Books published by publisher Hungry Tomato ®

Invisible microbes cause sickness by invading our bodies and multiplying. But doctors didn't always know that sickness was caused by germs. Most people thought diseases came from smelly, damp air. But over time, those ideas changed. A Dutch scientist saw bacteria through his microscope. Doctors realized that when they washed their hands, fewer people died. And a doctor in London recognized that disease could spread through contaminated water. Because of these discoveries, people eventually learned that hygiene was the key to stopping disease. Hospitals used clean surgical instruments, and cities developed trash removal and sewage systems. Learn more about the discovery and defeat of bacteria!

It's easy to take a pill when we aren't feeling well. But did you know that the art of making medicines goes back thousands of years? Early remedies weren't always so easy―or effective. Some seemed downright disgusting. Wine infused with a venomous snake was used to cure fatigue and hair loss. Snail slime soothed burns, and a mixture of ear wax and mud treated headaches. Discover more about how medicine was practiced centuries ago and how, eventually, scientists discovered some truly amazing remedies, from the magic bullet that treated syphilis to the insulin used for diabetes.

Teeter on the edge of outer space with the Stickmen. Then fly down, down, down to atmospheric layers that wrap around Earth. Follow the Stickmen to view the galaxies through the Hubble Space Telescope and stop by the International Space Station. The Stickmen will take you on a tour of satellites in orbit, aircraft riding jet streams, and storms in the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. With phenomenal facts, cool diagrams, and photos from space, this will be a dizzy, action-packed ride!

Being sick is horrible. But it used to be worse. Inside this book, you'll see evidence of the plagues of the past―rotting skin, dissolving lungs, and sinister swelling all over the body. Diseases like the Black Death wiped out whole towns and villages. Tuberculosis consumed young people like a bloodsucking vampire. And Smallpox left its victims scarred for life―if they survived. At the time, no one knew where these killer diseases came from or how to treat them. But eventually doctors discovered how these diseases and others were spread. Being sick isn't quite as sickening as it was in the past!

What if elephants were as small as dogs? What if frogs were protected by armor? In prehistoric times, they were! In fact, other than a few unique changes, lots of prehistoric beasts looked similar to modern animals that live on Earth. Hedgehogs had long tails and no quills, some birds laid eggs the size of footballs, and dragonflies could eat reptiles and amphibians! If these extinct beasts came to life, they might look familiar―but you wouldn't want to get in their way! Read this book to learn more about the incredible and terrifying prehistoric ancestors of modern animals.

Join Ackerley the Acanthostega and travel back in time 4,500 million years to the Precambrian period, when our planet first formed. Witness the appearance of the very first organisms in the Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian periods. Watch new forms of life emerge as warm seas allow fish to thrive and plants blossom to give food and shelter to flying and scurrying insects. Discover the facts, fossils, and fun science behind the birth of our planet, including early life forms, giant insects, and early land-based animals. This first part of the exciting story of life on Earth unfolds through amazing lifelike illustrations and fascinating diagrams, all narrated by a friendly prehistoric guide.

Can your eyes deceive you? Try these amazing optical illusions to find out. Look hard, then look again to see... ● spinning patterns―but the page isn't moving! ● colors that change―but do they? ● big and small shapes―spot the difference! Devised by an expert on brain training, these visual tricks and challenges are huge fun and quite an eye-opener! There are handy tips if you need help, plus an answer key at the back!

Take an enthralling journey from the Stone Age onward, and see how our ancestors became great builders and rulers. They grew food, discovered metals, made tools, and invented writing. You will see a mighty civilization in Egypt, wise Chinese philosophy, Maya culture in Central America, the colossal Roman Empire, and much more. Illustrated maps let you compare what is happening across the globe at various moments in time. While the Santorini volcano was wiping out the Minoan civilization, flushing toilets were being invented in the Indus Valley (Pakistan). The Greeks held the earliest Olympic Games while the Zapotec built pyramids in Mexico. Find out where it all started!

What if elephants were as small as dogs? What if frogs were protected by armor? In prehistoric times, they were! In fact, other than a few unique changes, lots of prehistoric beasts looked similar to modern animals that live on Earth. Hedgehogs had long tails and no quills, some birds laid eggs the size of footballs, and dragonflies could eat reptiles and amphibians! If these extinct beasts came to life, they might look familiar―but you wouldn't want to get in their way! Read this book to learn more about the incredible and terrifying prehistoric ancestors of modern animals.