Antifreeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations

When might a fancy leaf costume be useful for a fish? And how do fish in Antarctica keep from freezing? In Antifreeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations, children ages 5 to 9 discover some of the amazing adaptations in the world of fish! Explore underwater habitats and discover ways fish have evolved to avoid the danger that lurks around every waving piece of seaweed. Detailed illustrations, layered text, a hands-on activity, and plentiful...

Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations

Not all birds build nests with sticks and have good manners.  Some construct nests with their own saliva, while others use vomit as a defense! Sound strange? In Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations, curious kids ages 5 to 9 discover many of the unique adaptations of birds. Stories of these brilliant adaptations cultivate deeper discussions about the crucial environmental science topic of adaptations in general. Using an easy narrative tone and vivid...

Sunscreen, Frogsicles, and Other Amazing Amphibian Adaptations

How do sunscreen and mucus help amphibians survive? In Sunscreen, Frogsicles, and Other Amazing Amphibian Adaptations, kids ages 5 to 9 discover how one frog gets sunscreen to protect itself through the dry season and how another uses its own mucus to create a cocoon. Amphibians spend part of their time on land and part in the water, so they’ve evolved fascinating methods of surviving these different environments. Detailed illustrations, funny narrative, layered text, and...

Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations

A lizard that walks on water? A snake that slithers sideways? These are animal adaptations! In Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations, children ages 5 to 9 learn how and why the green basilisk lizard runs on the water’s surface, along with the very good reasons sidewinder snakes move the way they do. Explore these reptile adaptations and more with vivid illustrations, layered text, a hands-on activity, and plentiful back matter that motivates readers...

Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations

How do whales make their hearing better?  What do lemurs do to make a point during an argument? In Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations, children ages 5 to 9 learn how lemurs settle arguments and how earwax helps a whale’s sense of hearing, along with a host of other deliciously strange-but-true tales! The lively conversational tone and the hilarious descriptions of bizarre adaptations engage a child’s sense of wonder while providing an introduction...

Human Computer

Mary Jackson, Engineer

When Mary Jackson was growing up, she thought being an engineer was impossible for her.  Why? After all, she was fantastic at math and science. She worked really hard to learn all she could in school. Why did this smart little girl think she couldn’t be an engineer? Elementary aged readers explore America’s history of segregation through the life of Mary Jackson, who overcame challenges to become the first African American woman to work at...

Fossil Huntress

Mary Leakey, Paleontologist

What was the world like millions of years ago? Did early humans walk on all fours? Did giant sloths lie in trees? Did dinosaurs have feathers?  Even as a young girl, Mary Leakey was fascinated by questions like these! In Fossil Huntress: Mary Leakey, Paleontologist, elementary aged children meet Mary as a girl growing up in France and visiting the site of archeological wonders, such as Pech Merle, Fond de Gaume, and La Mouthe.  As an adult, Mary leaps at the chance...

Space Adventurer

Bonnie Dunbar, Astronaut

What’s it like to travel among the stars? What can we learn by doing science experiments in space? When Bonnie Dunbar spotted Sputnik traveling across the sky from where she stood on her family’s farm, she knew that’s what she wanted to do when she got older. In Space Adventurer: Bonnie Dunbar, Astronaut, readers ages 5 to 8 learn about the hard work Bonnie tackled throughout her life to make it aboard NASA’s space shuttle Challenger. From planting crops...

Computer Decoder

Dorothy Vaughan, Computer Scientist

When a mechanical computer arrives at the office, a human computer named Dorothy Vaughan either has to learn how to work with it or risk losing her job! Dorothy Vaughan loved things that made sense—especially numbers! In Computer Decoder: Dorothy Vaughan, Computer Scientist, elementary aged children follow Dorothy’s journey from math teacher to human computer and beyond, a journey made difficult because she was an African American woman working during a time of segregation. Dorothy worked...