Books with author Professor Emeritus of Latin David West

Get to the chopper! Readers will take off on an exploration of helicopters in this enthralling book on the mechanics behind these peculiar aerial vehicles. How do helicopters take off, soar through the skies, and land? Readers will learn these engineering secrets and other key concepts. Accessible language ensures they are able to process complex material, and detailed illustrations both entertain and educate. Comprehensive diagrams give readers a look at helicopters insides, inspiring them to get excited about science and technology. This visually rich, informative take on a high-interest topic is sure to be a valuable addition to any library.

With foot-long teeth as sharp as knives, the Tyrannosaurus is one of the most well known and ferocious predators. It wasnt the only carnivorous dinosaur, though. This title covers 10 giant meat eaters who hunted Earths lands millions of years before people arrived. This volume presents a high-interest subject through manageable text thats designed to appeal to young readers. Readers learn the essential facts about each dinosaur species, each of which is depicted through full-color graphics. Nonfiction text features, such as a glossary and comprehensive timeline, accompany the text, giving readers a full understanding of these fascinating creatures that lived long ago.

Ten beautifully illustrated stories tell fables and folktales from different cultures featuring animal characters that often speak and act like humans in order to teach a lesson. Tales include: Anansi the Spider, and Mainu the Frog, from African folktales; Brer Rabbit, an African American folktale; Wenebojo and the Buffalo, a Native American legend; the Hare and the Tortoise, a Greek fable; and Androcles and the Lion, a Roman fable. Feature boxes add additional details to help readers better understand concepts in the story as well as the time period in which the story was written.

Ten exciting stories feature famous explorers and their struggles to survive in frigid temperatures during dangerous polar expeditions. Stories include: the last expedition of John Franklin, Salomon August Andre's attempt to reach the North Pole by hydrogen balloon, Ernest Shackletons journey to rescue his ice-locked crew, Riiser-Larsen and Amundsens crash in the Arctic, and the crash of Umberto Nobiles airship Italia. Feature boxes and maps add additional details and help readers better understand the explorer's journey and the time period in which the expedition took place.

Fascination with ancient Egypt hasnt diminished even though 2,000 years have passed since Cleopatras tragic concluding reign. The amazing and vibrant Egyptians were intelligent enough to build the pyramids, dedicated to their gods enough to mummify bodies, and skilled enough to leave behind the precious artifacts and artwork that tell us of their legacy. In this striking volume, readers are transported to ancient Egypt through accessible text and gorgeous artwork. Essential topics such as family life, religion, political structure, and economy, in combination with photographs of actual Egyptian artifacts, make this book a must-read for any young historian.

Before Christopher Columbus's voyages to the West Indies and Central and South America, Europeans knew nothing of the Americas in the New World. His four journeys, beginning in 1492 and ending in 1504, blazed a sea route west across the Atlantic Ocean that pioneered would exploration for years to come. This well-paced account captures Columbus's determination and courage as he led his crews into both unknown waters and unfamiliar native civilizations.