Girls like Raye Montague weren’t supposed to like math or science, or go to engineering school. But tenacious Raye had a plan, one that eventually took her all the way to the US Navy. There, she was assigned an impossible task: to come up with a single computer program that could design every part of a ship. It had never been done before—but Raye’s groundbreaking program revolutionized the way ships and submarines were built, and set her on a path to become a pioneering figure in naval engineering and the navy’s first female program manager of ships.
Award-winning author Jennifer Swanson and acclaimed illustrator Veronica Miller Jamison celebrate a self-made engineer who worked around anyone and anything that stood in her way in this illuminating biography about never giving up on your dreams.
After local fishers noticed a large swarm of fish in an unlikely area in the Gulf of Mexico, a team of divers found the remains of a forest deep beneath the waves. The ancient trees had been undisturbed for more than fifty thousand years before finally being uncovered by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Acclaimed science writer Jennifer Swanson brings readers along with a group of scientists as they work to explore and map the site, collect samples of cypress wood, and learn about the marine creatures that live here―namely, shipworms. Page Plus links lead to videos of the scientists at work.
“Features photographs of the dives to the forest and the surrounding ecosystem. Scientific processes are explained and illustrated, and several at-home experiments are provided.”—School Library Journal
“This book details the fascinating story of the dedicated scuba divers and their work to locate and preserve the area. No one has ever found such a unique habitat, and hopefully, no one will be able to disturb it as scientists work to keep it safe. Readers who enjoy earthly mysteries will enjoy this title. Reviewer Rating: 5”—Children’s Literature
“Swanson, who shadowed the scientists, documents their methods and discoveries in an appealing narrative, complemented by photos of the scientists in action. In the process, readers learn such amazing details as the dangers of diving, organizing experiments, gene sequencing, and finding new species.”—Booklist
A whistle-stop tour of the most amazing features and places on planet Earth, illustrated with LEGO models, including tips for budding LEGO builders
Explore our amazing planet – and learn to build the most incredible things on Earth!
There is so much to see on planet Earth. From the rainforest canopy to the deepest depths of the Pacific Ocean, discover plants, animals, and the geological features that make up our planet. Travel the continents and look inside volcanoes, mountains, geysers, and much more. Visit the Amazon, check out the world’s tallest waterfall, and explore the most incredible places on the planet without leaving home. With more than 100 LEGO models to inspire you, what on Earth will you build?
Have you ever wondered how astronauts stay healthy in space? What if an astronaut gets sick on the space station? Does snot run in space? This fascinating photo-illustrated look at space and medicine explores how scientists and physicians study astronauts in space, how they help keep them safe, and what we’ve learned about the human body through space exploration. Questions from real kids and answers form from astronauts, along with photos from NASA, combine for an out-of-this-world exploration of health.
Every footprint―from the physical to the digital and the permanent to the fleeting―leaves a mark on Earth telling a story of the past, the present, or the future. What type of imprint will YOU leave?
Journey around the world and experience through these vivid photographs how every being on the planet leaves an imprint, with their feet, their words, their actions. Whether human or animal, voices or activity, each mark has a purpose. To remind us of our history, give us a glimpse of our future, and maybe even inspire us to change the world.
Perfect for the aspiring STEM activist in your life– those who want to change the world!
“An excellent choice for nature-loving elementary readers.”– Kirkus (click here for full review)
“ A fascinating intersection between your average animal footprints title and books for kids with a wider environmental focus.” — Betsy Bird, Fuse 8 Production, SLJ
“More so than most books about intention, personal impact, choice, and consequences, Footprints Across the Planet presents a powerful display that will reach a wide age group (including adults) with a strong message of empowerment and positivity.
If only one children’s book were to be chosen on these topics, Footprints Across the Planet should be at the very top of such a list. Its opportunities for not only personal enlightenment but discussion between youths and adults who read along are boundless, as is the enthusiasm with which it is written and the obvious care taken to choose only the most powerful striking imagery to highlight its important message.
