Books with author Michael Emerson

With their eyes set on distant horizons, explorers from across Europeincluding Leif Eriksson, Sir Francis Drake, and Alexander von Humboldtvoyaged to the New World. They discovered the lands that would later be known as the Americasmotivated by curiosity, commercial interests, or scientific inquiry. These adventurers charted previously unknown territories, encountered, and often tragically exploited, native peoples, and changed the fate of the global landscape. The stories of these trailblazers and their remarkable journeys comprise this compelling volume.

Woolly Bargains, A Scary Story for Young People...Woolly Bargains is a fable featuring two characters, one a bright, energetic, young grasshopper and the other an old woolly spider who lives at the base of a large yellow bloom on a Pecado Bush. In the story the crafty old spider is unable to chase or catch his favorite meal, that of a grasshopper and so he proposes a deal with his new found green friend in which both will benefit. "All I ask is that you go to the meadow and bring me back a blade of grass and place it within the edge of my web. In return I will select the finest of the fruit from my parlor and place it outside the sticky rim of my weave." It is a story of personal values and the bargains we make to get the things we want. The deals between the grasshopper and the spider involve flattery, patience, risks and temptation. The outcome of the relationship, what happens to the grasshopper and the spider, is obvious to some readers and not so clear to others. Though by appearance it is written as a children's book it seems to have broad appeal to readers of all ages. You will see that some lessons are best learned early.

The peaceful coexistence between humans and nature is vital to the survival of every living thing on Earth. Naturalists, conservationists, and environmental activists are dedicated to curbing a number of ecological threats. Readers take a thoughtful look at the work of those individuals who have helped shape and advance the green movement, which aims to provide a sustainable future for all concerned.

Together, minerals, rocks, and fossils communicate much about Earths history. Much more than ornaments on a landscape, minerals and rocks are significant components of the planets foundation, while fossils contain clues as to the various life forms that once inhabited the planet. Readers are invited to take a closer look at the materials that have, in many ways, facilitated life, and to explore the types and categories of minerals, rocks, and fossils alike.

The cultural and intellectual achievements of Old World civilizationsancient Greece or Egypt, for instancecan be glimpsed in present-day societies the world over. Unfortunately, accomplishments of the ancient civilizations of the New World have often been obscured by the colonial forces that eventually eradicated much of their populations. One glance at the imposing architecture left behind by the Inca or the mathematical strides made by the Maya reveals that the early peoples of the Americas were equally as enterprising as their Old World counterparts. This exciting volume introduces readers to the magnificent kingdoms and empires of early South, Middle, and North America and the rich heritage of the peoples who made them.

Amidst constant warfare and surges of cultural achievement, ancient Rome luxuriated in the splendors of its conquests and the glory of its Empire. Under the powerful direction of such leaders as Julius Caesar and Augustus, Rome secured its legacy as a foundation for much of the modern Western world. This provocative volume examines the many advances in governance, law, and engineering attributed to the Roman Empire as well as the individuals who shaped its military and cultural trajectory.