Books with author Mary Kay Carson

What makes a hurricane? Where do they strike? What do scientists learn from flying planes through these dangerous storms? Stunning photographs-taken on the ground and from space-as well as incredible gatefolds will help children understand this powerful, destructive force of nature. Inside Hurricanes includes dramatic first-person accounts from hurricane survivors and the latest science on how climate change will affect hurricanes, plus hands-on activities, maps, diagrams, and more.

In this stellar activity book, kids delve into the rich history of space exploration, where telescopes, satellites, probes, landers, and human missions lead to amazing discoveries. Updated to include the recent discovery of Eris which, along with Pluto, has been newly classified as a “dwarf planet” by the International Astronomical Union, this cosmic adventure challenges kids to explore the planets and other celestial bodies for themselves through activities such as building a model of a comet using soil, molasses, dry ice, and window cleaner; or creating their own reentry vehicle to safely return an egg to Earth’s surface. With biographies of more than 20 space pioneers, specific mission details, a 20-page field guide to the solar system, and plenty of suggestions for further research, this is the ultimate guidebook to exploring the solar system.

Inspired by his nearly-deaf mother and a father who developed a “visible alphabet” of all the possible sounds a human being can make, Alexander Graham Bell spent the greater part of his life trying to improve the way people communicated with one another. It was this desire that led him to create his most famous invention, the telephone, and turned him into one of the most well-known names of all time. Young readers will find themselves fascinated by this in-depth look at Bell’s life and times; his journey from compassionate teacher to master inventor; his success—by just a day—in becoming the first to patent his new creation; and his other, less celebrated, but important achievements.

From the everyday phenomena of wind and clouds to the awesome, destructive power of lightning, tornados, and hurricanes, children can explore weather in detail with this fascinating science activity book. Throughout the text instructions for building weather-measuring tools—barometers, psychrometers, anemometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, and thermometers—allow the reader to assemble them into a working weather station. More than 40 weather projects are included, such as building a model of the water cycle, creating a tornado in a bottle, calculating dew point, and reading a weather map. Most of the experiments also include ideas for expanding them into full-fledged science fair projects. Weather-related environmental issues are also addressed, such as global climate change, ozone depletion, and acid rain, as well as profiles of scientists working in the field of meteorology.

In this addition to the critically-acclaimed Scientist in the Field series, scientist Robin Tanamachi and her team are trying to save countless lives across America’s heartland, chasing one tornado at a time. Robin Tanamachi has been captivated by tornadoes and extreme weather her entire life. When she realized people researched weather for a job, she was hooked. She now studies tornadogenesis, or how tornadoes form, and what causes them to get weaker versus strengthen. For her, driving around in a Doppler radar truck aiming towards storms is a normal day in the office. The data she collects is then modeled and studied on computers—with math, physics, and computer science working hand in hand with meteorology. At the end of the day, knowing exactly how, when, and where these violent storms happen can give more warning time for everyone involved.

As concern for the welfare of species like honey bees and monarch butterflies grows alongside awareness of the impact of climate change, inspiring the next generation of citizen scientists is more important than ever. With Wildlife Ranger Action Guide, kids can make the world better for the animals and insects they love, starting right in their own backyards. Dozens of hands-on activities and habitat creation projects, such as making a frog pond from a kiddie pool, planting a pollinator garden for bees, painting a bat house, and building a lodge for lizards, encourage children to learn about and take an active role in protecting local wildlife. Lively photographic field guides covering 78 North American wildlife species teach kids about the habits and habitats of each and include tips for providing the plants and food needed for their survival.

Do Tigers Stay Up Late? …and Other Tiger-ific Questionsanswers basic questions about these big cats, including how they sleep, what they eat, and, yes . . . why they have so many stripes! Does a tiger purr? Could it win a marathon? And would it make a good pet? Using a helpful Q&A format, Do Tigers Stay Up Late? tells children all they ever wanted to know about these magnificent creatures, from what they weigh to whether they swim. Filled with stunning photographs and cool information, this book is sure to become a favorite of every young animal lover.

What was the Underground Railroad—and who traveled on it? Who was Harriet Tubman and what did she do? This gripping book tells kids all about the perilous journey to escape slavery and finally become free: how long it could take, where the fugitives hid, who helped them, how “stationmasters” sent secret messages, and other fascinating details of the legendary Underground Railroad.

“An easy-to-follow and alluring narrative . . . instructive and captivating.”—School Library Journal What would it be like to travel to Mars? Find out, in this incredible book, written in coordination with the world-famous American Museum of Natural History. Perhaps no planet has stirred our imagination more than Mars. And this book, based on the American Museum of Natural History's exhibit “Beyond Planet Earth: The Future of Space Exploration,” provides an extraordinary introduction to the Red Planet. Through breathtaking images from NASA, and information sent to Earth from satellites, budding astronomers and astronauts can explore Mars’s climate and features—and find out what it would take for a human to travel there.

Who was Susan B. Anthony—what did she stand for, why was she arrested, and how did she fight for women's right to vote? And did she ever see her dream of woman's suffrage come true? From the first women's rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York, to the enactment of the 19th Amendment, this lively chronicle introduces Anthony and the American suffragist movement.