Books in Children's Nature Activity Book series

No, it's not a message from outer space! Just read it backwards, starting from the bottom line, to discover what this specially coded message says. (The extra letter "X" at the beginning was thrown in just to make the message a bit more mysterious.)Codes have been used for centuries. Now, with the help of this entertaining book, you, too, will be able to decipher dozens of secret messages. Veteran cryptographer Bud Johnson not only describes the different techniques used in secret writing but also explains — clearly and simply — how to make and break six different kinds of codes: simple letter grouping, reverse trail, shift code, key word code, date shift code, and twisted path code. You'll even learn techniques for creating your own confidential messages!Cartoons by illustrator Larry Daste accompany the 51 practice messages, along with easy-to-follow instructions explaining each type of code and how to use it. There's also a glossary defining common terms used by cryptographers, a sheet of reproducible graph paper for writing out messages, and a page of ready-made alphabets for shift and key word codes. And if all those funny drawings and helpful guidelines aren't enough to help you decode our secret messages, don't worry. Solutions are included at the end of the book.

Winner of a Silver 2013 Moonbeam Children's Book Award! Take a close look at 25 of the world's most famous paintings in this artful puzzle book. Two identical-looking full-page versions of a masterpiece appear side by side, but a careful search will reveal several subtle — and sometimes amusing — differences. Fun facts introduce Holbein's dignified The Ambassadors, Cassatt's Children Playing on the Beach, and other painters and their works. Includes solutions.

Twenty-five pairs of color reproductions of iconic covers from The Saturday Evening Post invite everyone to spot the differences. Pictures on the left display unaltered original art; the ones on the right feature 11 to 15 subtle changes. Suitable for all ages, the images include covers by Norman Rockwell, John Falter, Stevan Dohanos, Richard "Dick" Sargent, and many other artists. Solutions included.

Full-color illustrations and easy-to-follow directions explain basic techniques as well as every step of the crafting process for 29 clay projects — a sloth, flamingo, narwhal, llama, panda, zebra, unicorn, koala, elephant, and other cute critters. Each project includes a list of materials consisting of colored clay and ordinary household items. The step-by-step instructions feature numerals corresponding to color photos that provide helpful examples. Crafters of all ages will adore these fun-filled projects, which make charming keepsakes and unique gifts.

Using puzzles, kids will face dozens of intriguing challenges as they answer interesting questions about the first Olympic games, the longest river in the world, Italy's most famous Renaissance man, and other subjects related to world history, geography, and popular culture. From alphabet and number codes to grids and picture puzzles, this book offers plenty of fun for kids, ages 8 to 11. Includes complete solutions.

This charming book shows you how to have fun with a pastime that has delighted children and adults for generations: making shadow pictures on the wall with your hands and fingers.Selected from the pages of two clever 19th-century picture books, 28 hand-shadow illustrations demonstrate how to create marvelous images of a goose, deer (with antlers), birds, a bunny, a dog, an elephant, a tortoise, and a host of other familiar creatures. For extra enjoyment, the illustrations are accompanied by lively, often hilarious verses by Frank Jacobs, whose zany humor and wacky parodies have appeared in numerous publications.With this book and a bit of practice , you'll soon be delighting friends and relatives with an entertaining performance of shadow art.

The most popular hobby in the world, stamp collecting has millions of fans in the United States alone. Many are adults who have turned a childhood interest in philately into a pleasurable (and often profitable) lifetime avocation. This volume has everything needed to start a personal stamp collection: Entries for nearly 200 countries; Spaces for more than 2,600 stamps; Over 1,100 black-and-white illustrations of stamps; Easy-to-use Stamp Identifier Table and Index.Clear instructions for using the album and the Stamp Identifier Table are included, along with many useful hints and tips on building a collection. An entertaining, inexpensive way to learn about faraway people and places, stamp collecting brings a sense of excitement and adventure with each new acquisition. This book offers would-be collectors that ticket to discovery.

Head south of the border to explore a sunny world of puzzles and fun facts! Welcome to Mexico, land of tropical rain forests, volcanoes, deserts, and beaches — and a vibrant array of ancient and modern traditions. This book introduces kids ages 6 to 10 to fascinating aspects of Mexican geography, language, food, arts, sports, and festivals. Puzzles and activities range from dot-to-dots, crosswords, and spot-the-differences to easy directions for making piñatas and maracas. Cute illustrations offer plenty of opportunities for coloring.

What bird can lift the heaviest weight?What is worse than finding a worm in an apple?What animal doesn't play fair?These and about 600 other howlers and teeth-gritters will be found in this entertaining collection. You'll find rib-tickling riddles on all sorts of subjects, from animals, plants, fruits and people, to love and courtship, and eating and drinking.You'll have loads of fun baffling friends and relatives with this nearly inexhaustible treasury of favorite riddles that have puzzled people for generations. Parents and teachers will remember the fun times they had when they endlessly recited these humorous stumpers in their own younger days. Ready to tickle the funny bones and challenge the wits of riddle lovers of all ages, these brain-teasers, puns, and puzzles are perfect for enjoying by yourself or to liven up parties, family gatherings and other group occasions.Answers: The crane. Finding half a worm. The Cheetah.

Add up the money in a wallet full of yen, fold an origami hat, and follow a maze through the sights of Kyoto! These and other playful activities for children ages 6 to 10 offer a warm welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun. A host of crosswords, jumbles, cryptograms, spot-the-differences, and other puzzles acquaint kids with Japanese geography, language, food, arts, sports, and festivals.