Books published by publisher Firefly Books

The I Want to Be... series gives young children a realistic insight into the working day of adults. Easy-to-read captions and color photographs of women and men from different cultures help children understand what's involved in each occupation. Young readers learn to respect the importance of doing a job well and appreciate the contributions these workers make to our life and the world around us. These books are perfect for reading alone or in group story times. They are certain to spark questions and encourage dialogue and prompt children to learn more about these occupations.

A lavishly illustrated who's who of the animal kingdom. Firefly Encyclopedia of Animals is a stunning new reference guide to 840 members of the Animal Kingdom from every continent -- North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. More than 1,000 commissioned full-color watercolors, photographs and distribution maps describe the animal world for readers of all ages. From the smallest mouse to the largest whale, this book offers a detailed and thorough guide to a wide array of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, as well as insects, spiders and other invertebrates. Firefly Encyclopedia of Animals presents accurate, succinct and essential information, as follows: General descriptions of animal Orders and Families Common and species names Shared characteristics in animal groups Describes size, distribution, anatomy, ecology migration, habitats and survival skills Features on animal behavior Accurate labeled illustrations and maps Wildlife conservation and updates on endangered animals. In addition to the principal text, there are side illustrations throughout along with fast-fact panels. Written in clear language that will engage readers of all ages, this authoritative reference is ideal for home and school, where it will be especially useful for natural history reports.

"Of all wild creatures, birds are the most colorful and easiest to see. You don't need to travel to distant jungles or faraway islands. They live in our own backyards.... Birds are our neighbors. We should get to know them." -- Robert Bateman Internationally acclaimed wildlife artist and naturalist Robert Bateman has painted, sketched and enjoyed birds since he was a young boy. He shares his passion for birds and his unique talents as artist and storyteller in this informative introduction to birds for young readers and beginners at bird watching. Backyard Birds abounds with Bateman's detailed sketches and full-color paintings of robins, chickadees, woodpeckers, blue jays, finches and many other familiar birds -- capturing their antics and beauty in a way that no photograph can. The book includes brief facts about the different species, noted below, including their length, wingspan, weight, food, range, habitat and common calls. Bateman also provides his personal tips on identifying, feeding and finding birds. The 36 bird families are: Red-winged Blackbirds and American Crows Baltimore Orioles and American Redstarts Mallards and Canada Geese Great Blue Herons and Belted Kingfishers Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls Mourning Doves and Wild Turkeys Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts Hairy Woodpeckers and Downy Woodpeckers Dark-eyed Juncos and White-breasted Nuthatches American Robins and Bluebirds Blue Jays and Gray Jays Northern Cardinals and Cedar Waxwings Indigo Buntings and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks American Goldfinches and House Finches Sparrows: Song Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, and House Sparrow. Spreads on Migration; Attracting Birds to Your Backyard; The Cycle of Family Life; and Bird Senses (Eyes, Ears, Voice, Brain, Feathers) round out this beautiful book.

The I Want to Be... series provides young readers with some exciting opportunities to think... an attractive choice for beginning readers ... Recommended. -- Library Media Connection The I Want to Be... series gives young children a realistic insight into the working day of adults. Easy-to-read captions and color photographs of men and women from different cultures help children understand what's involved in each occupation. Young readers learn all about what it takes to do an interesting job well. Along the way, they appreciate the contributions these workers make to our lives and the world around us. Popular cooking shows on television are capturing the imagination of youngsters as well as adults, and children are keen to know what it takes to become a professional chef. In I Want to Be a Chef, young readers will learn about what goes on behind the scenes of a restaurant. They'll observe chefs mixing, chopping, baking -- and working as a team. They'll find out about training, assisting, different types of chefs, and safe food-handling practices. They'll also learn about chefs who write cookbooks and host television shows. The book ends with a checklist that summarizes the qualities of a good chef. I Want to Be a Chef is packed with real-life photos and includes interesting and easy-to-read captions -- plus a recipe or two. It's a book in which the whole family can become involved.

Simple answers to 100 truly perplexing questions. Curiosity spans all ages as kids, teenagers and adults have lots of questions about everyday occurrences they never think to ask. Why does syrup spiral off the spoon? Which metals can be recycled? The answers to these and 98 other important questions about life, the universe and a whole lot more are found in Why Does a Ball Bounce? Fully illustrated with color photographs, this book explains complex ideas in easy-to-understand terms. The book's 100 questions are organized into the following topics: Air: bouncing balls, bursting bubbles, fizzy drinks Earth: mountain-making, lava, the age of the Earth Plants: sowing wild oats, why the numbers 3, 5, 8, and 13 crop up so often in plants Fire and ice: the sparkler's sparks, why skates slide, what is dew Water: why water ripples, how soap works, bouncing rain Food: seeing underground, why barley needs the sun Weather: overflowing drains, sky color, seeing the wind Electricity: why electricity sparks, hair standing on end, shrinking computers Mathemagic: seeing musical notes, how knots work, swinging pendulums Little critters: worm heads, how slugs breathe, patient spiders Health and sickness: dilating pupils, smoking facts, vaccination safety Technology: level playing fields, stone age tools, the first computer. Why Does A Ball Bounce? is the ideal title for anyone who needs to explain these ideas to children, students... or just to themselves.

