New Releases by Louise Spilsbury

Researching doesn't have to be an intimidating process. Learn an amazing, fact-finding, super-sleuth skill for life in this fun, friendly, and easy-to-follow guide. Full of great tips, tricks, and study-busting scoops, readers will be top of the class with this essential skill-building book. Study skills are life skills, but sometimes they're hard to pick up in the classroom. From explaining how to write, listen, plan, and research through how to give a speech and manage a social network, this funny, irreverent, and helpful series will guide every student through. Broken into digestible tips and tricks, the instructional text guides and supports students to encourage independent learning, and isn't overwhelming or intimidating. Students can get skilled for life with these awesome study guides.

Giving a speech doesn't have to be scary. Find out how to confidently give a speech and learn an amazing skill for life in this fun, friendly, and easy-to-follow guide. Full of great tips, tricks, and study-busting scoops, readers will be top of the class with this essential skill-building book. Study skills are life skills, but sometimes they're hard to pick up in the classroom. From explaining how to write, listen, plan, and research through how to give a speech and manage a social network, this funny, irreverent, and helpful series will guide every student through. Broken into digestible tips and tricks, the instructional text guides and supports students to encourage independent learning, and isn't overwhelming or intimidating. Students can get skilled for life with these awesome study guides.

"Bullying is never okay. Using child-friendly text and practical examples, this picture book helps children recognize bullying and teaches them what to do about it. It includes a helpful section with advice, practical tips, and activities for caregivers and teachers." --

The Children in Our World non-fiction picture book series helps children make sense of the larger issues and crises that dominate the news in a sensitive and appropriate manner. With relatable comparisons, carefully researched text and striking illustrations, children can begin to understand what racism and intolerance are, how they affect children, adults and daily life, and how readers can help. Where issues aren't appropriate to describe in words, award-winning illustrator, Hanane Kai, uses striking and sensitive illustrations help children visualise they ways in which racism and intolerance affect people all around the world with images that are suited to their age and disposition. The series forms an excellent cross-curricular resource that looks at refugees, war, poverty and racism making them ideal for tying into discussions on race, ethnicity and current affairs.

Ancient China may have existed thousands of years ago, but its civilization was incredibly rich with culture. This book explores the clues that have been left behind from this fascinating civilization. Specifically looking at artifacts, the main text invites readers to analyze items from Ancient China and draw conclusions following the questions and prompts. From the bamboo staff to oracle bones, these items help young learners learn about a culture that existed so long ago, and get them ready for the challenge of thinking like an archaeologist themselves.

Dehydration. Freezing night temperatures. Scorpions. These are just some of the dangers that await those traveling through the desert. With preparation, anyone can survive. But what if something goes wrong? This book introduces readers to the desert ecosystem in an inventive, fascinating way –through its perils! Real-life tales of those who have survived the hardest parts of desert living encourage readers to be prepared when visiting an area with little water, lots of sun, and quicksand! Full-color photographs accompany each story, while multiple-choice questions help readers assess each scary situation.

To reach certain places on Earth, we must cross miles of open water. Whether by plane or boat, there's always a chance of disaster, and the ocean is a dangerous place to be alone without transport. Readers learn what to do should they be left in open water or stranded on an island, including how to get food and water. True stories of those who have survived shipwreck exemplify the courage and resourcefulness needed in scary situations. Readers use their critical-thinking skills to answer multiple-choice questions about similar situations as they learn about the ocean ecosystem, including its hidden dangers.

Those lost in the rainforest have a lot to be worried about. From sudden rainstorms to disease-carrying insects, there are a lot of dangers that need to be considered. However, readers of this book will be prepared! Through detailed descriptions of how to build shelter, gather food and water, and how to handle the possibility of wild animals, readers learn about the rainforest ecosystem and how to use it well. Survival stories of real people add a captivating element to the main content, and full-color photographs let readers travel deep into the rainforest without getting lost.

White-water rafting and other river trips are fun adventures. They can go very wrong when a boat tips or a sudden storm hits. This book teaches readers about the river environments they may encounter and how to deal with their potential dangers. Real survival stories of life-threatening situations make these dangers real to readers, while offering important information on how to find food, deal with injury, and more should a bad situation occur. Multiple-choice questions and their answers ask readers to use their critical-thinking skills about surviving in the river environment while full-color photographs show them the ecosystem up close.

Sound produces some of the greatest joys in our lives. From the music we love to the mere sound of laughter, the vibrations our ears pick up play a major role in our life experience. This book shows readers just what sound is, how it travels, and how our ears understand the sounds that surround us all. Innovative flowcharts throughout the book give readers a fun alternative to plain text, showing the science of sound with vibrant colors and interesting fact boxes.

Humanitarian aid workers dedicate their lives to helping people in need. They bring medicine, emergency supplies, and other kinds of disaster relief to countries affected by war, natural disasters, and poverty. Aid workers help refugees and also build infrastructure, hospitals, and schools in struggling nations. Readers will determine if this career is in their future after reading this text, which explores the heroic lives of these brave people. They’ll learn about the challenges and rewards of this career and see how it impacts the global community. The text’s age-appropriate content will inspire readers to do their part one day, while memorable images help readers visualize aid workers’ important work. Fact boxes, sidebars, and diagrams further support this career-focused text.

