Author: Janey Levy

Bugs vastly outnumber people on Earth. Unlike people, there are many different species of insects, arachnids, flies, and other tiny creatures. It’s easy to appreciate these differences and the intere …

People who trekked out to California after learning gold had been found didn’t often strike it rich. Instead, they were greeted with poor living conditions, bad food, and lots of time to sift through …

The Magna Carta was an astonishing document in its time. As the first document to limit the power of the British monarchy, it also protected the rights of the individual. The Magna Carta’s impact rev …

Australia, or the "Land Down Under, " is an exotic place. Thousands of plants and animals can be found only on this continent, and its famous Outback is so hot and dry that almost no one li …

This book teaches students how to analyze patterns though cryptography. Illustrates and explains how use a cipher to encrypt and decrypt simple substitution ciphers, poly-alphabetic ciphers and trans …

Krypton (Kr), a noble gas, is sometimes known as the hidden gas because it was so hard to isolate from the air. Scientists, however, have discovered that krypton is useful in many ways. It is used in …

Hurricanes are some of nature’s most powerful disasters. Readers will learn how they form along with specific examples of hurricanes throughout history. …

Volcanoes are present throughout the world. When they erupt, they are extremely destructive. This book focuses on what causes an eruption and features examples of some of history’s worst volcanic eru …

Floods can destroy everything in their path. Readers will learn more about this very common and horrible force of nature, including some of the worst floods in history. …

Women in Great Britain used make-up containing tin to get a pale look that was fashionable in the time of the ancient Roman Empire. An illness called tin disease was caused by church organ pipes duri …

Remember the Alamo! is a battle cry known by many to represent true bravery against terrible odds. But how much do we really know about this epic battle in the Texas Revolution? This fact-filled book …

Readers learn how the environment of a rain forest ecosystem provides a unique home for many interesting plants and animals. …

This book introduces readers to William Penn, the founder of the colony of Pennsylvania and advocate for democracy and religious freedom. Readers learn how Penn’s beliefs and actions influenced our f …

Journeying back to a time before Europeans set foot in North America, readers meet the colorful Native American groups that once called Texas home. The tribes addressed include the Caddo, Hasinai, Ka …

If we could take a trip to the center of the Earth, what would we find? In this amazing book readers can do just that with the help of a special ship that can handle the extreme heat and pressure dee …

When archaeologist Howard Carter saw gold gleaming in a dark chamber he excavated in Egypt in 1922, he knew he had found the pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb. People around the world eagerly read newspaper …

Once John White stepped onto Roanoke Island in 1590, he discovered the English colony he had helped found 3 years earlier completely abandoned. Only two clues hinted at what might have happened. &quo …

During the Middle Ages, women often did backbreaking work. Whether they were weaving their own cloth to make clothing or helping their husbands in the fields, medieval women worked hard-and so, often …

In AD 79, the residents of the booming Roman city of Pompeii were shocked when a nearby mountain exploded, releasing superhot ash, rock, and gas on the surrounding areas. What happens next is the ext …

The plague, aptly known as the Black Death, swept through Europe in the 1300s, killing more than 20 million people. Not only deadly but incredibly painful, the disease was characterized by black boil …

In AD 79, the residents of the booming Roman city of Pompeii were shocked when a nearby mountain exploded, releasing superhot ash, rock, and gas on the surrounding areas. What happens next is the ext …

The plague, aptly known as the Black Death, swept through Europe in the 1300s, killing more than 20 million people. Not only deadly but incredibly painful, the disease was characterized by black boil …

Who were the earliest Americans? When, how, and from where did they enter and spread across the continent? And what is their relationship to modern Native Americans? Anthropologists develop theories …

Mount Vernon, George Washington’s residence, holds a special place in US history and in the hearts of many Americans. But its history of slavery has remained largely hidden until recently. That’s bec …

Mount Vernon, which was George Washington’s residence, holds a special place in American history and in the hearts of many Americans. Its history of slavery has remained largely hidden until recently …

Who were the earliest Americans? When, how, and from where did they enter and spread across the continent? What is their relationship to modern Native Americans? Anthropologists develop theories to a …

The rallying cry "Remember the Alamo" is famous, but how much does the average person actually know about the Texas mission and the 1836 battle that took place there? This volume traces the …

Which president had the shortest term, and which was the first to be born in the United States? Which president was the tallest? Who was the shortest? These are just a few of the fun facts readers wi …

…

This book introduces students to various Islamic art creations, which are all rooted in the use of geometric patterning. Students will learn why symmetry and balance play an important role in Islamic …

