New Releases by Nate Ball

Bill Nye the Science Guy meets the Magic School Bus in this new STEM-based picture book series from the Emmy Award-winning host of PBS’s Design Squad and Design Squad Nation, Nate Ball. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Ever stop to smell the roses and wonder how they got there? Ever think about how tadpoles become frogs and how caterpillars become butterflies? Or want to know how they’re all connected? Follow Nate and his team of plucky scientists as they morph into tiny seeds, slippery tadpoles, and fuzzy caterpillars to learn about the life cycle. While on this adventure, learn all about how plants make food from the sun, why some animals transform as they mature, and what truly defines a living thing in this brand-new adventure from everyone’s favorite fun-loving scientist and Emmy Award–winning PBS star, Nate Ball. Featuring vibrant illustrations by Wes Hargis and a lively and a lovable cast of characters, the Let’s Investigate with Nate books align to grade-appropriate state-level learning standards and curriculum. With sidebars and charts and graphs and interactive elements—including a Do It Yourself experiment at the back of the book—The Life Cycle takes young readers on an adventure in learning and makes learning an adventure!

Bill Nye the Science Guy meets the Magic School Bus in this new STEM-based picture book series from the Emmy Award-winning host of PBS’s Design Squad and Design Squad Nation, Nate Ball. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Ever head to the museum and wish you could go back in time to see how big dinosaurs really were? Or think about what dinosaurs ate and where they lived? Follow Nate and his diverse team of intrepid scientists as they travel back across the millennia to dig up prehistoric fossils, travel across ancient landscapes, and discover what caused the dinosaur’s mass extinction. Featuring vibrant illustrations by Wes Hargis and a lively and a lovable cast of characters, the Let’s Investigate with Nate books align to grade-appropriate state-level learning standards and curriculum. With sidebars and charts and graphs and interactive elements—including a Do It Yourself experiment at the back of the book—Dinosaurs takes young readers on an adventure in learning and makes learning an adventure!

Bill Nye the Science Guy meets The Magic School Bus! This is the first book in a new STEM-based picture book series from the Emmy Award-winning host of PBS’s Design Squad and Design Squad Nation, Nate Ball. With a lively cast of characters and vibrant illustrations by Wes Hargis, it''s an adventure in learning! This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Ever wonder where water comes from and where it goes? Or why sometimes it rains and sometimes it snows? Then join Nate Ball and his crack team of curious scientists as they shrink down smaller than a raindrop to see firsthand what the water cycle is all about.

Bill Nye the Science Guy meets The Magic School Bus! This is the second book in a new STEM-based picture book series from the Emmy Award-winning host of PBS’s Design Squad and Design Squad Nation, Nate Ball. With a lively cast of characters and vibrant illustrations by Wes Hargis, it''s an adventure in learning! Ever look up at the sky and wonder how many planets there are? Or want to know how many Earths could fit within the Sun? Take a ride 3.6 billion miles away to answer these questions and more while exploring the solar system with Nate and his team of adventurous scientists! Walk on the moon, fly with a satellite, gaze at comets, and discover why Pluto isn’t a planet anymore.

It’s the thrilling conclusion to the Alien in My Pocket series! With a page-turning plot, plenty of fun science facts, illustrations throughout, and a do-it-yourself, hands-on experiment at the end, this is an appealing chapter book series for young readers. And it’s all from the amazing brain of MIT graduate Nate Ball, host of PBS’s Emmy Award–winning Design Squad series. Zack has grown fond of his troublesome buddy, Amp, since the four-inch-tall alien crash-landed his spaceship through Zack’s bedroom window. They’ve gotten into more than their fair share of trouble together, but they’ve always invented a way out of it. Until a fleet of ships from Amp’s home planet filled the sky and started firing its weapons. Zack and Amp have to do the thing most kids only dare imagine—save the world! Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts

It''s Zack and Amp to the rescue in the seventh book in Nate Ball''s beloved Alien in My Pocket series! With a tale that''s sure to tickle the funny bone and a do-it-yourself hover-ship science experiment, it''s an adventure readers are sure to enjoy. Life has been no picnic since Amp crash-landed his spaceship through Zack McGee''s window. But when Amp takes up stargazing, he makes a huge discovery that will take their zany adventures to the next level. It appears that the Erdian aliens are at it again! The alien invasion of Earth is in progress, and it''s up to Zack, Amp, and Olivia to leap into action. But this time it''ll take more than a little gadgetry and a few white lies to get Amp out of trouble and to save the world! Like every book in the Alien in My Pocket series, Telescope Troubles mixes Common Core–aligned science and safe, hands-on experiments with a hilarious story that young readers will love. Publishers Weekly said of Alien in My Pocket: Blast Off!: "With its screwball comedy and lively dialogue, the novel gives readers the opportunity to laugh as they learn." Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in the English Language Arts

Zack and Amp get a serious surprise in Forces of Nature, the sixth installment of this fun intergalactic chapter book series by Nate Ball, the host of PBS’s Design Squad and Design Squad Nation. Ever since Amp crash-landed his spaceship through Zack McGee’s window, Zack’s life has gone in some unexpected directions. But when everything goes wrong on the McGee family camping trip, Zack’s going to need Amp’s alien scouting skills to navigate the great outdoors and find their way back to civilization! Like every book in the Alien in My Pocket series, Forces of Nature mixes Common Core–aligned science with safe, hands-on experiments that young readers will love. This installment includes a build-your-own compass experiment. Publishers Weekly said of Alien in My Pocket: Blast Off!: “With its screwball comedy and lively dialogue, the novel gives readers the opportunity to laugh as they learn.”

