New Releases by Valerie Bodden

Meet the lemur! Learn about how this primate lives on Madagascar. Elementary-aged readers will discover lemurs of all sizes, from the tiny mouse lemur to the much bigger Indri. Full color images and clear explanations highlight the habitat, diet, and lifestyle of these fascinating creatures. A folktale from Madagascar explains where lemurs came from.

Meet the largest cat of the Americas! Introduce elementary readers to the fearsome jaguar and its life in the wild. As beasts that kill with one leap, it''s easy to see why jaguars are the top predators of the rainforest. Readers explore this big cat''s features, behaviors, and habitats with STEM-appropriate text and gorgeous photography. An end folk tale shares a story from South Africa about the jaguar''s markings.

Meet the largest wild cat in the world! Introduce elementary kids to the endangered tiger and its life in the wild. This powerful predator rules the Asian jungles, hunting prey with its excellent night vision. Readers explore this big cat''s features, behaviors, and habitats, including hunting and cub raising, with STEM-appropriate text and gorgeous photography. An end folk tale from Asia shares how tigers got their famous stripes.

Meet the sloth! Learn about how this slow mammal grows algae on its fur. Elementary-aged readers will discover that some sloths sleep the day away. Full color images and clear explanations highlight the habitat, diet, and lifestyle of these cute creatures. A Brazilian folktale explains why sloths don''t build nests.

Meet the amazing waddling penguins! Introduce elementary kids to these flightless birds and their lives in the wild. Penguins are a bit clumsy on land, but their flippers help them fly through the water. Readers explore the penguin''s features, behaviors, and habitats with STEM-appropriate text and gorgeous photography. An end folk tale from South America shares why emperor penguins are said to be so big.

Meet the biggest mammal in North America! Introduce elementary kids to bison, including the European species called wisent. As national mammals of the United States, bison are captivating shaggy beasts that roam plains and forests. Readers explore this animal''s features like its distinctive shoulder hump and behaviors like wallowing with STEM-appropriate text and gorgeous photography. An end story shares a Native American folk tale of how the bison have got its hump.

Meet the pelican! Learn about how this large bird uses its bill to scoop up fish. Elementary-aged readers will discover how pelicans preen to keep their feathers waterproof. Full color images and clear explanations highlight the habitat, diet, and lifestyle of these fascinating birds. An Australian folktale explains why some pelicans are white.

Meet the elk! Learn about how this large hoofed mammal lives in mountains and grasslands. Elementary-aged readers will discover that male elk use their antlers to fight. Full color images and clear explanations highlight the habitat, diet, and lifestyle of these fascinating creatures. A Native American folktale explains why elk live in the mountains.

Meet the walrus! Learn about how this sea mammal migrates to stay near ice. Elementary-aged readers will discover walrus''s giant tusks. Full color images and clear explanations highlight the habitat, diet, and lifestyle of these fascinating animals. An Alaskan folktale explains why walruses have tusks.

LEADERS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD One of the most loved and most hated men in America at the time of his death in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. is known as one of the greatest leaders of civil rights movement today. He faced segregation and racism in early childhood. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ and the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi, King formed his own philosophies regarding a nonviolent lifestyle. Even when faced with insults, beatings and jail time, he remained resolute in his efforts to eradicate injustice, poverty and war. His critics felt he was destroying peace in their community through protests and marches. The nonviolent movement also drew ire from sections of society which believed violence was a necessary form of selfdefense. Even today, his powerful speeches inspire people to fight for equality and justice as can be seen in the Black Lives Matter Movement that is reverberating through the United States. VALERIE BODDEN is the author of more than 200 children’s books. Her books have received critical acclaim from Booklist, Children’s Literature, ForeWord Magazine, Horn Book Guide, VOYA, and School Library Journal.

LEADERS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD In his lifetime, Nelson Mandela was viewed as a terrorist by some and a liberator by others. Today, opinions about South Africa’s first democratically elected president remain split. But no matter how they feel about Mandela, most South Africans acknowledge that they owe him for many of the freedoms they enjoy. Beyond that, Mandela became a symbol of what it meant to stand up to oppression and then to forgive the oppressor. The South African freedom fighter was jailed for 26 years, from the age of 46 to 71, for his protests against apartheid. From militant resistance against a white government to call for reconciliation, from challenging his oppressors to later famously forgiving them, from spending decades in prison to acknowledging those years as a period of learning, Mandela’s views and his politics are not palatable to all, but they certainly made heads turn and garnered him and his fight global recognition. Read all about the controversial life of Nelson Mandela, the man who was born to be king. VALERIE BODDEN is the author of more than 200 children’s books. Her books have received critical acclaim from Booklist, Children’s Literature, ForeWord Magazine, Horn Book Guide, VOYA, and School Library Journal.

This revised edition surveys key aspects of rays, describing these flat-bodied fish''s appearance, behaviors, and habitats. A folk tale explains why rays'' fins look like wings.

This revised edition surveys key aspects of snow leopards, describing these non-roaring Central Asian cats'' appearance, behaviors, and habitats. A folk tale explains why snow leopards have spotted fur.

