Best Selling Books by Jennifer Swanson

When Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, he needed a team to survey that vast, unknown expanse of land. He chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Together, they led the Corps of Discovery, a team of intrepid explorers across a wild, dangerous country. Readers will understand the impact Lewis and Clark''s expedition had on American history in this detailed account. Follow their journey across roaring rivers, vast plains, and untrod paths, and learn about the Native Americans they met, the fierce wildlife that threatened their lives, and the hunger, sickness, and injury that dogged them from start to finish.

As spectacular as its creation was, the fall of the Mongol Empire was just as remarkable. Its descent into chaos was signaled by inter-family rebellion across the four khanates established by Genghis Khan. As weaker Mongol leaders struggled to retain control, drought, flood, famine, and the bubonic plague eventually contributed to the collapse of each khanate. As this volume amply demonstrates, though the Mongols were fierce warriors, their legacy also includes a culture of honor and discipline, centralized government structure, trade promotion and communication routes, and religious tolerance—all of which helped spread wealth, information, and technology across two continents.

A whistle-stop tour of the most amazing features and places on planet Earth, illustrated with LEGO models, including tips for budding LEGO builders Explore our amazing planet-and learn to build the most incredible things on Earth! There is so much to see on planet Earth. From the rainforest canopy to the deepest depths of the Pacific Ocean, discover plants, animals, and the geological features that make up our planet. Travel the continents and look inside volcanoes, mountains, geysers, and much more. Visit the Amazon, check out the world''s tallest waterfall, and explore the most incredible places on the planet without leaving home. With more than 100 LEGO models to inspire you, what on Earth will you build?

Most scientists agree that Earth is warming rapidly. Glaciers are melting and rising seawaters are submerging islands and coastal cities. In the coming decades, millions will likely have to escape extreme weather caused by climate change. Some scientists say we need to act faster and with radical new technologies—now—to save our planet. They propose geoengineering, or "engineering Earth," to reset our global thermostat. Ideas include thickening clouds with chemicals to reduce the amount of sunlight and pulling carbon dioxide from the air with machines. However, critics say that geoengineering could backfire and create even worse weather. Is geoengineering too risky? Or is it our best hope of survival?

Love to work with animals? Want to study them in the wild? Wish you could become a zookeeper? Become a zoologist! Zoology is the study of everything having to do with animals, including how and why they look, act, and behave in their environments and with other animals. As a zoologist, you might go on an expedition to Africa to study how elephants solve problems. You could take care of tigers at a zoo. You might even study how climate change can affect underwater creatures. In Zoology: Cool Women Who Work With Animals, readers ages 9 to 12 are inspired by stories of women who have made great strides in a field that requires commitment, courage, and creativity to pursue. Many of you have heard of the famous zoologists Charles Darwin, Jack Hanna, and Steve Irwin, but do you know Terri Irwin, Dian Fossey, and Rachel Carson? For many decades, female zoologists have been defining the field by advancing the global environmental movement while researching and advocating for all species of animals. Zoology: Cool Women Who Work With Animals introduces readers to three women in the field of zoology who are making an impact and inspiring the next generation of zoologists. Stephanie Kim is a graduate student in Canada studying different species of birds. Elise Newman works as a zookeeper at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Dr. Erin Seney is a sea turtle researcher with the University of Central Florida. Nomad Press books in the Girls in Science series supply a bridge between girls’ interests and their potential futures by investigating science careers and introducing women who have succeeded in science. Compelling stories of real-life zoologists provide readers with role models that they can look toward as examples of success. Zoology: Cool Women Who Work With Animals uses primary sources, essential questions, and knowledge connections to encourage both boys and girls to explore the animal world while being inspired to ask what role they might play in the field of zoology.

A close-up look at sports and nanotechnology, the cutting-edge science that manipulates objects at the atomic level. How are the sports played by Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Michelle Wie, and Usain Bolt related? Nanotechnology! A rapidly growing scientific field, nanotechnology is used to create high-tech swimsuits, tennis rackets, golf clubs, running shoes, and more. It is changing the face of sports as we know it. Cutting-edge science; high-performance sports

Have you ever tried to come up with ways to solve a problem in your community? Wangari Maathai worked to solve an environmental crisis and help people at the same time. When Maathai was young, it was unusual for girls in Kenya to go to school, but she was determined to learn more about science and nature. As an adult, she noticed that people were cutting down too many trees. Maathai knew that forest loss was bad for the health of the environment and people. She started the Green Belt Movement, which educated women in rural villages and paid them for every tree they planted. The program helped plant millions of trees and brought money to the villages. For her environmental and human rights work, Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

After local fishers noticed a large swarm of fish in an unlikely area in the Gulf of Mexico, a team of divers found a unique, thriving ecosystem, full of fish, crustaceans, and other unusual organisms. The region did not contain a reef, a shipwreck, or similar habitat that would attract these creatures. Why were they there? They were feasting on the remains of an ancient cypress forest. The ancient trees had been undisturbed for more than fifty thousand years before finally being uncovered by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. But how did this forest come to be underwater? And what other treasures might be discovered there? A group of scientists wanted to investigate this unusual site. Some were interested in an organism found in the underwater forest—the shipworm—that could potentially be used for the creation of life-saving medicines. Others wanted to learn what the forest might reveal about climate change. Follow along as Jennifer Swanson explores the wonders of the lost forest, from its history and discovery to the scientists’ expeditions to collect samples and map the forest.