…

Young explorers will learn to define the geography of the tropical savanna and locate where it occurs as they study the impact of weather and the wildlife that lives, grows and migrates there. …

Young explorers will learn to define the geography of wetlands and locate where they occur as they study the impact of weather on them and the wildlife that live, grow and migrate there. …

Young explorers will learn to define the geography of mountains and locate where they occur as they study the impact of weather on them and the wildlife that live, grow and migrate there. …

Young explorers will learn to define the geography of coral reefs and locate where they occur as they study the impact of weather on the reefs and the wildlife that live, grow and migrate there. …

This book presents background information, job descriptions, education plans, job search tips, and career advice for people interested in criminal profiling, explaining that a profiler analyzes a cri …

This volume provides a close-up look at the crisis in the western Sudan region of Darfur that has claimed 500, 000 lives and has left over two million people homeless. Violence is ongoing; the people …

This volume looks at tattooing today, and how this once traditional and cultural practice has become mainstream, both in the United States and worldwide. …

An earthquakes is one of nature’s most violent release of energy. Readers will learn what causes the earth to shake along with specific earthquakes in the past. …

Most tsunamis happen without us even knowing. Some, however, have caused destruction and devastation. Readers will learn about some of these horrific tsunamis in this captivating book. …

Fire is one of the most common forces of destruction. Some fires, though, have made history because of their immense damage. This book describes some of the worst fires in history. …

The gaseous element radon (Rn) gets attention largely because it’s radioactive. Radon is the heaviest and only radioactive member of the group of elements called the noble or inert gases. People have …

This simple-language reader introduces your budding historians to the stunning and striking art of the Pueblos. …

This fascinating paperback describes the construction and history of the Erie Canal. It uses the information to illustrate elementary division. Includes a scanned photocopy of a weekly toll collectio …

This trip through history examines how time has been measured, by such methods as observation of natural cycles and different kinds of clocks and watches. Includes illustrations and descriptions of v …

This book provides students with a foundational and concise history of architecture and goes on to highlight the concepts of parallel and perpendicular through focusing on the style of Frank Lloyd Wr …

Students will learn about one of the most amazing trade routes in human history. This book uses details about the Silk Road to explain how to use map scale to measure distances. It includes photograp …

Take readers on a journey to the great state of Michigan. Students learn that it has 40 major rivers and more than 35, 000 lakes and ponds. They also learn about the wild, cold land of the past and t …

Immigration, both legal and illegal, has been debated passionately for centuries. The terrorist attacks of September 11th focused more attention on illegal immigration, making the debate more highly …

By the time Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto arrived in Arkansas in 1541, the area was resplendent with the Native American culture of the Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw. The name "Arkansas" com …

Microbes are everywhere. They’re on Earth’s surface, in the oceans, and underground, and they’re even on every one of us. While some of them can make us sick, like viruses, they’re also incredibly he …

This intriguing narrative provides an overview of esophageal cancers. The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. The two main types of esophageal c …

It”s the day of the great picnic. Pat Piggle showed up, but who else did? What did they eat? What fun did they have? Readers find out in this fun fairy tale. Books of the Neighborhood Readers Progra …

Readers follow along as a young boy decides what he should wear for the day. He”s shown in all sorts of weather conditions, wearing very silly things that wouldn”t make sense, and then what would m …

Spanish readers learn all about Earth through the eyes of a friendly, four-eyed outer space visitor. Bright illustrations and relatable text will enrapture your readers while they and Edwin learn new …

Jenny visits the jungle, and learns all about the animals who live there. Books of the Neighborhood Readers Program build early literacy skills, introduce important content-area language, and help de …

A three-eyed, green skinned, hairless neighbor has moved into the neighborhood. Readers follow along as a young boy learns that his new neighbor is not so different after all. Books of the Neighborho …

Ben and Sue are no ordinary kids, they’re kids in outer space. Readers watch as they play a game of space ball. Books of the Neighborhood Readers Program build early literacy skills, introduce import …

Jenny visits the jungle, and learns all about the animals who live there. Books of the Neighborhood Readers Program build early literacy skills, introduce important content-area language, and help de …

It’s the day of the great picnic. Pat Piggle showed up, but who else did? What did they eat? What fun did they have? Readers find out in this fun fairy tale. Books of the Neighborhood Readers Program …

Edwin sees Earth in a different way than we do, through his four eyes. Readers follow along as he learns about our special activities as Earthlings. Books of the Neighborhood Readers Program build ea …

…

The Vikings were a fascinating group of adventurous sailors who explored over great distances. This book provides valuable historical background on Vikings while also integrating an important math le …

