Books with author Mark Steven Johnson

Do you love cool birds of prey like eagles, hawks, owls, vultures and falcons? We do too! Nature Kids shows everything we love about these fascinating creatures. They're big, fast, strong and they are the kings of the sky. This book has loads of interesting facts, and highlights some of the raptors most amazing traits. It's filled with lots of big, close-up pictures, you can explore the raptors most unique features. We even show you specific species and what makes them unique and cool: raptors like the Harpy eagle that hunts and eats monkeys and the Harris Hawk that hunts in packs to overwhelm their prey. Did you know a woman fell off a cliff to her death and was eaten by Griffon vultures? Yup! We have that in there too!

Imagine you and some of your closest friends decide to find a new place to hang out. You don't want the same old type of hangout. No, you want something special. And just when you think you have found the perfect one, well, it turns out to be more than it seems. In his book, Para Troupers: The Case of Old Man Rutledge, author Mark Stephen Johnson tells such a story. A group of teen friends in the town of Spider Lake stumble across a vacant, haunted mansion. They have hopes of making it the next great hangout in town. But little did they know the mansion hides a violent past and a curious link to one of the clairvoyant teens who found it. More than one entity haunts this palatial estate

Somehow life enticed two expressive soulmates, a struggling farmer and a high-school teacher, to regularly set aside time each week for over a year to carefully script their thoughts on the issues and events unfolding about them. Life had them fall in love as the economy tanked and another world war threatened. This came about in 1937 when Walter met Margaret at a church outing at summer’s end in Greeley, Colorado where she was visiting her sister shortly before returning to her job in Washburn, North Dakota. They married thirteen months later. Aside from two brief visits, their letters contain all of the premarital thoughts that they exchanged. Questioning God is the second book in A Lettered Courtship, a trilogy with an edited version of their correspondence at its core. Because these two expressive soulmates were to become my parents, I was often privy to how their understandings played out in their work and relationships and was always well aware of how they played out in mine. I have come to see the understandings and choices in these letters not as answers, but doors and angles into my own life and relationships and perhaps those of the reader. I have included extended takes on their concerns with our fundamental sources of truth, the changing world order, and the open tomb.

Who came up with the idea of a Jack O' Lantern? How did trick-or-treating get started? Just what ARE those footsteps following you at night on Halloween?All these questions and many more are answered in this fun and easy-to-read book about the craziest, weirdest, and most amazing Halloween myths, stories, and superstitions.Your children will love to discover...* What happens on Halloween if you walk backwards down the stairs with THESE two objects?* How people tricked and confused the ghosts of dead people in the old days.* The REAL reason why witches carry brooms (not what you might think).* The ONE sure way to find out if the spirit of a loved one is watching over you on Halloween.* What's a mummy's favorite kind of music? (and other horrendously hilarious Halloween riddles).... and much more!So download "Halloween for Children" and discover the wackiest, weirdest, and spookiest Halloween stories and traditions.

Childhood and adolescence were a virtual rollercoaster ride for Mark Johnson. In his second book—Tales of a Rollercoaster Operator: Stories from My Missouri Youth—he navigates the highs and lows of coming of age in St. Louis, Missouri, in the 1960s and 1970s. Experience Mark’s favorite growing-up twists and turns in this collection of twenty-six funny and poignant essays, including learning to drive a rollercoaster, discovering the joys of a first pet, embarking on a quest with his father to wrangle World Series tickets, and witnessing the wonder in a brand new year after a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger. This book of stories will inspire you to revisit your youth, dust-off your favorite memories, and find new meaning in the indelible moments that stay with you for a lifetime.

A thrilling historical account of the worst cholera outbreak in Victorian London-and a brilliant exploration of how Dr. John Snow's solution revolutionized the way we think about disease, cities, science, and the modern world. From the dynamic thinker routinely compared to Malcolm Gladwell, E. O. Wilson, and James Gleick, The Ghost Map is a riveting page-turner with a real-life historical hero that brilliantly illuminates the intertwined histories of the spread of viruses, rise of cities, and the nature of scientific inquiry. These are topics that have long obsessed Steven Johnson, and The Ghost Map is a true triumph of the kind of multidisciplinary thinking for which he's become famous-a book that, like the work of Jared Diamond, presents both vivid history and a powerful and provocative explanation of what it means for the world we live in. The Ghost Map takes place in the summer of 1854. A devastating cholera outbreak seizes London just as it is emerging as a modern city: more than 2 million people packed into a ten-mile circumference, a hub of travel and commerce, teeming with people from all over the world, continually pushing the limits of infrastructure that's outdated as soon as it's updated. Dr. John Snow-whose ideas about contagion had been dismissed by the scientific community-is spurred to intense action when the people in his neighborhood begin dying. With enthralling suspense, Johnson chronicles Snow's day-by-day efforts, as he risks his own life to prove how the epidemic is being spread. When he creates the map that traces the pattern of outbreak back to its source, Dr. Snow didn't just solve the most pressing medical riddle of his time. He ultimately established a precedent for the way modern city-dwellers, city planners, physicians, and public officials think about the spread of disease and the development of the modern urban environment. The Ghost Map is an endlessly compelling and utterly gripping account of that London summer of 1854, from the microbial level to the macrourban-theory level-including, most important, the human level.

Pets are part of the family!Chuckles and Boomerang is a touching series about the daily adventures of a little girl and her dog. Children will be drawn into the close, fun relationship that Chuckles and Boomerang have. The beautifully illustrated pages with vibrant colors will captivate your child’s interest.Parents and Grandparents will appreciate the pleasant, respectful disposition that this little girl and future characters display!

A Halloween activity and coloring book with 50 pages and 24 fun designs printed on one side that are safe for markers, colored pencils, or crayons. This coloring book has cute and spooky designs that are suitable for children ages 2-6 years old with varying degrees of difficulty but simple enough for younger toddlers that are just learning to color as well. This fun coloring book allows for pages to be torn out after use to showcase your little ones more creative side to the whole family. Kids of all ages will have a blast this Halloween with this children's activity book. Get this spooky gift for the holidays for a family member or a loved one.

A Halloween activity and coloring book with 50 pages and 24 fun designs printed on one side that are safe for markers, colored pencils, or crayons. This coloring book has cute and spooky designs that are suitable for children ages 3-8 years old with varying degrees of difficulty but simple enough for younger toddlers that are just learning to color as well. This fun coloring book allows for pages to be torn out after use to showcase your little ones more creative side to the whole family. Kids of all ages will have a blast this Halloween with this children's activity book. Get this spooky gift for the holidays for a family member or a loved one.