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Books in Epic Adventures series

  • Modern Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On Projects Inspired by Artists from Monet to Banksy

    Maja Pitamic, Jill Laidlaw

    Paperback (Chicago Review Press, April 1, 2015)
    Bold and experimental art activities and for children who love to draw outside of the lines Modern Art Adventures introduces young artists to groundbreaking masterpieces and fresh techniques, then lets them loose to create their own works of art. Authors and educators Maja Pitamic and Jill Laidlaw explore the stories and meanings behind 18 well-known works of modern art—including Frida Kahlo’s Self-portrait with Small Monkey, Edvard Munch’s The Scream, Jackson Pollock’s Lavender Mist, and Banksy’s Flower—giving readers inspiration for these kid-tested, exciting, and creative projects. Children create two artworks based on the techniques and visual effects of the each featured piece of art and the projects cover a wide range of media, from tissue paper mosaics to stencils to comic cut-outs, with a variety of difficulty levels, always encouraging and expanding the child’s natural creative abilities. No prior knowledge of modern art is required, just enthusiasm for the subject and a willingness to discover.
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  • DK Adventures: Marvel The Avengers: Battle Against Ultron

    Matt Forbeck

    Paperback (DK Children, March 3, 2015)
    Some Super Villains are just too powerful for one Super Hero alone to conquer — and this is where The Avengers come in! These brave adventurers have been using their powers to protect the Earth for many years — but once they join forces, they become truly unbeatable. From Iron Man to the Hulk, meet all the fascinating Heroes that make up Earth's mightiest team of Super Heroes in the all-new DK Adventures: Marvel Avengers: Battle Against Ultron.
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  • DK Adventures: Star Wars: Jedi Battles

    DK

    Paperback (DK Children, Dec. 23, 2013)
    Featuring the most exciting duels and epic battles that have ever been fought in the Star Wars galaxy, DK Adventures: Star Wars: Jedi Battles will show you lightsaber techniques, deadly weapons, other-world allies, and just how the Jedi succeed in battle. Let the journey begin! Good books build great readers. Created in consultation with literacy experts, DK Adventures will appeal to proficient readers who have a love of reading for both information and pleasure. With rich, descriptive vocabulary, and interactive elements including diaries, recipes, poetry, character profiles, diagrams, and articles to support the stories, DK Adventures focus on engaging, action-packed topics that will develop comprehension skills and continue to build a child's love of reading. Supports the Common Core State Standards.
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  • The Big Book of Things That Go

    DK

    Hardcover (DK Children, July 5, 2016)
    From a spectacular giant dump truck to a speedy little race go-cart, The Big Book of Things That Go is a visual and informative look at a subject that fascinates kids.Full of detailed artwork and photographs of real-life vehicles, The Big Book of Things That Go is an enticing collection of trucks, cars, motorcycles, and more that will excite every child. This visual guide features simple but informative text and interactive questions that encourage young children to make their own discoveries about the vehicles around them and how and why machines are useful. Broken into two-page-spread themes, young readers can learn about various vehicles including fire trucks, tractors, cranes, and much more.With striking images and informative text, The Big Book of Things That Go is the perfect guide for young readers who want to learn more about different machines used around the world.Full of amazing images and packed with fun facts, The Big Book series is the ultimate first book on kids' favorite topics, from dinosaurs to planes to things that go. The oversize format showcases bold and colorful images and the easy-to-understand texts provide a wealth of information while staying clear and informative for young and eager readers.
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  • Three-Dimensional Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Artist-Inspired Projects in Sculpture, Ceramics, Textiles, and More

    Maja Pitamic, Jill Laidlaw

    Paperback (Chicago Review Press, Sept. 1, 2016)
    Three-dimensional art is bold, tactile, and fun—in other words, perfect for children who love to get their hands dirty.Three-Dimensional Art Adventures introduces young artists, ages 6 and up, to groundbreaking masterpieces and fresh techniques, then lets them loose. Children will: - Weave a tapestry using yarn and a shoebox loom - Use found and recycled materials to assemble a still-life collage - Tie-dye a T-shirt using several pattern-creation techniques - Design and build a shadow box on a personal theme - Use modeling clay and pipe cleaners to create a spider sculpture - Create a colorful flower arrangement using wire, tissue paper, and other materials - Fold and cut paper, cardboard, and magazine photos to build an elaborate street scene - Carve a portrait into a clay slab and paint the raised surfaces to enhance the image - and 28 other engaging, hands-on projects.Authors and educators Maja Pitamic and Jill Laidlaw also explore the stories and meanings behind 18 well-known works of three-dimensional art as inspiration for these kid-tested, exciting, and creative projects. No prior knowledge of three-dimensional art is required—just enthusiasm for the subject and a willingness to discover.
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  • Adventures in Minecraft

