Going wild. We don't see it as a good thing. And why would we? For most of our time on earth, humanity has been running from lions and other wilderness dangers. We've worked hard to make our local landscapes as safe and convenient as possible. Sometimes that's meant paving over areas that might burst into weeds. Other times, we've dammed rivers for electricity or irrigation. But now pollution, climate change and disruptions to the water cycle are affecting the world in ways we never anticipated. What if the new key to making our lives safer (and even healthier) is to allow the wilderness back into our cities?
Take to the skies with How to Build Aircraft. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions, handy templates, vibrant photographs, and easily accessible materials, this title shows readers how to build their very own aircraft that can really fly! Projects include a hot-air balloon, roto-copter, a variety of gliders, and many more.
What qualities does it take to walk up to an unexploded bomb or mine, and coolly and calmly examine it? To slowly and painstakingly remove the cover and attempt to defuse it? To be completely alone while everyone else has taken cover? The rise of terrorism in the 21st Century and the evolution of car bombs and other improvised explosive devices mean that bomb disposal officers are in high demand once again in places as far apart as Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. This book looks at life as a bomb or mine disposal officer, and covers what sort of person becomes a bomb disposal officer: a day in the life; training; types of devices; and the history of bomb disposal from WW1 to the present day in Iraq, Israel, and Afghanistan.
Ten boldly illustrated stories tell classic tales from different cultures of giants, who were usually villains being outwitted and defeated by mythological heroes. Myths include: the hero Heracles versus the hated giant Geryon, and Odysseus versus the giant Cyclops Polyphemus, from Greek mythology; the good-natured giant Finn McCool from Celtic mythology; the Mayan twins versus the destructive mountain giant Cabracan, from Mayan mythology; Sedna, the giant goddess of the sea, from Inuit mythology; and the giant Goliath who was slain by David, from the Bible. Feature boxes add additional details to help readers better understand concepts in the story as well as the time period in which the story was written.
Bullying provides an honest and unbiased view of a prevalent issue. This book examines different forms of bullying and covers practical topics such as how to recognize bullying behavior, the role of the bystander, and empowering ways to deal with bullies. Candid first-hand accounts from different perspectives and a list of valuable resources give readers the tools to help break the cycle of this destructive epidemic.
China! Natasha Yim tells of her experiences of watching dragon races in Hong Kong. Discover the art of a handwriting technique called calligraphy. How is silk made? Discover the women who make silk by hand in Hotan, China. Learn how people in China honor their loved ones who have gone before them. Stories by Natasha Yim, Linda Petrucelli, Gary Hoff, Josanne LaValley, and Christine Liu Perkins.
Crafting! The Timbertoes are a handy bunch, especially Pa! Pa makes a whistle for Tommy, and a doggy door for Spot. His plans don't go exactly as he wanted when he makes a snow buggy. Finally, all the Timbertoes join in, and have a fix-it day at their house. Stories by Rich Wallace, and Marileta Robinson.
Dino tales! It took over 150 years to finally unravel the mystery surrounding this particular dinosaur. A man named Don gets his lifelong dream of having a dinosaur named after him. A scientist solves the mystery of a wounded Ice-Age creature. Fossil footprints lead to an important discovery. Stories by Dougal Dixon, "Dino Don" Lessem, Gail Jarrow, and Melissa Stewart.
Shining stars! What is a star, anyway? Take a trip through the starry sky to learn all about constellations, what happens when stars explode, and learn more about the star closest to us: the sun! Stories by Ken Croswell, Ph.D. and Highlights for Children.
It's springtime! Rabbit is inspired by a daffodil, and throws a party. Discover why there's bubbly foam on plants and evergreen trees in the spring. Mandy and Ben play outside and enjoy the beautiful spring weather. Sarah looks for a new spring coat. A frog sits near the meadow on a busy spring morning. Stories by Highlights for Children, Beverly J. Letchworth, Marianne Mitchell, Clara Gillow Clark, and Marilyn Kratz.
Brr! Five snowmen race down a hill, but only one makes it to the finish line. In another kind of "snowstorm," Jem uses her quick thinking to save her new friend, Vianna. Issac is excited to see snow for the first time, and Angela finds a new way to fly. Stories by Kathleen Doherty, Roxanne Werner, Nancy Dearborn, and Wendy Hogarth.
Halloween! A pirate, skeleton, and witch are coming towards Puppy's house. What can Puppy do? When space monkeys invade on Halloween, the townspeople soon discover the monkeys' love for doughnuts. Toby realizes that the only way to get them to leave is to give them Chuck's famous doughnut recipe. David and his family prepare for Halloween, Fox's costume dilemma is resolved, and a new neighbor provides unusual Halloween treats. Stories by Lois J. Szymanski, Peter McCleery, Highlights for Children, Barbara Owen, and Glenn G. Coats.
