Books published by publisher Ruby Mountain Press, Ltd.

Don’t wait for a trip to the thermal pools of Iceland or the black beaches of Hawaii to discover what’s so hot about volcanoes. Warm up with a copy of What’s So Hot About Volcanoes. Lively discussions introduce readers of all ages to the creative power of volcanoes, explaining the reasons behind where they form, what they look like, and when they explode. Think of a volcano as the safety valve on a pressure cooker, author Wendell Duffield tells readers. The inside of Earth reaches a blistering 9,000 to 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and volcanoes simply release some of that pent-up heat from time to time. Some volcanoes erupt so gently that observers can stand nearby while others erupt so violently that they destroy themselves, as well as everything within reach of their hot gases, lava, and ash. Sections explore the challenges of predicting eruptions, what happens when magma mixes with water, and how people are using volcanic heat for energy. An appendix lists all the volcanoes in the United States that are still young enough to look like volcanoes.

Bold Women in Colorado History shares the stories of ten Centennial State women, among them Clara Brown, a former slave who ventured west and remade herself into a respected entrepreneur; Chipeta, a Kiowa Apache woman adopted into the Ute tribe, who helped negotiate for peace between her people and the white outsiders; and Dr. Justina Ford, who overcame both racial and gender prejudice to become the first black female physician in the state.Perfect for school or home, these collections of short but informative biographies are both a valuable resource and an entertaining read. For readers young and old, the Bold Women series proves what women can accomplish when they dare to be bold.

How could the loss of just one single species matter? Against a backdrop of dramatic and colorful artwork, this book tells the story of Dr. Robert T. Paine’s landmark research on ochre sea stars. His study revealed that the presence or absence of one single species can affect an entire ecosystem. The main story introduces readers to intertidal life along the Pacific coast while describing the steps of Paine’s research. Gradually revealing the connections that tie together the existence of many diverse species in this tumultuous ecosystem, the book clearly conveys the surprising importance of one individual species. Through the story and extensive back matter, readers learn about ecology, keystone species, and the invisible connections that exist everywhere in nature.

"Many nights we lay in our tent, or under the wagons, we heard either the loud barking of the gray wolf, or sharp querulous tones of the coyote, snapping and snarling [near] our head."Most people know that traveling the Emigrant Trail in the mid-nineteenth century was hard. They know the pioneers faced danger, disease, and even death. What they may not consider, however, is the endurance and strength of pioneer children. In Stories of Young Pioneers, Violet Kimball has collected memoirs, letters, and journal entries of children who were ages six to nineteen when they made the overland journey. Readers ages ten and older will discover in these pages a window into the lives of emigrant children on the trail.The book is organized by topic--including animals; fun and recreation; and adventures and ordeals--and peppered with detailed profiles of the individual youngsters. Feel the mixed emotions of thirteen-year-old Kate Scott as she leaves the comfort of her home and friends in Illinois for the untamed Oregon Territory. Sit in the driver's seat with thirteen-year-old John Stoughton as he drives his oxen across rocks, water, sand, and icy mountain passes. unwind after a long day by joining in a hand of cards or, better yet, a night of music and dancing. Young historians will find Stories of Young Pioneers exciting reading and a well-researched tool for learning about life on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails.

Even if they don't know much about rocks, most folks can name at least one place they have encountered granite; but ask them about the rocks graywacke, gneiss, or rhyolite, and they may give you a funny look. That's because speckled, sparkly, and beautiful granite is common and easy to identify. In everyday life you'll find countertops, headstones, flooring--even whole buildings made of granite. In the natural world it forms random boulders in fields and many of the planet's loftiest peaks. Commonness aside, no two granites are alike; it is a mysterious rock that crystallizes from magma miles and miles below the surface, far beyond the reach of human observation. The first title in the What's So Cool About Geology Series, What's So Great About Granite? brings this enigmatic rock to the light, exploring some of its mysteries with lively and lucid prose. Learn why some granite is pinkish while some is gray; why some granite crumbles in your hands while other granite can't be crushed by a tank; and why some granite is solid and unbroken for miles while some is riddled with cracks. Illustrated with crisp, stunning photographs and informative figures, What's So Great About Granite?is a must-have for anyone interested in one of the world's most fascinating rocks.

Capt. Theodore Bartley, owner of three Lake Champlain canal boats, kept a fascinating journal of his life from 1861 to 1889 on the canals and waterways of the Northeast. His travels included voyages north to Ottawa, west to Buffalo, and south to Philadelphia. His journal entries range from dramatic tales of near sinkings during gales on Lake Champlain to descriptions of the lives of ordinary people during the late 19th century. Bartley witnessed history in the making, and his journals provide an intimate portrait of the life of a canal boat family crisscrossing America during a period of extraordinary change.

