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...

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.

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.

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.

The Maya civilization thrived in southeastern Mexico and northern Central America for thousands of years. Its culture was known for its impressive stone buildings and pyramid temples, as well as developments in astronomy and mathematics. But what was it like to live there during the height of this civilization? Explore life in a farming village that faces a devastating volcanic eruption. Assume power in a city-state at risk of plunging into war with a rival community. Work as a scribe duri...

Scientists have recently started studying plastic pollution and our food supply. And, make no mistake, you are eating microscopic pieces of plastic everyday. What does it mean for our health? And what can you do about it? Students will get practical tips on how they can get involved and become part of the solution.

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...

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...

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.

The final match of the 2001 U.S. Open featuring tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams was groundbreaking. It was first time siblings had squared off in the final match for more than 100 years. And it was the first time both players were black. The photo of the smiling Williams sisters holding their trophies after the tennis match appeared in newspapers around the globe. It captured two athletes who fought, and would continue to fight, for a place for women and African-Americans in tennis ...

Weighing as much as a small car, a rover named Curiosity rolls quietly around Mars. Scientific instruments pack its body and cluster at the end of a mechanical arm. An arrangement of lenses and instruments tops its mast, like a face. To the many NASA workers involved in Curiosity's mission on Mars, the rover is not simply a robot, but an astronaut bravely exploring an alien place. Curiosity's instruments collect data and its cameras take images of the Mars landscape, including self-portrai...