…

Young explorers will learn to define the geography of rain forests and locate where they occur as they study the impact of weather on them and the wildlife that live, grow and migrate there. …

Budding art enthusiasts will learn how to use perspective to represent three-dimensional objects. This guidebook illustrates the concepts of horizon and vanishing point through famous paintings of th …

Readers follow along as a young boy decides what he should wear for the day. He’s shown in all sorts of weather conditions, wearing very silly things that wouldn’t make sense, and then what would mak …

This book takes an in-depth look at the Spanish missions that once spanned the state of Texas. Some of the most striking buildings were erected and able to survive and thrive during the days of wild …

Hundreds of years ago, the Inca of South America created an influential and lasting culture. They constructed miles of highways and bridges. Perhaps most fascinating is the mountain city of Macchu Pi …

Jamestown Colony is often held up as a great achievement of colonization. It did help start the United States, after all! However, the truth of Jamestown’s beginnings is a less pleasant story of star …

If we could take a trip to the center of the Earth, what would we find? In this amazing book readers can do just that with the help of a special ship that can handle the extreme heat and pressure dee …

The native peoples of the northwest coast are often known by the totem poles they create. Made from cedar trees, totem poles were painted bright colors and featured both animal and human forms. Why t …

There are stories of meat-eating plants, but are they really true? Yes! Plants are just as freaky as animals in many ways. This book dives into jungles, forests, and fields all over the world that co …

The native peoples of the northwest coast are often known by the totem poles they create. Made from cedar trees, totem poles were painted bright colors and featured both animal and human forms. Why t …

Crime and punishment can be a complicated subject, but sometimes it gets downright strange. Robberies gone wrong and attempts to cash billion-dollar checks are just some of the wacky crimes covered i …

The journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark across the newly acquired Louisiana Territory from 1804 to 1806 was truly extraordinary. It’s best explained using the journals of these two explorer …

What drove the Maya economy? What kinds of goods did people create and trade? Readers gain insight into these questions and more as they explore ancient Maya economic systems. This book provides arch …

Feathers, beaks, and wings are unique to birds, but sometimes these features can be really strange. This narrative takes a look at the world’s oddest birds, including birds of paradise, frigate birds …

Some mammals are cute and cuddly, while others are really strange. This information-rich title explores some of the oddest mammals around, including the naked mole rat, tarsiers, platypuses, and more …

The environmental movement encompasses many issues, including pollution, conservation, climate change, and alternative energy. Environmentalists maintain that people are part of ecosystems and must a …

In this dynamic volume on a perpetually popular subject, budding paleontologists learn about a birdlike dinosaur in China, a fossilized dinosaur brain in England, and dinosaur feathers trapped in amb …

Giant wetas can’t jump, which is a good thing because they’re gigantic. This ancient animal is the heaviest insect ever found and can weigh as much as a mouse. Its name means ‘God of ugly things.’ Th …

Hippos and polar bears are both fairly large mammals that spend much of their time in water, but is that where their similarities end? Readers of this captivating book will find out the answer to tha …

Lions and Komodo dragons are both fierce carnivores, but pitted against each other, which would come out on top? The answer to that is up to the reader of this high-interest volume to decide. They’ll …

Fungi seem mysterious, they’re not animals and they’re not plants. Some aren’t even visible to the human eye. Yet, they’re constantly at work breaking down dead organisms. Our world would be cluttere …

Everyone knows George Washington was the first president of the young United States. Most also know that before he was president, Washington was the commander of the Continental army during the Ameri …

In 1992, Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to travel into space. This alone was a remarkable achievement, but Jemison accomplished so much more. She was a doctor, an engineer, a Pea …

The Human Genome Project was a groundbreaking, life-altering development of the late 20th century and a major evolution in science and medicine. Readers of this remarkable volume will follow the scie …

Disastrous consequences often follow the introduction of invasive plants species. The invasive species spread, altering habitats, driving out native plants and animals, and reducing biodiversity. But …

How do plants make new plants? They make seeds and they make sure their seeds reach places with good growing conditions. With this engaging book, readers will discover how seeds form, why they need t …

Plants grow in the ground, and their roots absorb from the soil the water and nutrients the plants need to grow, right? You’d be surprised. Some plants seem to possess secret powers. They don’t grow …

It’s something many Americans are certain is a solid fact: Columbus discovered America. While he is not with us to prove or disprove this fact, we now know that Columbus just wasn’t the guy. First, C …

All of us occupy a climate and deal with the effects of that climate on a daily basis. Most of the time we don’t think too much about it, other than deciding what to wear and maybe what to eat, but s …