Libraries and individuals who choose Footprints Across the Planet will find it rich in thought-provoking opportunities and rich rewards for the effort of imbibing.” — Midwest Book Review (click HERE to read full review)
“Footprints Across the Planet is a masterful introduction to the concepts of sustainability and inclusivity that even the youngest readers can understand and enjoy.” —The Children’s Book Review
“”A beautiful poem about the footprints we leave across the planet – both physically and metaphorically. With poetic lines, Swanson leaves us with some big ideas about the footprints we leave all around us… Whether you share this book around Earth Day or at any point in the year, it’s a great springboard for talking about the environment.” –Michele Knott, librarian/educator
“A fascinating, lyrical look at footprints of all kinds that will inspire young readers to consider the marks they want to make on the world.” — Rajani LaRocca, Newbery-Winning Author
“Whether big or small, each of us is responsible for leaving a positive footprint on our planet. We can all do our part to create a more sustainable future through simple everyday habits and actions. “Footprints Across the Planet” thoughtfully tackles the very big job of teaching the next generation to love, nurture and explore our oceans and lands and the life teeming within them. Through the book, Jennifer Swanson is leaving her own mark on the world that will last for years to come, inspiring young children to adopt a strong sense of self-awareness when it comes to their personal impact on the world around them.”
— Fabien Cousteau, Aquanaut, Explorer and Founder, Executive and Board Member at Proteus Ocean Group Ltd.
“This beauty of a book by Jennifer Swanson (Reycraft Books) is all about animal feet and the footprints they — and we humans — leave on our planet. Gorgeous photographs. Classic writing. You and your kids will be riveted.”
— Pat Zietlow Miller, NY Times Best-selling author ofBE KIND
“Footprints Across the Planet is powerful and reminds us that all our actions have a reaction. Swanson, an award-winning author
and STEM/STEAM advocate leaves us with this final question: What type of mark will you leave behind?”
— Louise Capizzo, librarian, The Nonfiction Detectives blog
Make every day an adventure with the included:
– Immersive activities to get you exploring
– Write-in sections to journal about experiences
– Next-level adventures to challenge even seasoned nature lovers
No experience is required–only curiosity and courage. This interactive field guide to rocks, fossils & shells includes:
– Digging, chiseling, hammering, and wading for rocks and minerals
– Identifying rocks & minerals by location, texture, color, shape, and size
– Determining between rocks, geodes, and space rocks
– Finding fossils and setting up a dig site
– Searching and snorkeling for shells
– Storing and displaying your collection
And so much more!
The Secret Science of Sports: The Math, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering Behind Every Grand Slam, Triple Axel, and Penalty Kick
Why does a football spiral? How do some athletes jump so high? The answer is science! The Secret Science of Sports helps kids better understand concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math through the sports they love to play and watch.
Every sport — from baseball to basketball, to football and soccer, to wrestling, tennis, and lacrosse — involves a bit of science, technology, engineering, and math. You can’t throw a ball without Newton’s Law of Motion, and you can’t calculate a player’s stats without math. And every type of sports equipment — a helmet, cleats, shoulder or knee pads — were designed with the latest engineering and technology.
The Secret Science of Sports breaks down normally difficult STEM concepts like forces of motion, gravity, algebra, and even neuroscience, in a language kids can — and will want to — understand. Divided into sections like chemistry, biology, physics, technology, and more, this handy guide uses examples from sports like soccer, baseball, softball, football, hockey, lacrosse, tennis, and others to explain important STEM concepts for kids ages 8 to 12. They’ll learn how to use math to calculate a batter’s average, why a tennis racket is shaped the way it is, how biology affects athletic performance, the aerodynamics behind competitive swimsuits, and much more. With dozens of original, captivating illustrations to engage young readers, kids will have fun while learning about key STEM ideas that will prepare them for years of schooling to come.
The Big Fat Notebooks are going to high school! Published just four years ago, the Big Fat Notebooks—with nearly 4.6 million copies in print and sales escalating every year—revolutionized the study guide for middle schoolers. Now this lifesaving series is ready to graduate. Announcing the first two titles for high school students: Everything You Need to Ace Geometry in One Big Fat Notebook and Everything You Need to Ace Chemistry in One Big Fat Notebook. Designed as the natural next step for the savvy students (and stressed parents) who made Math (over 1 million copies in print) and Science (over 1 million copies in print) the bestselling titles in the middle school series, these books offer a world of help for two of the tougher classes facing most high school sophomores, geometry and chemistry.
Using the same formula that made the middle school series so successful, these new high school titles tackle difficult subjects in a lively, memorable, intuitive way. Critical ideas are broken down and clearly explained. Doodles illuminate tricky concepts. There are mnemonics for memorable shortcuts, and quizzes to recap it all.