Zack and Amp get a serious surprise in the fifth installment of this intergalactic chapter book series by Nate Ball, the host of PBS''s Design Squad and Design Squad Nation. Zack and his alien friend, Amp, discover that leverage can be an Earth-saving thing when they build a rocket-launching atlatl! Zack McGee''s life has been filled with trouble since Amp, a four-inch-tall alien scout, crash-landed into Zack''s bedroom. But now it''s Amp''s turn to be in the hot seat. When his commander, Ohm, arrives to take Amp back home, the aliens feud. Amp has to get his cranky counterpart off Earth before they all end up in a world of trouble! Like every book in the Alien in My Pocket series, Ohm vs. Amp mixes Common Core–aligned science, and safe, hands-on experiments with a hilarious story that young readers will love. Publishers Weekly said of Alien in My Pocket: Blast Off!: "With its screwball comedy and lively dialogue, the novel gives readers the opportunity to laugh as they learn." Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts

This must-read Alien in My Pocket book is the fourth in the series by Nate Ball, the host of PBS''s Design Squad and Design Squad Nation. In this hilarious new adventure, Zack and his alien friend, Amp, learn about friction, deceleration, and how to soften a crash-landing. When Zack McGee crashes his bike, he''s stuck at home with his arm in a sling and his baseball season on the line. What''s worse, his bike crashed because his four-inch-tall houseguest, Amp, experimented on the brakes! Now Zack is easy prey for his little brother, Taylor, who''s determined to find out once and for all what mysteries Zack has hidden in his pocket. Like every book in the Alien in My Pocket series, On Impact! mixes Common Core–aligned science and safe, hands-on experiments with a hilarious story that young readers will love. Publishers Weekly said of Alien in My Pocket: Blast Off!: "With its screwball comedy and lively dialogue, the novel gives readers the opportunity to laugh as they learn." Supports the Common Core State Standards

This collection is perfect for anyone looking to try out three bestselling series that are fun, easy-to-read, loaded with humor and art, and just right for young independent readers. In includes: Roscoe Riley Rules #1: Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs: If the kids can''t sit still for the class performance, Roscoe''s teacher could be in big trouble. Fortunately Roscoe has a plan to save her—a super, mega, gonzo plan! What could go wrong? My Weird School #1: Miss Daisy Is Crazy!: In this first book in the outrageously funny series that has reached millions of readers around the world, second-grade teacher Miss Daisy is in over her head. She doesn''t even know how to add or subtract! But the kids have other things on their minds. Principal Klutz has promised that if they read a million pages in books, they can turn the school into a video-game arcade for one whole night! Alien in My Pocket #1: Blast Off!: When a four-inch-tall alien crash-lands through Zack McGee''s bedroom window, Zack is sure he''s about to become the first victim in a new War of the Worlds. But when the alien turns out to have weapons that are more ticklish than terrifying, Zack realizes that rather than protect the world from the alien it''s up to him to protect the alien in his pocket from the world.

This third book in the Alien in My Pocket series is the zaniest yet! Zack and Amp create a massive mishap in this hilarious story. Plus the book comes with a do-it-yourself science experiment. Nothing''s been easy since Amp crash-landed his spaceship through Zack McGee''s bedroom window. Now Amp has built a quantum radio to alert his commanders to call off the invasion of Earth. Unfortunately, instead of contacting Erdian Central Command, Amp''s radio accidentally broadcasts Amp''s messages all over Zack''s hometown. Now it''s up to Zack and his best friend, Olivia, to save their alien friend from being discovered and to save the planet from panic. With illustrations throughout, a page-turning plot, and fun scientific facts, this is the perfect chapter book for young readers. Supports the Common Core State Standards.

The must-read second book in the Alien in My Pocket series. Zack and Amp are back and up to even more trouble in this hilarious story, complete with a do-it-yourself science experiment! Ever since Amp crash-landed his spaceship through Zack McGee''s bedroom window, Zack''s life has gotten crazier and his grades have gone from bad to worse. Who has time for homework when there''s an alien invasion to stop? But now Zack''s up against his greatest challenge yet—the school science fair. If Zack doesn''t get an A on his project, he''s going to flunk the class. Luckily, Zack has Amp around to help, but when Zack''s experiment turns out to be too good, he winds up in a whole different kind of trouble. Complete with many illustrations, a riveting plot, and fun scientific facts, this book is perfect for young readers! Supports the Common Core State Standards

2015-2016 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Winner! With engaging illustrations on every spread, a page-turning plot, a do-it-yourself experiment on building your own rocket, and fun science facts throughout, this is the perfect chapter book for young readers! And it’s all from the amazing brain of MIT graduate Nate Ball, host of PBS’s Emmy Award-winning Design Squad series. When a four-inch-tall alien crash-lands through Zack McGee''s bedroom window, Zack is sure he''s about to become the first victim in a new War of the Worlds. But when the alien turns out to have weapons that are more ticklish than terrifying, Zack realizes that rather than protect the world from the alien, it''s up to him to protect the alien in his pocket from the world. The adventure begins in this thrilling new chapter book series, complete with a do-it-yourself science experiment!