Books published by publisher Checkmark Books,2009

This is an essential field guide for geology lovers. Written by a team of eminent geologists and educators, "The Field Guide to Geology, New Edition" features clear graphics and simple field-guide procedures to guide hikers through the great outdoors. A revised and updated edition of a best-seller, this helpful resource offers readers ready access to the subject. This new edition features 200 new, two-color illustrations (more than 750 in all), updated graphs and tables, as well as two new chapters titled "Monitoring the Earth's Changes" and "Geologists of Note." This volume's lucid, easy-to-follow text covers all the key rudiments of geology and will provide nature lovers with a useful reference to various geological phenomena. The topics covered include: Air currents; Composition; Desertification; Greenhouse effect; Ice changes; Seafloor profiling; Seismic activity; Submersibles; Tides; Waterflow; and more.

This title offers a comprehensive and detailed overview of the 44 presidents of the United States. The president of the United States is a highly visible public figure, a bearer of immense responsibility, and the subject of intense scrutiny. He is accountable for war, economic depression, domestic strife, national security, partisan politics, and overseas conflict. "Presidents, Third Edition" closely examines the hopes and disappointments, the victories and defeats, and the integrity and perfidy of the men who have held this office. Featuring up-to-date information, including the January 2009 inauguration, this new edition is an expertly written, detailed reference that narrates and explains the lives and careers of America's presidents. It is an essential guide for anyone seeking a complete understanding of the development and workings of the United States government, as well as a great read for those who are fascinated by the interplay of politics, power, career, and legacy. Comprehensive and accessible, "Presidents, Third Edition" contains biographies and portraits of all presidents, a detailed chronology of the political history of the United States from the Revolution to the present, and suggested further reading about each president.

This sumptuously illustrated volume walks young readers around the globe, beginning with an introduction of the planet Earth as a whole.Next, the wonders of each continent are through detailed close-ups of over 30 separate nations and regions, covering population, topography, economy, culture, religion, religion, and climate.Cultural comparisons provide young readers with a global understanding of their peers around the world.

A close look at the people who changed history and the events that led to democracy in Mexico.Praise for the previous hardcover editions:"...well researched...concise...interesting..."—American Reference Books AnnualFrom the rise of the first civilizations of North America, continuing through the cataclysm of the Spanish conquest and the explosive revolution of Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa to the intensely contested presidential election of 2006, Mexico has had a vibrant and dynamic history.A Brief History of Mexico, Fourth Edition brings readers up to date on developments in Mexico, helping them understand the deeper significance of recent events. Since Felipe Calderón took office in 2006 amidst violent protests, his reforms have been aimed at drug cartels, poverty, restructuring the role of government in private businesses, and attempts to foster trade agreements with other nations. Despite the many obstacles it faces today, Mexico has become a democratic nation with checks and balances, free elections, and the ability to build a better future.Coverage includes:Mexico's pre-Columbian civilizations as well as contemporary indigenous culturesThe challenge of revitalizing Mexico's people and resources in this new period of multiparty democracyThe environmentNorth American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) The testing of the new democratic institutions by the close results of the 2006 presidential election and months of protest claiming electoral fraudAccusations of human rights abuses by Amnesty International and the United Nations at the end of Vicente Fox's presidencyThe war on the drug cartels.

Central America is a tiny region, broken into seven even smaller nations. More than 5 million North Americans visit these countries every year, exploring Mayan ruins in Guatemala and Belize, discovering the rain forests of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, snorkeling in Honduras, and cruising through the Panama Canal. on the political events and cultural patterns that have shaped the region. Special themes, such as the causes of unity and disunity on the isthmus and the economic pressures on the rain forest from farming and tourism, are developed throughout the book. Coverage of the history of the region is up to date with new developments, including the continued struggle in the after-math of the civil wars, the impact of the free trade agreement signed with the United States, and recent elections. Neighbors, The Spanish Conquest (1492-1541), The Federation of Central America (1823-1839), Civil Wars (1975-1996), The Challenge of Peace and Democracy, and more.