The potential dangers of riding in automobiles are presented, and readers are taught about seatbelt safety and how to avoid distracting a driver.
Blimps were once a popular form of transportation. Find out how they work and why they are not so common anymore.
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.
Learn all about how these speedy airplanes were created, how they work, and how they help us travel.
Find out how lighthouses work and how they have changed throughout history.
In 1932, Akron, Ohio was no better off than other parts of the country. Since Black Tuesday in '29, companies are closed, men all over the state are out of work, and families are running out of hope. Thirteen-year-old Rudy wants to help but doesn't know where to turn. His father, sullen and withdrawn, spends his time sulking on their front porch. His mother is desperate, not knowing how she will feed and care for her family. When Rudy learns of other boys leaving town and heading west to seek their fortunes, he hops a train figuring at least there will be one less mouth to feed at home. As Rudy lives the hobo life while he "rides the rails" to California, young readers are given a snapshot view and testament of Depression-era America.
Leaving port from Superior, Wisconsin on a sunny November day, the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald is looking forward to a routine crossing of deep Lake Superior. Heading for a port in Cleveland, the giant transport ship is loaded with ore that will be used to build cars. But disaster is building in the wind as a gale storm begins to track after the great ship. This suspenseful retelling of the last hours of the doomed vessel pays homage to all sailors who traverse deep waters, in fair skies and foul. Atmospheric paintings from award-winning artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen bring the story to life.
Set in the late 1950s, this is the moving story of a young boy whose father operates a ferryboat between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas. As young Mark witnesses the building of the new Mackinac Bridge, he is torn between family loyalty and eager anticipation. He can't help being awestruck by the majesty of the five-mile-long bridge that will connect the two peninsulas and change the lives of so many. But the Mighty Mac will also put Mark's father out of business. As his father struggles with the flow of progress, Mark dreams of future bridges he will build. Details of the complex construction of the bridge will fascinate children as they learn an important part of America's history and come to understand the meaning of change. The Mackinac Bridge Authority provides history notes at the back of the book.
Get answers in this nonfiction storybook to your fascinating questions! Colorful pictures, short sentences, and a small amount of predictable text per page make this book perfect for reluctant and struggling readers.
Find out how these beautiful balloons float through the air and discover what makes them fly.
Explains how bicycles are made from different materials; discusses how bicycles are assembled in a factory; and how bicycles become available to consumers.
Big machines used in this book to explore force and motion. Important science words like push, pull, machines, and force highlighted in sidebars throughout.
In Tunnels, early fluent readers will learn about the engineering that goes into building tunnels and making them safe. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they explore the built world around them. An infographic illustrates aspects of the Channel Tunnel, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about tunnels using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Tunnels also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
Trucks equipped with four-wheel drive are able to travel over many difficult kinds of terrain. Readers will explore the history of 4x4 trucks and the technology that makes it possible for them to travel almost anywhere.
These machines are very important in keeping a farm running smoothly. A tractor pulls other machines through the field. Plow through this book as a tractor pulls a plow, a planter, or a mower. Blastoff! Series
Did you know that some big trucks have 18 wheels? All different kinds of trucks travel the roads daily. Young readers will learn about pickup trucks, big rigs, and monster trucks in this simple introduction. Blastoff! Series
All aboard! There are all different kinds of trains that accomplish various tasks. Speed along with a bullet train, go underground with a subway train, or hop aboard a freight train as it transports goods. Blastoff! Series
When there is danger in shallow water, Littoral Combat Ships are called into action. These ships can go in water too shallow for other ships of the United States Navy. Armed with high-tech weapons and carrying helicopters and other aircraft, Littoral Combat Ships can fight any threat. This title introduces the newest craft of the Navy and shows how the technology behind the ships has led to their early success.
A monster truck rolls over a car and crunches it under its huge wheels. Monster trucks are giant pickup trucks that can race around a track. Kids will roar with excitement as monster trucks dominate this books pages. Blastoff! Series
Rising high into the sky, cranes are the tallest machines on a construction site. They lift and move equipment from one part of the site to another. This book explains how these tall machines help build bridges, skyscrapers, and other structures. Blastoff! Series
These huge machines travel on the ocean and have many different uses. A ship has a huge engine and sometimes uses sails. Join the captain of a cargo ship, a supertanker, or a cruise ship, and sail the seas! Blastoff! Series
Why do police cars patrol the streets? Police cars help police officers fight crime and stop people from driving dangerously. Get a look into these cars and the equipment police use inside them. Blastoff! Series
A new road needs to be built, but first a grader must flatten the dirt underneath. A grader uses a blade to push the dirt down and prepare the way for a new road. Students will discover other jobs this powerful machine performs in this early introduction. Blastoff! Series
