The colonial period is perhaps the most significant era in American history. This valuable resource begins with a summary of exploration in the New World. It then follows early colonization efforts, describing the journeys of the first colonists into the unknown and their struggles to make something of their harsh new environment. Readers will learn about the colonies’ early societies, governments, and trades. The colonists’ growing dissatisfaction with England is charted as it swells towa...

The Industrial Revolution has had the most far-reaching and transformative effects of any era in the planet's history. After detailing life and technology in Europe prior to the revolution, this volume presents the changes that led to the revolution, important inventions and innovations, societal and economic consequences, and the Second Industrial Revolution in the United States. Readers will learn how inventions we take for granted today, such as the telephone, steam engine, and railroad...

Modern science has made remarkable advances in genetics. This volume covers the foundations of genes and heredity to give readers a solid understanding of what modern genetics has been built on, before examining the ways in which genetic testing is used to assess genetic risk. Also featured are the many ways researchers and medical professionals are using gene therapy to improve lives, as well as bioethical considerations and social ramifications inherent in going even further with genetic...

Everyone is familiar with Mickey Mouse, Mary Poppins, and Frozen, but do they know the man behind the mouse? Born to a humble family, young Walt loved drawing pictures and entertaining people. After an early career as an advertising illustrator, he opened his own animation production company. That set him on the path to creating trailblazing animation and live-action movies and creating the studio—not to mention theme parks—that would continue to entertain children and adults alike long af...

Young readers are fascinated by how the things around them are constructed. This volume will answer many of the questions they have, by first addressing the job of civil engineers and then explaining how some of the world’s greatest engineering marvels were built. Students will learn how tunnels such as the English Channel Tunnel are built under water; how dams like the Hoover Dam are built and the purpose they serve a community; and why the Panama Canal was an important improvement to wor...

When asked about government, young readers are apt to discuss the president or the U.S. Capitol. But they likely overlook state government and local government, the two components of the U.S. government that are most relevant to their lives. In this volume, state and local governments are at the forefront. Readers will learn about the levels of government, what state and local governments are responsible for, the leaders of state and local governments and how they run them, and how kids ca...

The Industrial Revolution improved technology so significantly that social structures and the world economy would be changed forever. This resource examines technological developments during the era. A brief history of the Industrial Revolution first provides contextual background. This is followed by technological achievements within individual fields, such as power, textiles, transport, communications, and other industries. The resource concludes by examining the changes to labor and the...

Sociology, the study of human behavior in social groups, is a relatively recent discipline within the social sciences, which examine human behavior, culture, and society using scientific methodology in both research and analysis. This resource explains the rise of the social sciences, in particular sociology, charting the history of the discipline and its founders. The key principles and fundamental theories are examined in detail, and the contemporary status of sociology and today’s major...

Children learn to ride them early in life. Weekend warriors use them for exercise. People even ride them to and from work. The bicycle is a source of entertainment, but it is also an invaluable means of transportation. Today, there are about two times more bicycles than cars worldwide. This fun and engaging resource discusses the development of the bicycle, its use throughout its two-hundred-year history, bicycle use around the globe, and modern innovations. Readers will learn the basic pa...

When people think of objects in the sky, they may think of planets, the sun, moon, and constellations. Many other bodies orbit Earth and the sun, however. The sky below Earth's atmosphere holds many interesting objects as well. We may not need a telescope to see them, but they are no less awe-inspiring. Readers are introduced to the dazzling phenomena of stars, galaxies, lightning, meteoroids, comets, auroras, rainbows, black holes, and even satellites and space junk. Any reader who has ev...

Many of us enjoy quiet mornings canoeing on the lake, an afternoon of sailing on the ocean, or a weekend of adventurous kayaking through river rapids. But how do boats float? And what is the best way of powering them? Young readers will enjoy learning about the surprising variety of small boats, their basic structure, and their uses throughout history. Small boats are used for conveyance, security, rescue, and, of course, recreationally. This fully illustrated, engaging resource will appea...

Through space exploration humans have learned a great deal about the planets, stars, and other objects in space. More than five thousand spacecraft have been launched into space to gather information since 1957. Without space travel, NASA may never have developed many of the things we take for granted today, such as cell phone cameras, CAT scans, and ski boots. This useful and interesting resource discusses the many types of manned and unmanned spacecraft, describes how a rocket works, and...