Everyone’s had experience with diseases such as the common cold, but some diseases are deadly and they may kill quickly, in terrifying ways. Readers will learn about lethal diseases such as Ebola, ch …

Almost everyone has experienced a rainstorm or snowstorm at some time. They can be annoying or inconvenient. Sometimes, rain, snow, and wind produce storms that wreak havoc and turn deadly. Readers o …

Most of us enjoy watching colorful butterflies flutter about, but the world is full of less beautiful insects, and an alarming number of them are deadly. Readers of this absorbing book learn about so …

Who doesn’t enjoy a beautiful flower garden, an orchard filled with fruit trees, or a lush green forest? A surprising number of plants, even gorgeous and inviting ones, can be lethal. Readers of this …

Most people have some contact with small wild animals on a regular basis. Many people enjoy feeding wild birds and squirrels, but not all wild animals are friendly, and some are downright savage. Rea …

Animals are a familiar part of most people’s lives, from household pets to farm animals to backyard birds, but the animal world holds an enormous number of weird and freaky stories. This fascinating …

Many of the seals and sea lions that people are familiar with are appealing, cute animals, but no one is likely to use those words to describe male elephant seals. These enormous "elephants of t …

Many people enjoy feeding colorful wild birds or even keeping birds as pets, but some wild birds are strange-looking. Some people might even consider them ugly. The California condor, with its bald h …

Like humans, monkeys are primates and are often lively, engaging, and entertaining creatures. In their faces, we may often see some reflection of our own face. But the male proboscis monkey has a fac …

Even the warthog’s name suggests that it isn’t one of the world’s most beautiful creatures, and it’s true. They have large flat heads covered with warts, and sharp ominous tusks. Readers will learn i …

The animal world includes many beautiful, colorful, and majestic creatures, but some of nature’s creatures are strange-looking, even ugly to human eyes. The naked mole rat belongs to this group of an …

Aye-ayes belong to the animal group known as primates, which includes not only humans, but apes and monkeys. Aye-ayes lack the majesty of a gorilla or the cuteness of a monkey. Aye-ayes are so strang …

Many animals munch on the leaves of a tree for sustenance. However, the African acacia absolutely objects to being eaten. They’ve developed several clever ways to protect themselves, including thorns …

Banyan trees are fig trees that are often known by another name: strangler figs. There’s a good reason for that; the seeds land on other trees and sprout there, sending down roots that slowly strangl …

When we think of flowering plants, we generally imagine those with a pleasant fragrance that draw bees to pollinate them. Introduce your readers to the dragon arum, which is pollinated by flies that …

Trees are familiar and lovely signs of life for most people, including fruit trees, evergreens, and colorful maple trees in autumn. Sometimes they’re so ubiquitous, we don’t even notice them. Entice …

Few people would think of watering their garden or houseplants with salt water because it would be deadly, but mangroves are extraordinary plants that are able to thrive in salt water. Readers of thi …

Today, women can have careers in fields such as medicine, engineering, and politics, but it wasn’t always that way. Women couldn’t even vote when the United States was founded. Readers of this powerf …

The journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark across the newly acquired Louisiana Territory from 1804 to 1806 was truly extraordinary. It”s best explained using the journals of these two explore …

Grizzly bears are a powerful, intimidating subspecies of brown bear. Just how threatening humans find them is revealed by the final part of their scientific name: Ursus arctos horribilis. Though much …

Hippos are perhaps the most surprising animals in this set about voracious biters. They are, after all, herbivores, not carnivores or even omnivores. Their huge body and short, fat legs make them loo …

American crocodiles and American alligators are formidable, but neither holds a candle to the fearsome Nile crocodile. Nile crocodiles have the strongest bite in the world at 5, 000 pounds per square …

Piranhas are small fish with sharp teeth and a ferocious reputation. They’re reputedly such fierce, terrifying predators that horror movies have been made about them. But do they really warrant their …

Hyenas have a bad reputation as cowardly scavengers. In movies such as The Lion King, they’re portrayed as villains, but hyenas are actually Africa’s most successful predators. Young readers will dis …

Shirley Chisholm died in 2005, and her career had largely ended over a decade before that. But the life of this remarkable woman has particular resonance for our world today. The child of immigrants, …

Toni Morrison was one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. She was the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature and she received numerous othe …

Booker T. Washington has been described as the most famous and influential black man in the United States between 1895 and 1915. Born into slavery, his childhood was marked by poverty and hard labor. …

