Cuba is a group of several islands. Long ago, one of the islands was called Treasure Island because it was a home base for many Caribbean pirates. Young readers will learn about life in modern Cuba—the school system, the delicious food, and the vibrancy of Cuban culture.
America’s northern neighbor, Canada, is similar to the United States in many ways but also very different. Kids will learn about Canada’s diverse wildlife as well as some of its biggest cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. They will read about what school is like for kids in Canada, how people often speak both English and French, and how Canadians enjoy playing hockey.
Skaters race over the ice pushing the puck toward their opponent's goal. Started in Canada, ice hockey has spread all over the world. Children will read all about the history, equipment and rules of the game and learn who some of the stars are in today's professional leagues. Blastoff! Series
There are many different kinds of forests that have many different kinds of trees. Discover what trees are found in each kind of forest and how dead trees help young trees grow. Blastoff! Series
The Green Berets are one of the better-known special forces. Readers will learn the history of this elite force and the training and tools required to perform their dangerous missions.
Iraq gets a lot of bad publicity. People hear regularly about the country’s troubles without learning about its achievements. For example, you’ve maybe never heard that Iraqis invented the wheel, sailboat, and plow! This title takes young readers past news headlines to tell the full story of Iraq.
Passenger trains have all kinds of cars—baggage cars, lounge cars, dining cars, and sleeper cars. They often need to keep riders comfortable for multi-day trips. This title shows beginning readers a train type that works day and night to take passengers long distances.
The average freight car can hold 200,000 pounds. This is equal to the weight of 15 male bush elephants! Early readers will be impressed by the powerful freight trains in this book moving heavy loads of food, coal, oil, and more!
Ever ride a train on an elevated track around a zoo, an airport, or an amusement park? If so, you’ve traveled by monorail. In this book, new readers will see many scenic aerial views offered by the off-the-ground trains that move on single rails.
Choosing just one animal mascot to represent the country of Australia is difficult! The marsupial contenders alone include the kangaroo, koala, and wombat. Then there are the predator options like the dingo and saltwater crocodile. After learning all about Australia in this title, fluent readers just might make a mascot pick!
Brazil has a monopoly over about half of the South American landscape. The country covers more than 3 million square miles of the continent! In this snapshot of Brazil, young readers will especially enjoy touring the Amazon Rain Forest and the country’s other unique biomes.
O Canada! The opening words of the Canadian national anthem are a fitting exclamation for appreciating the country sometimes called the True North. Canada’s untouched wilderness, Arctic animals, and native peoples are all worthy of a shout-out. This read points out to capable young readers what makes Canada special.
One-fifth of all the people in the world call China home. This means Mandarin Chinese is the number one language when it comes to native speakers! In this look at a country rich in history and culture, young readers will learn a few main Mandarin characters and much more.
The beloved fictional Harry Potter calls England his home. Though his world is imaginary, it includes many of England’s actual landmarks. In this profile of the real England, kids will learn the facts about the European country that serves as the setting for many of their favorite stories.
Did you know that at first Parisians disliked the addition of the Eiffel Tower to their city? They thought the landmark, which is now France’s most famous, was ugly! This children’s title narrates a sightseeing trip around France. Readers can judge the beauty of the country’s landmarks and culture for themselves.
India has its very own Hollywood—the rhyming Bollywood! The thousands of Bollywood films that are released every year put the songs, dances, and colors of India in the spotlight. Upper-elementary students are invited to a special viewing of a country with a memorable flavor.
Two thousand years ago, Italy was known for its spectacles. Rome’s famous Colosseum hosted epic sports contests and gladiator fights. In this book, Italy is on display to engage fluent young readers. Kids will be especially amazed by ancient Italian architecture.
In the United States, a bow is most often taken by a performer at the end of a concert or play. But in Japan, a bow is the traditional gesture to greet another person. This country close-up teaches upper-elementary students Japanese customs and much more about the Asian island nation.
Mexico is a cactus capital. Giant cardon, the world’s tallest cactuses, grow in the Sonoran Desert. They reach heights up to 63 feet! And Mexicans also eat the stems of prickly pear cactuses like vegetables! This country profile takes kids south of the border to explore Mexico.
Russia is a rare transcontinental country, with its small western part belonging to Europe and its large eastern part belonging to Asia. The dividing line is the Ural Mountains. Fluent readers will see both sides of Russia and discover the cultural elements that unite all of its people.
Hockey players and figure skaters wouldn’t be able to perform their best without Zamboni ice resurfacers. The famous ice polisher machines smooth ice by shaving it, washing it, squeegeeing it, and more! In this title, beginning readers will watch Zamboni machines make loops around ice rinks.
Helicopters are among the most mission-oriented machines. They often get their rotors spinning to pick up a sick or injured person, to a military zone, or to help with a wildfire. In this book, helicopters lift off, spin, and land for early readers.
The first step of any construction project is preparing the site for building. The job requires earth movers to rip, dig, level, and move ground. This children’s title, grounded in facts, lets young readers dig into learning about the action-packed work of earth movers.
A drum and a chute make a concrete mixer unique from other construction equipment. The first part has a spiral-shaped inside for mixing concrete. The second part shoots concrete out of the machine. Beginning readers will want to turn the pages of this title about concrete mixers!
A country and a continent, Australia is home to bizarre wildlife such as platypuses, emus, and wombats. Australia also boasts the Great Barrier Reef that stretches more than 1,400 miles across its northeastern coast! Hop down under in this low-level title to learn more about a truly unique continent.
