Part comic strip and part science experiment, Howtoons shows children how to find imaginative new uses for common household items like soda bottles, duct tape, mop buckets, and more-to teach kids the “Tools of Mass Construction”!

Howtoons are cartoons that teach 8- to 15-year-old readers “how to” build, create, and explore things. Combining a fun, full-color cartoon format and real life science and engineering principles, Howtoons are designed to encourage kids to become active participants in the world around them.

Readers meet Tucker and Celine, a lovable brother and sister pair. Sick of watching TV and playing video games, Tucker and Celine decide to conquer every kid’s nightmare: the dreaded summer o’ boredom. Armed with countless ideas for fun projects, they set out to reclaim the sheer joy of playing. Fifteen practical, build-it-yourself projects are weaved into the Tucker and Celine storyline. With the narrators’ help and clear step-by-step instructions, young readers will learn how to set up a workshop, create a marshmallow shooting gun, make ice cream without a freezer, play songs on a turkey baster flute, explore a homemade terrarium, launch a pressure-powered rocket, and more!

Utilizing inexpensive, kid-friendly materials, Howtoons will prove that the world at large is infinitely more exciting than anything happening on the TV or computer screen. Plus, each project will provide readers with practical skills and problem solving know-how that they can use in their everyday lives. These funny, interactive Howtoons are sure to inspire independence and creative savvy in young people everywhere.

This guide for teachers is the answer to all questions children ask and all the wonders they want to investigate — from the marvel of a raindrop on a leaf, to the power of a volcano, to the mysteries of the universe.

This award-winning bestseller is the biggest and best collection of science activities for children 6 to 14 years old. There are projects, experiments, games, puzzles, and stories. They cover all areas of science, including matter and energy, the human body, the environment, rocks, plants, animals, insects, weather, stars and planets, and technology.

Activities range in length from the popular ‘Quickies’ to projects that can be done over several days or weeks. They’ve all been tested and use simple materials. Easy-to-follow explanations, engaging illustrations, and fun facts (did you know that a cockroach can live for nine days without its head?). Many thousands of copies of Science Is… have been used by student teachers to get started in science class. Make this a book you’ll turn to again and again.

“An innovative book … Youngsters will be intrigued by the exciting activities crammed into this book.” (Today’s Parent)

“An excellent reference source for parents and teachers!” (School Library Journal)

“A powerful and practical resource… Will enrich any school science curriculum. Highly recommended!” (Appraisal, School of Education, Boston University)

Look in the back of the book for experiments and more to help you become a science detective too!

As people assessed the damage, they made the most frightening discovery of all: the Fukushima #1 nuclear power plant was seriously damaged and three of its six reactors were heading for meltdowns. Workers tried desperately–but unsuccessfully–to save them. Explosions and fires released radioactivity into the air. Within days the Japanese government declared a 20-kilometer (12-mile) evacuation zone. The future of the plant, the long-term health of those exposed to radiation, and the effects on the environment remained uncertain.

Learn more about this massive catastrophe as Dr. Fred Bortz examines both the human tragedy and the scientific implications of the nuclear meltdown. Compare this disaster to similar nuclear events in the United States and in Ukraine, and move ahead with Dr. Bortz as he explores the global debate about the future of nuclear power and alternative sources of energy.

Look in the back of the book for experiments and more to help you become a science detective too!

It’s a dark and stormy morning at Camp Dakota, but that won’t keep Braelin from investigating the whispers coming from the lake. What else could it be, but ghosts? The campers try to record and amplify the sounds, but suddenly the eerie voices go mute. Braelin and Megan won’t give up, even when their ghost hunt leads them deep into the woods. Can they use their sound smarts to get back safe?

Look in the back of the book for experiments and more to help you become a science detective too!

Did you know that…

A hundred years ago Chicago had a miniature underground train system that criss-crossed beneath the streets, delivering coal and other materials? The trains could go right into a building’s basement. Even today, few people know these tunnels exist….

Or that Paris has over six million skeletons buried in ancient chambers and tunnels beneath the city? The ancient Romans first dug up this spot while mining for rock, but 200 years ago the overcrowded city of Paris needed new space to bury its dead.

Hidden Worlds presents 11 intriguing stories of extraordinary tunnels past and present from around the world. This fascinating book will introduce you to nature’s tunneling mammals; the ancient Greek myth of the Minotaur in the labyrinth; the aqueducts of the ancient Romans; the hidden treasure in the pyramids of Egypt; the great escape of WWII prisoners of war…and much more!

Richly portrayed with large cartoon-style illustrations and informative yet wickedly funny captions, the stories in this original collection make for a riveting read. You’ll be amazed at the interesting facts you’ll unearth.

An introduction provides an overview of the hidden world of tunnels, the varied reasons why people have constructed them since ancient times, and how they have done so.

A special chapter at the end of the book provides more detailed information on each story. Additional resources, such as websites, are included.

An index will help locate specific places and events in the book, making this a useful reference tool for young students.

Max Axiom has a mission. The city mayor needs a recycling center to decrease pressure on its bulging landfill. Join Max as he uses the engineering process to design and build an awesome recycling center.

Why do seasons happen? Where do animals go in winter? How do plants reproduce?

From changes in the plant world through the year, to penguins preparing a nest, and puma kittens learning to hunt, plants and animals from every corner of the world are used to illustrate the many processes that govern natural life. These include metamorphosis, hibernation, migration, pollination, plus the many environments in which they occur, such as savanna, swamp, jungle, and deciduous woodland.

The four acetate overlays feature:

• Winter to Spring: the Himalayan Mountains change
• Spring to Summer: a South American pampas over time
• Summer to Fall: deciduous woodlands turn with the season
• Fall to Winter: a conifer forest prepares for the cold.

The Uncovering series: Exposing science and technology in stunning color and detail.

Jam-packed with exacting full-color illustrations, these titles focus on topics of particular interest to young readers. Informative text and descriptive captions and sidebars complement dozens of annotated drawings. Each book contains four acetate overlays, used in some cases to show changes over time, in others to show a cutaway interior.

Max Axiom has a mission. The National Space Agency wants to build a lunar colony, but it needs a team of top-notch engineers to get the job done. Join Max as he scours the globe to learn about incredible engineers and the amazing things they do.