Books in Smithsonian series

Discover the lowdown on high heels, hair-dos, and the history of fashion.This Smithsonian activity book is about the furry, fabulous, funky, or just plain funny things people have worn from prehistoric times to tomorrow's next big fad. It includes a cool sticker page for creating a "design-your-own" look.Work with what you've got: for the first people that meant dressing in animal hides; for kings and queens that meant jewels and powdered wigs; for everyday folks that meant togas, homespun woolens, or blue jeans. The history of fashion is all about people using what was around them and then adding beautiful or outlandish touches. (Hoop skirts, anyone?) This super-fun nonfiction activity book looks at what people wore when--and why.

Who needs bones to swim the seven seas? Learn all about marine invertebrates, the ocean's amazing boneless animals in this cool Smithsonian reader.Octopuses, clams, sea worms, even coral: they're all marine invertebrates. Having no internal skeleton gives them an interesting shape—not to mention unusual ways of moving around, getting food, and protecting themselves. Fascinating underwater photography and lively, accessible text draw kids into the watery world of these cool ocean creatures.

What time is it . . . and how do you know?This fact- and photo-filled Smithsonian Penguin Young Reader will fill you in on how people first began measuring time and why knowing "when" is important.Time is when things happen and how long they take to happen--but how long is all that? The history of telling time is the history of inventions and communication, from hour glasses to atomic clocks, from calendars to chronometers. Tick-Tock is a fun look at the many ways different people have tried to get in sync.

Check out the moon—in all its phases—in this new Level 4 Penguin-Smithsonian nonfiction reader.There are myths about it. Men have landed on it. Just about everybody has gazed at it in wonder. But what is the moon? Where did it come from? What’s it made of? Find out in this lively reader about the celestial body that’s so familiar and yet so mysterious.

Three cheers for the red-white-and-blue in this Smithsonian nonfiction reader!The original Star-Spangled Banner that flew over Fort McHenry, Baltimore, in 1814 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would become the national anthem of the United States is the showpiece of the Smithsonian! In this lively nonfiction book, young readers will read about the story behind the flag, the song, and how the Smithsonian cares for this most precious national treasure.

Have you ever noticed how blue Earth looks in photographs taken from space? This is because of our oceans. Earth is the only planet in our Solar System with water on its surface—more than 1.5 quintillion tons of water—and it's constantly in motion. You don't have to live near the ocean to know its power. Changes in temperature far out in the sea can cause a drought thousands of miles away. The oceans affect us all. Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to update his remarkable, in-depth exploration of the oceans.

Do you think of volcanoes as simply big mountains with lava streaming over their tops? Not all of them are like that. Some are covered in ice, and some look like nothing more than deep blue lakes. Some have not erupted in living memory and still may awaken someday to send red-hot rocks and ash flying through the air for hundreds of miles around. Acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution have come together to update this smartly written and beautifully photographed treatment of one of nature's hottest topics.

What does an astronaut wear to work? Find out in this space-age Penguin-Smithsonian reader!If you're going to orbit the Earth, moonwalk, or float in space, you need the right outfit. From helmet to space boots, every part of an astronaut's spacesuit is designed for survival. This reader, developed with Smithsonian's popular Air and Space Museum, provides a close look at the suits, boots, helmets, gloves, and other gear astronauts have worn into space, from the early days of space exploration to the present-day.

Children follow Box Turtle as she stirs from her cozy bed of leaves and soil to find the perfect spot to lay her eggs. Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Box Turtle at Silver Pond Lane is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations. Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!Book Features:- An informative storyline and colorful illustrations- Appropriate for ages 3-9- Paperback dimensions: 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Did you know that: Penguins are champion swimmers. They spend 75 percent of their lives in water. They are birds, but they can't fly. Penguins are classified as birds because they have feathers. Now you can explore a penguin's world by finding out how they can swim so fast, what they eat, and why people need to protect their habitats. Acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to take you on a journey to the Antarctic region for a close-up look at one of nature's most beloved and sociable animals.