Books with author Joni Kelly

Both terrifying and fascinating, sharks are the most well-known creature of the ocean ecosystem. Sharks are a guaranteed hit with young readers, but this book goes beyond basic shark 101 information. Now it's possible for young readers to step into the wild, wonderful life cycle of the Greenland shark, the longest-living vertebrate in the world. Early elementary readers are sure to enjoy the colorful photography of this captivating text, and won't even notice that they're learning key science concepts, like ecosystems and food chains, along the way.

La moria grandissima began its terrible journey across the European and Asian continents in 1347, leaving unimaginable devastation in its wake. Five years later, twenty-five million people were dead, felled by the scourge that would come to be called the Black Death. The Great Mortality is the extraordinary epic account of the worst natural disaster in European history -- a drama of courage, cowardice, misery, madness, and sacrifice that brilliantly illuminates humankind's darkest days when an old world ended and a new world was born.

A magisterial account of one of the worst disasters to strike humankind--the Great Irish Potato Famine--conveyed as lyrical narrative history from the acclaimed author of The Great MortalityIn this masterful, comprehensive account of the Irish Potato Famine, delivered with novelistic flair, Kelly gives us not only the startling facts of this disaster--one of the worst to strike mankind, killing twice as many lives as the American Civil War--but examines the intersection of political greed, bacterial infection, religious intolerance, and racism that made it possible. Kelly brings new material to his analysis of relevant political factors during the years leading up to the famine, and the extent to which Britain's nation-building policies exacerbated the mounting crisis. Despite the shocking, infuriating implications of his findings, The Graves Are Walking is ultimately a story of triumph--of one people's ability to remake themselves in a new land in the face of the unthinkable.

Tube worms are some of the strangest-looking creatures of the deep sea, not to mention they live in some of the most inhospitable places on Earth. Young readers will love discovering just how these freaky animals not only live, but thrive for centuries. Discoveries are happening constantly these days, as new technologies finally allow scientists to explore the deep sea's cold seeps and hydrothermal vents. Any library or classroom will have a home for this dynamic, accessible, age-appropriate volume filled with brilliant color photography of these freaky ocean worms.

Humans coexist with a species blessed with abilities known as the Gifted, a race the humans voted out of society several years ago. Aaron Harker has to keep his dark urges a secret if he's to stay on the right side of the fence, but doing so is about to become harder as he’s set to become a Gespiator – one entrusted to Keep the Peace. Aaron knows he isn’t human, but what he doesn’t realise is he’s not a Gifted. He’s something entirely different – a Reaper; a being that requires the life essence from others in order to survive. The Dark Hunger; a curse to deal with in a time when being different means survival is not a certainty.

Most people know kois as vibrant, colorful fish swimming slowly through a serene Japanese pond setting, transfixing passers-by. Most people don't know that they're some of the oldest living fish in the world. Young readers will love reading the story of Hanako, the 226-year-old, scarlet-colored koi that lived in Japan for centuries. Through vivid color photography and clean, age-appropriate writing, readers will learn about not only kois, but ecosystems, life cycles, environments, and other key science curriculum concepts.

Many people don't know that sea sponges can live for many, many centuries. We often forget that sponges are even animals, but they are. This colorful and vibrant volume introduces young readers to the wild, wacky world of sponge life. Accessible text abounds with fascinating facts sure to surprise and inspire budding scientists. Children will be introduced to key concepts such as ecosystems, life cycles, environmentalism, and climate change, accompanied by stunning photographs of these strange creatures in their mysterious habitat. These essential, curriculum-focused science themes are written in an age-appropriate and exciting way.

WARNING! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. There's been a major Q-T incident reported in Cringetown – we need the monster doctor, stat!Q-Ts are highly dangerous to all monsters – they have huge eyes, tiny noses, squeaky high-pitched voices and are covered in a disgustingly soft fur-like material. Physical contact with these revolting creatures is to be avoided AT ALL COSTS! Ozzy is an ordinary human – an unusual trait for a monster doctor in training! – and he can't understand why monsters are so scared of these Q-Ts. So when the doctor receives a desperate phone call reporting a Q-T sighting, she and Ozzy race to save the horrible creature before the abominable Inspector Pincher arrives . . .Monster Doctor: Revolting Rescue is the second in a howlingly hilarious series of monster adventures from John Kelly that will have you laughing your head off . . . literally.

Fans of Patrice Kindl’s Keeping the Castle or Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer’s Sorcery and Cecelia will adore this funny Regency-era mystery about a determined young woman with a magical trick up her sleeve . . . The year is 1818, the city is London, and 16-year-old Annis Whitworth has just learned that her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy. Annis always suspected that her father was himself a spy, and following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals that she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours: garments that can disguise the wearer completely. Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. And so she crafts a new double life for herself. Miss Annis Whitworth will appear to live a quiet life in a country cottage with her aunt, and Annis-in-disguise as Madame Martine, glamour artist, will open a magical dressmaking shop. That way she can earn a living, maintain her social standing, and, in her spare time, follow the coded clues her father left behind and unmask his killer. It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?“Murder, Magic, and What We Wore blew my bonnet off. Kelly Jones has found a fresh way to share the delights of the magical regency. I truly love this book!” —Caroline Stevermer, coauthor of Sorcery & Cecilia, or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot “A deliciously enchanting adventure full of magic, mystery and delight.” —Stephanie Burgis, author of Kat, Incorrigible

Flamingos are a ubiquitous, pink symbol that appears everywhere, clothing, school supplies, logos, lawns, and in zoos across the country. With vibrant, full-color photography and lively but accessible writing, this volume gives young readers a chance to learn about that animal they no doubt recognize. As one of the longest-living birds on Earth, the story of the flamingo provides a firsthand account of how life cycles, ecosystems, and the animal kingdom work. There's no better way to expose young readers to curriculum-specific science topics than to illuminate the life of the world's most recognizable, distinct bird with this fun, age-appropriate book.

Many people don't know that sea sponges can live for many, many centuries. We often forget that sponges are even animals, but they are. This colorful and vibrant volume introduces young readers to the wild, wacky world of sponge life. Accessible text abounds with fascinating facts sure to surprise and inspire budding scientists. Children will be introduced to key concepts such as ecosystems, life cycles, environmentalism, and climate change, accompanied by stunning photographs of these strange creatures in their mysterious habitat. These essential, curriculum-focused science themes are written in an age-appropriate and exciting way.