Books published by publisher Millbrook Press (2001-09-01)

Kids study US history, but do they know what life long ago was really like? The past was full of yuckiness. The sounds, smells, filth, bugs, rats, poor hygiene, lack of dental and medical care, and bad food are not portrayed at today's historic sites, in movies, or in most books about US history. Yet this kind of stuff appeals greatly to kids. The purpose of this book is to de-sanitize the past, present it as it actually was, and help kids come to an understanding of how people put up with it—or didn't even notice.

It's food week in Manuel's class. Each student tells about something special his or her family eats. Manuel learns that families have different food traditions. Some eat noodles with chopsticks. Others use a fork. Some families eat flat bread. Others eat puffy bread. What kind of food will Manuel share with his class? Join him to find out how deliciously different and alike food can be.

"Dino" Don Lessem brings readers face-to-face with various dinosaur species, detailing their habitats, way of life and how they became extinct. An acclaimed dinosaur expert, Don Lessem has written more than 30 children's books, writes a popular dinosaur column in Highlights magazine, and was an adviser for Jurassic Park. Take a trip through dinosaur time to meet these feathered dinosaurs face to face: The Caudipteryx had feathered arms and a tail that looked like a pom-pom! The Sinovenator may have used colorful feathers to attract a mate! The Microraptor may have used its feathers to glide or even fly! Plus, you'll get to know Beipiaosaurus, Epidendrosaurus, Protarchaeopteryx, Sinosauropteryx, and Velociraptor.

Makayla is visiting friends in her neighborhood. She sees how each family is different. Some families have lots of children, but others have none. Some friends live with grandparents or have two dads or have parents who are divorced. How is her own family like the others? What makes each one great? This diverse cast allows readers to compare and contrast families in multiple ways.

Meet Zeeton. It's an alien! Zeeton comes from another planet. It flies around space in a spaceship! But don't worry. Zeeton's not real. It's one of the monsters you meet in stories. It just wants to tell you about aliens. Check out Zeeton's cool spaceship. Find out what Zeeton is doing on Earth. And learn why people on Earth started telling alien stories. You'll have an out-of-this-world time with this monster buddy!

If your hands can mix and mash, what job might you have? What if your hands reach, wrench, yank, and crank? The hands in this book―and the people attached to them―do all sorts of helpful work. And together, these helpers make their community a safe and fun place to live. As you read, keep an eye out for community members who make repeat appearances! Can you guess all the jobs based on the actions of these busy hands?