The differences and similarities between the deep ocean and outer space.

Follow along as these two pet detectives, Penny and Rio, investigate why a cat, a groundhog, a squirrel and an owl are in their back yard.

Readers will be surprised to find out that their poop is good for building things. They''ll learn how animals use poop to construct nests, homes, and even fences. People mold it into bricks for houses and plop it on fences for support. It''s biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and can add a bit of spice to any home construction project. This book meets NGSS Standards for grades 3 to 5 for STEM curriculum.

"Describes what magnetism is and how it works through humor and core science content"--Provided by publisher.

"Describes various top-secret projects, including the Manhattan Project, Nazi experimentation, and several others"--

Everything moves! Kids run around the playground, cars drive on the road, and balls fly through the air. What causes all this motion? Physics! Forces and motion rule the way everything moves through space. In Explore Forces and Motion! With 25 Great Projects, readers ages 7 through 10 discover that the push and pull of every object on the planet and in space depends on how a force acts upon it. Things float because of a force called buoyancy, we stick to the ground because of a force called gravity, and we make footprints in sand because of a force called pressure. Physics becomes accessible and interactive through activities such as a experimenting with a water cup drop, building a bridge, and spotting magnetic field lines. Simple machines such as levers, pulleys, and wedges are used as vehicles for discovery and comprehension of the foundational concepts of physical science. Using a theme familiar to everyone—motion—this book captures the imagination and encourages young readers to push, pull, twist, turn, and spin their way to learning about forces and motion.

Turning an idea into a product or service takes dedication and perseverance, but the best part is anyone can do it. This savvy volume presents practical ways for becoming an entrepreneur and starting a business, including researching ideas, products, and services, as well as compiling a business plan and details to include in it, market research and testing, calculating start-up costs, finding funds for investment in the business, keeping costs under control, patent protection, insurance, manufacturing costs and building on service, licensing, hiring employees, advertising (including Internet marketing), keeping up with demand, and maintaining focus on a thriving business.

In the late 1930s, times were desperate. The world found itself at war again, less than twenty years after the first World War had ended. No one could quite believe it. And no one wanted it. The leaders of every country involved were left with no choice. They had to try to end the war as fast as possible, using whatever means they could. That meant coming up with secret operations meant to deceive, deflect, and confuse their enemies. Poison the cattle that the Germans eat? Deliberately float a corpse dressed up as a spy across the water to have it wash up on Germany''s shore? Create a unit of top secret commandos with a license to kill? These were all real tactics attempted with the ultimate goal of defeating Hitler. In this off-center look at history, readers will be captivated by the classified and covert efforts made by each side as they tried to gain the upper hand and win the war. Restricted access is lifted to give the reader a peek into the top secret operations of the daring men and women who fought the war under a cloak of secrecy.

"Describes what electricity is and how it works through humor and core science content"--Provided by publisher.

The late fifteenth century was alive with dreams of world exploration. As the first Portuguese adventurer to sail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, Bartolomeu Dias was one of the most important. His voyage around the tip of Africa, past the Cape of Good Hope, paved the way for future explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Columbus. Follow along with Bartolomeu as he battles huge storms, rough seas, dwindling supplies, and even a near mutiny on a historic trip that resulted in opening seagoing trade routes for all of Europe and Asia.

A women-led team of scientists protect the Amazon rainforest from destruction as readers get a firsthand account of real-life fieldwork in action. A compelling, nonfiction, photo-illustrated STEM read for 8-12-year-olds who aspire to be future scientists, environmentalists, and conservationists! Over 22 years, a team of scientists from the Field Museum in Chicago has helped conserve 28.9 million acres of the Amazon rainforest. Follow the team as they race to gather data over three precious weeks in the field. During rapid inventory, information is gathered in two ways: Biologists trek through mud and rain and count every animal and plant they see, recording everything that flies, swims, crawls, slithers, or walks. They then look at key plant and animal groups to assess the health of the ecosystem. Social scientists visit villages, speaking with local people about their desires and goals for the land, as each community has developed its own way of taking care of its environment. The team then makes a compelling, evidence-based case for conservation. Developed in partnership with the Field Museum, this action-packed book focuses on Rapid Inventory 30, which is conducted in Colombia with the help of local and Indigenous scientists and community members. Photographs from the scientists themselves give readers a glimpse into real-life fieldwork in the Amazon that will captivate STEM readers and the next generation of scientists.