Whoo . . . has catlike yellow eyes and white feathered feet, lives alongside polar bears and caribou way up north, loves to eat lemmings for lunch, and is Harry Potter’s faithful friend? The Snowy Owl, that’s whoo! This striking bird is the heaviest of the North American owls. Unlike most owls, it hunts mainly during the day, so if you’re in the right place you might actually get to see one catch its prey.Snowy Owls: Whoo Are They? has everything for readers young and old on the life cycle of the Snowy Owl, from hunting to courtship, nesting, raising chicks, and yearly migration. The informative text is accompanied by charmingly detailed watercolor illustrations. Suggested games and activities provide ways to learn more about how a Snowy Owl hunts, raises chicks, and hides from predators. A list of Web resources let’s you go online to see more photographs, listen to a Snowy Owl call, or see how scientists track Snowy Owls and other migratory animals by satellite.

From Marie Bailly, the first settler in northwest Indiana, to the high-flying Margaret Ray Ringenberg, and from Mother Th�odore Gu�rin, a Catholic nun who was later canonized as a saint, to Vivian Carter, founder of a popular Gary record label, the women portrayed in Bold Women in Indiana History broke down barriers of sexism, racism, and political opposition to emerge as heroines of their time. Perfect for school or home, this collection of short but informative biographies is both a valuable resource and an entertaining read. The fifth title in Mountain Press�s state-by-state Bold Women series for teen readers, this engaging book shows what Hoosier women can do when they dare to be bold!

The Wild West has a whole new brand of outlaw�noxious weeds. They steal space from native plants, poison livestock, and blatantly trespass where they�re not wanted. Author Karen Sackett informs readers of all ages of the wily ways of weeds, including the creepy trickster Dalmatian toadflax, which looks like a garden snapdragon but spreads long distances underground, and the hitchhiking outlaw houndstongue, whose Velcro-like burrs cling to fur and clothes. You�ll learn how �special agents� in weed control�insects and goats�are reining in these outlaws, and you�ll find out what you can do to help. Aliases, mug shots, and hangouts of the West�s ten worst outlaw weeds are described in the Most Not Wanted section of the book. Hilarious cartoons, detailed botanical drawings, and colorful photographs will help budding weed vigilantes track down their quarry.

There is a place where the grizzly bear is still king, mountain goats live among craggy peaks, and glaciers dominate the horizon. It is a place where snow falls in summer, water seeps from rock, and you can see icebergs on your way to the sun. What is the name of this magical place? It’s called Glacier National Park, the Crown Jewel of the Continent.In Glacier National Park: An ABC Adventure, nature photographers KC Glastetter and Jeremie Hollman take readers on a letter-by-letter journey through one of our nation’s treasures. Look up the letter C and learn about cedars so big you can fit inside their trunks. Move on to P and find pika, a furry little rabbit cousin that lives on bare, rocky slopes high in the mountains. Flip back to G and take a trip along Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most breathtaking drives on earth. With stunning color photographs and lively text, Glacier National Park: An ABC Adventure is perfect for anyone fascinated by this wild and rugged land.

Many forest communities in the West need fire to maintain a healthy ecosytem. Forest Communities profiles three forest types�ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and white-barked pine�that benefit from the occasional wild fire. The Whizpops, an educational band based in Montana, created the song �Forest Communities� as part of the score for a dance production called Fire Speaks the Land. Forest Communities introduces young fans to the science behind the song. As the lyrics draw you through the book, natural history notes explain such topics as how trees survive fire, how soil exposed by fire provides an ideal place for seedlings to grow, and how fire releases seeds from resin-sealed pine cones. Combining songs with picture books is an engaging way to introduce young children to topics that affect their lives and the world around them.

Anyone who has ever stopped to watch a butterfly flit across a mountain meadow or backyard garden will love Western Butterflies for Young Explorers. This beautifully illustrated guide helps children identify twenty-six butterflies of the western United States―one for each letter of the alphabet, from the Anise Swallowtail to the Zerene Fritillary. In between, young explorers will discover a wide variety of species, including such favorites as the Monarch, the Tiger Swallowtail, and the Painted Lady. Each entry presents a lovingly rendered watercolor of a specific butterfly along with a simple but thorough description of its caterpillar, it coloring, and its mature wingspan, as well as its range, habitat, and preferred host plant. In addition are fun facts about butterfly natural history. Did you know that butterflies identify their host plants by tasting them with their feet? Western Butterflies for Young Explorers is a wonder-filled guide for budding naturalists and their families to share.