Books with author Michael Elsohn

It started with tremors, aftershocks of an event that no one was left to report on. Then the snow came, slow and steady, and it didn't stop. Day by day, inch by inch, everything disappeared beneath a crushing mass so deep that only the tops of the tallest trees remained. Saved by some fluke of elevation and wind patterns, Peter's cabin was spared while the rest of the world drowned beneath an ocean of solid water. Or so he thought. Driven to the brink of insanity by terrible isolation, he survives long enough to see the skies clear and the sun return. As the snow melts, it reveals an almost alien world, a barely recognizable landscape littered with the remnants of civilization. Together with a handful of survivors, Peter sets out to discover the cause of the event that broke humanity's hold on the world, and to learn whether it will strike again.

Finalist for the 2020 AAAS / Subaru SB&F Excellence in Science Book exemplify outstanding and engaging science writing and illustration for young readers DID YOU KNOW...Scientists believe that mosses, the first plants, may have changed the Earth’s climate from hot to cold by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?Many members of the cabbage family release a poison “mustard” gas to fend off grazers?Plants are used in thousands of industries, from low-cost sewage treatment to new medical cures?Young nature enthusiasts will learn these and other fascinating facts about plants in this colorful, interactive resource. Plantology contains fun, kid-friendly discussions and activities to explore many topics—from seeds, roots, and sprouts to plant skeletons, leaves, petals, and fruits. It then goes beyond the basics to delve into the unknown world of common weeds, fascinating plant defense systems, and the countless roles plants play in our lives. With encouragement to “Try This,” “Smell It,” and “Look For,” kids participate in 30 hands-on activities that promote observation and analysis, writing and drawing, math and science, and nature literacy skills. Children will keep a journal, examine and sketch plant structures, start a seed collection, make tasty vegetarian dishes, and more. Readers from any environment will start to notice the plants around them—not just in parks, gardens, and woods but also surrounding the schools, buildings, and sidewalks of their town, and in their own backyards. Useful resources include a glossary of scientific terms, a list of nature organizations and groups, and a teacher’s guide to initiate classroom discussion and investigation.

A source of inspiration for young women with strong social convictions, She Takes a Stand highlights 16 extraordinary women who have fought for human rights, civil rights, workers’ rights, reproductive/sexual rights, and world peace. Among these are many who have been imprisoned, threatened, or suffered financial hardships for pursuing their missions to change the world for the better. Included are historic heroes such as anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells and suffragist Alice Paul, along with contemporary figures such as girls-education activist Malala Yousafzai; Sampat Pal Devi, who fights violence against Indian women; and SPARK executive director Dana Edell, who works to end the sexualization of women and girls in the media. Taking a multicultural, multinational perspective, She Takes a Stand spotlights brave women around the world with an emphasis on childhood details, motivations, and life turning points—in many cases gleaned from the author’s original interviews—and includes related sidebars, a bibliography, source notes, and a list of organizations young women can explore to get involved in changing their world.

An unprecedented study of the body mechanics of the sword, written by a world-renowned expert in Historical European Martial Arts. Full color with detailed illustrations.For centuries, masters of defense throughout the world jealously guarded their knowledge, sharing it only with their students and patrons. But it was not just their techniques that they wanted to keep hidden--their most closely guarded secret was not what to do with a sword, but how to do it. This book lays bare the principles of the use of the sword with unprecedented detail--principles that are universal across nearly all cultures and time periods, including our own.This information comes from centuries-old living lineage martial arts, medieval fencing treatises and decades of combined research, experimentation and application. It is accessible to anyone, from a complete beginner to a seasoned expert. The path to mastery consists of small steps, each easily understood and taken. There is no magic or mystery in the use of the sword. There is only the art, and it is an art created by and for human beings, utterly attainable and without artifice or embellishment.Using clear and concise explanations and highly detailed illustrations, this book takes you step by step through the body mechanics of the sword, from foundations to essential elements. It is divided into three modules: Theory, Practice and Calibration.The Theory module thoroughly explains all of the underlying concepts and principles and how they combine to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The Practice Module provides advice on choosing training equipment as well as a comprehensive array of drills and exercises designed to put everything you learned in the previous module into practice. Finally, the Calibration module gives you all of the information you need to put your skills to the test by cutting targets with a sharp sword, from advice on choosing a sword to how to purchase, prepare and set up tatami and other targets. Most importantly, it will teach you to interpret your results in a way that will inform your training and allow you to correct errors and improve your technique. Whether you are taking your first step or the latest of many, let this book be your guide.

An inspiration for any young person who loves the outdoors, wildlife, or science, A World of Her Own tells the stories of 24 brave women from different cultures, epochs, and economic backgrounds who have shared similar missions: to meet the physical and mental challenges of exploring the natural world, to protect the environment and native cultures, and to leave a mark in the name of discovery. Among the many bold women profiled are Rosaly Lopes, who worked for NASA and discovered 71 volcanoes on one of Jupiter’s moons; Helen Thayer, the first woman to walk and ski the Magnetic North Pole accompanied by only her dog; Kay Cottee, the first woman to successfully sail nonstop around the world completely unassisted; and Anna Smith Peck, who set the record for the highest climb in the Western Hemisphere at the age of 58. These and other engaging profiles, based on both historical research and firsthand interviews, stress how childhood passions and interests, perseverance, and courage led these women to overcome challenges and break barriers to achieve great success in their adventurous pursuits and careers. A bibliography and annotated list of exploration resources and organizations make this an invaluable resource for young explorers, parents, and teachers alike.

