New Releases by Adrienne Mason

It’s not just humans combating global warming. Meet one of Earth’s “ecosystem engineers”! In this fascinating and unique book, a marine biologist reveals how whales are “ecosystem engineers” — animals that create, modify or maintain a habitat or ecosystem. Whales do this by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They store loads of carbon in their bodies for decades, even centuries; when they die, they sink to the ocean floor, taking their carbon with them. More carbon in the ocean means less carbon in the atmosphere. And it’s all thanks to whales! Now kids get one more reason to love these amazing creatures! Whales are helping the planet!

Uses the metaphor of an ark to explain why biodiversity is important to the survival of living things, including us.

"Longtime resident Adrienne Mason uses her intimate knowledge of Long Beach--that spectacular sweep of sand along the west coast of Vancouver Island--to explore the region''s rich natural and cultural history. Including rarely seen archival photographs and contemporary nature photography, this is a vivid, multi-faceted portrait of a dramatic part of the world"--Page 4 of cover.

A one-stop sourcebook to answer kids'' tricky questions about the physical sciences.

Includes activities which demonstrate such concepts as air pressure, condensation, and changes in states of matter from liquids to solids and gasses.

In this Level 2 first reader, the Dog Detectives go undercover to solve a mystery.

In this Level 2 first reader, the Dog Detectives are on the trail of a missing puppy.

At the carnival, Lu and Clancy foil a robbery at the scary ride called the Drop of Doom.

Annotation This special 10th-anniversary edition reexamines our place in the natural world in light of sweeping environmental changes and recent advances in scientific knowledge. Since The Sacred Balance was first published in 1997 global warming has become a major issue, with alarming effects being observed on all continents and in the world''s oceans. Scientists have also made significant discoveries in various realms, including the state of world ecosystems, the science behind the mother/baby interaction, and the workings of the brain. In this new and extensively revised and amplified edition of his bestselling book, David Suzuki reflects on these changes and examines what they mean for our place in the world. His basic message remains the same: we are creatures of the Earth, utterly dependent on its elements, which are not just external factors, but incorporated into our very essence. All royalties from The Sacred Balance go to the David Suzuki Foundation.

This book in the Primary Physical Science series is full of surprising facts and hands-on activities to help kids explore solids, liquids and gases.

Learn all about skunk growth and change, skunk habitats and communities in this exciting book in the popular Kids Can Press Wildlife Series.

- no wild snakes live in New Zealand, Ireland, Newfoundland or many other islands- a few snake species can glide through the air- the venom of baby snakes can be stronger than that of their parents- a snake''s tongue helps it tell if food, enemies or other snakes are nearby

A simple look at motion.

This book in the Primary Physical Science series is full of surprising facts and hands-on activities to help kids explore the world of materials.

Learn about owl growth and change, owl bodies, how owls hunt and more in this book in the popular Kids Can Press Wildlife Series.

This exciting new resource developed specifically for the new Grade 7 Science Curriculum provides sold science process skill reinforcement, engaging text and visuals, and a wide chioce of easy-to-do hands-on activities to meet the needs of every learner Student Text: Features - Covers 100 of the prescribed Learning Outcomes presented in the British Columbia curriculum for Grade 7 Science - Developed and reviewd by British Columbia teachers and consultants for all regions of the province - Created with the non-specialist teacher''s needs in mind - Written and designed to ensure comprehension and enjoyment by all levels and types of learners - Labs and activities are suited to both elementary and middle school classrooms and feature inexpensive, easy-to-obtain materials - Based on a constructivist learning philosophy that builds on students'' prior knowledge and understanding while dispelling misconceptions - Validates and reflects students'' own experience as learners and as members of a local community - Features photographs, locations, examples, role models, and careers specific to British Columbia Student Workbook: This 200 page softcover workbook reinforces student learning and science literacy while also offering modified activities, enrichment and extension, additional vocabulary practice, further practice of science process skills, support for reading comprehension, and additional opportunities for assessment and evaluation.

How bats use their senses is just one of the thirteen topics in this clearly written look at the two main kinds of bats --- megabats and microbats. Kids find out where bats live, what they eat, how they move and much more. Easy-to-read text and accurate, detailed illustrations meet the research needs of young children and satisfy their curiosity about these unusual mammals.

West Coast Adventures- Shipwrecks, Lighthouses, and Rescues Along Canada''s West Coast .,." The ship began to break up almost at once and the women and children were lashed to the rigging above the reach of the sea. It was a pitiful sight to see frail women, wearing only night dresses, ...trying to shield children in their arms." - Crewman of the Valencia This book will be especially fascinating for all readers interested in: history adventure The southwest coast of Vancouver Island is a reef-studded stretch, notorious for dramatic winter storms and thick cloaks of summer fog. Many ships have found themselves well off course, even lost, during sudden storms. This book tells the stories of the sailors, lighthouse keepers, and linemen who have weathered these west coast storms.

From record-breaking tea clippers to rum runners and sea monsters, life on the west coast has never been dull. Rich in seafaring legend and adventure, these stories will take you on a voyage of discovery into the past.

Lu and Clancy can''t wait to head to the carnival and go on their favorite ride, the Drop of Doom. The only problem is that Lu''s annoying cousin, Jake, is tagging along. While Jake takes part in a magic show, Clancy uncovers more than hocus-pocus when he overhears two crooks planning a robbery at the Drop of Doom. Now the crime-fighting canines must stop the heist -- but first they have to get Jake off their case! In this engaging activity storybook, kids help the dog detectives foil the crooks'' plot while discovering the secret to doing simple magic tricks.

Explores the physical characteristics and behavior of spiders, discusses their role in myth and legend, and describes their use in scientific research.

"A marine biologist takes young readers under the sea for an engaging look at its warmblooded inhabitants - from sea otters to blue whales. Black and white illustrations reinforce the text" Cf. Our choice, 2000.