Books with author Jean Richards

Have you ever wondered how we invented the objects that make our homes comfortable, like the television, the washing machine, the toaster? Learn all about the history of the objects that we cannot do without in our homes in It'll Never Work: In the Home, a book that explores the invention of household items that have become essential to our daily life and the successes and failures that have led to the comforts and entertainment that we know today.Each title in this exciting, high-interest series looks at a different area of technology and engineering and reveals the pioneering ideas and scientific thinking that enabled its development, as well as exposing those that proved to be a dead end. Each spread examines a particular example in depth, bringing in other similar ideas where relevant, and revealing that experimentation and failure often pave the way to technology success. Beautifully designed and illustrated with infographic-style artwork, this series is an excellent technology resource for readers aged 9 and up.

Zeke sets out on an adventure with the determination to succeed. He heads out full speed ahead. He finds out all too quickly that the sport of skiing is full of challenges, not to mention a crash involving himself, his equipment, and pride. Zeke is soon ready to try another sport on the snow; he is not a quitter. He once again heads out only to discover that speed is not his friend, and that children can behave badly at times. Zeke has a try, try again spirit. He gives this snow sporting one more try on a snowboard. To the top he goes and wouldn't you know-Zeke is able to conquer this mountain of snow after all.

Have you ever wondered how guns and bullet proof jackets were invented? From spears and arrows to experiments with rocket and lasers, from chain mail to kevlar and ceramic plates, It'll Never Work: Weapons and Warfare explores the history and development of weaponry, the successes and failures that have led to the weapons of modern warfare that we know today.Each title in this exciting, high-interest series looks at a different area of technology and engineering and reveals the pioneering ideas and scientific thinking that enabled its development, as well as exposing those that proved to be a dead end. Each spread examines a particular example in depth, bringing in other similar ideas where relevant, and revealing that experimentation and failure often pave the way to technology success. Beautifully designed and illustrated with infographic-style artwork, this series is an excellent technology resource for readers aged 9 and up.

Sixteen-Year-Old Celstia spends every summer with her family at the elite resort at Lake Conemaugh, a shimmering Allegheny Mountain reservoir held in place by an earthen dam. Tired of the society crowd, Celestia prefers to swim and fish with Peter, the hotel’s hired boy. It’s a friendship she must keep secret, and when companionship turns to romance, it’s a love that could get Celestia disowned. These affairs of the heart become all the more wrenching on a single, tragic day in May, 1889. After days of heavy rain, the dam fails, unleashing 20 million tons of water onto Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the valley below. The town where Peter lives with his father. The town where Celestia has just arrived to join him. This searing novel in poems explores a cross-class romance—and a tragic event in U. S. history.

Have you ever wondered what made human beings think they could go to the Moon? The idea of exploring space started with fiction and science-fiction written by authors like Jules Verne and H G Wells. Little did they know that space travel would become a reality! It'll Never Work: Rockets and Space Travel explores the history of space travel and spaceships, the successes and failures that have led to the very recent Pluto flyby by the New Horizons spacecraft.Each title in this exciting, high-interest series looks at a different area of technology and engineering and reveals the pioneering ideas and scientific thinking that enabled its development, as well as exposing those that proved to be a dead end. Each spread examines a particular example in depth, bringing in other similar ideas where relevant, and revealing that experimentation and failure often pave the way to technology success. Beautifully designed and illustrated with infographic-style artwork, this series is an excellent technology resource for readers aged 9 and up.