The Chumash thrived along the Pacific coast in California for centuries. But eventually new settlers wanted their land and forced the Chumash into a new way of life. Today, the Chumash celebrate their traditions as they move toward the future in modern America.

Millions of tons of plastic slip into oceans every year. Some floats and travels slowly with the currents, endangering the health of marine animals. The rest is hardly visible but is far more dangerous. Tiny bits of plastic sprinkle the ocean's surface or mix into the sandy seafloor and beaches. It ends up inside birds, fish, and other animals, harming them-and ultimately humans. Experts struggle with fear and hope as they work to stop the flood of plastic threatening living organisms acro...

A massive tsunami caused by the strongest earthquake to ever hit Japan triggered the world's worst nuclear crisis since the Chernobyl accident 25 years earlier. The monster waves that crashed into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March 2011 killed 15,000 people and caused nuclear reactor meltdowns that threatened the lives of thousands more. The waves receded long ago, but the devastating effects of the nuclear accident still linger.

On-point historical photographs combined with strong narration bring the story of the first photograph of a black hole to life. Kids will learn why it was so hard to take a photo of something so dark it does not reflect light, and so far away it could barely be reached. Primary source quotations bring the amazing accomplishment to life.

To the untrained eye, Photo 51 was simply a grainy black and white image of dark marks scattered in a rough cross shape. But to the eye of a trained scientist, it was a clear portrait of a DNA fiber taken with X-rays. And to young scientists James Watson and Francis Crick, it confirmed their guess of deoxyribonucleic acid's structure. In 1953 the pair was racing toward solving the mystery of DNA's structure before other scientists could beat them to it. They and others believed that findin...

Betsy Ross made many flags during the American Revolution, but did she sew the first flag? Infographics, leveled text, and primary sources help readers follow the fact and fiction found in this tale of stars and stripes.

Far in the future, Earth’s oceans have risen. Coastlines have changed to create new islands far from shore. Even worse, Earth has been invaded by aliens known as the Hunters. They are masters of camouflage and enjoy hunting down humans and other creatures for sport. On the island of Humanhattan, one family is ready to make the dangerous trip to the safety of the government Fortress. But when Rio and his friend, Ani, are separated from their parents, they have to rely on their wits and quic...

The Iroquois Confederacy served as model for the founding fathers who wrote the U.S. Constitution. The Iroquois today continue their proud tradition of representative democracy as they thrive in modern America.

The Trail of Tears marked the low point in Cherokee history. The survivors of that deadly event set a new course, rebuilding their lives in an unfamiliar land. Their descendants have prospered in modern America but always remember their culture and past.

Imagine traveling a river through time. You float by Native Americans trapping beaver and pass boats full of European settlers. You spy waterwheels turning and factories buzzing with activity. Finally modern cities crowd the banks. Dive into this book, and learn about the changing lives of people in the Hudson River Valley.

Deeply religious, the ancient Greeks honored many gods and goddesses. The ancient Greeks believed these gods and goddesses had great power over the weather and the Earth. But they weren’t all-powerful, and they had flaws. From Zeus to Athena, read about the family of gods and goddesses that the ancient Greeks believed watched over them.

On the planet Terranu, two families have established a research base to look for extraterrestrial life. One day four young friends spot a watery tentacle slither out of the nearby river... and a pair of eyes watching from across the water! Soon the two families meet the planet's natives, but they aren't pleased by the humans' presence. The aliens challenge them to a contest. If the humans win, they can stay on Terranu. But if they lose, they must leave immediately. It's up to the young fri...