Planes, trains, and automobiles—these are just some of the many achievements of mechanical engineering. This volume will show readers that they do not have to know complex equations to appreciate the impact the field has had on the world. Accessible text introduces young readers to the machines and engines that power the devices, vehicles, and appliances they encounter on a daily basis. Boxes explain important terms and concepts of mechanics and encourage readers to think critically. The b...

The wild, plundering lives of the Vikings have been fodder for stories and myths for centuries. The terror and destruction they allegedly caused has filled books, movie screens and more. But there is more to this rich culture than these tales often portray. This book illuminates the facts about the rich Viking culture, revealing their lives beyond warfare, such as their art, craft, and trade. Readers will also find myths clarified, with stories from the perhaps biased accounts of Viking-co...

Anthropologists, scientists who study humans and their ways of life, are continually finding and interpreting artifacts left by our earliest ancestors. They have helped us understand our origins as well as the intriguing cultures that developed as humans spread across Earth. This volume is a concise introduction to this diverse and fascinating field. Readers will learn of the various branches of anthropology, including archaeology and biological anthropology, and how anthropologists of dif...

The crustacean subphylum can be broken down into decapods, amphipods, copepods, and other types. This title offers readers from grades one through four comparisons between the needs and roles of different crustaceans, which will allow readers to understand the subphylum’s importance. Readers will recognize and expand their knowledge about familiar species like the lobster and the shrimp, while being introduced to the likes of the wood louse and zooplankton. Dynamic photography and methodic...

Much myth has been made in subsequent centuries over the nomadic Mongols, who, under the unified leadership of the khan, established a massive empire spanning the Asian continent in the 13th century. This title follows the life of Genghis Khan, from humble beginnings through his rise to power and, ultimately, the transfer of his authority to mighty successors such as Kublai Khan. The reader will glean key points of interest, from the Golden Horde in modern-day Russia to the Yuan Dynasty in...

Water that lurks beneath the Earth’s surface is usually far easier to ignore than the water that covers it—until that water bursts forth above ground as geysers and hot springs. This engaging volume explains to young readers where this water comes from and its relationship to volcanic activity underground. They will also learn where on Earth these spectacular eruptions are found, how geothermal energy can be harnessed for our use, and much more. Striking images of Old Faithful and other ge...

The modern period of history is often considered to have begun with the Renaissance, one of the rare periods of genius in the world’s history. This volume traces the Renaissance from its beginnings in Italy in the fourteenth century to its spread across the rest of Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Along with the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman writing, the Renaissance represented a new age in the fields of science, literature, religion, politics, and many others. R...

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...

Laws are a part of every community and government. This thought-provoking volume provides an accessible guide to these rules for readers who haven’t been involved in civic engagement or aren’t aware of how the law functions. Readers will learn about both the history of laws and legislatures as well as modern civil and criminal laws. Interest-provoking sidebars enhance the text, adding to essential vocabulary as well as posing questions that promote critical thinking about the rules and law...

A V-shaped flock of geese flying overhead on a fall or winter’s day is a familiar sight to most of us. But, as this vibrant volume shows, there are numerous other animals that also migrate for various lengths of time and for various reasons. Colorful photographs allow readers to follow birds, zebras, whales, turtles, and more as they migrate to find food, shelter, breeding grounds, or more suitable climates. Readers will learn how air, land, and water migration differ, what landmarks and s...

Cell phones and GPS gadgets abound, but there is no substitute for learning the tried and true method of using an atlas. In this concise volume, readers learn how atlases came to exist and how they have evolved over the years. Exercises and fact boxes throughout the book engage readers in hands-on activities to familiarize them with using an atlas and its features. This instructive volume supports Common Core Standards (such as using glossaries and indexes, interpreting charts, and drawing...

Given the vastness of the universe, it is not difficult to imagine the possibility of life—even intelligent life—beyond Earth. Yet whether any extraterrestrial beings have ever made contact with us and if any evidence of this contact exists, remains widely debated. Evaluating tales of alien encounters and UFO sightings with a critical eye, this absorbing volume considers the possibility of extraterrestrial life by carefully separating scientific fact from fiction, hoaxes, and the unprovabl...