Books with author Rebecca Kraft Rector

Our solar system is just one small part of our galaxy, and there are thousands of galaxies besides this one. Readers are introduced to the marvels of galaxies. Formation, sizes, and shapes of galaxies are discussed, including the Milky Way. Galactic movement and how scientists study galaxies are revealed. Color photographs, fast facts, and Words to Know sections increase the reader's learning experience, while a final hands-on activity emphasizes what the reader has learned. This book supports English Language Arts standards and correlates directly with Next Generation Science Standards.

The sun, planets, moon, and other space objects are all part of our solar system. With this fact-filled book, readers learn what a solar system is and what it contains, such as asteroids, comets, the Kuiper Belt, and the Oort Cloud. Full-color photographs and fast facts illuminate this fascinating topic, while a Words to Know section and an entertaining activity reinforce new knowledge. This book correlates directly with the Next Generation Science Standards' expectation for understanding Earth's Place in the Universe in first and second grades. It is also aligned with English Language Arts standards.

The sight of the moon in the night sky can be both familiar and mysterious. Readers are introduced to concepts such as the moon's rotation, orbit, and formation. They learn the basics of gravity, tides, atmosphere, and the phases of the moon. Fast facts, a hands-on activity, and eye-catching images capture readers' attention and enhance their understanding. This book correlates directly with the Next Generation Science Standards' expectation for understanding Earth's Place in the Universe in first and second grades.

All of the planets in our solar system circle around one giant ball of gases: the sun. This simple yet fascinating book explains how the sun was formed and where its energy comes from. Readers learn to identify the different parts of the sun. A hands-on activity investigates the sun's changing place in our sky, while full-color photographs and fast facts enhance the narrative. This book correlates directly with the Next Generation Science Standards' expectation for understanding Earth's Place in the Universe in first and second grades. It is also aligned with English Language Arts standards.

Plants can grow almost everywhere. This book explores ecosystems particular to the seven continents and watery environments, including forests, deserts, mountains, the ocean, and lakes. This book also includes an examination of how artificial environments like greenhouses and the indoors can be healthy for some plants, and how some artificial environments cause harm even beyond their own boundaries. For each environment type, this volume describes the types of plants that live there, and how well they thrive. Any young reader who wants to explore the needs of plants and how their environment meets those needs will find this book essential.

We may not be able to see asteroids without a telescope, but there are thousands of these space rocks circling the sun. Readers learn about asteroid formation, size, shape, and orbits. They are also introduced to the methods that scientists use to track asteroids. Fast facts and a hands-on activity expand the reader's learning experience, while full-color images enrich the narrative with additional details and examples. This book supports English Language Arts standards and also correlates directly with Next Generation Science Standards.

Shawn Mendes was only fifteen years old when he became an online singing sensation. Within a few years, he quickly progressed to become an international superstar. Readers meet Shawn through well-researched, accessible information on his life and accomplishments. The high-interest text is enhanced with full-color photographs, a timeline, and direct quotes from Shawn himself. This book invites leisure reading, as well as supports the social studies curricula. It is aligned with the Common Core English Language Arts standards for reading informational texts, and with the College and Career Readiness anchor standards.