Most Popular Books by Joe Rhatigan

This is a hysterical read-aloud picture book that shows children it''s okay to pass a little gas.

''With dozens of doodle game to play, challenges to complete, and activities to attempt, the fun will never end."--Back cover

Rudyard Kipling''s tale of a young boy lost in the jungles of India introduces young children to the magic of the original classic tale. The Jungle Book: Mowgli''s Adventures adapts Rudyard Kipling''s timeless tale of a young boy lost in the jungles of India for young children. This delightfully written and illustrated book focuses on the magic of the jungle and the one-of-a-kind characters and fantastical situations that Mowgli finds himself in. The Jungle Book: Mowgli''s Adventures tells the simple story of Mowgli, who is raised by Mother and Father Wolf and taught the ways of the jungle by Baloo the bear. While this is a faithful introduction to the classic, it doesn''t attempt to cover all the action from the original story and its adaptations-the story focuses on the parts children will understand and enjoy. The Jungle Book: Mowgli''s Adventures is a magical introduction children will recall when they are older and ready for the original work.

Living in America''s most famous residence might seem glamorous at first--it''s the most fun place any kid could live! There''s a bowling alley in the basement, chefs are always available to prepare whatever you''re craving, and sometimes presidential aides will even help you with your homework! But life isn''t always easy for the youngsters who call the White House home. They''re always in the spotlight, and those pesky Secret Service agents are always around. For every perk, there''s a problem. From Washington to Obama, see the White House through the eyes of the children and grandchildren. Filled with wacky, weird, and wonderful stories, it shows what it''s like to call the president Dad (or Granddad or Uncle). Find out what schools they went to, what mischief they caused, and what pets they had. There are first-person accounts from letters and interviews, fascinating photos, original illustrations, and even a section that follows the children after they left the White House.

This is history served up high-octane, with all of the fun and none of the boredom. It''s not about memorizing lists of dates or names, or remembering which general won what battle. Instead, BIZARRE HISTORY merrily digs up the scandals, the strangeness, and the scintillating details that illuminate personalities, events, and real life. Think of it not as a textbook, but as history?s juicy unauthorized biography--a historical document in which relevance never gets in the way of a good read. There are humorous quotes from famous figures such as Mark Twain and Napoleon ("History is a myth that men agree to believe"), as well as witty commentary about leaders of the past. After all, while you''re probably familiar with William the Conquerer, have you heard of Charles the Simple, ruler of France and son of Louis the Stammerer? What about the emperor who entered Rome in a chariot drawn by 50 naked slaves?and invented the first whoopee cushion, too? But you can find lots of wildness closer to home: George Washington wrote love letters to a married woman; "Old Hickory" Andrew Jackson had been in at least seven duels before becoming president; and Benjamin Franklin fathered an illegitimate child. Paranoia also plagued a few of our presidents: the only thing Franklin Roosevelt had to fear was the number 13: he wouldn''t invite 13 guests to a dinner party or travel on the 13th. And both Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan had encounters with UFOs! The fun facts span the globe, covering the crazy acts of Caligula in the Roman Empire; the "Dog Shogun" in 17th century Japan; the "Pork and Beans" war between the US and Canada; and even details about fashion, medicine, sports, and the real Dracula. It''s a wild journey that no one could resist!

New in Paper Just one look at these colorful, lively pages, and young crafters will start putting their creative stamp on everything from t-shirts to duffel bags to picture frames. It''s easy, and so much fun, with this all-in-one stamping guide that presents really cool projects and outlines the entire delightful process. Kids will have such a good time stamping they''ll never want to stop.

At once inspirational, silly, and fun, I Love a Book is a lavishly illustrated picture book that celebrates reading and children’s marvelous capacity for enjoyment and imagination. Calling all kids who love nothing better than getting lost in a great book! This is our celebration of books, reading, and our imaginations. In I Love a Book , you''ll get to see all different types of books and see where to find them from the simple, lyrical prose. As you keep reading, the words becomes more frantic as a young reader encounters pirates sailing the sea, a classroom of monsters "learning math with their paws," and even an animal doctor making house calls in a helicopter! With lavish illustrations nearly spilling off the page, the young reader finally reaches the end of an exhausting day, ready for bed... and more books. I Love a Book is for anyone who loves spending time with their books and wants to instill this passion in the next generation.

Kids will be catapulted back through American history with dozens of activities, quizzes, games, puzzles, and doodles that explore the wacky side of our country''s past. Explore early American history as you draw a new dress for Abigail Adams, practice your signature like John Hancock, and do a word search of popular names from the 1770s. Conquer a MadLib of the national anthem or write your own modern history by designing your own presidential campaign—then decorate the oval office after you''re elected. Peppered with "A Bit of Learnin'''''' sections to give the real facts behind the activities, Hilarious American History makes America''s past, present, and possibly future come alive for kids.

Discover the meaning of culture! This nonfiction book examines diverse cultures and encourages students to celebrate their differences. Made for young readers, the book includes a fiction story related to the topic, an extension activity, discussion questions, and more beneficial features. This 24-page full-color book describes how food, games, holidays, and more vary from culture to culture. It also covers relevant themes such as kindness and being different, and includes an extension activity for Grade 1. Perfect for the classroom, at-home learning, or homeschool to learn about multicultural society, world studies, and diversity.