Chemistry is one of the most feared subjects in high school, but fortunately National Science Teacher Award-winner Jennifer Swanson is here to break down this daunting subject into accessible and memorable units, from how to conduct an experiment to the Laws of Thermodynamics.
Big Fat Notebooks are already helping millions of middle school students. Now high schoolers will enjoy and benefit from this kind of brilliant help—a set of notes, as if from the smartest kid in class, to help them study throughout the year, get ready for challenging exams, and know they have a source to turn to when they need to catch up on missed problems or understand the most difficult or confusing concepts.
Series: Big Fat Notebooks
Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (September 1, 2020)
Featured in Disney’s Summer Reading List!
Discover how the natural world inspires innovation in science and technology to create the latest and greatest breakthroughs and discoveries in this exciting book.
Did you know that scientists have developed a bionic tool shaped like an elephant’s trunk that helps lift heavy objects? Or that the needle-like pointed beak of the kingfisher bird encouraged engineers in Japan to change the design of the Shinkansen “bullet trains” to reduce noise? Across multiple fields of study and methods of problem-solving, scientists are turning to biomimicry, or engineering inspired by biology or nature, to make all kinds of cool technological advancements. From robots that protect people and gather information to everyday inventions, like reflectors on the roads and ice-proof coatings for airplanes, to new sources of renewable energy, this book dives into the ways that nature can give us ideas on how to improve our world.
Age Range: 7 – 10 years
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (June 23, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 142633673X
ISBN-13: 978-1426336737
In the late 1930s, times were desperate. The world found itself at war again, less than twenty years after the first World War had ended. No one could quite believe it. And no one wanted it. The leaders of every country involved were left with no choice. They had to try to end the war as fast as possible, using whatever means they could.
That meant coming up with secret operations meant to deceive, deflect, and confuse their enemies. Poison the cattle that the Germans eat? Deliberately float a corpse dressed up as a spy across the water to have it wash up on Germany’s shore? Create a unit of top secret commandos with a license to kill? These were all real tactics attempted with the ultimate goal of defeating Hitler. In this off-center look at history, readers will be captivated by the classified and covert efforts made by each side as they tried to gain the upper hand and win the war. Restricted access is lifted to give the reader a peek into the top secret operations of the daring men and women who fought the war under a cloak of secrecy.
Age Range: 9 – 11 years
Grade Level: 5 – 9
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books (November 26, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1681197790
ISBN-13: 978-1681197791
This entertaining book navigates readers through the history of car production and offers a front‐seat view of the science and engineering that makes the world’s most important vehicle safe for us to drive.
Cars take us to work. To school. To soccer practice. To the grocery store and home again. Can you imagine a world without them? It’s not easy! One of the reasons we can use cars so much in our everyday lives is because they are safe to drive. But that hasn’t always been the case. If it weren’t for the experiments conducted over decades that involved all kinds of crash test volunteers―dead, alive, animal, or automated―cars as we know them might not be around. And then how would you get to school?
Filled with fun four‐wheeled nuggets of history and explanations of how cars actually work, this nonfiction book from former science educator and award-winning author Jennifer Swanson will appeal to lovers of all things that go and readers who are interested in getting in under the hood and seeing how things work.
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Lexile Measure: 920L
Hardcover: 104 pages
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company (October 1, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1682630226
ISBN-13: 978-1682630228
Educators’ Guide
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How did car designers decide that drivers needed mirrors? How did they figure out brakes that wouldn’t make the car skid when the driver hit them? Why did they decide we needed seatbelts to keep us inside the car during a crash, instead of an “eject” button that would push us outside during the accident? With the help of crash-test dummies! This book introduces readers to the engineers’ important helpers: Hybrid III, an average-middle-aged-male-shaped dummy, and his many family members, who include adult-woman-shaped dummies, child-sized dummies, pet-sized dummies, older-adult-shaped dummies, and larger-sized relatives). When engineers want to test a car safety feature, these dummies patiently undergo front crashes, side crashes, and rear-end crashes, and are subsequently examined to see where their paint has been “bruised” and their internal wiring has been damaged. With the help of crash-test dummies, engineers have learned not only what makes cars safer, but also what does not (like “eject” buttons, for example, and also nets for scooping up pedestrians).
