Books with author Ray Martin

Landlocked deep in Central Asia is the colorful and diverse country of Afghanistan. While the world has heard much about the wars which have raged in its depths for decades, little is known about its other, brighter sides. For example, why is its traditional sport one of the most interesting in the world? What tourist spots have attracted visitors by the thousand to the country? Who is the Afghan Girl and why is she famous? What kinds of trees and flowers grow in the mountain ranges? All of these questions, and many more, will be answered in this book. Along with these facts are a set of colored pictures that will take the reader on a wonderful journey through this astonishing and diverse country.

Cassie wakes up on her sixteenth birthday only to realize she's been floating in her sleep. With her brother's help, Cassie learns how to control her new flying power, but she's afraid people will think differently of her if they find out. She's willing to do anything to keep her secret—practicing in the middle of the night, lying to her parents, even blowing off friends. But when a friend is in danger, Cassie must decide whether or not to help, even if taking action means revealing her secret.

Just 50 miles off the coast of southeastern United States are the islands of the Bahamas. These islands are known to the world as a great vacation destination; with their beautiful beaches and tropical weather, everyone wants to come here and enjoy this paradise! However, there is so much more on these islands that first meets the eye. Did you know that there are so many exotic animals on these islands? Or that pirates used to bury their treasure here? Did you know that the people of the Bahamas used to be slaves? Or that Christopher Columbus actually landed on the Bahamas? There is so much to learn about the Bahamas, and we will learn it all in this book! These facts come along with a bunch of vivid pictures that will really take you on a trip to these beautiful islands!

The Melissma Sea migrates on Hytrae’s equatorial Salt Plain of Shilom, spending two years as sole but temporary property of three politically diverse provinces. At her leading edge, the massive Storm Zone’s fresh water dissolves old salt while in her shallow quiet evaporation zone, she returns the cleansed salt back to Shilom. The Naweci call the sea the Dissolver of Doubts and the salt plain the Peace Maker and teach their children the two form a holy union as is the marriage of truth and men. Fishermen swear the souls of those who die at sea are captured in the holy mist Locsoldrn, a mysterious cloud legend squeezed from the Melissma when she tasted the blood of man’s first violence against man. The silent lightning within Locsoldrn is, they say, the souls of the dead warning of the Day of Judgment. The Melissma is crossing the border into Ides. The Merchant Prince of Ides, Soroff Baejon, has discovered the mist can be used to resurrect the recently deceased. He assumes die once and live forever. Baejon prophesies his emperor will be assassinated at the Idean Onset celebration and, in two days, live again to lead Hytrae’s race of mortals into immortality. Never do men know all the consequences of even their smallest endeavors. The wicked come only like a feather on a breeze, gently upon the mind as in a dream until men step into their domain or invite them into theirs. Baejon believes he can merge the two dimensions to his advantage. This he declares Hytrae’s Singularity.

Big waves and competition with other surfers send friends Maya and Paige out to surf the notoriously dangerous and secluded Rippers Cove. Soon the big waves turn into a big storm, and a bad fall leaves Paige too injured to make it back to shore. The friends can ride out the storm on a sandbar, but Maya knows that she needs to get help for Paige right away. To make matters worse, they realize that shark-infested waters stand between them and the safety of the beach!

It is amazing how a camel can survive the harsh deserts and the hottest spots in the world. The reason for this lies in the way their bodies are designed. Their humps are very important for survival. Even without food and water for many days, the fats in the humps provide for these necessities. Their facial features are also very helpful in the desert travels. Their noses can close. They have extra eyelids and long lashes. These all keep the desert sand from getting into their lungs and eyes. They have thick lips so that they are able to eat even the thorny plants in the desert. These are just some of the amazing things to know about a camel. In this book you will find many more interesting facts to add to what you already know about them. You will learn what they eat, drink, and how they survive in the desert. You will learn about their domesticated lives, what they do and how they are useful to humans. Some of the questions you might have about camels will be answered in this book. Questions like: Are camels aggressive animals? What do they do if they are threatened by humans? What is a bachelor herd? Do they have predators? What is a Bactrian camel? What is an F1 camel? Who are the camel’s relatives? This book also contains more than 20 colorful photographs of the camel in its natural habitat. These photos will help you understand the life of a camel better.

Have you ever wondered if ostriches really bury their heads under the sand when they are afraid? I am sure you have seen pictures or perhaps seen in some cartoons how this is so. Is this true or just a myth? Read this book to find out the answer and to learn more about the ostrich. In this book you will learn a lot of things about the ostrich. We all know what an ostrich looks like. They are huge birds with black feathers, a long neck and long legs. But did you know that ostriches are birds that can’t fly? Find out the reasons why. Also learn how an ostrich can balance with thin legs. Learn about what they eat, how they live, and how they take care of their young. This book will answer many questions about the ways of an ostrich. Why do both parents take turns sitting on their eggs? What are their predators? How do they protect themselves against their predators? Why are they very useful to farmers? What kinds of birds are they related to? This book also contains more than 20 colorful pictures of the ostrich in its natural habitat. These pictures will help children learn about the ostrich better.

Legend tells that if the Ravens leave the Tower of London, then Britain and the Crown will fall. Jester and the Ravens live the good life, entertaining the tourists in the grounds of the Tower, blissfully unaware that they live in the shadow of an ancient, evil curse. When Jester's lust for adventure threatens the unity of the family, a traitor's treacherous plot begins to take shape. When evil strikes the Tower and disaster sweeps the land, it falls to the Ravens and their friends to save Britain and the Crown from catastrophe.

You can tell a walrus from a seal by the long tusks protruding from their mouth. It is said that these are actually teeth that the walrus uses to pull itself out of the water, to chip off ice and to protect itself from predators. Aside from this, we can tell a walrus by its huge, flabby body which is said to be made up of a thick layer of fat called blubber. Blubber helps walruses survive in cold temperatures. Interesting! If you want to learn more about the walrus, read this book and you will find many amazing facts about this animal that has the ability to survive in the icy cold arctic waters. Learn more about their physical features. Learn about their social life and how they take care of their young. Learn about the different sounds that they make. How much does a walrus weight? How big is it? What do walruses eat? How do they hunt for food? These questions and more will be answered in this book. Read this interesting book to find out. This book also comes with more than 20 colorful pictures of the walrus in its habitat. With these, readers will get to see what their environment looks like which will help them create amazing images in their minds. This will help readers understand more about the life of this arctic giant.