Best Selling Books by Laura Hamilton Waxman

In 1607, Henry Hudson set sail in search of the Northwest Passage. He turned up empty-handed after two attempts. The following year, the Dutch East India Company hired him to find the Northeast Passage. This journey, too, ended in frustration. In 1610 Hudson made a final attempt—but in 1611 his crew staged a mutiny and left him to die. Hudson did become the first European to sail up the Hudson River, which still bears his name. How can we learn about Hudson''s journeys? We can study maps, writings, and artwork created when he lived. Go exploring with Henry Hudson and primary sources to learn more.

Thomas Paine believed that American liberty was not only possible but worth dying for. He was dissatisfied with his quiet life until he traveled to the American colonies. There, the cause of American freedom from English rule lit a fire within him. To inspire colonists to support and fight the war, he wrote Common Sense and The American Crisis. He was the first person to use the term the United States of America in print. He helped transform an entire nation with the power of his words.

Did you know that the world''s first submarine traveled the Thames River in England way back in 1615? Or that early cars had three wheels instead of four? Get ready to learn the fascinating stories behind inventions you use every day. From the motorcycle inventor who died while riding his creation to the engineers who figured out a better way to launch humans into space, you''ll find out how we got the transportation inventions that get us where we''re going.

In December 1620, a group of English settlers stepped out of their boats and climbed up the shore to a point overlooking a small harbor. Known as the Pilgrims, they had traveled far on the Mayflower. Behind them was the vast Atlantic Ocean. Before them was the wilderness of North America. They called their new home the Plymouth Colony. But who were the Pilgrims? Why had they left England? And what lay ahead for them over the long winter in Plymouth? Discover the facts about the Pilgrims and their struggle to build a colony in the New World.

Traces the life of the thirty-second president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose years in office led the country through the Depression and the Second World War.

During World War II, the United States was battling Japan. In 1942 the president of the United States signed an executive order, forcing more than one hundred thousand Japanese Americans to leave their homes. These innocent people—many of them US citizens—would spend the next few years imprisoned behind barbed wire fences, in what the government called internment camps. Life in the camps was difficult. People were homesick. The barracks where they slept were cold and dirty. Most of the country believed they were criminals. But imprisoned Japanese Americans remained brave. Learn more about these courageous heroes, including those who fought for justice and freedom.

"This book covers information (life cycle, appearance, habitat) about the bald eagle. Each chapter discusses an aspect of the eagle''s life, comparing the bird to a similar bird and to a very different bird."--

Have you ever solved a tricky puzzle? As kids, Joanna Kelley and her siblings had fun solving the math and science challenges their parents invented at the dinner table. Later, Kelly''s love of science puzzles inspired her to investigate the building blocks of life. Kelley became a geneticist, a scientist who studies DNA. DNA is the set of instructions inside every living thing—a code that shapes appearance and behavior. Kelley set out to better understand how the code works. She focuses on a wide range of animals, from great apes to tiny insects. What she learns about their DNA can tell scientists a lot about human DNA too. Follow Kelley''s path from curious kid to groundbreaking scientist.

In 1493, Juan Ponce de León joined Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. Thus began a lifetime of exploration for Ponce de León, who traveled to Puerto Rico in 1506, the island of Bimini in 1512, and Florida in 1513. He died in Florida, fighting against the area''s Indigenous people. How can we know what Ponce de León''s explorations were like or what effect his actions had on the Native peoples he encountered? By studying maps, journal excerpts, and other artifacts from Ponce de León''s time, we can learn about his impact on history.

See what a California condor has in common with a turkey vulture. Learn what sets them apart from a brown-headed cowbird. Readers will compare key traits of California condors—their appearance, behavior, habitat, and life cycle—to traits of other birds. Charts and sidebars support key ideas and provide details. Through gathering information about similarities and differences, readers will make connections and draw conclusions about what makes this animal a bird and how birds are alike and different from each other.

Answers questions about the Articles of Confederation and the circumstances around its creation and dismissal.

On Easter in 1722, a fleet of Dutch ships exploring the southeastern Pacific Ocean came across a small island that at first seemed uninhabited. Instead, the sailors found a community of people—and hundreds of giant stone statues. Easter Island and its statues have long been a source of mystery for explorers, historians, and tourists. How did people come to live in such a remote place? How had the islanders carved such enormous statues without metal tools? And how had they moved them? Read all about the myths and theories surrounding Easter Island, as well as the science researchers are using to learn more.

The 3-D Shapes illustrated nonfiction books provide the first lessons on three-dimensional shapes. In Cones, rhyming text and creative illustrations draw attention to cones that are found in the world around us. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Looking Glass Library is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.

This book covers information (life cycle, appearance, habitat) about the toucan. Each chapter discusses an aspect of the toucan''s life, comparing the bird to a similar bird and to a very different bird.

The 3-D Shapes illustrated nonfiction books provide the first lessons on three-dimensional shapes. In Spheres, rhyming text and creative illustrations draw attention to spheres that are found in the world around us. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Looking Glass Library is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.

Answers frequently asked questions about the Salem Witch Trials, which left a mark on the United States justice system.

Have you ever scrolled through a news feed on Facebook? Ruchi Sanghvi helped design this and other Facebook features. She joined Facebook—then a small Silicon Valley startup company—after moving from India to the United States to study computer engineering. With her help, Facebook quickly became one of the largest social networking sites in the world. Sanghvi was the first female engineer at Facebook, and it wasn''t easy blazing a trail for women in her field. But nothing stopped her from following her dreams. Her contributions at Facebook helped connect people from around the globe. Even women from Sanghvi''s home country of India used Facebook to speak out for equal rights. Discover how this young female immigrant became a top-notch engineer who changed the tech world forever.

See what an ostrich has in common with a secretary bird. Learn what sets an ostrich apart from a merlin. Readers will compare key traits of ostriches—their appearance, behavior, habitat, and life cycle—to traits of other birds. Charts and sidebars support key ideas and provide details. Through gathering information about similarities and differences, readers will make connections and draw conclusions about what makes this animal a bird and how birds are alike and different from each other.

"Lerner Classroom"--P. [4] of cover on pbk. version.

Biography of the American president also known for his humanitarian work.