Yasi and her best friend Mina love playing under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard of their apartment building in Tehran. When the air sirens start howling, the girls rush to their homes to safety. Yasi doesn't understand the war with Iraq, but she knows it isn't good. The girls reunite in the morning, but Yasi lets her friend know her family has decided to move to the United States. Mina wishes they could go too. When the girls part, Mina gives Yasi a special gift to help her remember their friendship, their tree, and Tehran.
Tallulah is ready to start her work as the Great Lakes' first official mermaid! After taking the pledge to protect and care for the lakes, she's off--caring for the various creatures that call the Great Lakes home, keeping the water and shores safe and clean, helping the boats navigate the waterways, and more! Backmatter includes information on how readers can become an honorary mermaid themselves!
Dolores Huerta has worked for decades in support of laborers, farm workers, immigrants, women, and people living in poverty. Her tireless activism is presented in this early reader biography in a simple and age-appropriate way.
This biography celebrates the life and legacy of civil rights icon Cesar Chavez in a simple, age-appropriate way. Early readers learn about the movement Chavez helped launch to bring dignity and justice to the lives of America's farm workers.
This biography introduces early readers to the strength and resilience of Jewish Holocaust victim Anne Frank in a simple, age-appropriate way. It shows how her life and her legacy bring hope for a better world.
Mardy and Olaus Murie fell in love in--and with--Alaska. Then set out on an adventure across the Arctic for Olaus's work as a biologist, encountering the beauty and danger of the wilds along the way. They learned from Indigenous communities to appreciate the interconnectedness of all living creatures and understood that the way humans were moving in on wild land was threatening the natural world. So they shifted the focus of their work to conservation, fighting to protect the land and animals--and lobbying for the creation of what finally became the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, nine thousand square miles of protected land! Mardy and Olaus's story of passion and hard work will inspire all readers to fan their spark of purpose into flame. Backmatter includes additional information on Mardy and Olaus, their legacy, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and more.
In 1873, at the age of 21, Jan Ernst Matzeliger immigrated to America, having left all that was familiar behind in South America. He arrived with hopes and dreams of a bright future in this new country. Though Jan had no formal training, he was highly skillful with tools and machinery, having worked in his father's mechanic shops. But no one wanted to hire a Black immigrant who didn't speak English. Yet Jan didn't give up. He finally got a job at a shoe factory. As Jan learned the process and craft of shoemaking, he envisioned a new machine, a lasting machine, that would help produce more shoes more efficiently. People scoffed at Jan's idea, telling him it wasn't possible. But he wasn't deterred. Despite many obstacles, after years of planning, drawing, and experimenting, Jan is finally ready to demonstrate his lasting machine. And his invention will change the shoe industry forever. The little-known story of Jan Matzeliger and his machine comes to life for young readers.
It's the early 1970s in America and change is in the air. Women are marching in support of the Equal Rights Amendment. It's a time of self-expression and social change. Jillian Parker loves math; it's her favorite subject and she is good at it. So when it's time for the fourth graders to select their after-school clubs, she knows exactly what she'll choose. But when Jillian goes to sign her name on the Math Club sign-up sheet, she is met with snickering and jeers. A girl in the boys' club? Shouldn't she be in Cooking Club, instead? Jillian knows she's smart, but maybe she's not smart enough. Maybe they are right, and she doesn't belong. She's just one girl. But after hearing about the discrimination experienced by her mother and other women, Jillian realizes that maybe what is needed is for just one girl to step forward. A new entry in the Tales of Young Americans series.
Whooping cranes are the tallest birds in North America. They once flew across the continent in large flocks. But today the birds are endangered. In this leveled title, readers will learn about the threats these birds face. Special features highlight the range and status of whooping cranes, as well as the impact that humans have had on them. Vibrant photos showcase the ways that people are working to protect these rare birds!
Pangolins are mammals. But their bodies are covered in hard scales. In this leveled reader, engaging text teaches readers about the threats that these animals face, as well as the efforts underway to save them. Special features highlight the range and status of pangolins, as well as showcase their importance in the ecosystem. Vibrant photos bring these mammals to life on the page for readers to enjoy!
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world. But these gentle giants are in danger. In this leveled title, readers will learn about the threats these massive sharks face, as well as the actions people are taking to help. Special features highlight the effects that humans have on the sharks, as well as the importance the sharks have to their ecosystems. Together, we can save the whale sharks!
