Books in Alpha Science series

How much of Earth's surface is covered by water? How do the northern lights get their colors? Planet Earth has been home to mankind for hundreds of thousands of years and while scientists have learned a lot about it, they're still unraveling many of its mysteries. B is for Blue Planet: An Earth Science Alphabet explains what we do know about our planet and what more we have to learn. Examine Earth's diverse ecosystems (deserts), discover geological wonders (karst caves), learn about weather phenomena (hurricanes), and much more. Ruth Strother has been in the publishing industry for more than twenty years and is the author of fifteen books for children. She also wrote Sleeping Bear's W is for Woof: A Dog Alphabet. Ruth lives in Southern California. Bob Marstall was a K-12 art teacher for many years, and today he is an award-winning children's book illustrator. He tours all over the country, lecturing in schools on the integration of art and science. Bob lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

At one time rainforests covered about 14% of the earth's surface; now they're reduced to just 6%. As home to some of the most diverse plant and animal species ever known, this decline has grave implications for both man and animal kingdoms. A is for Anaconda: A Rainforest Alphabet explores the world's rainforests as it explains their important role and showcases their wonders. Nature writer Anthony Fredericks gives an A-Z tour of the many facets and fascinating facts of these tropical environments. Exotic inhabitants including the basilisk lizard and kinkajou are highlighted, along with explanations of forest structure such as understory and canopy. In A is for Anaconda young readers will meet the many endangered plant and animal species, understand the progression of a food web, and appreciate why the rainforest has been called the "world's medicine chest."Anthony D. (Tony) Fredericks is a frequent traveler to the rainforests of Hawaii and Central America. He is the author of many nature and animal books for children, including several award-winning titles. When not visiting classrooms across the country, Tony teaches education courses at York College in York, PA. Laura Regan is nationally known for her rich, contemporary style of painting and her many award-winning children's books featuring exotic flora and fauna. Her artwork has been used to raise funds for many wildlife organizations. Laura lives in the Bay Area in California.

Fact: At one time prairies covered about 40% of the United States but today only about 1% of North American prairies exist. P is for Prairie Dog: A Prairie Alphabet explores North American prairies as it explains their important role and showcases their wonders. Science writer Anthony Fredericks gives an A-Z tour of the many facets and fascinating facts of the prairie ecosystem. Inhabitants including the bison, the quail, and, of course, the prairie dog are highlighted along with descriptions of insect and plant life. Former schoolteacher Tony Fredericks is an award-winning author of many nature and animal books for children. A frequent presenter at schools and conferences across the country, Tony teaches education courses at York College in York, Pennsylvania. Doug Bowles has been a freelance illustrator for more than twenty years. His books for Sleeping Bear include One Kansas Farmer: A Kansas Number Book and S is for Sunflower: A Kansas Alphabet. Doug lives in Leawood, Kansas.

For every budding scientist who would like to think beyond the smoking volcano, diorama, and colored graphs of the typical school science fair. I is for Idea explores the development of bicycles, zippers, toilets, computers, and many other inventions that we now take for granted in our daily lives. Readers will learn about the inventors and the genesis behind these ever-present and useful items. Curious kids will find plenty of inspiration as they discover the answers to their continuous questions. What is the basis for the phrase "the real McCoy"? What actually is the mother of invention? What kitchen appliance was developed after a scientist's candy bar suddenly melted? Author Marcia Schonberg lives north of Columbus, Ohio. She is the author of more than a dozen books, including B is for Buckeye: An Ohio Alphabet. Illustrator Kandy Radzinski's first book with Sleeping Bear Press, S is for Sooner: An Oklahoma Alphabet, was the Oklahoma Center for the Book Best Illustrated Book 2004. She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Did you know Americans generate nearly 250 million tons of trash each year? Or that it takes hundreds of years for a polystyrene cup to decompose? Mankind's negative impact on Mother Earth is tremendous and daily bad news can make it feel overwhelming. But all is not lost! S is for Save the Planet: A How-to-Be-Green Alphabet details the many environmental issues we face and then suggests easy-to-take actions that anyone can do. From the particulars of vermicomposting and xeriscaping, to the three R's of responsible waste management, young readers learn how they can be a force of nature in protecting the earth for generations to come.Brad Herzog spends two months every summer traveling across the country with his wife and two young sons and celebrating America's natural wonders. Together, they have visited more than 30 national parks and seashores. This is Brad's eighth alphabet book for Sleeping Bear Press. He lives on California's Monterey Peninsula. Linda Holt Ayriss is the recipient of a silver medal from the Best in the West Society of Illustrators, and has been recognized in the Communication Arts Annual. She is also the author of Sleeping Bear's E is for Evergreen: A Washington Alphabet. Linda lives in Washington State.

Where can one find the world's largest mounted African elephant? Or the world's largest blue diamond? Why, at the world's largest museum complex and research organization, of course! In S is for Smithsonian® readers can take an armchair tour of the incredible exhibitions and collections found in the Smithsonian Museum. When it opened in 1855, no one could have imagined that the Smithsonian Museum would grow to include 19 museums, nine research centers, or over 130 million objects, artworks, and specimens collected from all over the world. With over 25 million visitors a year, the Smithsonian truly is the world's largest museum! See the airplane Amelia Earhart flew on her solo Atlantic flight. Admire diamond earrings that once belonged to Marie Antoinette. From A-Z, S is for Smithsonian® explores the amazing objects and memorable displays that are part of this remarkable museum. Marie and Roland Smith have collaborated on several alphabet titles, including B is for Beaver: An Oregon Alphabet and Z is for Zookeeper: A Zoo Alphabet. They live on a small farm south of Portland. The author of many books for children, Roland has also penned Sleeping Bear Press's middle-grade series, I, Q. Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen has illustrated more than 20 books with Sleeping Bear Press, including the bestselling The Legend of Sleeping Bear; The Edmund Fitzgerald: Song of the Bell; and most recently, Itsy Bitsy & Teeny Weeny. He and his wife, Robbyn, live in Bath, Michigan, on their 40-acre farm and wildlife refuge.

