Books in Discover the World series

Although America officially declared its independence in 1776, we owe much of our heritage, culture, and even style of living to England, our mother country. In B is for Big Ben: An England Alphabet, young readers are given an armchair tour of a country that may be small in size (smaller than the state of New York!) but a giant in history, achievement, and influence. Of course, everyone has heard about England's famous kings and queens, and castles and monuments. But did you know that many of our everyday conveniences started as British ideas? Charles Babbage designed the first computer in the nineteenth century. And guess what contribution came from the Earl of Sandwich? From the ancient stillness of Stonehenge to the picturesque charm of the Lake District to the bustling streets of London, B is for Big Ben reveals the many treasures, past and present, of merry old England.To find recipes, games, interactives maps and much more for this title visit www.discovertheworldbooks.com! Pamela Duncan Edwards was born and lived in England many years before moving to the United States. As the author of more than 25 children's books, she is a popular visitor to schools and reading conferences. Pamela's other books with Sleeping Bear Press are Why the Stomach Growls and O is for Old Dominion: A Virginia Alphabet. She lives in Vienna, Virginia. Melanie Rose's artwork has graced the pages of numerous Sleeping Bear Press books including Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet; A is for Axel: An Ice Skating Alphabet; and H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet. A native of England, Melanie is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and lives in Ontario Canada.

Whether sharing the stories of Anne of Green Gables and Terry Fox, or revealing Canada's importance in growing grain that feeds the world, "M is for Maple" is a shining tribute to Canada. From British Columbia to Newfoundland, this Canadian alphabet book shares our nation's symbols, history, people and culture. In clever rhymes and informative text, author Mike Ulmer shares the unique details of Canada. Illustrator Melanie Rose has captured the beauty and splendor of Canada, from the Northern Lights to brave Mounties and the beautiful cities of Toronto, Victoria, and Quebec. Destined to become a national classic, "M is for Maple" is a treasure for Canadians young and old.

Whether sharing the stories of Anne of Green Gables and Terry Fox, or revealing Canada's importance in growing grain that feeds the world, "M is for Maple" is a shining tribute to Canada. From British Columbia to Newfoundland, this Canadian alphabet book shares our nation's symbols, history, people and culture. In clever rhymes and informative text, author Mike Ulmer shares the unique details of Canada. Illustrator Melanie Rose has captured the beauty and splendor of Canada, from the Northern Lights to brave Mounties and the beautiful cities of Toronto, Victoria, and Quebec. Destined to become a national classic, "M is for Maple" is a treasure for Canadians young and old.

Winding its way like a long dragon through 4,000 miles of mountains, desert, and grasslands, The Great Wall of China was built entirely by hand, taking hundreds of years and millions of workers to complete. That's just one of the myriad wonders of China children will discover in this far-reaching book. "D is for Dancing Dragon" brings China's history and culture alive by describing its unique customs, art works, music, foods, geography and wildlife. Children will learn, for example, that paper, ink, printing, umbrellas, kites and fireworks are all Chinese inventions. They'll find the secrets of how silk is made, how chopsticks work and why you should never cry on the Chinese New Year's Day. They will even learn a few Chinese words, as well as which astrological animal sign belongs to them. This captivating book is sure to be of special interest to anyone curious about this beautiful and mysterious land.

Judo, origami, sushi - with just a few words an immediate landscape is conjured: the country of Japan. In K is for Kabuki: A Japan Alphabet, young readers are invited to travel to faraway Japan and explore its rich history, traditions, and role in today's world. Evocative artwork captures the spirit of each letter topic. O is for Origami A paper frog, a paper tree, a paper sunflower just for me, a paper fox, a paper shrew, a paper tiger just for you. From the comic relief of Kyogen theater to the meditative powers of a Zen garden, K is for Kabuki brings the past, present, and pageantry of Japan to life.To find recipes, games, interactives maps and much more for this title visit www.discovertheworldbooks.com! Gloria Whelan is the award-winning author of many children's books including Homeless Bird, for which she received the National Book Award. She lives in Michigan. A librarian by profession, Jenny Nolan has worked for The New Yorker and Rolling Stone magazines and as a researcher for investigative reporters. She lives in Michigan. Oki S. Han's book, Basho and the Fox, was a New York Times best-seller. Her books, Mr. Long Beard and My Hometown, both won the Korea Children's Book Award. In 2005 Oki was selected as Illustrator of the Year at the Bologna Children's Book Fair for My Hometown. She lives in Korea.

The taiga is a world of long winters, hardy plants and animals, and lush evergreen trees. With its amazing variety of plant and wildlife, the forested taiga is the largest land biome in the world. In this informative book, you will be taken on a tour of this unique northern forest biome stretching across Europe, Asia, and North America. Learn about the flow of energy where each member of the community benefits from another. From the wolves and elk and pines to lichens, every living thing plays a part in the web of life in the taiga biome.

Take a walk in the tundra in the summer and you will discover a biome where the sun never sets! But during the cold winter, the sun may not shine for months. What animals and plants could survive in such a place? In this eye-opening book, you will learn why the tundra biome can support such a surprising variety of plants and wildlife, despite its harsh conditions. From huge polar bears hunting silently on the ice to caribou herds migrating to warmer pastures, every living thing plays a part in the biome community. Come take a hike and see how the web of life thrives in the tundra biome.

Whether sharing the stories of Anne of Green Gables and Terry Fox, or revealing Canada's importance in growing grain that feeds the world, "M is for Maple" is a shining tribute to Canada. From British Columbia to Newfoundland, this Canadian alphabet book shares our nation's symbols, history, people and culture. In clever rhymes and informative text, author Mike Ulmer shares the unique details of Canada. Illustrator Melanie Rose has captured the beauty and splendor of Canada, from the Northern Lights to brave Mounties and the beautiful cities of Toronto, Victoria, and Quebec. Destined to become a national classic, "M is for Maple" is a treasure for Canadians young and old.

You can find vast oceans of grass on every continent except Antarctica. But with its amazing variety of plant and wildlife, grasslands are much more than grass and low-lying plants. This informative book invites you into learn about the inner workings of this unique biome. From prairies and savannas, elephants to snakes, cottonwoods to wildflowers, every living thing plays a part in this biome community. Come see how the web of life thrives in the grasslands biome.