The war was changing everything and everyone … When Jan is seven, Nazis attack and take over Holland. At first, not much changes. Soon, though, war starts taking things away: important things like neighbours and friends, trust and respect, even clothing, fuel, and food. Through it all, Jan is still a boy, finding ways to play with friends and paddle his sailing canoe in the canals. But he must also filch food and help protect his father's "guests" from the e...

When Jan de Groot decided to purchase Raven, a 140-foot gaff-rigged ketch, in order to provide sailing adventures for underprivileged children in British Columbia, he had no idea of the bizarre adventure that lay ahead. Built in 1920 as a sailing cargo vessel, Raven was converted to a pleasure yacht in the late 1960s. She should have been the perfect vessel for the job Jan envisaged - and might have been, were it not for the ghost that haunted her. After the ship was launc...

Titanic. Just the name evokes tales of the doomed ship that have captivated people of all ages for more than 100 years.Early readers will enjoy this exciting account of the world's most famous disaster-at-sea and the discovery of it's remains many years later.Step 4 books are perfect for independent readers who are confident with simple sentences and are just starting to tackle paragraphs.

The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system! Getting the facts behind the fiction has never looked better. Track the facts with Jack and Annie!!When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #11: Dark Day in the Deep Sea, they had lots of questions. How big is a giant squid? What is a dragonfish? How do deep-sea creatures find food when it’s so dark down...

For thousands of years, people have claimed to have spotted mermaids in the waves and on the rocks. Some were beautiful with long flowing hair and lovely voices. But other mermaids liked to drag people down to their watery homes and eat them! If you thought mermaids were just pretty ladies with scaly tails, think again. There is more to these mythical creatures than meets the eye!

Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean. They have smooth, gray skin. Their skin feels like rubber.The dolphin's mouth is filled with rows and rows of sharp teeth. They are made for tearing off pieces of meat.Dolphins come in different colors. Most of them are gray, but there are also dolphins that are black and white. There are even some that are all white.Find out what a dolphin looks like, where it lives, what it eats, what eats it, how babies are born, and som...

You might know that they are the biggest land animal on earth, but here are some other things about elephants that you might not know.How much water can an elephant's trunk hold?Can an elephant drink through its trunk?Can an elephant's foot get stuck in the mud?Can elephants run?Learn the answer to these questions and many more in this 15-Minute Book. Elephants are huge, exciting animals that have some strange ways of doing things. How much do you know ...

Sea horses are some of the smallest animals in the sea. They look like little chess pieces, with a tail. They have a long snout or nose at the front of their head. They have a high, arched neck like a proud horse. They also have a rounded body like a horse.This book will introduce you to sea horses and tell you many interesting facts about them, including:What does a sea horse use its tail for?Do sea horse mothers or sea horse fathers have babies?What do sea h...

Collins Shorts – insight in an instant.Join David Attenborough on his journey through the cultural history of the birds of paradise, one of the most exquisite and extravagant, colourful and intriguing families of birds. In this short, the world’s best-loved naturalist explains why these charismatic birds dance so beautifully.Collins Shorts are a fresh look at the ebook short, with the emphasis on vibrant design, animated content and expert authors who can provide accessible...

Giant pandas are one of the most loved of all animals. Here are some fun facts you may not have known about giant pandas.Is a giant panda an herbivore or a carnivore?Do giant pandas hibernate like other bears?What do a giant panda's pupils look like?Which has more fingers; a giant panda or a human?Learn the answer to these questions and many more in this 15-Minute Book. Giant pandas look like cute, cuddly creatures from the Far East. How much do you kno...

Everyone has heard of the dodo bird, that strange creature that would waddle up to hungry sailors only to be eaten for dinner. Dodo birds have often been looked at as stupid animals that were too dumb to survive. But the more we find out about this bird, the more we find out that they might not have been so dumb after all. Here are some things we have found out about them!What color were their beaks?Where did dodo birds live?Did they like the forest, the grasses or th...

Did you know that the courtship dance of some seahorses can last eight hours? Or how the sea serpent myth is thought to have started? This fantastic quick-read eBook features 101 amazing facts split into categories such as record breakers, sharks, unusual fish and many more. So if you want to know which fish the Romans used as a recreational drug, or in which states it is illegal to get a fish drunk, then this is the book for you! Find the information you want, fast.