Born in 1881 in a small village north of Montreal, Clarence Gagnon is best known for his paintings of sun-drenched winter landscapes and for the colorful illustrations for Louis Hémon's novel, Maria Chapdelaine. Clarence Gagnon: An Introduction to His Life and Art is a richly illustrated, insightful look at a complex individual. Despite living in France for much of his adult life, Gagnon's love for his native Quebec is evident in his art. His simple, realistic style of painting captures the old traditions and peaceful rural splendor of Quebec's Laurentian Mountains and Charlevoix region at the end of the 19th century. The book traces Gagnon's early life and influences, examining his career as an illustrator and his development as an artist. Included here are excerpts from Gagnon's personal letters, which reveal his astute observations of life, art and politics. Liberally illustrated with Gagnon's sublimely executed paintings -- many never before published together in one volume -- Clarence Gagnon is a superb tribute to an international artist who always remained passionate about his simple origins.

Let them go outside and play! More parents are heeding the advice of specialists who urge them to do just that. By playing outside with friends, kids learn valuable interpersonal and negotiation skills and how to make decisions. Outdoor play teaches about the natural world, fosters creativity, and encourages physical activity. 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside is ideal for parents, teachers, and all those working with youth. This book is ideal for the children who like gaming, TV, movies, the soft couch, and even too many snacks. The kids who believe "there's nothing to do outside" can learn and be encouraged to experience the joy of outdoor play. Each activity is described in language easy for a 6- to 9-year-old and illustrated with engaging graphics. Younger children may need direction, at least the first time. Large pictures display all the fun to be had. The activities range from 10 minutes to hours and hours of fun. Some require creativity, make-believe or physical exertion but they are all outside. Perfect for rainy days, sunshiny days, even snowy days. Examples of the 101 activities are: Weave a bird's nest Set up a potion lab Make nature rubbings Build a crawl tunnel Hold a mini Olympics Build a human sundial Make a nature walk bracelet Capture animal tracks Fly a homemade kite Make a rain gauge Make a snow maze.

An excellent book in every way ... Best of all, the book is accessible to early readers. Superb coverage of a popular sport. --School library Journal (starred review) This indispensable guide is simply the best book for beginners to the sport of artistic gymnastics. Illustrated with stunning full-color photographs of gymnasts balancing, tumbling and jumping, The Gymnastics Book features skilled guidance from a medal-winning, record-breaking gymnast who is now a noted instructor. The topics covered in detail include: Finding a good gymnastics club Qualities to look for in a coach Warm-up and cool-down exercises Entering competitive gymnastics Managing victories and losses The importance of family and friends Nutrition and apparel Financial aspects A typical day of training for competition. The book is also filled with anecdotes and advice from Olympic stars, taking beginners behind the scenes and offering a no-holds-barred account of life as a competitive gymnast. New gymnasts featured include: Shallon Olsen: At just 11 years old she ranked first overall in her age category. She now has the 2016 Olympics games in her sights. Kyle Shewfelt: To date, Kyle is the only Olympic Gold Medalist (2004, Athens) from Canada. Emily Boycott: A Special Olympics athlete and 27 years old, her team took home five gold medals from the 2007 Beijing Olympics.

The new Shape Books series brings the ancient world to three-dimensional life and reveals the most interesting topics from some of the world's most important empires. Each title is a self-boxed 3-D board book that replicates an iconic structure from an ancient civilization. Page-filling color illustrations and concise text take young readers back in time, where they discover how people lived and what their world looked like. Engaging, interactive and informative, Shape Books are sure to be a hit with curious readers. This book describes the three most important pre-Columbian civilizations in Mesoamerica and how, despite advanced knowledge of mathematics, astronomy and architecture, they eventually disappeared. Topics include language, personal decoration, diet, architecture, city life, sacrificial rites, weaponry, the Maya and Aztec calendars, religion and decorative arts.

Monster trucks are noisy, roaring monsters! They crush cars, jump in the air, ride over ramps, and do wheelies and spin. But there are more monster trucks. Road giants haul the biggest, heaviest and longest loads, like a house or an airplane. Monster miners are the biggest trucks in the world, so big that they would crack an ordinary road, and NASA's crawler-transporters carry the space shuttle! Here are Mighty Machines that jump off the page. Large type describes the machines, their parts and their uses. Glossaries explain essential terms and suggested activities add to the fun. The big format and vibrant designs make the books perfect for kids to read alone or share with a friend. With their lively designs and topics that are always a favorite with kids, these books offer popular subject matter and excellent value.

Some scientists study plants. Others study the stars. And others study the oceans. This book explains what different scientists do and what they need to know. Photographs show scientists exploring the world around them. With full-color, full-page photographs throughout plus straightforward and engaging text, the I Want to Be ... series is an appealing introduction to a broad spectrum of occupations. The series gives young children a realistic insight into the working day of adults. Easy-to-read captions and color photographs of women and men from different cultures help children understand what's involved in each occupation. Young readers learn to respect the importance of doing a job well and appreciate the contributions these workers make to our life and the world around us. These books are perfect for reading alone or in group story times. They are certain to spark questions and encourage dialogue and prompt children to learn more about these occupations.

This is a definitive full color guide for young readers. It includes an introduction to rocks, minerals and gems and how they form, how and where to look for them, how to identify rocks and minerals, and everything there is to know about building a collection. Packed with fun facts and practical activities, the book features high-definition color photography and data keys that show noteworthy qualities of each specimen in extraordinary detail. Rocks, Minerals and Gems shows how to read the landscape for clues and identify different rock types -- from dazzling diamonds to grainy sandstone. It describes fascinating facts and data boxes provide short facts to help with quick identification. Earth's most precious rocks, minerals and gems can be anywhere and everywhere in the world -- from riverbeds to beaches, cliff faces to fields. The only equipment needed is a backpack, a smartphone and some good walking shoes -- and maybe a small bag to carry home the treasure.