Books published by publisher PowerKids Press (2009-04-30)

The Greek philosopher Socrates famously declared, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Reflection is a vital element of an examined life. Even for students, reflecting on situations and their own thoughts and feelings can lead to meaningful connections, greater self-awareness, and stronger decision-making skills. Readers will find a guide to healthy reflection. Primary sources provide powerful examples of reflection in action. Photographs and descriptions of familiar situations remind students that they can reflect on their own thoughts and feelings every day.

Each community has a variety of different buildings of all shapes and sizes. We don't usually stop to think about who put those buildings there. We often don't even think about who built our own house. Your readers will learn important concepts; construction workers are the reason we have places to live and work. They're the reason we have roads to get from one place to another. They work with other building professionals to build structures that people and businesses need. Construction workers keep our communities growing and thriving.

The biosphere refers to the parts of Earth where life exists or where known life has existed in the past. The biosphere is comprised of the atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere because life exists in each of those three spheres, from birds in the sky to fish in the water to worms in the dirt. Food chains represent interconnected life cycles in the biosphere. Energy is transferred from one organism to the next and, as apex predators die, nutrients are returned to the soil. Readers will learn how people affect the biosphere and how life and energy are maintained in the biosphere.

Living things depend on other living things in order to survive. This is called interdependence. This engaging book explores the symbiotic and competitive relationships that exist between interdependent organisms. The accessible text is perfect for young scientists. Beautiful, full-color photographs on every page make this an exciting introduction to the way organisms interact with each other to fulfill their needs. This important life science topic is covered in detail and includes STEM concepts addressed in the Next Generation Science Standards.

Many creatures wander through the world of Minecraft and, just like in the real world, many of them can be helpful or dangerous. This book shows young Minecraft fans more about how the game's critters compare to the real-life animals they know. Through intriguing illustrations and real-world facts, they'll learn more about the creatures with which they share the planet, the resources with which they can provide us, and how that information crosses over to the game. They'll also learn more about taming and keeping these animals, or, in some cases, avoiding them.

Glow sticks are a blast to wave around at a party as the sun is going down, but what do you do with them after that? This resourceful book offers several creative projects to reuse these objects as light sabers, a lantern, and even a bowling alley. Young artists will love gathering materials to complete each engaging activity and show off their creations to friends. Step-by-step instructions and colorful how-to photographs make each project a snap to accomplish.

From rich curries, to smooth yogurt drinks, the food of India is known for spicy flavor and luxurious texture. This colorful book uses bold, vivid photographs and evocative text to explore the regional cuisines of this large, and diverse. Students will love demonstrating their newfound knowledge, and testing their culinary skills with any of the five, easy-to-follow recipes.

The Electoral College is the body of people who elect the president and vice president of the United States. Many U.S. citizens are confused by this system, which dates back to the creation of the U.S. Constitution. When citizens vote for a presidential candidate, they're actually voting for an elector who will cast a vote for their state for that candidate in the Electoral College. This system is a controversial subject in American politics. Primary sources and informative sidebars lend historical context to help young readers understand this essential aspect of U.S. presidential elections.

The ocean covers much of Earth, and Minecraft worlds can have massive oceans as well. There's a wealth of resources in the vast blue deep, but there are also many considerations to exploring these biomes, both in Minecraft and in the real world. Young readers and gaming fans will learn more about the similarities, the differences, and how to safely explore the game's oceans. Along the way, they'll learn more about how people explore the ocean in the real world.