Police officers are some of our communities’ most important people. These men and women put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe and protect the people living in them. Readers learn about the life of police officers and the tough and unique tasks they face. Readers will learn what it takes to become a police officer and the paths they can take to one day have a career in law enforcement. Specialized careers—such as crime scene investigators, detectives, and animal-focused jobs—are examined in depth. The text also covers high-interest topics such as police equipment, crime fighting, and the risks and rewards that accompany this career. The main text is enriched by instructive diagrams, informative sidebars, and helpful fact boxes.

Emergency medical technicians are heroes on the move. As first responders, they have to stay calm and act quickly. They also need to operate complex equipment and do everything they can to save lives, all while under extreme pressure. Readers will get a glimpse at the exhilarating life of this heroic career, learning what it takes to be an EMT and what a typical day is like. This information-rich text covers training, specializations, certifications, and the steps necessary for getting involved in this career that counts. Readers will learn about the risks and rewards of being an EMT and are encouraged to think about if they, one day, could join their community’s team of heroes. Fact boxes, sidebars, and helpful infographics provide opportunities for additional learning.

This book introduces children to the Pacific Ocean, looking at climate, ports and features of its geography. Different types of islands and the ocean floor are explored using key geography terms. Children are encouraged to use geographical skills to locate information by reading maps and interpreting simple keys. This series complements the Introducing Continents series.

Readers will take a trip into the final frontier, and, as they discover fascinating facts about the solar system, the moon, Earth, and beyond, they will also have the opportunity to make a model of Saturn, the solar system, a sundial, and even a balloon rocket. Eye-catching images of planets and galaxies will captivate stargazers, while craft activities will draw reluctant readers in. With quick fact boxes and photo blurbs with glossary words, readers will learn the secrets of the universe as they create fun models to share.

Its ability to change colors is the first thing most people think of when it comes to chameleons. But did you know that a chameleon’s eyes can swivel independently of each other to look in two directions at once? The impressive, creepy, and weird things that reptiles do are compiled here and guarantee that readers will be left mesmerized and with a greater understanding of animal adaptations.

Introduces sound and how it is made, explaining how sound waves travel through the air, and includes activities to help readers understand how to make sound.

Explains how sound moves through the air to allow humans and other animals to hear things, and includes activities to help readers experiment with sound.

Although rocks may initially seem like solid, unchanging substances, they are actually made up of minerals that change forms and get recycled through many different stages. This engaging book explores the rock cycle with diagrams and detailed photographs illustrating the movement of rocks through their various states, including magma-formed igneous rock, metamorphic rock such as marble, and layered sedimentary rocks that build up over time. Also covered are the scientific processes that cause rocks to change forms and the ways in which humans have benefitted from rock’s surprising and constant transformations.

Large bodies of water are all around us: rivers flow through our towns and cities, inland lakes collect pools of fresh water, and the salty ocean covers nearly two-thirds of the Earth’s surface. In this volume, readers will learn about the importance of these three natural sources of water, as well as their similarities and differences. Emphasis is also placed on the relationship between humans and these various water sources, both in terms of constructive use of these precious resources and the risks inherent in pollution. Readers will walk away with a better comprehension of the science behind bodies of water and the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

All materials can exist in different states, but what are the differences, and how do materials change from one state to another? This book explores solids, liquids, and gases, looking at their properties and the processes involved in changing state.

The lion is the undisputed king of Africa's grasslands, comfortably placed at the top of most of the habitat's food chains. This dynamic book offers a vividly detailed look at the grassland biome, and the lion's position as apex predator. Fact-rich text examines the way that claws, teeth, eyes, and even mane help the lion track its prey, while also offering a comprehensive look at life within a pride of lions.

Sharp teeth and a frighteningly flexible, muscular body, make the boa constrictor the top predator on many of the Rain Forest's food chains. This visually appealing, photograph-rich book uses vividly detailed text to explore the spectacular physical adaptations that make the boa constrictor such an insidious predator. Fact-filled sidebars offer context into the diverse rain forest and the myriad species that make up the links in its food chains. This book is a comprehensive look at a high-interest habitat.

Find out about potential energy and kinetic energy. How does heat move from one substance to another? Why is renewable energy so important? Includes three simple activities or experiments to try.

Describes for young readers what is in a garbage can, and how various creatures live off its contents.

Simple text and illustrations explore the different kinds of animals who live in ponds, where they live, and what they eat. Suggested level: junior.

The ocean covers 71% of Earth’s surface. This informative book uses vibrant photographs and accessible text to introduce readers to this vast environment. Readers will learn about the dangers of the ocean and how to best survive in it.

Describes the activities of non-profit organizations throughout the world that work with children, including educational and health-related charities and groups that work with abused children and the victims of war.

Looks at the impact of tourism around the globe and in such specific places as Mexico, Cyprus, and Kenya.

Introduces the clock and the history of telling time, from sundials and water clocks to the extremely accurate atomic clocks of today.