Books in Discover the World's Biomes series

What country is made up of 95 islands, invented the game of golf, and raised a warrior worthy of the name "Braveheart"? Welcome to Scotland! In B is for Bagpipes: A Scotland Alphabet, Scottish native Eve Begley Kiehm gives an A-Z tour of the country that may be small in size but a giant in history and rich in tradition. Kick up your heels at a Highland dance, visit the statue of Greyfriar's Bobby as he stands guard near his master's grave, and finally dig into a dish of haggis with a side helping of "tatties and neeps." From the splendors of capital city Edinburgh to the stories of Robert Louis Stevenson to the gloomy waters of Loch Ness and its lonely "Nessie," the treasures of Scotland are revealed. Colorful artwork captures the proud spirit of its landscape and culture.Eve Begley Kiehm was born in Bridge of Allan, Scotland. She has a master's degree in Scottish History and Literature from Glasgow University and an early childhood education certification from the University of Toronto. Her books about Scotland include a YA historical adventure novel. Eve lives in the San Diego area. Alexa Rutherford lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has illustrated many books for UK publishers and a handful of US publishers, as well as US children's magazines.

From the quiet grandeur of the Himalaya Mountains to the urban city of Calcutta, T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet showcases India's exotic treasures. Visit the haunting Taj Mahal, a tribute from an emperor to his dead wife. Traverse the bustling streets of Mumbai, the second most populated city in the world. Sample a traditional meal fragrant with garam masala spices, or attend a cricket match where some games have lasted up to five days! Varsha Bajaj was born in Mumbai, India. Her book, How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, was named to the 2005 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List. Varsha lives in Houston, Texas. Robert Crawford's paintings have appeared on the cover of major magazines such as The Atlantic and U.S. News and World Report, as well as books. He also illustrated Sleeping Bear Press's The Legend of the Old Man of the Mountain. Robert lives in Woodbury, Connecticut.

The taiga is a world of long winters, hardy plants and animals, and lush evergreen trees. With its amazing variety of plant and wildlife, the forested taiga is the largest land biome in the world. In this informative book, you will be taken on a tour of this unique northern forest biome stretching across Europe, Asia, and North America. Learn about the flow of energy where each member of the community benefits from another. From the wolves and elk and pines to lichens, every living thing plays a part in the web of life in the taiga biome.

Take a walk in the tundra in the summer and you will discover a biome where the sun never sets! But during the cold winter, the sun may not shine for months. What animals and plants could survive in such a place? In this eye-opening book, you will learn why the tundra biome can support such a surprising variety of plants and wildlife, despite its harsh conditions. From huge polar bears hunting silently on the ice to caribou herds migrating to warmer pastures, every living thing plays a part in the biome community. Come take a hike and see how the web of life thrives in the tundra biome.

You can find vast oceans of grass on every continent except Antarctica. But with its amazing variety of plant and wildlife, grasslands are much more than grass and low-lying plants. This informative book invites you into learn about the inner workings of this unique biome. From prairies and savannas, elephants to snakes, cottonwoods to wildflowers, every living thing plays a part in this biome community. Come see how the web of life thrives in the grasslands biome.

Colorful macaws fly gracefully between trees while monkeys howl or chatter from high branches overhead. Many plants and animals display vibrant colors, while others like the sloth hide in plain sight. The tropical rain forest biome is chock full of life, and there are still many questions to be answered about this mysterious region. This informative book invites you to learn about the inner workings of this unique biome where every living thing plays a part in this biome community. Come see how the web of life thrives in the tropical rainforest biome.

From bats to bears and ferns to herbs, the temperate forest is home to an amazing variety of plants and animals. The temperate forest is much more than tall trees, streams, and plants. This wonderful book invites you to learn about the inner workings of this unique biome where each member of the community benefits from another. Come take a walk in the woods, and see how the land, climate, plants, and wildlife interact to make the unique temperate forest biome.