This book brilliantly combines history, physics, and design. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of car safety—bumpers, brakes, seatbelts, and so forth—and chronicles its design history, explaining early ideas and tracing how various approaches were either developed or abandoned. The result is both funny and compelling. Swanson treats each design idea with respect, considering the logic behind the ideas that readers might otherwise be inclined to laugh off (like the pedestrian net that would scoop unwary walkers to safety); in the process, she emphasizes the importance of learning from failure. Grooms’s illustrations and diagrams add both humor and clarity to the physics concepts. By using the framework of the work performed by crash-test dummies, Swanson and Grooms also smoothly highlight the importance of paying attention to gender, age, and size in experimental science. This excellent STEM book will appeal to a wide range of readers, whether or not they are already interested in engineering.
Getting from one place to another sounds easy if you are on a straight piece of land, but what if you have to get over―or under―a body of water or a deep gorge? Build a bridge! Bridges are the great connectors. They allow us to travel the twists and turns, highs and lows, ins and out of every geographic feature in our world. Explore Bridges! With 25 Great Projects introduces readers ages 7 to 10 to the concepts and vocabulary of bridge construction through the lenses of history, science, engineering, math, and technology.
From the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the Tower Bridge in London, bridges are a huge part of our life. But how are these amazing structures built? What forces keep it standing? What might cause it to fall down? And who decides which type of bridge to use? In Explore Bridges, readers discover how these extraordinary feats of engineering are created, and apply what they have learned to hands-on, critical-thinking activities that include building different types of bridges, such as truss, cantilever, and suspension bridges, out of different materials and modeling different types of supports. They examine the natural forces that affect structure selection and appearance, and also learn about the types of support required for each. Trivia, cartoon illustrations, links to online videos and other sources, and clear diagrams round out this book and make it fun and interesting for class discussions.
Age Range: 7 – 10 years
Grade Level: 3 – 4
Series: Explore Your World
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Nomad Press (November 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1619305879
ISBN-13: 978-1619305878
Discover the stories of the real people and events that shaped American history in the Real Stories From My Time series. Perfect for book reports with full-page illustrations throughout, these nonfiction chapter books also include historical photos, maps, a timeline, a glossary, and a bibliography at the back. Plus, in each book, an American Girl historical character shares a bit of her own fictional story.
Pearl Harbor features real stories of that fateful Sunday morning in 1941 when Japanese planes executed a surprise attack on the American base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. American Girl Nanea Mitchell shares her own experiences adjusting to the drastic changes to everyday life in Hawaii following the attack.
Age Range: 7 – 10 years
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Series: American Girl: Real Stories From My Time (Book 4)
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (June 26, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 133814894X
ISBN-13: 978-1338148947
Kids who have a laser focus on dolphins will learn everything they’ve ever wanted to know about them in an eye-catching, page-turning book for aspiring experts, featuring exclusive content from a National Geographic explorer currently in the field.
Hey, dolphin fin-atics! Get ready to dive into the world of your favorite fabulous marine mammals in this action-packed book chock-full of awesome facts, photos, and fun! Join National Geographic explorer and dolphin expert Justine Jackson-Ricketts to get the latest, most up-to-date dolphin intel straight from the field, plus fun facts, in-depth info, and awesome trivia about every kind of dolphin under the sun (and beneath the waves). It’s the ultimate book to help YOU become an absolute expert on one of your favorite topics.
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Series: Absolute Expert
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (May 29, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426330103
ISBN-13: 978-1426330100
Space and the ocean. If you don’t think they go together, think again! Both deep-sea and space explorers have to worry about pressure, temperature, climate, and most importantly, how to survive in a remote and hostile environment. Join us on an amazing journey as we go up in space with astronauts and dive deep down in the ocean with aquanauts to explore the far-off places of our planet and the solar system.
With a strong tie into STEM topics–such as making connections, making comparisons, and recognizing patterns across content areas–readers will discover the amazing science and incredible innovations that allow humans (and sometimes only machines) to survive in these harsh environments.
2019 Winner of Best STEM Books List by National Science Teachers Association.
Series: National Geographic Kids
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (January 9, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426328672
ISBN-13: 978-1426328671
Astronaut/Aquanaut is a challenging book to read. There is a great deal of information packed into each page. Yet it is compelling. I believe that there are plenty of intelligent, ambitious kids out there who dream of exploration and will savor every word of this book.