    David Whale, Martin O'Hanlon

    Paperback (Wiley, Nov. 6, 2017)
    Learn valuable programming skills while building your own Minecraft adventure! If you love playing Minecraft and want to learn how to code and create your own mods, this book was designed just for you. Working within the game itself, you'll learn to set up and run your own local Minecraft server, interact with the game on PC, Mac and Raspberry Pi, and develop Python programming skills that apply way beyond Minecraft. You'll learn how to use coordinates, how to change the player’s position, how to create and delete blocks and how to check when a block has been hit. The adventures aren't limited to the virtual – you'll also learn how to connect Minecraft to a BBC micro:bit so your Minecraft world can sense and control objects in the real world! The companion website gives you access to tutorial videos to make sure you understand the book, starter kits to make setup simple, completed code files, and badges to collect for your accomplishments. Written specifically for young people by professional Minecraft geeks, this fun, easy-to-follow guide helps you expand Minecraft for more exciting adventures, and put your personal stamp on the world you create. Your own Minecraft world will be unlike anyone else's on the planet, and you'll pick up programming skills that will serve you for years to come on other devices and projects. Among other things, you will: Write Minecraft programs in Python® on your Mac®, PC or Raspberry Pi® Build houses, structures, and make a 3D duplicating machine Build intelligent objects and program an alien invasion Build huge 2D and 3D structures like spheres and pyramids Build a custom game controller using a BBC micro:bit™ Plan and write a complete interactive arena game Adventures in Minecraft teaches you how to make your favourite game even better, while you learn to program by customizing your Minecraft journey.
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  • Fine Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On Projects Inspired by Classic Masterpieces

    Maja Pitamic, Jill Laidlaw

    Paperback (Chicago Review Press, Sept. 1, 2017)
    Classic masterpieces are bold, fascinating, and sometimes shocking—in other words, perfect for creative children who love to be inspired. Fine Art Adventures introduces young artists, ages 6 and up, to key masterpieces and interesting techniques, then lets them loose. Children will: create a Pointillist artwork with paints and a toothbrush, work with plaster to recreate a cave painting, use cardboard and coat hangers to design a mobile sculpture, build a dramatic jungle scene inside an old shoebox, and many more engaging, hands-on projects.Authors and educators Maja Pitamic and Jill Laidlaw also explore the stories and meanings behind 18 well-known classic masterpieces from art history as inspiration for these kid-tested, exciting, and creative projects. No prior knowledge of art is required—just enthusiasm for the subject and a willingness to discover.
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  • Adventures in Python

    Craig Richardson

    Paperback (Wiley, Feb. 16, 2015)
    The complete beginner's guide to Python, for young people who want to start today Adventures in Python is designed for 11-to 15-year olds who want to teach themselves Python programming, but don't know where to start. Even if you have no programming experience at all, this easy to follow format and clear, simple instruction will get you up and running quickly. The book walks you through nine projects that teach you the fundamentals of programming in general, and Python in particular, gradually building your skills until you have the confidence and ability to tackle your own projects. Video clips accompany each chapter to provide even more detailed explanation of important concepts, so you feel supported every step of the way. Python is one of the top programming languages worldwide, with an install base in the millions. It's a favourite language at Google, YouTube, the BBC, and Spotify, and is the primary programming language for the Raspberry Pi. As an open-source language, Python is freely downloadable, with extensive libraries readily available, making it an ideal entry into programming for the beginner. Adventures in Python helps you get started, giving you the foundation you need to follow your curiosity. Start learning Python at its most basic level Learn where to acquire Python and how to set it up Understand Python syntax and interpretation for module programming Develop the skills that apply to any programming language Python programming skills are invaluable, and developing proficiency gives you a head start in learning other languages like C++, Objective-C, and Java. When learning feels like fun, you won't ever want to stop – so get started today with Adventures in Python.
  • Epic Adventure: Epic Flights