Scaly dragons! A Chinese folktale tells about a grateful dragon who gives a girl an impossible gift. Lily brings Dragon in to school. A little girl follows a treasure map past a dragon! Tex and Indi go to a festival in Chinatown to see a parade and a dancing dragon. What would you do if you met a dragon? Would you try to make friends? Stories by Camille S. Phillips, Lissa Rovetch, Marilyn Kratz, and Eileen Spinelli.
Camp out! Bryan and Syd are totally different, but they were put together as camp roommates and have to learn to get along. Tara and Shelly overcome their fears to become members of the camp's canoe squad. Tex and Indi make a blanket fort to pretend they're camping in the woods! Zach, Miguel, and Dad go camping. When they go to bed, they listen for animal noises, but all they can hear is Dad snoring! Stories by Highlights for Children, Carol A. McClelland, Lissa Rovetch, and Marianne Mitchell.
Giddy-up! Read about Rebecca who rides her horse, Snickerdoodles, for 98 miles on the Texas Independence Trail each year. Are you ready to learn how horses talk and communicate through body language? Janet trains guide horses, and John tames the wildest horse by making friends with it. Stories by Mary Ann Hellinghausen, Leslie Wyatt, Shannon Teper, and Deborah Kearney.
Goal! Casey had never played soccer before, so why did she decide to volunteer as goalie? Conor comes up with a plan to save his soccer team from their season-long losing streak. Jose learns that teamwork is important in soccer, and in family life. Jenny Benson plays soccer with the pros! Stories by Steve Garagiola, James M. Janik, Dorothy K. Mock, and Jen Bryant.
Huge whales! Learn about where whales live, and how they interact with each other. Get ready to learn why whales blow bubbles at each other, or what it means when they wiggle their flippers. Is a whale shark even a whale, or just an imposter? Stories by Kim Valice, Carolyn Short, Linda Brown Anderson, and Heidi Poelman.
Bundle up! Maria and Grandma watch as a squirrel prepares for winter. Dad and Isabel watch different types of wild animals getting ready for the chilly winter. A fable tells of a little bird that cannot fly south for the winter. Each year before the river freezes, barges bring supplies for the long Alaskan winter. What will the barge bring for Ben? The arctic squirrel hibernates underground to survive the harsh winter. Stories by Marianne Mitchell, Bonnie Highsmith Taylor, Diana C. Conway, and Karen G. Ballen.
Travelers! A traveler shares what he learned about life in the Andes. Dad and Sam usually see Mom off when she leaves for a work trip, but this time they get to go with her. Grandpa reads exciting stories to Bert and Beth. A hiker writes about his journey around Lake Superior. A traveler visits an island to see puffins, and learns much more than she expects. Stories by David Meissner, Pamela Love, Valeri Gorbachev, Scott Erickson, and Nancy Marie Brown.
Dive in! Tex and Indi head to the pool for their swimming lesson but worry that they forgot how to swim over the past year. Roy works hard in swimming class. A young girl believes she can swim across an inlet, but gets into trouble when the tide begins to carry her out to sea! A dolphin learns how to swim with a prosthetic tail, and Olympic champion, Janet Evans tells about how she faced her fears and won swimming competitions against strong opponents. Stories by Lissa Rovetch, Arlene Mark, Jillian Sullivan, Sharon Teper, and Janet Evans.
All about space! Learn about everything from space junk, to how stars and galaxies were formed. What can we learn about space that could help us in the future? Stories by Tony Helies and Ken Croswell, Ph.D.
Woof, woof! Mrs. Dooley has six dogs, but her house is too small. What will she do? When everyone else leaves for school, a girl spends her time with her best friend-- a dog named Sam. Rosie the dog loves smelling the neighborhood smells, but nothing smells as good as home. Autumn thinks that when her dog howls, it is a sad sound. However, when she meets Laura and her beagle, she learns that sometimes a howl means something else. Stories by June Swanson, Nancy K. Wallace, Ruth Donnelly, Nancy White Carlstrom, and Erin Berger.
The green forest! Baby Bear explores the forest looking for the perfect bed. Different forest animals prepare for the long winter ahead. Jack Rabbit doesn't believe it is going to rain. He talks to his forest friends who can smell the rain, and they all tell him that it is coming soon. Cheeper is learning how to sing. Can he learn before he must leave the forest? Stories by Lucinda H. Kennaley, Dale Cross Purvis, Gay Kamber Seltzer, and Highlights for Children.
Hot magma! Learn all about volcanoes from how they're formed, to what happens when they finally blow their tops! Hear about how scientists who study volcanoes get close enough to do their jobs. Stories by Nancy Marie Brown, Megan Clements, Chris Dietel, and Highlights for Children.
Little worms! Squirmy Wormy and Mortimer are three little worms who know how to have big fun! See what happens when they play jump rope, or when they enter a talent contest. What will they get up to next? Stories by David L. Roper.
