Earthquakes are a terrifying yet fascinating force of nature. Seismologist Johanna Wagstaffe takes you through her own journey of understanding the earth beneath our feet. Along the way you’ll learn the science behind what makes the earth rumble and hear from kids around the world who have experienced the wonder, and terror, of an earthquake.
The climate crisis is the issue of our time. Scientists have warned for over 100 years that burning fossil fuels and destroying nature will warm the earth's atmosphere and affect the climate in adverse ways: more severe and intense storms, prolonged heat waves, drought, flooding, wildfires, rising sea levels and ocean acidification. Urgent Message from a Hot Planet: Navigating the Climate Crisis outlines the science behind global heating and its root causes, provides ways to take action and honors the efforts of the millions of youth and adult allies from around the world working tirelessly to make a difference. Their powerful message: do something now!
We're all connected to the ocean, and the ocean to us. The ocean provides half the oxygen we breathe; it feeds us, creates our weather and provides us with water. But we haven't been as kind to the ocean in return. The problems are many: pollution, overfishing, rising seas and acid waters. What can be done? Don't despair; take action. Dive In! explores our intimate connection with the ocean and provides every reader with an achievable set of actions that can help improve ocean health for our sake and the sake of the millions of marine plants and animals that share the planet with us. Filled with colorful photos and positive stories, Dive In! is as informative as it is inspirational.
Did you know that cars can run on french-fry grease or that human poop can be used to provide power to classrooms? Brilliant! is about what happens when you harness the power of imagination and innovation: the world changes for the better! Kids in Mexico help light up their houses by playing soccer, and in the Philippines, pop-bottle skylights are improving the quality of life for thousands of families. Full of examples of unusual (and often peculiar) power sources, Brilliant! encourages kids to look around for new and sustainable ways to light up the world.
Science is for everyone, right? Unfortunately, that's not always true. Discovery, research and innovation are often top secret, and big businesses charge high prices for that information. The field of open science is trying to change that. It's all about sharing knowledge. Teams of scientists around the world are working together to improve and speed up scientific research and share their results so that everyone benefits. Open Science: Knowledge for Everyone examines the history of scientific research and how ideas and information are shared and why. It also looks at innovations made using open science, such as treatments for diseases and vaccines to protect against viruses like COVID-19, discoveries that were only possible thanks to the sharing of information. Discover how regular people, including kids, can be citizen scientists and what we all can do to share science and make the world a better place.
All over the world, people are joining the low-waste movement and getting tough on their trash. Maybe you’ve heard the reports of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch swirling in the ocean. Maybe you’ve seen the photos of whales and sea birds with trash in their bellies. Or maybe you’ve heard that only 9 percent of our plastic waste actually gets recycled. We can all do our part for the planet by creating less garbage. In Less Is More young readers will discover how to avoid waste in the first place, reduce how much they use and reuse what they can, before they recycle and rot (compost) the rest. With small, simple actions we can become part of the circular economy. Find out how you can join the low-waste movement—and get your friends and family on board too!
Light pollution threatens the survival of every living species on our planet, including people. It started when Thomas Edison invented the first light bulb more than 150 years ago. Then, as electric light became more common, light pollution began to take over cities and towns. Today, in urban centers all over the world, the stars in the sky aren't visible. Millions of people have never seen the Milky Way. In Saving the Night, we discover how plants and animals have adapted over millions of years to survive and thrive in the dark, and how artificial light can upset the balance of entire ecosystems. But there are ways we can take back the night for animals, plants and us. It starts with the flick of a switch.
The online world has real dangers, but girls around the world are using social media to create positive change and practice good digital citizenship. You've probably seen media stories about the ways girls interact online, with headlines like "Depression in Girls Linked to Higher Use of Social Media," or "Half of Girls Are Bullied on Social Media." Better Connected focuses on the less-recognized and positive aspects of the online experiences of girls. From environmental activism to gun control, immigration policy to education access, girls are leading the way. They're showing up, teaming up and speaking up. With profiles of real changemakers and practical tools for getting started, Better Connected is an inspiring look at the amazing things girls can accomplish online.