Ms Swanson is one of THE best speakers we have ever hosted. Her content (Astronauts) was the perfect tie in to our Right to Read Week. The manner in which she actively engaged our LARGE student population was amazing. As a principal, I have booked many speakers for our students who are very knowledgeable about their content; but can not command the attention of 200 1st graders for 45 minutes. Ms Swanson has both of those abilities. She spoke to our entire student body, 1200 students, in groups of 200 and was able to touch on areas with each group that was relevant to their science curriculum. You would be remiss if you did not consider having Jennifer Swanson participate in your event.
Have you ever tried to come up with ways to solve a problem in your community? Wangari Maathai worked to solve an environmental crisis and help people at the same time.
When Maathai was young, it was unusual for girls in Kenya to go to school, but she was determined to learn more about science and nature. As an adult, she noticed that people were cutting down too many trees. Maathai knew that forest loss was bad for the health of the environment and people. She started the Green Belt Movement, which educated women in rural villages and paid them for every tree they planted. The program helped plant millions of trees and brought money to the villages. For her environmental and human rights work, Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Age Range: 7 – 11 years
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Lexile Measure: 880
Series: STEM Trailblazer Bios
Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Lerner Pub Group (January 1, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 151249982X
ISBN-13: 978-1512499827
“Most scientists agree that Earth is warming rapidly. Glaciers are melting and rising seawaters are submerging islands and coastal cities. In the coming decades, millions will likely have to escape extreme weather caused by climate change.
Some scientists say we need to act faster and with radical new technologies—now—to save our planet. They propose geoengineering, or “”engineering Earth,”” to reset our global thermostat. Ideas include thickening clouds with chemicals to reduce the amount of sunlight and pulling carbon dioxide from the air with machines. However, critics say that geoengineering could backfire and create even worse weather. Is geoengineering too risky? Or is it our best hope of survival?”
2018 Green Earth Book Award Honors
Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books (August 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1512415693
ISBN-13: 978-1512415698
Love to work with animals? Zoology is the study of everything having to do with animals, including how and why they look, act, and behave in their environments and with other animals. As a zoologist, you might study how elephants solve problems or take care of tigers at a zoo.
Zoology: Cool Women Who Work With Animals introduces readers to three women in the field of zoology who are making an impact and inspiring the next generation of zoologists. Emily Kim is a graduate student in Canada studying different species of birds. Elise Newman works as a zookeeper at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Dr. Erin Seney is a sea turtle researcher with the University of Central Florida.
Age Range: 9 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Series: Girls in Science
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Nomad Press (April 11, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1619305054
ISBN-13: 978-1619305052
Take to the skies with Planetary Geologist Dr. E and her robot sidekick, Rover, to explore the solar system’s wildest, most astronomical geology–with comic book flair!
This stellar book introduces kids to outer space through in-depth info and comic book adventure. Along the way, kids follow explorer Bethany Ehlmann, a member of the NASA Mars Rover Curiosity mission, and her lovable robo-dog, Rover, as they study and protect our amazing solar system. Dr. E’s conversational and funny explanations of the solar system and planetary geology will pull kids in like gravity. The pairing of fun, graphic novel side stories with science facts makes big concepts accessible and interesting to boys and girls of all levels, from STEM science fans to reluctant readers alike.
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (January 16, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426327986
ISBN-13: 978-1426327988
Feeling inventive? Get ready to bust boredom with simple experiments! You can learn how to create lightning bolts, build a catapult and much more. With clear instructions and helpful photos, Busting Boredom with Experiments has never been more fun.
When Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, he needed a team to survey that vast, unknown expanse of land. He chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Together, they led the Corps of Discovery, a team of intrepid explorers across a wild, dangerous country. Readers will understand the impact Lewis and Clark’s expedition had on American history in this detailed account. Follow their journey across roaring rivers, vast plains, and untrod paths, and learn about the Native Americans they met, the fierce wildlife that threatened their lives, and the hunger, sickness, and injury that dogged them from start to finish.
Series: Spotlight on Explorers and Colonization
Library Binding: 48 pages
Publisher: Rosen Young Adult (January 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1508172404
ISBN-13: 978-1508172406
As spectacular as its creation was, the fall of the Mongol Empire was just as remarkable. Its descent into chaos was signaled by inter-family rebellion across the four khanates established by Genghis Khan. As weaker Mongol leaders struggled to retain control, drought, flood, famine, and the bubonic plague eventually contributed to the collapse of each khanate. As this volume amply demonstrates, though the Mongols were fierce warriors, their legacy also includes a culture of honor and discipline, centralized government structure, trade promotion and communication routes, and religious tolerance, all of which helped spread wealth, information, and technology across two continents.
