kitchen appliance was developed after a scientist's candy bar suddenly melted? Author Marcia Schonberg lives north of Columbus, Ohio. She is the author of more than a dozen books, including B is for Buckeye: An Ohio Alphabet. Illustrator Kandy Radzinski's first book with Sleeping Bear Press, S is for Sooner: An Oklahoma Alphabet, was the Oklahoma Center for the Book Best Illustrated Book 2004. She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.