Humans have searched out fun for centuries - chariot races, dueling crickets, roller coasters, Rubik's Cubes. It seems we've always had a knack for finding interesting ways to have a good time. Of course, it wasn’t always that way. Our earliest ancestors had to worry more about survival than finding something to do in their free time. But as we evolved and daily living got a little easier, we began to think a bit more about entertainment. It started simply, with storytelling by a fire. Soon it grew into activities like banquets, spectator sports, theater and fairs, to name just a few. Today huge theme parks attract thrill-seekers and people step into virtual worlds for fun. And that’s just scratching the surface. With things like virtual reality, fidget spinners and global phenomena like Pokémon Go, who knows what the future of fun will hold!
Find out why leaves turn orange, yellow, red, and purple in the autumn before falling to the ground. Additional features to aid comprehension include colorful images, informational diagrams, hands-on activities, detailed captions and callouts, a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, and an introduction to the author.
Find out what causes spring, summer, fall, and winter and how different parts of Earth experience the seasons. Additional features to aid comprehension include colorful images, informational diagrams, hands-on activities, detailed captions and callouts, a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, and an introduction to the author.
Find out how the atmosphere makes the sky look blue during the day and orange and red at sunrise and sunset. Additional features to aid comprehension include colorful images, informational diagrams, hands-on activities, detailed captions and callouts, a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, and an introduction to the author.
Find out how clouds and fog are formed and how they are alike and different. Additional features to aid comprehension include colorful images, informational diagrams, hands-on activities, detailed captions and callouts, a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, and an introduction to the author.
Find out how the water cycle causes rain, snow, sleet, and other types of precipitation. Additional features to aid comprehension include colorful images, informational diagrams, hands-on activities, detailed captions and callouts, a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, and an introduction to the author.
Provides information about volcanoes, how they form, where they are, how they erupt, the damage they can cause, and the ways we can monitor them.
What can scientists learn from an ancient fossil of two dinosaurs locked in battle? Plenty! One of those dinosaurs was a Velociraptor, a 'quick thief' and predator of the Cretaceous period. Like the scientists who study Velociraptor, young readers will discover how much eighty-million-year-old bones still have to say! Additional features to enhance comprehension include informative sidebars, a glossary of key words and phrases, sources for further research, a Did-You-Know section, and an overview of the geologic time scale.
When you think of dinosaurs, do you think of ferocious meat-eaters terrorizing everything around them? If so, you were probably imagining the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the 'tyrant lizard' of its time. But if you think you know everything there is to know about T. Rex, think again! Learn about the many sides of this mighty dinosaur. Additional features to enhance comprehension include informative sidebars, a glossary of key words and phrases, sources for further research, a Did-You-Know section, and an overview of the geologic time scale.
In 1888, scientists searching for dinosaur bones found an enormous head like none they had ever seen before. They named it Triceratops, meaning 'three-horned face.' As they discovered more bones, they learned more and more about this 'new' dinosaur. With this book, you too can go back in time millions of years to explore the world of Triceratops. Additional features to enhance comprehension include informative sidebars, a glossary of key words and phrases, sources for further research, a Did-You-Know section, and an overview of the geologic time scale.
Trains are used to carry everything from cargo and animals to people. But how do trains move? Who drives them? Learn more about these important machines inside.
Whether they're being used to plow fields or push dirt and snow, tractors are important machines. Get the basics on these useful machines inside.
How are tow trucks used? What are the special parts of a tow truck? How do tow trucks work? Learn more about these important trucks inside.
Examines tornadoes, their causes, where they occur, their characteristics, and the effects they produce.
Provides advice for smart and safe Internet use, including safe searching and safe use of social media, and explores the role of the Internet in modern life.
Learn how sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks form, break apart, and change over time. Additional features to aid comprehension include fact-filled captions and sidebars, detailed photographs, infographics or informational diagrams, a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, and an introduction to the author.
Gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the invention of the cotton gin. Additional features include a table of contents, a Fast Facts spread, critical-thinking questions, primary source quotes and accompanying source notes, a phonetic glossary, an index, and sources for further research.