    Von Hardesty, Peter Bull

    Hardcover (Kingfisher, Sept. 27, 2011)
    The first people to fly did so in hot-air balloons. Some 120 years later, theWright brothers' heavier-than-air flying machine made powered, controlled flight possible. Ever since, aviators have aspired to fly faster, farther, and higher. Charles Lindbergh set the world alight with his nonstop flight acrossthe Atlantic. Amy Johnson won hearts and acclaim flying solo from England to Australia in a small biplane. With advances in rocketry, a new era dawned. The world watched in awe as the Apollo 11 astronauts landed on the Moon. The Voyager claimed the last major record for fixed-wing aircraft, flying nonstop around the world. And aviation's last major record was set when the Breitling Orbiter 3 pilots flew their balloon nonstop around the world.
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  • Adventures in Raspberry Pi

    Carrie Anne Philbin

    Paperback (Wiley, July 12, 2017)
    Build cool Raspberry Pi projects with no experience required! Adventures in Raspberry Pi, 3rd Edition is the fun guide to learning programming. Starting from the very basics and building skill upon skill, you'll learn developing fundamentals―even if you've never programmed before. Learning is exciting when you're working your way through cool projects, but the concepts you learn and the skills you master will take you further than you ever thought possible. You'll learn how your Raspberry Pi 3 works and what it can do as you create stories and games, program shapes, code music, and even build Minecraft worlds with projects designed specifically for kids 11 to 15. Author Carrie Anne Philbin is a former high school teacher, and she showcases her skills with clear, easy to follow instructions and explanations every step of the way. If you're interested in programming but find other books hard to understand, this book is your ideal starting point for mastering the Raspberry Pi. Inexpensive, non-intimidating, yet surprisingly versatile, the Raspberry Pi 3 is an ideal way to learn programming. Updated to align with the newest board, this book will teach you fundamental programming skills while having a ton of fun! Get acquainted with your Raspberry Pi's bits and pieces Take control of your Pi's "insides" with simple commands Program games, code music, and build a jukebox Discover where your new skills can take you next The tiny, credit-card sized Raspberry Pi has become a huge hit among kids―and adults―interested in programming. It does everything your desktop can do, but with a few basic programming skills, you can make it do so much more. With simple instructions, fun projects, and solid skills, Adventures in Raspberry Pi is the ultimate kids' programming guide!
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  • Epic Adventure: Epic Treks

    Dr. Betty Hagglund, Peter Bull

    Hardcover (Kingfisher, Sept. 27, 2011)
    From the earliest times, men and women explored their world. Some searched for trade routes, lost treasures, or new lands to colonize; others traveled as missionaries, to spread religious beliefs. More than anything else, however, what motivated the greatest explorers was simple curiosity:What was on the other side of that mountain? How wide was North America? Where was the source of the Nile River? In the days before railroads, motor cars, and airplanes, finding out often involved traveling incredible distances overland: on foot, horse, or camel, by wagon or canoe,and for months, even years, at a time. And it usually meant facing severe dangers, extraordinary hardships, and the uncertainty of not knowing when, if ever, you might make it back home.
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  • Epic Adventure: Epic Voyages

    Robyn Mundy, Nigel Rigby

    Hardcover (Kingfisher, May 24, 2011)
    It takes a certain kind of adventurer to sail off into the unknown of the world's oceans, sailing by the stars, alone in the vastness of a life at sea. Join an accomplished sailor for the stories of five epic mariners who set off on some of the great ocean journeys ever undertaken. Learn the art and skill of sailing from great square-riggers to the smallest craft. Learn what it takes to survive at sea, and how great sailors must adapt to challenging conditions like unpredictable weather, physical hardship, sleep deprivation, and unforeseen perils. Find out what survival strategies succeeded, and which failed-with tragic results. Illustrated throughout with maps, photographs, posters and eye-popping gatefolds, this book is the perfect introduction to the incredible distances and epic challenges of a life at sea.
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