Bert Wilberforce

Young naturalists learn early that when butterflies and moths first hatch from an egg, they re in the form of caterpillars. They probably don t know that as caterpillars grow, they shed skin, and then eat it. Readers will find this entertaining and accessible look at these ubiquitous larvae exceptionally informative. Carefully chosen photographs support the text and key science vocabulary.

Certain species of bats get their chilling name from a legendary monster, the vampire, and like these revolting fantasy creatures, these bats really do drink the blood of animals. Luckily, vampire bats don t harm people; they re much more interested in the blood of livestock and forest animals. Their bites are so small that they re often undetected by the animals they feed on. Readers will be fascinated by these eerie creatures as well as the awesome...

Some studies of early America highlight events such as the first Thanksgiving and the establishment of different colonies. But true historians realize that American history is tightly bound to the history of enslavement in the Americas. This carefully researched volume presents the difficult topic of American slavery sensitively yet comprehensively. Readers will learn about the European slave trade and how and why it expanded to the American colonies....

Black holes are neither holes nor black. They're invisible and packed with matter! Future astronomers will find out many more fascinating facts about these space phenomena with this intriguing book. Carefully crafted text encapsulates the most important information about black holes, such as how scientists locate them and their significance in a star's life cycle. Amazing photographs support critical concepts and inspire a true appreciation of the...

Diamonds are similar to squares, with their sides of equal length, but they look a bit "squashed." Readers will recognize this special shape in the many bright photographs of this accessible text, which also encourages them to build new vocabulary. They'll see diamond-shaped kites, cookies, and signs, and learn to spot diamonds in patterns as well. As they develop their knowledge of this elementary geometry concept, they'll understand how this aspect...

It might not always occur to us, but our world is full of shapes. And squares are some of the most popular. We cut our brownies into squares and stack square blocks. We snack on square crackers and rest our heads on square pillows. This book will encourage young readers to recognize the square as a geometric shape in their world. Colorful photographs accompany comprehensible text, supporting readers' budding vocabulary and making this text achievable....

The culture of the United States was developing even before the nation was established during the American Revolution. Life in the British colonies of North America provided much of the foundation for the country. This significant volume, an engaging look back in time, invites readers to learn about the colonial period, including European settlement, schools and education, and the colonies' relationships with Native Americans. Interesting fact boxes...

The United States was once a small group of states that had been colonies of Great Britain. It grew into a world power rapidly and a major driver of that rise was immigration and migration. Readers of this thought-provoking book will discover just how important the movement of people to and across the United States has been throughout the nation's history. They'll learn how diversity has been vital to the country's growth and success and consider...

Most young astronomers know that Earth is located in the Milky Way galaxy, but they might not know what that means or what lies beyond. Understanding our galaxy and others will help them comprehend more about how the universe works. Your readers will discover many amazing and memorable facts about galaxies, including their differing shapes, numbers of stars, and constant movement. They'll especially love the mind-boggling images of the depths of space....

Rectangles can be fun and even exciting! Birthday packages arriving at the door, favorite books at the library, the community pool in the summer-all of these are familiar rectangular shapes in our everyday lives. Beginning readers and budding mathematicians need to know this useful shape as a foundation to geometric concepts. Through this inviting volume, they'll be able to identify the rectangle's shape in the objects in the carefully selected, colorful...