Located in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, the Nordic Countries/Territories are comprised of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Aland. And while they may share a region and some traditions, each has its own distinct geography, history, and heritage. Explore Greenland where, contrary to its name, more than 80 percent of the land is covered by an ice cap. It is home to the polar bear, as well as walrus, reindeer, and seal. Stop off in Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmar - the statue of the Little Mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale can be found near the harbor. Visit Sweden's lively Jokkmokk Winter Market which draws visitors from around the world, or sample the tasty fare of a Swedish smorgasbord. D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet gives young readers an A-Z tour. Kathy-jo Wargin is the author of 45 books for children, including The Legend of Sleeping Bear. Her many awards include an IRA Children's Choice Award for The Legend of the Loon and an IRA Teacher's Choice Award for Win One for the Gipper. Kathy-jo lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Renée Graef has illustrated more than 70 books for children. The most well-known are the "Kirsten" books in the American Girl Collection and the "My First Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Renée lives in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, with her family.

Take a walk in the desert during the day and you will probably feel the heat! But if you spend a little time there, you will also notice plants and animals that make the desert their home. What animals and plants could survive in such a place? In this eye-opening book, you will learn why the desert biome can support such a surprising variety of plants and wildlife, despite its harsh conditions. From tortoises and sheep to cacti and Joshua trees, every living thing plays a part in this biome community. Come take a hike along the sandy dunes and see how the web of life thrives in the desert biome.

From the British and our Constitution that replaced their rule, to Yellowstone Park and Zane Grey's stories of the west, "A is for America" is a sweeping tribute to all we know and love about our country. With delightful poems that beg to be read aloud, and expository text to broaden a student's horizons, this American alphabet will make you fall in love with the United States over and over again. Bright, beautifully detailed illustrations from California artist Pam Carroll bring each letter to life, from eagles to Thomas Edison to the veterans of two World Wars.

The country of Mexico has long been a popular travel destination. But there's much more to enjoy and appreciate than just sunshine and warm temperatures when exploring this region with its ancient history and proud traditions. Enjoy an A-Z tour of our neighbor to the south in P is for Piñata: A Mexico Alphabet. Young readers can visit the tomb of a Mayan king, experience the life of the vaquero (Mexican cowboy), attend the world-famous Ballet Folklórico de Mèxico, and sample the everyday treat that was once known as the "food of the gods." From folk art to famous people to the original "hot dog," the treasures of Mexico are revealed in P is for Piñata. Vibrant artwork perfectly captures the flavor, texture, and spirit of its landscape and culture.To find recipes, games, interactives maps and much more for this title visit www.discovertheworldbooks.com! Tony Johnston's love for Mexico started when her husband's job took them to Mexico City; they then lived there for fifteen years. While in Mexico, Tony wrote in Spanish and had several stories commissioned by the Mexican government. She has published more than 70 books for children and lives in San Marino, California. Award-winning illustrator and designer John (Juanito) Parra studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. His clients include United Airlines, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, PBS, and the L.A. Weekly. John's first children's book was My Name is Gabriela, about the life of the Nobel Prize-winning poet Gabriela Mistral. He lives in New York City.

Winding its way like a long dragon through 4,000 miles of mountains, desert, and grasslands, The Great Wall of China was built entirely by hand, taking hundreds of years and millions of workers to complete. That's just one of the myriad wonders of China children will discover in this far-reaching book. "D is for Dancing Dragon" brings China's history and culture alive by describing its unique customs, art works, music, foods, geography and wildlife. Children will learn, for example, that paper, ink, printing, umbrellas, kites and fireworks are all Chinese inventions. They'll find the secrets of how silk is made, how chopsticks work and why you should never cry on the Chinese New Year's Day. They will even learn a few Chinese words, as well as which astrological animal sign belongs to them. This captivating book is sure to be of special interest to anyone curious about this beautiful and mysterious land.