Books in Motion Close-Up series

Before his life was tragically cut short, Robert F. Kennedy was attorney general of the United States, a senator from New York, and a charismatic presidential candidate. But even more astonishing was Kennedy’s personal odyssey. Born into immense wealth and privilege, Kennedy came to embrace the cause of the poor and the disenfranchised, and to be seen by them as their ardent champion.

Masterpieces Up Close will send readers on a journey through the world's most famous paintings from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. They will see some familiar faces, like Leonardo's Mona Lisa and Warhol's Marilyn, and meet some that may be new to them, like the princess in Velázquez's Las Meninas and the mysterious little girl in Rembrandt's Night Watch. Full-color reproductions of over 20 paintings provide the perfect hunting ground for over a hundred details. Lift-the-flap keys at the end of the book provide the answers. Informative text helps children learn why these paintings have intrigued us for centuries and discover just what makes each work a masterpiece.

Furry or spiny, thick and rough or smooth and slick: sometimes it's necessary to look just skin-deep! That's because skin itself is one of the most important parts of our and animals' bodies. In fact, creatures of the wild have an amazing selection of "natural coverings." Go up close as never before and see just how unusual skin can be. Each elephant has wrinkles in its lower leg as unique as a human's fingerprints. The grooves in the Australian thorny devil's flesh actually help it drink. Hippo's dense skin weighs one-fifth its entire weight--so it keeps this big animal safe from the sun. The bat's rubbery flesh allows it to swoop and fly, while the African armadillo lizard (and the porcupine too) has prickly scales that protect it. Skin that's armored, slimy, alarming, tasty, scary, and perfect for a disguise: you'll find out about it all!

Teeth that gnaw, teeth that groom, teeth that bite into delicious food and grind it down--imagine what life would be without teeth! Though there are some animals, such as birds and turtles, that don't need any, most others depend on teeth for eating, protection, and more. Horses nibble each other's necks to get rid of loose hair and pesky insects. The monkey-like lemur uses its front teeth as a comb to remove tangles. Beavers depend on them to cut down trees for the dams and lodges they build-and to munch bark, twigs, buds, and leaves. Full-color photographs show animals around the world using their hard-working pearly whites to chew, crunch, and chomp, while black-and-white drawings add some extra fun!