Space Dots for Mini Dot Markers! Welcome to the dot frontier of outer space dots for toddlers. Preschoolers and Toddlers will have lots of "do a dot" art book fun with this toddler outer space book. This Outer Space book for toddlers is designed for dot markers, bingo daubers, dab markers and mini dot markers. There are dot marker dots on every design in this space book for toddlers! - Over 30 Dot Marker outer space coloring pages- Bound Coloring Book: No loose papers- Fun for Preschoolers and Toddlers- 8.5” x 11” Pages perfect for framing- Works great with mini dauber dawgs markers, dab o ink markers, dab and dot markers, crazy dot markers, do a dot art markers, dab markers and more!

Support and extend your science curriculum with this activity-rich program! Meeting NSTA standards in Life, Physical, and Earth & Space Science, this extensive resource provides a wonderful blend of background information for the teacher, cross-curricular activities, projects and experiments, and assessments that enrich and extend science period. All-inclusive presentation of life, physical, and earth & space sciences. Useful background information ideal resource for teachers with limited science exposure as well as the veteran science educator. Projects and experiments that will intrigue students and that use easy-to-find materials. Plenty of graphic organizers, including charts, tables, maps & graphs. Assessments that are ideal as pretests, posttests; perfect for portfolios. Lists of books for further reading allowing students to pursue individual interests and expand into other curriculum areas. Correlation to FOSS standards.

Why do onions make us cry? What popular nut really isn't a nut at all? And what makes a forest a rainforest? The answers to these questions and many other fascinating facts can be found in V is for Venus Flytrap: A Plant Alphabet. Mankind's dependence upon the plant kingdom goes far beyond the food on our table and the air that we breathe. Plants have also provided shelter and led to important advances in medicine and science. Using the alphabet, horticulturalist Eugene Gagliano covers a wide range of topics including exotic species and their locations; plants' role in a healthy lifestyle; food crops and the world economy; and the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship in our world today. After reading V is for Venus Flytrap, young readers will be eager to get their hands dirty and their thumbs green!Retired elementary schoolteacher Eugene Gagliano has had a green thumb since boyhood. He has an A.A.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and owned a greenhouse business for several years. The author of several books for children including C is for Cowboy: A Wyoming Alphabet and Four Wheels West: A Wyoming Number Book, Eugene lives in Buffalo, Wyoming. Elizabeth Traynor received her BFA in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her work can be seen throughout the country, from book covers, newspapers, and magazines, to ads and packaging. She is a professor of illustration, passing her love and knowledge of the field on to the next generation of artists. Elizabeth lives in Natick, Massachusetts.

Would you like to know the difference between cirrus and cumulus clouds? How much does our atmosphere weigh? W is for Wind: A Weather Alphabet is a swirl of information that answers these questions and many more. Readers will learn that yes, our atmosphere has weight! And if it's sunny, chances are it's heavy. When the atmosphere is lighter, grab your galoshes! W is for Wind is one well-informed children's book from the Sleeping Bear Press family that puts the emphasis on fun and function. It lets children learn all about the weather in a relaxed engaging manner. Professional weatherman and storm tracker Pat Michaels spins the stories on everything from tornadoes and hurricanes to rainbows and evaporation with gusto. His rhymes thunder through the alphabet with excitement and his factual text resonates like the Northern Lights. Readers will turn the pages with lightning quickness to get to the next weather condition and with each page turned they'll be treated to the mystical illustrations of Canadian-born artist Melanie Rose. Perfect in the classroom or the home, W is for Wind captures the love affair we all have with weather. It the perfect complement to a science lesson or to help explain to children what exactly happens when water freezes and much more with easy-to-understand language. Enriching, enlightening and educational could easily be the "E" in this one-of-a-kind weather alphabet book.

The polar bear are splashing in their pool. The monkeys are having the time of their lives in the trees. The lion peacefully observes his surroundings. The zoo is a great place to see animals from all over the world in one place. But who takes care of them and their home the zoo? The zookeeper. In Z is for Zookeeper: A Zoo Alphabet children will learn that he's probably the busiest person there. And if you don't see the zookeepers, rest assured they're doing their job and doing it well. After all, someone has to feed, clean, nurse and clean up after this diverse adopted family. Who better to write an exploration into this trade than a zookeeper and his wife? Roland Smith brings his 20 years of experience and passion to every line in Z is for Zookeeper. Children will have a front seat into the inner workings, challenges and rewards of a day in the life of the zoo. This trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete without the whimsical animals and settings that spring from school-favorite artist's Henry Cole's expert brush strokes. Z is for Zookeeper: A Zoo Alphabet is a true original, exploring a rarely seen side of one of America's favorite family attractions. As a great keepsake of a fun day or as an educational tool on career day or a fun read before lights out, this detailed account of the zookeeper is sure to change the way readers see the zoo.

This title is part of a series designed for younger readers or young people with special educational needs, with simple experiments to reinforce scientific information. This text introduces readers to the world of light—the source of light, its effect on all living organisms, and the use of light for sight and by cameras. It examines how light can be bent, focused, and generated and how these features can be used in both the natural and man-made world.