Tigers are pretty special and so are ground iguanas and partula snails and even white-rumped vultures. But these and many other animals are in danger of disappearing altogether, joining the dodo, the marsupial wolf, the great auk, and countless other animals we will never see again. Using the experiences of a few endangered species as examples, Martin Jenkins highlights the ways human behavior can either threaten or conserve the amazing animals that share our planet. Vicky White’s stunning portraits of rare creatures offer a glimpse of nature’s grace and beauty and give us a powerful reason to preserve it.
Nonfiction
Nonfiction genre
The Story of Britain from the Norman Conquest to the European Union
Stunningly illustrated by P.J. Lynch, Patrick Dillon’s accessible narrative brings the dramatic history of a nation to life. The history of Britain is a thrilling story of kings and queens, battles and truces, discoveries and inventions, expansion and diplomacy. From William the Conqueror’s arrival in 1066 to the end of the twentieth century, The Story of Britain celebrates the rich diversity of a people and culture, as well as the events, good and bad, that have shaped Britain and the world over the past thousand years. Royals, commoners, warriors, and scientists have all had parts to play, and each of their stories is told here in lively, lucid language appropriate for a young audience. Timelines summarize each era in a quick-view format between each section, while bite-size chapters and full-color plates make this history easy to pick up and hard to put down.
Digging for Troy
It started as a legend told to each new generation about a war between the Greeks and the Trojans, with heroes battling over a beauty named Helen. While some question if this war and even the city of Troy itself existed, the tales have enticed people to look for clues in order to elicit fact from fiction and in some cases, to gain their own glory. Jill Rubalcaba and Eric H. Cline dig into many archeological expeditions at Hisarlik, the modern-day site believed to have been ancient Troy. The recount Heinrich Schliemann’s quest for renown, Wilhelm Drpfeld’s meticulous digs, Carl Blegen’s timeline of Troy’s layers from 2900 BCE to 550 CE, and Manfred Korfmann’s controversial picture of Troy as a political entity with Anatolian-not Aegean-ties.
Questions, Questions
How do birds learn how to sing? What brings summer after spring? What turns the leaves from green to brown and sends them floating gently down? In thirteen engaging couplets, Marcus Pfister opens children’s eyes to the wondrous mysteries all around them.
For the Love of Music
By the time she was 12, she was considered one of the finest pianists in Europe, but today few people know her name. Maria Mozart, like her famous brother Wolfgang, was a musical prodigy. The talented siblings toured Europe, playing before kings and empresses, were showered with gifts and favors, and lived in a whirlwind life of music and travel. They were best friends, collaborators, and confidantes. As they grew older, Wolfgang was encouraged to pursue his musical ambitions, while Maria was told she must stop performing and, ultimately, marry. But she was determined to continue playing the piano every day, for the love of music…. From the Hardcover edition.
Arabic Reader
This is the first textbook in IQRA’ Second Generation of Arabic comprehensive program for teaching Arabic as a second language. This second generation is designed to be in twelve graded levels, to provide instructional books and related materials to learners from 1st through 12th grades.
My Arabic Words Book
“My Arabic Words Book” presents an illustrated book featuring an Arabic word for each of the twenty eight letters of the alphabet, presented in Arabic script and transliterated Roman script along with the English translation.
Land of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now
This book introduces the cultures and traditions of Korea, from ancient times to the present. The illustrations and photos provide a brief introduction to Korean culture.
Animal Tails
Why do animals have tails? Do they always serve a function? Does that use vary from animal to animal? These questions about these most curious of appendages are answered in a way that manages to be both informative as well as being a delightful guessing game.
D Is for Dragon Dance
A is for Acrobats. B is for Balls. C is for Calligraphy. D is for Dragon Dance. From firecrackers to noodles, from red envelopes to the zodiac, young readers are introduced to the exciting traditions of the Chinese New Year.