Oprah Winfrey is one of the richest and most influential women in the United States. But she began her life in poverty and endured some terrible experiences in childhood before her father helped her …

Harriet Tubman is well known for her work as an abolitionist and a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Her life was one of extraordinary suffering and extraordinary courage. This absorbing biograp …

An herbivore and a carnivore meet in battle. Who will win? The first instinct might be to pick the carnivore, but when you’re pitting a gray wolf against the massive and dangerous Cape buffalo, the o …

Imagine a battle between a bird and a rhinoceros. It might seem obvious that the rhinoceros would triumph, but the outcome isn’t so clear when the bird in question is a cassowary. This is a large, he …

A conflict between two herbivores might not sound like much of a battle, but when those plant eaters are powerful animals like a kangaroo and a gorilla, one can envision a real clash. Discoveries abo …

When you think of the achievements and legacy of ancient Greece, you probably think of art, architecture, and democracy. But ancient Greeks left so much more to the world, and some of their invention …

The very name Mesopotamia is evocative. This land, whose name means "between two rivers, " is also known as the Fertile Crescent. It’s the Cradle of Civilization. Cities grew here. Agricult …

China is frequently in the news today. It may be presented as an exotic place to travel or as an economic juggernaut on the world stage. Few really understand how China’s history, discoveries, and in …

Ancient Rome is famous for its vast empire, which covered most of Europe and much of Asia and northern Africa. It’s also the source of achievements and inventions that have shaped Western civilizatio …

Thousands of years before Europeans reached the shores of the Americas, the ancestors of the Americas’ native peoples arrived. These early people gave rise to great civilizations with a remarkable li …

Everyone wants to have someone to count on when the going gets tough. Often it’s family, but in the animal world, support sometimes comes from unlikely places. African elephants and olive baboons hav …

Ants and aphids are insects common around homes and gardens. Homeowners, gardeners, and picnickers often consider them pests, but these insects have fascinating secret lives. Many ant and aphid speci …

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, or so the saying goes. But what about a bird on your back that can help rid you of parasites and warn you of danger? That’s what oxpeckers do for rhinos. …

The movie Finding Nemo introduced the general public to clown fish and their sea anemone homes, but there’s so much more to learn about this relationship. For example, only 10 of the over 1, 000 sea …

We all get by with a little help from our friends. You might not think of sharks as having friends, but they do. And those friends provide important help in keeping sharks clean and free of parasites …

In the animal world, it’s rare for two mammal species to form a mutualistic relationship. It’s especially rare for that to happen when neither species is a primate, but that’s exactly what happens be …

The history of Iran is a long, rich, multi-layered one. Iran was once known as Persia and was devoted to an ancient religion known as Zoroastrianism. The Persian people converted to Islam following t …

Conservation is an important part of being "green." It means taking care of natural resources, and making careful decisions to avoid wasting or polluting them. Today all natural resources ( …

Journeying back to a time before Europeans set foot in North America, readers meet the fascinating Native American groups that once called Texas home. The tribes addressed include the Caddo, Hasinai, …

This book takes an in-depth look at the Spanish missions that once spanned the state of Texas. Some of the most striking buildings were erected and able to survive and thrive during the days of wild …

Remember the Alamo! is a battle cry known by many to represent true bravery against terrible odds. But how much do we really know about this epic battle in the Texas Revolution? This fact-filled book …

…

Plants are the starting point in most food chains. Carnivorous plants, however, buck the natural order system. Bladderworts belong to this group of plants, and they have a unique method for capturing …

If you saw the movie Jaws, you probably formed the opinion that great white sharks are to be feared above all others. Surprise! It turns out bull sharks were probably responsible for the attacks that …

The Bill of Rights is an exceptionally important part of the Constitution. Not only does the Bill of Rights guarantee individual liberties and place limits on government powers, but without the addit …

The black mamba and the blue-ringed octopus are among Earth’s most venomous animals. Beyond that, they have little in common. One is known for its great size; the other is adorably small. They’d neve …

Ancient Egypt truly left wonders for the world including the Pyramids of Giza and the glittering burial goods of Tutankhamun. But its achievements extend far beyond these wonders. Its inventions rang …

Snaking its way through 363 miles of upstate New York, the original Erie Canal was the most massive public works project the United States had seen before the Civil War. Many doubted that such a gran …

This volume offers readers a history of the term "genocide" and then moves into what has been called perhaps the foulest humanitarian crisis of the early twenty-first century: the crisis in …

This book analyzes critical topics that include the importance of conservation and the immediate and long-term threats posed to our air, forests, oceans, and even the soil beneath our feet, which, in …