Books with author Ellen Lawrence

A mother wood duck peeks out of a hole in an old, twisted tree in a swamp. The hole is the entrance to her nest. Once she's sure no predators are close by, the mother duck jumps from the nest hole to the ground. Then, one, two, three--tiny, fluffy ducklings start to jump from the tree. Soon 12 babies have jumped from the nest. Now, the newest residents of the swamp are ready to explore their watery home. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about wood ducks and the swamp habitat in which they live, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as comparing a female and male wood duck and guessing what wood ducks eat, give readers a chance to gain insights beyond the facts and figures.

It’s early evening in the Amazon rain forest. A large rodent called a capybara is drinking from a river. The animal doesn’t know it’s being watched. Suddenly, the jaws of a green anaconda burst from the murky water. As the giant snake wraps its body around the struggling capybara, the animal has no chance to escape from the powerful predator! Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about green anacondas and their Amazon rain forest home, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical-thinking. Built-in investigations, such as figuring out how the snake’s coloring and skin pattern help it to hunt, and measuring activities to discover how long the anaconda can grow, give readers a chance to gain insights beyond the facts and figures.

An unsuspecting fly buzzes around a clump of colorful plants in a swamp. Unaware of any danger, it lands on one of the plants. Snap! The plant's trap snaps shut in less than a second, and the fly is now the meal of a Venus flytrap! This title explores the world of carnivorous plants that obtain nutrients by "eating" animals. From plants that act like sticky flypaper to trap their prey, to other plants that lure their victims into deep pitchers of liquid from which the animals will never escape, children will learn about a variety of plants that employ interesting techniques to capture food. From beautiful photographs of these unusual plants to high-interest, high-gross-factor facts, Meat-Eating Plants: Toothless Wondersmakes learning about carnivorous plants a lively, engaging experience. The fun topic ensures that young readers will enjoy engaging in science while developing their powers of observation and critical thinking.Meat-Eating Plants: Toothless Wondersis part of Bearport's Plant-ology series.

Did you know that a comet is like a big, rocky snowball with a tail of gas and dust millions of miles long? Or that an asteroid can be as small as a car, or as big as a mountain? These and dozens of other fascinating facts provide a perfect high-interest introduction to the icy, rocky voyagers of the solar system that so often hit the headlines: Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids. Filled with information perfectly suited to a second-grade audience, this accessible, high-impact book combines solid science, technology, and even math with up-to-the-minute information, odd and often quirky facts, and astounding space photography. It also provides plenty of surprises and teachable moments that will draw young children into a rewarding, kid-friendly reading experience.

When we turn on a tap, we expect to see clean, safe water pour out. This is not how everyone around the world gets their water, of course. Some children must walk miles each day to collect water for their families, while others bathe and help do their family's laundry in a river. In Everybody Needs Water, young readers will find out how families around the world obtain and use this precious resource.

Did you know that Pluto is so far from the Sun that if you stood on its surface, the Sun would look like a bright, twinkling star, and nothing like the giant, shining Sun that we see from Earth? Or that scientists didn't even know that the largest dwarf planet, Eris, existed until 2005? These and dozens of other fascinating facts provide a perfect high-interest introduction to the newest lineup of objects in the solar system, Pluto and the Dwarf Planets. Filled with information perfectly suited to a second-grade audience, this accessible, high-impact book combines solid science, technology, and even math with up-to-the-minute information, odd and often quirky facts, and astounding space photography. It also provides plenty of surprises and teachable moments that will draw young children into a rewarding, kid-friendly reading experience.

"What slimy, trick does an opossum play on its hungry enemies? Why does it produce a putrid green ooze from its backside? And what might you see riding on the back of this slime- producing trickster? In this brand-new title, learn the answers to these questions and more—and prepare to get slimed! This new Science Slam! title will introduce readers to the slippery, slimy world of opossums! The book is expertly crafted to meet early elementary and science curriculum standards, as well as introduce children to bizarre and interesting facts. Innovative, grade-appropriate activities and experiments, critical-thinking questions, and fascinating fact boxes will hold readers’ interests with a viselike grip. And, best of all, the activities are gooey and fun!"

As a huge volcano erupts, scorching-hot lava pours down its slopes. Soon, however, the lava will cool and become solid rock. This book explores how igneous rock is formed from magma, featuring a clear, accessible, step-by-step explanation of the process. Readers will not only learn about different types of igneous rock, they will also be introduced to some amazing igneous rock formations, as well as find out how people use this special kind of rock. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance to learn and develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From stunning photographs to high-interest facts about igneous rocks, this book makes learning about Earth's geology a lively, engaging experience.

It’s early morning in a swamp. A roseate spoonbill is wading through a shallow pond. Slowly, the bird sweeps its long, spoon-shaped bill back and forth through the water. The colorful bird is feeling for small fish and shrimp. When its super-sensitive bill detects movement in the murky waters, the bird grabs its prey and gobbles it down. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about roseate spoonbills and their swamp habitat, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as guessing how the bird got its name and finding objects equivalent to the weight of a newly hatched spoonbill chick, give readers a chance to gain insights beyond the facts and figures.