Aye-ayes are strange-looking primates. They have big, yellow eyes and long, bony fingers. In this leveled title, readers will learn about the challenges these animals face and the efforts people take to save them. Special features highlight the range, importance, and conservation status of the primates. Vibrant photos bring aye-ayes to life on the page!
When Nadia and Nadir have nothing to do one summer afternoon, they decide to follow a video tutorial to make their own slime. They learn to follow rules for safe play and try to convince their parents to allow them to sell home-made slime to save up for supplies.
Earth’s ecosystems are in trouble, but we can step up to make a change! Explores the impacts of climate change on nature across our planet alongside real-world examples of how communities are enacting change to help. Bright photos and captivating illustrations make the topic approachable while frank text encourages engagement in an age-appropriate way. Let’s go wild to help Earth!
The planet is in peril. Climate change caused by human actions is harming nature. Explores Earth’s biggest environmental problems as well as what is being done to protect the planet, including ways for young readers to take action in their own communities. Bright photos and captivating illustrations make the topic approachable while frank text encourages engagement in an age-appropriate way. Let’s go wild to help Earth!
The planet is in peril, but we can help can starting in our own backyards! There are so many ways to make a difference. Engaging activities with step-by-step instructions will guide readers through hands-on projects to help restore nature at home. Bright photos and captivating illustrations make the topic approachable while frank text encourages engagement in an age-appropriate way. Let’s go wild to help Earth!
We live on a watery world! The ocean is important to all life on Earth. Learn about the problems facing the planet’s big, beautiful waters and what we can do to take care of the ocean. Approachable text and engaging photos makes this curricular topic come to life.
Tapirs are mammals with short, bendable trunks. These animals face many threats from humans. In this leveled text, readers will learn about ways to help tapirs survive. Special features highlight the range of these animals, the importance they have in their ecosystems, and the impacts that humans have on them. Vibrant photos bring tapirs to life on the page in this fact-filled book!
Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world. But these apex predators face many challenges, and today they are endangered. In this title, leveled text will teach readers about the threats the lizards face while vibrant photos bring the Komodo dragons to life on the page. Special features highlight the importance of Komodo dragons in their ecosystem, provide a map of their range, and give a visual aid to show the impacts of humans on the dragons. Together, we can save Komodo dragons!
California condors are the largest birds in North America. But these birds are critically endangered. In this leveled text, readers will learn about the threats to these animals as well as some of the efforts underway to save them. Special features include a range map, a breakdown of the importance of California condors, and a profile of their status and lifespan. Vibrant photos bring these giant birds to life in this engaging title!
A child tries to understand the life of a man he has seen sleeping under a bridge. The boy’s mother patiently answers his questions and explains how people’s life paths can be so different. The child observes the things he has in common with the man and wonders where his own path will lead. This unique book will speak to children and adults alike.
From dusk to dawn a forest creeps into a town where the grown-ups are too distracted to notice, but the children do. They see greenery take root in the lifeless cracks of dull sidewalks. They see an eagle build her nest atop a forgotten fountain and saplings start to sprout in dark corners. A gray-drab city defined by concrete and steel, vibrations and notifications, transforms into a living garden where apartment buildings overflow with window boxes full of flowers, birds sing songs through day and night and children laugh and tend to their gardens. Watch as nature reclaims this town.
Cricket McKay has lived in Waterton all her life; so, she is surprised to discover an animal she hasn’t seen before: the long-toed salamander. She finds a band of them migrating from the pond to their hibernation grounds at Crandell Mountain. Crossing the road that lies between the pond and the mountain is dangerous enough, but now a newly constructed curb makes their journey even more challenging. Can Cricket and her friends come up with a solution to help the salamanders? Salamander Rescue is the second book featuring Cricket and friends.
Ally isn't able to live with her mother. Instead she lives far, far away, on the other side of the country, with her gram and great-aunt. But one summer Ally goes to stay with her aunt and uncle in the "big city by the ocean" and gets to spend time with her mom. While exploring the shore, watching whales from the boat dipping into the salty water, Ally finds out something important: her mother loves to swim as much as she does.
Lucy is playing catch with her family at the park when she is invited to join her friends' baseball team. Their friendly coach teaches them the basics of offense and defense as they practice catching, hitting and fielding. Then they use these skills in a real game, where Lucy must overcome her fear of getting hit by the ball. With encouragement from Coach Al, Lucy steps up to the plate and gives her best swing.