Series: The Mongols
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Rosen Young Adult; Reprint edition (August 15, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 149946374X
ISBN-13: 978-1499463743
At its greatest extent in the 13th and 14th centuries, the Mongol Empire stretched from northeastern Europe to northern China and the Pacific, and this well-written set covers its entire history, from founding to expansion and enormous influence to decline... The Mongol empire is an often overlooked part of history, and this set gives it the attention it deserves. VERDICT A first purchase for middle school and early high school students.
Everything moves! Kids run around the playground, cars drive on the road, and balls fly through the air. What causes all this motion? Physics! Forces and motion rule the way everything moves through space.
In Explore Forces and Motion! With 25 Great Projects, readers ages 7 through 10 discover that the push and pull of every object on the planet and in space depends on how a force acts upon it. Things float because of a force called buoyancy, we stick to the ground because of a force called gravity, and we make footprints in sand because of a force called pressure.
Physics becomes accessible and interactive through activities such as a experimenting with a water cup drop, building a bridge, and spotting magnetic field lines. Simple machines such as levers, pulleys, and wedges are used as vehicles for discovery and comprehension of the foundational concepts of physical science. Using a theme familiar to everyone—motion—this book captures the imagination and encourages young readers to push, pull, twist, turn, and spin their way to learning about forces and motion.
Age Range: 7 – 10 years
Grade Level: 1 – 5
Series: Explore Your World
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Nomad Press (June 14, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1619303558
ISBN-13: 978-1619303553
Physics is fun with this colorful and informative book for students ages 7–10.Using the theme of motion, the book encourages readers to push, pull, spin, twist, and turn their way to learning basic concepts of force and motion. There are ample activities and projects throughout the book that provide the reader with ways to explore forces and motion and learn basic concepts while having loads of fun. Students will enjoy the fun graphics in the book. This book would be excellent as a textbook for young readers.
Listed as one of the 2016 Best STEM Book by the National Science Teachers Association.
Cutting-edge science; high-performance sports
How are the sports played by Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Michelle Wie, and Usain Bolt related? Nanotechnology!
Take a close-up look at sports and nanotechnology, the cutting-edge science that manipulates objects at the atomic level. Nanotechnology is used to create high-tech swimsuits, tennis rackets, golf clubs, running shoes, and more. It is changing the face of sports as we know it.
A highly engaging introduction to an exciting aspect of cutting-edge, real-world science for STEM collections.
School Library Journal
May 2016June 22, 2016
Colorfully illustrated by photos, this book introduces “the science of the very small” as applied to sports equipment and clothing… An up-to-date look at the intersection of technology and sports.
-- Booklist
May 2016June 22, 2016
Selected as 1 of 12 Books to Jump-Start Your Summer by the International Literacy Association (May 2016)
June 22, 2016
This reader-friendly introduction to nanotechnology breaks down the science and describes the processes of nano-manufacturing in a clear and understandable way. Packed with photographs, diagrams, and text boxes, this book will appeal to athletes and sports enthusiasts—and the curious.
-- ILA
May 2016June 22, 2016
2016 Best STEM Book Award by the National Science Teachers Association
Best STEM Books is a joint project of several organizations: the American Society for Engineering Education, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, the National Science Teachers Association, the Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees, and the Children’s Book Council (ASEE, ITEEA, NSTA, SEPA, and CBC). The list provides knowledgeable recommendations to educators, librarians, parents, and caregivers about the best trade
books with STEM content.
December 8, 2016
Swanson is splendid at explaining how nanotechnology works, and boxed asides help readers conduct experiments on drag, surface area, and such.
They fix spacecraft, dance, tell jokes, and even clean your carpet! From the tiniest robo-bees to gigantic factory machines, robotics is all around you. This technology isn’t just for science-fiction anymore — it’s real and more relevant than ever. With stunning visuals and energetic, impactful design, readers won’t stop until they’ve learned everything there is to know about robotics.
