Books in Eric's Epic Adventures series

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.

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.

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.

Nothing is quite so awe inspiring, or inhospitable to humans as the world's tallest mountains. Journey to the European Alps, the Himalaya, the Karakoram Range, and the polar region of North America with one of the world's great climbers and discover how mountaineers reached the top of five of the world's highest mountains for the first time. Meet the pioneers who braved incredible dangers like rock falls, crevasses, whiteouts, and avalanches to summit against all odds. Large fold-out posters and gatefolds illustrate the story of each dangerous climb, and detailed maps show how later climbers changed the routes to the summit. Throughout it all, readers will explore the fascinating question of what drives these adventurers to reach the top, no matter the cost.

Drawn from real life and giving 12 exciting narratives of climbing adventures, this book describes the variety, mystery, and thrills of learning history among mountains. Part Where in the World and part social history the chapters offer travelogues to wondrous environments and tell the reader what they'll find there. It is a high interest introduction to our world and includes maps and the additional resources available at 12StoryLibrary.com: Editor-selected news articles; videos; online resources; teacher resources; live Twitter and RSS feeds

Eric’s father gave him a brand-new BMX bike for doing well at school. Unfortunately, it’s pouring with rain, so he can’t go out and give it a trial run. Disappointed, Eric and his talking drone friend, Herbie, think up all the exciting, imaginary places they would visit. Herbie suggests going to Dinosaur Land, and as Eric loves dinosaurs, too, they both decide that’s where they would go first.Moments later, much to their surprise, they are whisked off on a magical adventure they would never forget.

Drawn from real life and giving 12 exciting narratives Epic Adventures describes in astonishing details the thrills of space journeys. Part Where in the World and part social and STEM driven technical history the chapters are like a travelogue to wondrous environments in Space. It is a high interest introduction to our outer-world and includes maps and the additional resources available at 12StoryLibrary.com: Editor-selected news articles; videos; online resources; teacher resources; live Twitter and RSS feeds