The bizarre and often humorous creations of René Magritte, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, and other surrealists are showcased in this activity guide for young artists. Foremost among the surrealists, Salvador Dalí was a painter, filmmaker, designer, performance artist, and eccentric self-promoter. His famous icons, including the melting watches, double images, and everyday objects set in odd contexts, helped to define the way people view reality and encourage children to view the world in new ways. Dalí’s controversial life is explored while children trace the roots of some familiar modern images. These wild and wonderful activities include making Man Ray–inspired solar prints, filming a Dali-esque dreamscape video, writing surrealist poetry, making collages, and assembling art with found objects.

The bizarre and often humorous creations of René Magritte, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, and other surrealists are showcased in this activity guide for young artists. Foremost among the surrealists, Salvador Dalí was a painter, filmmaker, designer, performance artist, and eccentric self-promoter. His famous icons, including the melting watches, double images, and everyday objects set in odd contexts, helped to define the way people view reality and encourage children to view the world in new ways. Dalí’s controversial life is explored while children trace the roots of some familiar modern images. These wild and wonderful activities include making Man Ray–inspired solar prints, filming a Dali-esque dreamscape video, writing surrealist poetry, making collages, and assembling art with found objects.

2016 VOYA Non-Fiction Honor List In an age of “slacktivism” and fleeting social media fame, She Takes a Stand offers a realistic look at the game-changing decisions, high stakes, and bold actions of women and girls around the world working to improve their personal situations and the lives of others. This inspiring collection of short biographies features the stories of extraordinary figures past and present who have dedicated their lives to fighting for human rights, civil rights, workers’ rights, reproductive rights, and world peace. Budding activists will be inspired by antilynching crusader and writer Ida B. Wells, birth control educator and activist Margaret Sanger, girls-education activist Malala Yousafzai, Gulabi Gang founder Sampat Pal Devi, who fights violence against Indian women, Dana Edell, who works against the sexualization of women and girls in the media, and many others. Including related sidebars, a bibliography, source notes, and a list of activist organizations readers can explore in person or online, She Takes a Stand is an essential resource for classroom reports or for any young person passionate about making a difference.

An inspiration for any young person who loves the outdoors, wildlife, or science, A World of Her Own tells the stories of 24 brave women from different cultures, epochs, and economic backgrounds who have shared similar missions: to meet the physical and mental challenges of exploring the natural world, to protect the environment and native cultures, and to leave a mark in the name of discovery. Among the many bold women profiled are Rosaly Lopes, who worked for NASA and discovered 71 volcanoes on one of Jupiter’s moons; Helen Thayer, the first woman to walk and ski the Magnetic North Pole accompanied by only her dog; Kay Cottee, the first woman to successfully sail nonstop around the world completely unassisted; and Anna Smith Peck, who set the record for the highest climb in the Western Hemisphere at the age of 58. These and other engaging profiles, based on both historical research and firsthand interviews, stress how childhood passions and interests, perseverance, and courage led these women to overcome challenges and break barriers to achieve great success in their adventurous pursuits and careers. A bibliography and annotated list of exploration resources and organizations make this an invaluable resource for young explorers, parents, and teachers alike.

DID YOU KNOW...Scientists believe that mosses, the first plants, may have changed the Earth's climate from hot to cold by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?Many members of the cabbage family release a poison "mustard" gas to fend off grazers?Plants are used in thousands of industries, from low-cost sewage treatment to new medical cures?Young nature enthusiasts will learn these and other fascinating facts about plants in this colorful, interactive resource. Plantology contains fun, kid-friendly discussions and activities to explore many topics—from seeds, roots, and sprouts to plant skeletons, leaves, petals, and fruits. It then goes beyond the basics to delve into the unknown world of common weeds, fascinating plant defense systems, and the countless roles plants play in our lives. With encouragement to "Try This," "Smell It," and "Look For," kids participate in 30 hands-on activities that promote observation and analysis, writing and drawing, math and science, and nature literacy skills. Children will keep a journal, examine and sketch plant structures, start a seed collection, make tasty vegetarian dishes, and more. Readers from any environment will start to notice the plants around them—not just in parks, gardens, and woods but also surrounding the schools, buildings, and sidewalks of their town, and in their own backyards. Useful resources include a glossary of scientific terms, a list of nature organizations and groups, and a teacher's guide to initiate classroom discussion and investigation.

It started with tremors, aftershocks of an event that no one was left to report on. Then the snow came, slow and steady, and it didn't stop. Day by day, inch by inch, everything disappeared beneath a crushing mass so deep that only the tops of the tallest trees remained. Saved by some fluke of elevation and wind patterns, Peter's cabin was spared while the rest of the world drowned beneath an ocean of solid water. Or so he thought. Driven to the brink of insanity by terrible isolation, he survives long enough to see the skies clear and the sun return. As the snow melts, it reveals an almost alien world, a barely recognizable landscape littered with the remnants of civilization. Together with a handful of survivors, Peter sets out to discover the cause of the event that broke humanity's hold on the world, and to learn whether it will strike again.

Portraits of brave women from the late 1800s through today—role models who are passionate about important issues A source of inspiration for young women with strong social convictions, She Takes a Stand highlights 16 extraordinary women who have fought for human rights, civil rights, workers' rights, reproductive/sexual rights, and world peace. Among these are many who have been imprisoned, threatened, or suffered financial hardships for pursuing their missions to change the world for the better. Included are historic heroes such as anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells and suffragist Alice Paul, along with contemporary figures such as girls-education activist Malala Yousafzai; Sampat Pal Devi, who fights violence against Indian women; and SPARK executive director Dana Edell, who works to end the sexualization of women and girls in the media. Taking a multicultural, multinational perspective, She Takes a Stand spotlights brave women around the world with an emphasis on childhood details, motivations, and life turning points—in many cases gleaned from the author's original interviews—and includes related sidebars, a bibliography, source notes, and a list of organizations young women can explore to get involved in changing their world.