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Series: National Geographic Kids Everything
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (March 8, 2016)
ISBN-10: 142632331X
ISBN-13: 978-1426323317
REVIEWS:
These titles are designed for casual browsers and more serious readers alike. The four chapters, introduction, and afterword offer a planned route through these ambitious overviews, while the mini-bites of information keep them friendly.VERDICT These resources present accessible fun; both will find eager audiences.
School Library Journal
April 2016June 22, 2016
This book is chock full of text and visual information about robotics. It will take readers days and many close re-readings to digest all the information provided about the history of robotics, the influences of robotics on facets of our lives, and how to get involved with robotics challenges.
QUICK: Name the most powerful and complex supercomputer ever built. Give up? Here’s a hint: It’s housed in your head and it’s the one thing that makes you YOU. Your brain is mission control for the rest of your body and steers you through life. Not bad for something the size of a softball that looks like a wrinkled grey sponge!
In this fascinating, interactive book — a companion to the National Geographic Channel hit show – kids explore the parts of the brain and how it all works, brainy news nuggets from a neuroscientist, plus fun facts and crazy challenges.
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Paperback: 112 pages
ISBN-10: 1426320701
ISBN-13: 978-1426320705
Brainy books aren’t for everyone, but if you’re one of those who love everything “brain” including how your brain works, how it perceives and relays those perceptions to you, and how—in many ways—it works you like a puppet on a string, there’s a new picture book just for you. It is National Geographic Kids’ Brain Games: The Mind-Blowing Science of Your Amazing Brain, by Jennifer Swanson, and for lack of a better word . . . it’s amazing! See More
Rita Lorraine Hubbard, New York Journal of Books
October 6, 2015
Each year 12,500 school children ages 5–12 from different regions of the United States read newly published children’s and young adults’ trade books and vote for the ones they like best. These Children’s Choices, selected from more than 900 titles, can be counted on as books children really enjoy reading.
June 22, 2016
This colorful book is full of cool optical illusions, memory tests, and pattern finding challenges paired with clear and energetic explanations of the neuroscience behind them. Swanson’s Brain Games is a fun and informative read that will propel kids to explore their own brain power.
Mary Kay Carson, author of five books in the Scientists in the Field series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
GR 8 & UP — As the world becomes increasingly more tech-based, students and consumers must learn how to operate efficiently and effectively within that framework. In order to help readers become well informed, this series discusses the benefits and drawbacks of several technological advances that are permeating education and industry today, as well as ones that teens may or may not already be using in their daily lives. The books are well structured and clearly written, but the text can be extremely detailed and dense. A background in technology isn’t an absolute requirement, but these books are not for total Luddites: teens need to have some awareness of context and terms. (A glossary does help with this.)VERDICT Considering the rapid evolution of tech, educators may wonder how relevant this set will be in a few years, but readers will most likely take an interest in certain topics and can certainly benefit from learning more. – School Library Journal
Series: Digital and Information Literacy
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Rosen Young Adult (January 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1477779396
ISBN-13: 978-1477779392
Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.2 inches
REVIEWS:
GR 8 UP—As the world becomes increasingly more tech-based, students and consumers must learn how to operate efficiently and effectively within that framework. In order to help readers become well informed, this series discusses the benefits and drawbacks of several technological advances that are permeating education and industry today, as well as ones that teens may or may not already be using in their daily lives. The books are well structured and clearly written, but the text can be extremely detailed and dense. A background in technology isn't an absolute requirement, but these books are not for total Luddites: teens need to have some awareness of context and terms. (A glossary does help with this.)VERDICT Considering the rapid evolution of tech, educators may wonder how relevant this set will be in a few years, but readers will most likely take an interest in certain topics and can certainly benefit from learning more.
School Library Journal - Reviewed on APRIL 1, 2015 | Series Made Simple
Engineers design our modern world. They combine science and technology to create incredible vehicles, structures, and objects. This title examines amazing feats of electrical engineering. Engaging text explores the global positioning system, solar power plants, and self-driving cars. It also examines the engineers who made these projects a reality and traces the history of the discipline. Relevant sidebars, stunning photos, and a glossary aid readers’ understanding of the topic. A hands-on project and career-planning chart give readers a sense of what it takes to become an engineer. Additional features include a table of contents, a selected bibliography, source notes, and an index, plus essential facts about each featured feat of engineering. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Series: Great Achievements in Engineering
Library Binding: 112 pages
Publisher: Essential Library (September 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1624034284
ISBN-13: 978-1624034282
Library Binding
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