Most Popular Books by Marcia Amidon Lusted

Parachuting from planes to rescue wounded soldiers. Providing supplies to fighters on the ground. Dropping behind enemy lines for surprise attacks. These missions are the work of the U.S. Air Commandos. These soldiers are trained to fly high-tech aircraft, handle powerful weapons, provide medical care, and carry out on-the-ground combat. Discover how Air Commandos provide support to every branch of the military, "any time, any place."

This title examines an important historic event - the March 11, 2011, earthquake that spawned a devastating tsunami in Japan. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the dual disaster that resulted in thousands of deaths and left many people homeless. This book also details the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant near Japan''s northeast coast and the recovery efforts following the disasters. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Events is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

Explores the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and how that event has sculpted societies, the sciences, and politics.

The United States is a young country founded on complicated ideals--ones that it still strives to fulfill. Many of those ideals were established in the 1776 Declaration of Independence--when colonists decided to separate from Great Britain. With historical images and details about key events before and after the political separation, this book will help kids understand the impact of the declaration on the history of the United States. Uncover the details of events that changed your world in this Pebble Explore series.

This biography highlights the life and accomplishments of Post Malone. Readers learn about Post''s early life, inspiration to pursue music, and successes as a hip-hop artist. With striking photographs and sidebars, the book also explores Post''s genre-crossing musical style and controversies surrounding his career. Features include a timeline, glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

This title examines the fascinating life of Justin Timberlake. Readers will learn about Timberlake''s childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Timberlake''s early interest in music and acting that led to an appearance on Star Search, his big break on the Disney Channel''s popular show The All New Mickey Mouse Club, and the creation of the boy band ''N Sync that released ''N Sync, No Strings Attached, and Celebrity. Timberlake''s solo career and the release of his albums Justified and FutureSex/Love Sounds, his acting career, which includes hosting Saturday Night Live and appearing in several movies, including Alpha Dog, Black Snake Moan, Shrek the Third, The Social Network, and Bad Teacher, his MTV Music Video Awards, his Grammy Awards, his collaborations with other singers, his clothing line William Rast, his record label Tennman Records, and his time spent raising money for charities are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

As the first fighters into battle, U.S. Army Rangers are skilled in outdoor survival, leading raids against the enemy, and defending key territory. With extensive training, Rangers learn to drop into combat zones by rappelling down cliffs and parachuting from planes and helicopters. Find out how Rangers surprise enemy forces, sacrificing their safety to lead the way for larger U.S. Army forces to enter battle.

This field guide has 100 entries highlighting a variety of fossils, rocks, and minerals. Readers will gain a greater understanding about these objects and will be able to identify them in the wild. Features include a helpful introduction to the topic, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Abdo Reference is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Today''s cutting-edge cars use sensors and powerful computers to see their surroundings and safely drive from place to place. Read this book to learn how engineers design intelligent cars that drive themselves.

This title examines the life of Blake Shelton. Readers will learn about Shelton''s childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Shelton''s early interest in music and talent in singing and songwriting that led to the release of his albums. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

This title examines an important historic event - the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster near Middletown, Pennsylvania. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the history of nuclear power in the United States, how a nuclear plant works, details of the emergency at Metropolitan Edison Company''s nuclear power plant, handling of the disaster by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, President Jimmy Carter''s visit to Three Mile Island, the investigation into the disaster, and the effects of this event on society. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and essential facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Meet the monstrous Tasmanian Devil as it roams over Tasmania! This book introduces the unique features of this wild animal including habitat, life cycle, physical characteristics, diet, threats, and defenses. Also included are a range map and a food chain diagram. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

This title examines an important historic event--the June 6, 1944, Allied landing in Normandy, France, during World War II. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the planning and espionage prior to the invasion, the events of the Normandy landing, the military equipment used, and the battle''s aftermath. Also discussed is the military context of the invasion, including events in the war that made the landing possible and necessary and the mission''s significance in ending the war in Europe. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web sites, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and essential facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

This title examines an important historic event - the 2011 capture and killing of Osama bin Laden. Easy-to-read, compelling text provides the details of the US Navy Seals operation that led to the capture and killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011. The book also details the events leading up to the navy operation, including a history of terrorism, a description of the September 11, 2001, attacks, the war on terror, and biographical information about bin Laden. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Events is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

This book relays the factual details of the story of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The narrative provides multiple accounts of the event, and readers learn details through the point of view of a fireman fighting fires and rescuing others, a girl whose home is destroyed, and a resident of Chinatown. The text offers opportunities to compare and contrast various perspectives in the text while gathering and analyzing information about a historical event.

How can medicine that tastes like bubble gum make you feel better so quickly? It has penicillin in it--an antibiotic that helps treat bacterial infections. But we wouldn''t have the drug without the work of Alexander Fleming. With historical images and details about key events before and after his discovery, this book will help kids understand the lifesaving impact of penicillin on the practice of medicine. Uncover the details of events that changed your world in this Pebble Explore series.

"[The Hunger Games trilogy] spread like wildfire," says Annmarie Powers, a teacher in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., in a statement to USA TODAY, the Nation''s No. 1 Newspaper. The teacher explained that the books, written by author Suzanne Collins, "deal with themes that teens are consumed with: ''fairness, relationships, plenty of violence and blood, greed, hypocrisy, subservience and rebellion.''" Collins came up with the storyline one night while channel surfing. Images of televised news coverage of the U.S.-led war in Iraq blurred in her mind with scenes from a reality show and sparked an exciting idea. What about a story that focused on teens in a fight-to-the-death battle, televised live from start to finish? Published in 2008, The Hunger Games riveted teens and adults alike. Followed by Catching Fire in 2009 and Mockingjay in 2010, each volume became an instant bestseller. The books evolved into major motion pictures, and Collins went behind the cameras to advise movie makers as her stories were translated onto the big screen. Discover the literary and personal influences that helped Collins create one of the most challenging visions of human nature.and rebellion.''"

This title explores the creative works of famous novelist Stephen King. Books analyzed include Carrie, The Green Mile, The Stand, and the Dark Tower series. Clear, comprehensive text gives background biographical information of King. "You Critique It" feature invites readers to analyze other creative works on their own. A table of contents, timeline, list of works, resources, source notes, glossary, and an index are also included. Essential Critiques is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

Understanding Palestine Today is an accurate and contemporary presentation that explores the Middle Eastern nation of Palestine with a focus on the country as it is today: current issues, culture, and lifestyle. The book is written in an easy-to-read enjoyable narrative form for elementary readers grades 3-6. The Palestine title includes a native recipe and craft for students to create. Elementary students are encouraged to consider evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Series titles have been developed to address many of the Common Core specific goals, higher level thinking skills, and progressive learning strategies for middle grade level students.

You may know that Booboo Stewart made a name for himself playing Seth Clearwater in the Twilight Saga films. But did you know that Booboo: • completed high school early and took part in GATE, a program for gifted students? • was obsessed with yo-yos as a kid and mastered all kinds of awesome tricks? • loves to do charity work for organizations such as the Los Angeles Mission and the Muscular Dystrophy Association? Want to know more about the life of this talented celebrity? Read on to learn all about Booboo''s childhood, family, career, personality, the story behind his first name, and more!