Most Popular Books by Elizabeth Rusch

The story of the two robot vehicles, Spirit and Opportunity, that were sent to explore Mars, lasting far past their projected lives of three months and sending back invaluable images of the environmentally hostile planet.

From an acclaimed Scientists in the Field author comes the electrifying story of the scientists and engineers who are working to transform ocean waves into electricity in hopes of generating a cleaner, more sustainable power source. With an array of amazing devices that cling to the bottom of the sea floor and surf on the crests of waves, explorers are using a combination of science, imagination, and innovation to try to capture wave energy as a renewable energy source.

An introduction to the pioneering ideas of a leading contributor to modern electrical engineering includes coverage of such topics as his rivalry with Thomas Edison, his innovations in the field of alternating current and his history-changing role in the development of such inventions as remote controls, fluorescent lights and cell phones.

Meet Flo, a glacier, as she shows you what the life of a glacier is like in this picture book filled with fun facts, from what glaciers are and how they’re formed to what creatures live there, and more. Glaciers exist on every continent on earth, growing, spreading, and shrinking over thousands of years. But what are they, and how are they formed? Glacier on the Move tells the story of a glacier named Flo and her slow-motion race to the sea, from the edge of an ice field and down steep cliffs, to muscling her way around mountains, and stretching into a valley. With the help of some iceworms in the margins, Flo reveals how glaciers move, change shape, and provide for the surrounding world and animals. Blending fascinating science facts with dynamic illustrations, Glacier on the Move introduces young readers to glacial history and science in a captivating and unique way.

Stories of real teens creating change show readers how they too can make the world a better place. GENERATION FIX is the only kid''s book that features real life stories of kids doing incredible things to make the world a better place. Capturing kids ideas on how to solve the problems that we face in this world - hunger, homelessness, violence, discrimination, and problems with health care, education, and the environment - the book also inspires them to take action with their own ideas and resources. GENERATION FIX profiles 20+ kids who have changed the world by taking action on their ideas. Each chapter also includes resources and activities for kids to get involved right now in their communities and a place for kids to write down their own solutions to world problems. The book will include smart, funny, and dead serious ideas for kids across the country who are brainstorming methods for improving the world.

What kids can expect when they''re expecting siblings—full of solid information, kid-friendly humor, and even tips for parents. In a fresh picture book/comic style, Ready, Set...Baby offers up a funny, loving, reassuring peek into life as a big brother or sister. Anna and Oliver, big siblings extraordinaire, are here to tell you what to expect when your family is expecting—and what life will really be like once a new baby arrives. The dynamic duo covers everything from naptime to stinky diapers and from holding the baby to deciphering your baby''s body language. They even offer up helpful ideas for parents on how to make life as a big brother or sister as filled with fun—and love—as it can be! So get ready...get set...it''s time to welcome a new baby!

A mother-daughter story of an adventure-filled search for the amazing aurora borealis. Alix and her mom are fascinated by the nighttime light displays in the sky known as auroras, or northern lights, but being able to see them in person proves to be more challenging than expected. Where do they appear? When? How could Alix and her mom get there to see the auroras before they disappear from the sky? Inspired by the authors’ own experiences, A Search for the Northern Lights brings the reader along on a fascinating journey as Alix and her mom eagerly learn what auroras are and how to find them. The book also includes science and more information on auroras, plus a helpful guide for those hoping to catch their own glimpse of the incredible northern lights.

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist A CCBC Choice More than 250 women have played on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, and most contributed to the battle for equal pay. This narrative nonfiction book by the award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Rusch traces the evolution of that fight, bringing this important rights issue in sports and in our culture to the attention of young readers. Features extensive backmatter. With the passage of Title IX in 1972, the doors opened for young women to play sports at a higher level. But for the women on the U.S. Women''s National Soccer Team, being able to compete at an international level didn’t mean fair treatment and fair compensation. From economy-class airplane seats and inadequate lodging to minimal marketing and slashed wages, the women representing the United States at the Olympics, the World Cup, and other tournaments had reason to be fed up. They were expected to—and did—win, but they weren’t compensated for their talent and dedication. With the help of their union and in collaboration with the men’s team, they secured an equitable contract in 2022 that ultimately benefited both national teams as well as athletes of the future. Elizabeth Rusch’s A Greater Goal chronicles how members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team fought to receive fair treatment and equal pay despite the intense pushback they received from U.S. Soccer, the governing body of soccer in the United States. With a narrative that includes player profiles and vignettes framed from team member perspectives, A Greater Goal illuminates the work, support, and grit needed to be treated with equality in a world that often undervalues the contributions of women. Features extensive back matter, including a call to action, additional resources, and an index.

Read Along or Enhanced eBook: Volcanoes are a scary, catastrophic phenomenon that creates mass destruction as far as its deadly lava can reach, right? Not quite . . . Elizabeth Rusch explores volcanoes in their entirety, explaining how they’re not all as bad as they’re made out to be. Using examples of real volcanoes from around the world, Rusch explains how some volcanoes create new land, mountains, and islands where none existed before, and how the ash helps farmers fertilize their fields. Simple, straight-forward prose provides readers with the basics, while a secondary layer of text delves deeper into the science of volcanoes. Susan Swan’s bright and explosive mixed-media illustrations perfectly complement the subject matter—they depict volcanoes in all their destructive and creative glory. Complete with a glossary and list of further resources, VOLCANO RISING is a unique look at a fierce, yet valuable, scientific process.