From winged bats to furry wolves, and from leaping dolphins to stalking lions, the world of animals is wonderfully diverse. This popular series travels the planet to study these and other fascinating mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates. Beautiful photos are paired with STEM-appropriate text to examine the featured creature's appearance, habitat, behaviors, and life cycle. Each reissued title also presents a folk story that people have used to help explain the animal's appearance or behavior. This revised edition surveys key aspects of snakes, describing the slithering reptiles' appearance, behaviors, and habitats. A folk tale explains why these creatures do not have legs.

This revised edition surveys key aspects of lions, describing the roaring big cats' appearance, behaviors, and habitats. A folk tale explains why these creatures are known as the king of the animals.

This title examines the genre of classic literature in Pride and Prejudice, The Book Thief, The Joy Luck Club, Brave New World, and The Handmaid''s Tale. It features four analysis papers that consider classic literature, each using different critical lenses, writing techniques, or aspects of the genre. Critical thinking questions, sidebars highlighting and explaining each thesis and argument, and other possible approaches for analysis help students understand the mechanics of essay writing. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Do you enjoy performing experiments or studying how the universe works? Growing up in China, Chien-Shiung Wu enjoyed learning about science. As an adult, she earned her PhD in physics and made a discovery that changed the field forever. Wu came to the United States to study physics. Soon she was a sought-after physics professor. As an expert in the field, she left teaching to work on secret government programs. She even helped disprove a major law of physics. But how did she get there? Find out how Wu's persistence drove her contributions in the field of physics.

Do you enjoy playing computer games or learning programming code? As a child, Ada Lovelace loved learning about math and science. As an adult, she used that knowledge to create the first computer program—before electronic computers even existed! When Lovelace was a child, girls didn't typically study math. But she loved the subject and often dreamed about new machines. Lovelace learned from famous mathematicians and became friends with inventor and engineer Charles Babbage. Realizing the full potential of his calculating machines, she became a pioneer of computer programming. But how did she get there? Find out how Lovelace's determination helped her become the first computer programmer.

The conventions of poetry may seem imposing, but a good poem can be enjoyed at any age. This new series, geared toward the early elementary learner who may be encountering literary forms and terms for the first time, teaches by example, showing how poets use language in playful and effective ways to create meaning. The friendly illustrations add another layer of approachability, and each book invites the reader to Write Me a Poem based on a key idea outlined earlier. An elementary exploration of word play and attitude in poetry, introducing puns, stanzas, and limericks as well as poets such as Edward Lear. Includes a writing exercise. Includes TOC, biographical profile, glossary, book references, websites, and index. Full-color illustrations throughout.

A look at the causes and global effects of the 1945 atomic bombardment of two Japanese cities, which led to the end of World War II but set the stage for hostilities in the Cold War era.

You've been assigned a research project. What should you do first? This book will help you analyze and define your assignment. What's your purpose? Who is your audience? Is your topic too broad, too narrow, or just right? You'll also learn how to brainstorm keywords, write research questions, and do a preliminary search for sources. These helpful guidelines will get your research project off to a great start!

You've been assigned a research project. You have your research topic and reliable sources, so what's the next step? This book will teach you how to take notes, refine your guiding questions, and fulfill your goals for writing the report. Wondering about the best ways to track and credit your sources? Foggy on how to put together a bibliography? Not sure how to organize your information? Find the answers here!

You're ready to write your research paper or presentation. Learn how to create a convincing argument, support your opinions using facts and figures from reliable sources, and edit and revise drafts of your work. When should you quote an information source directly? When should you paraphrase? How do you create a strong conclusion? Wrap up a successful research project here!

Offers information to students on how to find credible, relevant, and trustworthy information at the library and online.

What is advertising, and why should you care? Learn how to think critically about advertising. Who created and paid for an ad? What do the people who made the ad want you to do? Why does it matter if a website includes advertising? This book will help you pinpoint and evaluate common persuasive techniques used in advertising, including the bandwagon approach, emotional appeal, repetition, and more.

What are fiction genres? How is fiction different from other kinds of writing? Find out the key elements of fiction, such as characters, setting, and plot. Then explore different genres, including historical fiction, mystery, adventure, fantasy, science fiction, and more!

What are nonfiction genres? How is nonfiction different from other kinds of writing? Find out about nonfiction text features, such as the table of contents, the glossary, and the index. Then explore different genres, including historical nonfiction, biography, true adventure stories, how-to books, persuasive writing, and more!

This title examines an important historic event--the April 15, 2013, bomb explosions at the Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the men behind the bombing, brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the emergency response to the attack, how the events were communicated and reported through traditional media and social media, the manhunt for the Tsarnaev brothers, and the response of the city of Boston and the nation to the bombing. Also discussed are national security and the prevention of terror attacks, surveillance and other security measures, and immigration reform. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web sites, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and essential facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

This title examines the fascinating life of LeBron James. Readers will learn about James''s childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores James''s early interest and skill in basketball that led to him joining the Cleveland Cavaliers then the Miami Heat. James''s NBA championship wins, MVP awards, Olympic medals, and his charitable work are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

"A survey of the science fiction genre, from its Industrial Revolution-era origins and technological influences to the famous authors--such as Jules Verne--whose works have defined the genre over time"--Provided by publisher.