Books with author Rebecca Hirsch

It's a chilly winter evening. A northern gannet lets out a loud graaak. Swiftly and carefully, a scientist scoops the bird off the surface of the water into a net so that a team of experts can implant a high-tech tag. Scientists will track this seabird―and many others―to learn its movement patterns over the following years. Find out how scientists are working to ensure clean, renewable offshore wind power won't spell disaster for the millions of seabirds that play a critical role in the ocean food web.

Science writer and plant expert Rebecca E. Hirsch presents fun and gross facts about a variety of plants along with explaining the science behind why they do what they do. Featured plants include the Venus Flytrap, an African tree that houses stinking ants to protect itself from hungry animals, a "vampire vine" that sucks nutrients from other plants, and fiendishly invasive kudzu.

Many animals migrate during the year. But did you know that some animals migrate over incredibly long distances? The animals in this book make amazing migration trips—traveling thousands of miles by flying, swimming, or even walking! How long are the longest migration journeys? Which animals migrate in the largest groups? Find out these and other amazing facts about migration.

Find out what an American alligator has in common with a frilled lizard. Discover what sets an American alligator apart from an eastern coral snake. Readers will compare and contrast key traits of American alligators―their appearance, behavior, habitat, and life cycle―to similar and different reptiles. Charts and sidebars support key ideas and provide details. Through gathering information about similarities and differences, readers will make connections and draw conclusions about what makes this animal a reptile and how reptiles are alike and different from each other.

What's so great about Washington, DC? Find out the top ten sites to see or things to do in the nation's capital! We'll explore Washington, DC's lively parks, historic landmarks, fun-filled museums, and fascinating history. The Washington, DC, by Map feature shows where you'll find all the places covered in the book. A special section provides quick district facts such as the motto, population, tree, bird, and more. Take a fun-filled tour of all there is to discover in Washington, DC.

Explore outer space through interactive augmented reality experiences! Humans first placed a space station in orbit around Earth in 1971. Construction of the International Space Station began in 1998, and since then people from different countries have been living and conducting cutting-edge science experiments there. Explore the latest news about space stations with the help of augmented reality.

Explore outer space through interactive augmented reality experiences! Space suits protect astronauts during launches and landings and allow people to go on space walks. But astronauts need a lot more gear than just their suits to complete missions. Sometimes, they build their own tools in space using 3D printers. Augmented reality features add to this exciting exploration of space gear.