Books with author Melissa Raae Shofner

Kwanzaa is a seven-day festival that begins on December 26th and is celebrated until the first of January each year. It celebrates African American culture as well as family and community. Families gather to eat delicious foods, exchange gifts, and honor their heritage and traditions. Using age-appropriate language, this book explores Kwanzaa's roots and the social significance of its founding. Colorful images allow readers to visualize the celebration and make connections with the text. Each day of the holiday focuses on one of seven principles that readers will be able to appreciate in their own life, even if their family doesn't celebrate Kwanzaa.

There are many reasons adults get into disagreements. It may be difficult to understand some of these reasons, and it's important for children to know that they aren't one of them. In this book, readers will find answers to some of their questions about why their parents fight. Readers will also find advice about what to do when their parents fight and suggestions regarding the people they can talk to about their thoughts and feelings if they find themselves in the middle of a difficult situation.

Boom! Dynamite can blast away mountainsides and bring down buildings. This powerful explosive was discovered over 150 years ago, but it wasn't always safe to use. That's because dynamite contains nitroglycerin, a very dangerous explosive. In the late 1860s, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel accidentally invented dynamite while he was working on a way to make nitroglycerin safer to handle. This book takes an in-depth look at the science behind dynamite, as well as its role in the past, present, and future of demolition. Readers will have a blast learning about this explosive discovery.

Most students understand it's important for them to pay attention in class so they can learn and do well on exams. This book takes a closer look at how paying attention in class affects the common good of the entire classroom. Civics concepts from the C3 Framework for Social Studies are discussed throughout this informative text. Readers will have a better understanding of how their actions can positively and negatively impact others around them.

The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth and have always been important channels of shipping and trade. Though they are lakes, their waters have proven to be as challenging as the oceans. That's why there are more than 6,000 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes! This captivating book relates the stories of some of these wrecks, including the Edmund Fitzgerald, Argo, and Lady Elgin, their survivors, and the not-so-lucky. It also explains how wrecks are found and what happens after their discovery.

Kwanzaa is a seven-day festival that begins on December 26th and is celebrated until the first of January each year. It celebrates African American culture as well as family and community. Families gather to eat delicious foods, exchange gifts, and honor their heritage and traditions. Using age-appropriate language, this book explores Kwanzaa's roots and the social significance of its founding. Colorful images allow readers to visualize the celebration and make connections with the text. Each day of the holiday focuses on one of seven principles that readers will be able to appreciate in their own life, even if their family doesn't celebrate Kwanzaa.

In today's world, civic engagement is paramount in laying the foundation for the next generation of U.S. citizens. This book gives readers the tools they need to understand the civics concept of taking civic action. A relatable story and characters are paired with vibrant illustrations to teach readers the foundations of citizenship and civics. In this book, the narrator takes action by being a leader. This fiction book is paired with the nonfiction book How Can I Be a Leader? (ISBN: 9781538363881). The instructional guide on the inside front and back covers provides: Vocabulary, Background knowledge, Text-dependent questions, Whole class activities, and Independent activities.

Hurricanes are incredible forces of nature that form over warm ocean waters near the equator. With violent winds and heavy rains, they can cause great destruction. This engaging book takes an in-depth look at the technology used to predict and track hurricanes and the ways that people prepare for an approaching storm. Students will learn ways to stay safe before, during, and after a hurricane hits. This important earth science subject is covered in detail with emphasis on STEM topics from the Next Generation Science Standards.