Best Selling Books by Louise Spilsbury

Explains what reptiles are and how they differ from other animals, offering an overview of the life cycle of a variety of reptiles, including snakes, turtles, lizards, and crocodiles.

Explores the different ways plants scatter their seeds by using insects, animals, and the wind.

"The Fukushima nuclear power plant was seriously damaged by a tsunami in 2011. Today, environmental problems continue, showing just how far-reaching damage from the massive waves of a tsunami can be. Other headline-grabbing tsunamis are profiled in this volume, providing readers with true-life examples as they learn about what causes tsunamis, where they are likely to hit, and how areas prepare for them throughout the main content. Full-color photographs of tsunami-caused devastation accompany the STEM content, boxes of real disaster statistics, and quotes from those who lived through a tsunami."

If a spark catches a tree branch when no one is around, do the burning leaves still make a crackling sound? In this illuminating volume, readers will learn about science and safety as they discover the ten deadliest wildfires of the past few centuries and their origins. Photographs of heroic firefighters, ferocious flames, and disastrous aftermaths will captivate even reluctant readers, while thought-provoking questions about global warming’s relationship to wildfires will inspire readers to engage in thinking critically about what they’ve learned.

Beautiful coral reefs are teeming with life that’s not found anywhere else on the planet. This diverse and fascinating biome is home to thousands of fish, octopi, sea slugs, and sharks. Readers learn about these creatures and many more in this science-rich title that uses age-appropriate language and fun fact boxes to discuss adaptation and survival, ecosystem balance, interdependency, and other important life science concepts. Readers will understand the role this biome plays in ocean creatures’ survival, including what happens when coral reefs come under threat from human intervention. A simple map and colorful photographs transport readers to the gorgeous world of coral reefs, where there’s always something new to learn!

What makes our hearts pump? How does blood circulate throughout our bodies? Curious readers will love this innovative look at the human heart and circulatory system. Clean, simple flowcharts located at the end of each chapter break down complex processes into bite-sized information. This allows readers to visualize and retain essential curriculum materials while having fun. Colorful graphics and clear language further ensure the accessibility of this important information. Even readers who are reluctant to study science will be eager to explore this unique, visually rich book. All libraries will have a place for this engaging look at the human heart and circulatory system.

Can land form where there wasn't any before? What about valleys and canyons? Through accessible language and colorful, fun flowcharts, readers learn the answers to these questions and more in this book. From how the continents arrived where they are today to how volcanoes form islands, the main text is full of incredible, and Earth science curriculum-supporting, knowledge for curious readers to discover. Full-color photographs accompany the text to take readers to the tops of mountains, the ocean coast, and deep into the Grand Canyon.

Skeletons are more than classic Halloween décor – they’re intricate structures inside every human being! In this innovative book, readers will learn how bones and muscles work together to support the human body and enable its many movements. Fun graphics and easy-to-comprehend language makes this important topic accessible to all readers. Concise flowcharts emphasize key concepts at the end of each chapter, helping readers visualize and retain essential science curriculum material. Even readers who are reluctant to engage with science will enjoy this unique, visually based approach to learning. Any library will have a home for this reader-friendly look at the human skeleton and muscles.

The strange bodies animals have developed over time are endlessly fascinating. The hammerhead shark’s odd head may look strange, but it helps the shark see all around itself. The ugly face of the puss moth caterpillar helps keep predators away, and the scorpion’s deadly tail can do some damage despite how bizarre it may look. Many questions readers may have about some of the most extreme animal anatomy can be answered in this volume, which includes up-close photographs of some pretty dangerous animals as well as thorough explanations of why they look the way they do.

Earth—it’s a disaster zone! For thousands of years, Earth has been exploding with super volcanoes whose magma flows and gas clouds destroy everything in their paths. But what causes these awesome forces of nature and where in the world are they most likely to occur? Discover the science behind super volcanoes, the world’s worst-ever volcano disasters, and the technology that scientists are using to help prevent devastating volcanoes of the future.

Introduces readers to a range of endangered animals found in South America, with basic facts about each animal, and also why the animals' habitat is threatened.

What kind of home is made in the mud? It’s the wetlands, one of Earth’s major biomes. This fascinating life science text takes readers inside the planet’s wetland habitats to explore the plants and animals that live there and the relationships between them. Readers will learn the role each creature plays in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, and how human intervention can upset the biome’s delicate balance. Fact boxes and a simple map provide opportunities for additional learning, while detailed color photographs help readers visualize what they’re reading. This high-interest take on important classroom concepts makes learning fun!

Readers will learn how to care for their environment as they make all sorts of fun crafts with supplies that can be found around the house. Readers will learn to make a bird feeder from a milk carton, a pocket pouch from cloth, musical shakers from plastic bottles, and more. It has never been easier to be green and crafty all at once! As readers discover the latest craft project, they will also learn important facts about conservation and waste through colorful callouts and clear text accompanied by engaging photos.

Every munch and crunch of our lunch makes its way through our digestive systems! How does our body break down food into energy? This innovative book gives readers an inside look at this essential bodily process. Flowcharts reiterate key concepts at the end of each chapter, allowing readers to visualize and retain complex information in a fun way. Colorful graphics and easy-to-understand language ensure this book is both fun and accessible. Even readers who are reluctant to study science will enjoy this visually rich, playful exploration of the human digestive system. This unique approach to science curriculum materials is sure to make this book a favorite in any library.

NASA wouldn’t know nearly as much about the planet Mars without space probes. A special kind of robot that can fly through space, space probes have gone to the asteroid belt and even traveled near Jupiter to take pictures of it! Readers learn all about these incredible robots as well as other space technology including robotnauts, or robot astronauts! Examples of the robots used in space are shown in full-color photographs, complete with explanations of their abilities. The main content and sidebars delve into the technological and scientific side of creating robots and how important they’ve become to space exploration.

Examines the characteristics of and threats to the alligator.

This book looks at what reflections are and how we can use them. - Mirrors reflect light back at exactly the same angle. You can make a "mirror book" to explore symmetry and multiple reflections. - Why does a straight straw look bent in a glass of water? Experiment using air, oil, and water to see how different materials affect the speed of light. - Look at how our eyes use reflected light to see and make a pinhole camera to show how the eye works. And much more!

Supports the schemes of work in the Science Curriculum at Key Stage 2. Illustrated with colour photographs and diagrams, this series is designed to encourage investigative skills and covers a range of living things, materials and phenomena.

Rivers and lakes are home to some of the world’s most captivating creatures. Diving beetles, water lilies, salmon, and fish eagles are just some of the diverse life-forms readers will learn about in this information-rich title. Readers learn how creatures adapt and survive in this fascinating biome. The text’s treatment of important life science concepts, such as ecosystems, interdependency, and habitat survival, are designed to support elementary science curriculum standards. Colorful photographs, fact boxes, and a simple map complete a comprehensive learning experience.

Stories about ghosts and haunted places have gripped human imagination throughout history. From poltergeists through ghostly figures and haunted buildings, our supernatural history is full of unanswered questions. This high-interest title will enthrall readers with its investigation of the paranormal past and the intriguing answers that could solve spooky mysteries of history.