Wedges Make a Point

Simple Machines for Kids

How do you keep a truck from rolling? A door from closing? And how do you cut through banana bread? All of these questions have the same answer—a wedge! Wedges are one of the simple machines that help make work easier by using mechanical advantage. In Wedges Make a Point: Simple Machines for Kids, readers ages...

Levers Lessen the Load

Simple Machines for Kids

Have you ever played on a seesaw? You were using a lever! A lever is one of six simple machines that are designed to make different kinds of work easier. Lifting, pulling, pushing—all these tasks are more efficient when you use a simple machine. In Levers Lessen the Load: Simple Machines for Kids, readers ages 5...

Inclined Planes Ramp It Up

Simple Machines for Kids

How does a dump truck dump all the dirt out of its truck bed? It turns that bed into a ramp! A ramp is another word for an inclined plane, and inclined plane is one of six simple machines that are designed to make different kinds of work easier. Lifting, pulling, pushing—all these tasks are more...

Screws Keep Things Secure

Simple Machines for Kids

Build your treehouse with screws! Screws are one of the simple machines that are designed to make different kinds of work easier! Lifting, pulling, pushing, and fastening things together—all these tasks are more efficient when you use a simple machine. In Screws Keep Things Secure: Simple Machines for Kids, readers ages 5 to 8 learn...

The Stars

A Gazillion Suns

The Universe is full of hundreds of billions of twinkling stars. For thousands of years, humans have used stars to tell stories, navigate, and make wishes. But what is a star made of? How long will its light last? In The Stars: A Gazillion Suns, the character of the Universe takes us on a journey among...

The Sun

Shining Star of the Solar System

There are trillions of stars in the universe, but one is particularly important to people on planet Earth—our sun. What’s the sun good for, anyway? Find out as the Universe explains just what makes the sun so important to planet Earth in The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System. In this nonfiction picture book, children...

The Moon

Small-but-Mighty Neighbor

The moon is one of the smaller celestial objects in the universe, but it has some very important jobs. Without it, Earth would be a very different place! Narrated by the character of the Universe, The Moon: Small-but-Mighty Neighbor offers up clear scientific explanations designed to gets kids excited about astronomy, covering topics such as the...

The Earth

One-of-a-Kind Planet

Earth is our home, but how much do we really know about our planet? Quite a lot! In The Earth: One-of-a-Kind Planet, the narrator, who just happens to be the universe, explains where Earth is located in the solar system, how Earth was created, how life evolved on Earth, and more. Universe uses a friendly, relatable...

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...

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...

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...

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...