With 50 Wacky Inventions Throughout History, history has never been so fun--or wacky! Have you ever heard of a bike TV? Or a bird diaper? 50 Wacky Inventions Throughout History describes 50 inventions that seem too crazy to be true--but are! Whether useful, entertaining, or just plain silly, these mind-boggling inventions and gadgets from yesterday, today, and tomorrow will surprise and delight fun-fact lovers of all ages.

New in Paper It''s coming sooner than you think--the time to prepare for the next science fair! For projects, for presentation, for blue-ribbon winning ideas, there''s no better place to come than here. From thinking of a unique science fair experiment to putting fabulous finishing touches on the display, this cool collection of smart and illustrated projects gives budding scientists everything they need to put together a winner--and have fun doing it, too. Kids have seen all the tricks, and they''re tired of science fair books that show them (yawn) how to make the "been there, done that" volcano or another boring model of the solar system. Here are experiments they really want to do, on subjects such as slime, magic sand, video games, mummies, dog germs, horoscopes, bicycles, and more. The whole science fair experience is broken down into small, manageable steps, so youngsters won''t feel overwhelmed. All safety precautions are taken, with notes on parental supervision, when necessary.

It doesn’t have to be a celebrity, it doesn’t have to be a big-name athlete: some of the most important and exciting people a kid can meet live right nearby, in his or her own hometown! These are the folks who quietly help keep us safe, grow our food, and motivate us with their success. And this engaging book explains who these world-changers are, what they do, why they’re important, and how to make contact. Using a fun and appealing notebook-style format filled with lighthearted illustrations, it identifies individuals who might be cool to meet—from farmers and travelers to local entrepreneurs, politicians, and artists. Plus, it gives inquisitive strategies, interview questions, and research ideas, along with plenty of interesting tidbits, great quotes, intriguing profiles, blogs to check out, and Q&As. Every child will find something life-changing in these pages as they explore the lives of animal rescuers, scientists, writers, crafters, chefs, engineers, and so many more. They’ll even learn about the teens and tweens who take an active role in making their communities better places—like Maya Shea Penn, a thirteen-year-old entrepreneur, philanthropist, designer, artist, animator, illustrator, and writer who started her own company when she was only eight! Who knows where it will inspire a kid to go?

Alex has dreams of becoming a basketball star. But as the shortest kid on the team, she’s struggling. She needs to get tall...fast! Or does she?

Rather than paying tribute to the great discoveries and discoverers, the BOOK OF SCIENCE STUFF takes a fun look at the silly, hilarious, horrible underbelly of science. In a series of enjoyable short accounts, it focuses on the failures, reveals the petty squabbles, and introduces the "nerds" who labored in labs around the world. Check out the blunders--like scary Cold War experiments, idiotic research grants, and space study stupidity; meet the "Sigmund Frauds" and the real Frankensteins; and peek into the secret lives of scientists (if you dare). See how science makes the world go round--and directly affects everyone''s daily lives. Scrutinize Hollywood''s presentation of science on film and TV. And ponder the ways science sometimes pulls the wool over our eyes.

Have you ever heard of armpit air conditioners? Or a toilet paper hat? Wacky Inventions Throughout History describes some of the wackiest inventions that seem too crazy to be true—but are! Whether useful, entertaining, or just plain silly, these mind-boggling inventions and gadgets from yesterday, today, and tomorrow will surprise and delight fun-fact lovers of all ages.

Pizza kings, mama bears, fake PAC ads, and obscene tweets: Today''s politics seem to have grown crazier--and more contentious--than ever. But is it really any weirder now than it ever was? In a world filled with corruption, lies, and illicit affairs, where the news regularly serves up politicians'' gaffes, crimes, and screwups, it''s hard to imagine things were ever stranger. Well, guess what? America has a long history of bizarre politics... and it''s all here! We invite you into the political loony bin, where you''ll encounter dozens of really unlikely candidates, follow campaign trail madness, meet far too many contenders with foot-in-mouth disease, and learn about a host of false promises and lies meant to lure (presumably gullible) voters.

Jesse knows it will be difficult making friends at his new school. When he gets invited to sit at the cool kids'' lunch table, Jesse feels on top of the world. But the feeling doesn''t last long when the cool kids start pulling pranks on teachers and other students. Will Jesse go along with the crowd or do what is right? With full-color illustrations, this 32-page chapter book will capture the interest of reluctant readers who enjoy realistic fiction stories that deal with bullying, cliques, and peer pressure.

Provides instructions for using recycled materials to create fifty different crafts and offers tips for an earth-friendly lifestyle.

With 300 fabulous images, 50 fantastic projects, and lots of fascinating scientific information, this is simply the most out-of-this world introduction to astronomy a child can have. "An excellent introduction to astronomy...outstanding background information ...Spectacular color photos and other graphics, useful charts, and graphs augment the text."--School Library Journal, starred review What are stars? Why does the moon change shape? Budding astronomers will find answers to all their questions about the night sky--and far more--in these 50 eye-opening activities. Three-hundred color photos and illustrations, some from NASA''s magnificent collection, help kids soar out into the solar system and get their bearings among the stars. Youngsters will learn to use binoculars and telescopes, and how to chart their viewing highlights in a stargazing notebook. A photographic trip to the moon will inspire kids to map its many phases, calculate a person''s lunar weight, and find out what happens during an eclipse. Voyaging farther out also reveals why the other planets wouldn''t make a good home for humans, and will help children understand why Earth is avery special place. A Selection of the Children''s Book-of-the-Month Club and the Scholastic Book Club.