Books in Explorers series

The first voyage around the globe was a daring, high-stakes gamble that changed the world forever. Portugal dominated the wildly lucrative spice trade, and Spain was desperate for a piece of the action. Spain had everything to gain. Portuguese officer Ferdinand Magellan had nothing to lose. His decades fighting for Portugal had left him with a crippled knee and his king's withering scorn. And so Magellan left Portugal to lead an expedition for his country's bitter rival, Spain. He knew it would be an exceedingly dangerous voyage, but the reality proved much worse. Killer storms, mutinies, deadly battles, murders, deprivation and disease dogged the four-year journey. Magellan was driven to ever-greater extremes of brilliance, courage, brutality and madness as he sailed around the world. Magellan's World is the story of a harrowing adventure, an inspiring and flawed hero, and an epic event in the history of the world.

This book for children about insects and spiders is the perfect companion for young minds eager to learn about the amazing world of bugs.Children are encouraged to investigate and record all the creepy crawlies they find as well as to get involved in hands-on activities, from making their own "pooter" to collect insects to building an ant farm.With a mix of fantastic photographs and beautiful illustrations, Insects and Spiders takes you through everything you need to know about these bewildering bugs. Learn what termites build their nests from, how an earwig looks after her eggs, and why wasps have black and yellow stripes.The Nature Explorers series is essential for any child curious about the world outside. Each book in the series takes children through the basics of the subject, starting by explaining what it is and then moving on to the key topics. These are wonderful introductions to the great outdoors, packed with fun facts and engaging activities, ideal for children aged 6 and up.

Take a spectacular 3-D tour through the fascinating world of predators. Young explorers learn about the “mouthy” clouded leopard, the stalking habits of the tarsier, and how the world’s longest snake grabs its victims. The book includes five incredible pop-up scenes with see-through layers and is illustrated with a rich diversity of habitats and predators, including a frozen forest in northern Asia, a dry, sandy semidesert in southwest Africa, and the warm waters off the northeast coast of Australia. Packed with engrossing facts and dazzling pop-ups, this is the ultimate guide to the world’s most remarkable predators. From the scorching desert to the frozen taiga, and from deep below the sea to high in the sky, 3-D Explorer: Predators offers a unique learning experience as as children meet fierce creatures face-to-face.

Anyone who has ever looked at an insect with a magnifying glass knows that the world of these tiny creatures is fascinating. In Explorers: Insects and Creepy-Crawlies, readers get an up-close view of life in a wide variety of insect colonies through six beautifully illustrated story scenes that each examine a key aspect of entomological study-from insect homes, to reproduction, life in the water, hunting and gathering, and insects that fly. Once readers absorb the key elements of the story, they explore the science through photos and fact boxes on the following page. Young readers who are interested in specific themes such as can hop through the book following one of four special subject icons for a completely different reading experience

Pack your bags! We’re headed to France. On this whirlwind tour, you’ll learn all about the country’s landscape, culture, people, and more. We’ll explore the sights of Paris, snow-covered Alps, and sandy beaches. We’ll also find out what foods the French eat and see how they celebrate Bastille Day. A special section introduces France’s capital, language, population, and flag. Hop on board and take a fun-filled look at your world.

Explorers are designed to stimulate readers in the early elementary grades (ages7-10), who are beginning to exercise wider reading, research and cross-referencing skills. They can be read from page to page, or – as a fun extra element – the reader can follow special ‘page links' to access information on related topics. Six fabulous artwork scenes are each followed up with photographic information spreads, which provide extra detail and background.Starting with the question "What is weather?" Explorers: Weather by Deborah Chancellor, illustrated by Peter Bull takes readers on a metrologic journey around the world including a trip into the clouds, back to the ground as a tornado approaches, and into a flooded valley following a cyclone. At each step readers learn not only what forces create weather but also how Earth's many inhabitants (human and otherwise) have evolved to face it.

This second book in the Art Explorers series introduces kids to the world of impressionism, featuring the art of five famous impressionist artists: Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Edward Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Mary Cassatt. For each artist, a color reproduction of his or her famous artwork is paired with questions to get kids thinking about what they see. A short paragraph explains the artist's intentions, emphasizing facts of interest to kids. Easy-to-follow activities then provide hands-on experience with the artist's techniques, subject, and mediums, each illustrated with examples by actual kids. Techniques include drawing, painting, pastels, collage, watercolor resist painting, pointillism, sponge painting, mask-making, printmaking, sculpture, and more.

Explorers are designed to stimulate readers in the early elementary grades (ages 7-10), who are beginning to exercise wider reading, research and cross-referencing skills. They can be read from page to page, or – as a fun extra element – the reader can follow special ‘page links' to access information on related topics. Six fabulous artwork scenes are each followed up with photographic information spreads, which provide extra detail and background.In Explorers: Amazing Animals - by Jinnny Johnson, illustrated by Peter Bull - readers explore the phenomenal diversity of animals around the world and their incredible adaptations for hunting, eating, defense, and caring for their young. Along the way, readers will see a wide range of habitats from the extreme heat of the Kalahari to the freezing climate of the Arctic ice.