Compelling and timely, award-winning author Elizabeth Rusch’s The Twenty-One tells the gripping inside story of the ongoing landmark federal climate change lawsuit, Juliana vs. United States of America. The Twenty-One is for readers of Christina Soontornvat’s All Thirteen, fans of Steve Sheinkin’s books, and anyone interested in the environment and climate change, as well as youth activism, politics and government, and the law. From severe flooding in Louisiana to wildfires in the Pacific Northwest to melting permafrost in Alaska, catastrophic climate events are occurring more frequently—and severely—than ever. And these events are having a direct impact on the lives (and futures) of young people and their families. In the ongoing landmark case Juliana vs. United States, twenty-one young plaintiffs claim that the government’s support of the fossil-fuel industry is actively contributing to climate change, and that all citizens have a constitutional right to a stable climate—especially children and young adults, because they cannot vote and will inherit the problems of the future. Elizabeth Rusch’s The Twenty-One is a gripping legal and environmental thriller that tells the story of twenty-one young people and their ongoing case against the U.S. government for denying their constitutional right to life and liberty. A rich, informative, and multifaceted read, The Twenty-One stars the young plaintiffs and their attorneys; illuminates the workings of the United States’s judicial system and the relationship between government, citizens’ rights, and the environment; and asks readers to think deeply about the future of our planet. Features extensive backmatter, including a timeline, glossary, call to action, additional resources, and photographs. What happens when a group of kids and teens takes on the most powerful government in the world to save their future? A Landmark Court Case: Go inside Juliana vs. United States, the groundbreaking federal lawsuit where twenty-one young plaintiffs argue for their constitutional right to a stable climate. The Power of Youth Activism: Meet the 21 courageous kids and teens from across America who stood up to their own government, from a Louisiana girl whose home was flooded to an Alaskan teen witnessing the permafrost melt. Constitutional Law in Action: Witness the twists and turns of a high-stakes legal battle, explained in a clear, fast-paced style that makes complex civics and the workings of the judicial system accessible and exciting. Social Justice for a New Generation: Discover how the fight for a healthy planet is a fundamental issue of citizens’ rights, intergenerational equity, and justice for all.

America is the greatest democracy in the world . . . isn''t it? Author Elizabeth Rusch examines some of the more problematic aspects of our government but, more importantly, offers ways for young people to fix them. The political landscape has never been so tumultuous: issues with the electoral college, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and a lack of representation in the polls and in our leadership have led to Americans of all ages asking, How did we get here? The power to change lies with the citizens of this great country--especially teens Rather than pointing fingers at people and political parties, You Call This Democracy? looks at flaws in the system--and offers a real way out of the mess we are in. Each chapter breaks down a different problem plaguing American democracy, exploring how it''s undemocratic, offering possible solutions (with examples of real-life teens who have already started working toward them), and suggesting ways to effect change--starting NOW

Junior Library Guild Selection! 2020 Towner Book Award Finalist Oregon Spirit Award Honor Book Follow Piper the border collie and her canine classmates through a season of avalanche rescue training. As they learn the skills they need to become snow rescue dogs, you''ll learn about the work these amazing canines do and about avalanche safety. Avalanche Dog Heroes is a nonfiction picture book illustrated with stunning, adorable photography that draws parallels between kids'' experiences in elementary school and the training days of the avalanche rescue dogs of Crystal Mountain, Washington State''s largest ski resort, located in the Cascade Range. Follow along with Piper, a friendly border collie who came to the mountain as a smart but timid shelter dog, terrified by everything, as she confidently heads off to school on a chairlift to meet her canine classmates. Over a season they romp together through the snow, learning and practicing the skills they need to be avalanche rescue dogs and earn their rescue certification. You''ll also learn the warning signs and conditions that cause an avalanche, the four types of avalanches, and the basics of avalanche safety.

The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster. Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth''s protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned--and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.

Award-winning biographer Elizabeth Rusch and two-time Caldecott Honor–recipient Marjorie Priceman team up to tell the inspiring story of the invention of the world’s most popular instrument: the piano. Bartolomeo Cristofori coaxes just the right sounds from the musical instruments he makes. Some of his keyboards can play piano, light and soft; others make forte notes ring out, strong and loud, but Cristofori longs to create an instrument that can be played both soft and loud. His talent has caught the attention of Prince Ferdinando de Medici, who wants his court to become the musical center of Italy. The prince brings Cristofori to the noisy city of Florence, where the goldsmiths’ tiny hammers whisper tink, tink and the blacksmiths’ big sledgehammers shout BANG, BANG! Could hammers be the key to the new instrument? At last Cristofori gets his creation just right. It is called the pianoforte, for what it can do. All around the world, people young and old can play the most intricate music of their lives, thanks to Bartolomeo Cristofori’s marvelous creation: the piano.

"Asteroids come in all shapes and sizes--and hit our planet in them, too. But what happens if a catastrophically large one approaches earth? By looking on the ground at historical asteroid craters and present-day falls, and up into space for the big ones yet to come, a wide variety of scientists are trying to figure out how to track asteroids--and how to avoid devastating impacts in the future."--

As the Big Island of Hawaii faces an eruption of unprecedented intensity, the U.S. military contends with the consequences of a long-held doomsday secret in this thriller. The master of the techno-blockbuster joins forces with the master of the modern thriller. Eruption is the passion project Michael Crichton, creator of Jurassic Park, ER, Twister, and Westworld, had been pursuing for years ahead of his untimely passing in 2008. After discovering his notes and the partial manuscript, his wife, Sherri Crichton, searched for more than a decade until she found the perfect partner: James Patterson, the world’s most popular storyteller.