Books published by publisher Science Slam!

How will astronauts survive the long journey to Mars? What will it take for humans to live on the freezing, dusty, airless planet? And what kinds of homes will people build? In this new Science Slam! title, kids will discover the answers to all these questions and many more fascinating facts about how to survive on Mars. Each book is expertly crafted to meet early elementary and science curriculum standards, as well as introduce young space enthusiasts to the latest space technology. Innovative, grade-appropriate activities and experiments, critical-thinking questions, and fascinating fact boxes will give kids a chance to think like an astronaut.

Soil can be black, brown, red, yellow, or gray. It can be dry and crumbly or wet and sticky. There are many different types of soil, but they all have one thing in common--they are made mostly from rock! Inside this book, readers will discover how soil is formed and what ingredients make up soil. How do hard rocks become soft soil? How do plants become part of the soil when they die? And is animal poop really one of the ingredients in our gardens? Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. With its stunning photographs and surprising, high-interest facts about a material that most of us take for granted, the book makes learning about soil a lively, engaging experience.

What skills do you need to become an astronaut? Why do astronaut trainees spend time underwater and in dark caves? And how does it feel to experience zero gravity? In this new Science Slam! title, kids will discover what it takes to become an astronaut. Each book is expertly crafted to meet early elementary and science curriculum standards, as well as introduce young space enthusiasts to the latest space technology. Innovative, grade-appropriate activities and experiments, critical-thinking questions, and fascinating fact boxes will give kids a chance to think like an astronaut.

On the gleaming white ice, a little seal pup dozes in the sun. Her fluffy white fur camouflages her and helps her stay hidden from enemies. Soon the pup's mother will return from her fishing trip in the ocean. Then the hungry pup will enjoy feeding on her mom's rich milk. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about harp seals and how their bodies are adapted to the extreme cold, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as describing the different stages of a seal pup's development will give readers a chance to gain, insights beyond the facts and figures.

How does it feel to work in zero gravity in a laboratory more than 200 miles above Earth? What kinds of experiments do astronauts carry out aboard the International Space Station (ISS)? And how does it feel to step out of the space station into the darkness of space? In this new Science Slam! title, kids will discover the answers to all these questions and many more fascinating facts about working in space. Each book is expertly crafted to meet early elementary and science curriculum standards, as well as introduce young space enthusiasts to the latest space technology. Innovative, grade-appropriate activities and experiments, critical-thinking questions, and fascinating fact boxes will give kids a chance to think like an astronaut.

A mother wood duck peeks out of a hole in an old, twisted tree in a swamp. The hole is the entrance to her nest. Once she's sure no predators are close by, the mother duck jumps from the nest hole to the ground. Then, one, two, three--tiny, fluffy ducklings start to jump from the tree. Soon 12 babies have jumped from the nest. Now, the newest residents of the swamp are ready to explore their watery home. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about wood ducks and the swamp habitat in which they live, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as comparing a female and male wood duck and guessing what wood ducks eat, give readers a chance to gain insights beyond the facts and figures.

An unsuspecting fly buzzes around a clump of colorful plants in a swamp. Unaware of any danger, it lands on one of the plants. Snap! The plant's trap snaps shut in less than a second, and the fly is now the meal of a Venus flytrap! This title explores the world of carnivorous plants that obtain nutrients by "eating" animals. From plants that act like sticky flypaper to trap their prey, to other plants that lure their victims into deep pitchers of liquid from which the animals will never escape, children will learn about a variety of plants that employ interesting techniques to capture food. From beautiful photographs of these unusual plants to high-interest, high-gross-factor facts, Meat-Eating Plants: Toothless Wondersmakes learning about carnivorous plants a lively, engaging experience. The fun topic ensures that young readers will enjoy engaging in science while developing their powers of observation and critical thinking.Meat-Eating Plants: Toothless Wondersis part of Bearport's Plant-ology series.

As a huge volcano erupts, scorching-hot lava pours down its slopes. Soon, however, the lava will cool and become solid rock. This book explores how igneous rock is formed from magma, featuring a clear, accessible, step-by-step explanation of the process. Readers will not only learn about different types of igneous rock, they will also be introduced to some amazing igneous rock formations, as well as find out how people use this special kind of rock. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance to learn and develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From stunning photographs to high-interest facts about igneous rocks, this book makes learning about Earth's geology a lively, engaging experience.

Beneath our feet extreme pressure and heat inside Earth's crust is constantly forming new, super-hard rock. Inside this book, readers will find a clear, accessible, step-by-step explanation of how igneous and sedimentary rocks can undergo incredible transformations to become a new type of rock called metamorphic rock. Readers will investigate the properties of metamorphic rocks and explore how these rocks have been used to create buildings and beautiful statues for centuries. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From stunning photographs to high-interest facts about metamorphic rocks, this book makes learning about Earth's geology a lively, engaging experience.

Some of the rocks we see around us are millions of years old. Rocks don't stay the same forever, though. Rocks are changing and becoming new rocks all the time. Inside this book, readers will follow a clear, accessible, step-by-step journey through Earth's rock cycle. They will find out how igneous rock forms from magma following a volcanic eruption. Then they will explore how the igneous rock is eroded by rain to become sediment that eventually forms new sedimentary rock. When Earth's crust moves, the sedimentary rock is crushed, baked, and transformed into metamorphic rock deep underground. Finally, completing the cycle, the metamorphic rock is heated and melted to once again become magma. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From stunning photographs to high-interest facts, this book makes learning about Earth's ever-changing rocks a lively, engaging experience.

You're splashing around in the ocean on a hot day when you accidentally swallow a mouthful of salty seawater. Yuck! The water that comes out of a faucet doesn't taste salty. If you catch raindrops on your tongue, they don't taste of salt either. So what makes seawater taste salty? Readers will discover how tiny particles of salt from rocks on land are carried into Earth's oceans by rivers, and washed into the sea by ocean waves. They'll also learn the answers to these questions: Why is the ocean salty and rivers are not? How do underwater volcanoes help make oceans salty? Why is it unsafe to drink salt water? And how is the salt that we use to flavor our food taken from the sea? Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. With its stunning photographs and surprising and high-interest facts, this book makes learning about water an engaging experience

A chunk of granite rock may look gray and boring, but take a closer look under a microscope and it's possible to see that the rock is made from billions of tiny colorful grains. Each microscopic grain is a substance called a mineral, and it's minerals that are the ingredients that make up all the rocks on Earth. In this book, readers will learn how different combinations of minerals create different types of rocks. They'll discover that metals, such as gold, are actually minerals that can be found in rocks. And they'll learn that some minerals grow as beautiful shapes called crystals that can be made into precious gemstones such as rubies and sapphires.Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From stunning photographs to high-interest facts, this book makes exploring the topic of rocks and minerals a lively, engaging experience.