New Releases by Mary K. Pratt

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! Computers cannot understand human languages such as English. Instead they follow instructions written in special codes. Computer programmers use these codes to design video games and computer programs. How does computer coding work? Read this book to find out!

In August 2005, a massive hurricane hit New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast. Levees created to protect New Orleans from flooding failed, and water rushed into the city. Some stranded residents waited days in horrible conditions for rescue to arrive. More than a thousand people died, and thousands more lost their homes. Could anyone have prevented these losses? To understand the impact of a disaster, you must understand its causes. How did Hurricane Katrina turn into a monster storm? How did poor planning contribute to the scope of the disaster? Investigate the disaster from a cause-and-effect perspective and find out!

Americans throw away millions of tons of waste at home every year. But did you know that much of this household waste can be recycled? Or that there are ways to turn this waste into energy? Learn how you can be part of the solution. As part of the Searchlight BooksTM collection, this series sheds light on an important question—What Can We Do about Pollution? Informative text, compelling photos, and engaging captions will help you find the answer!

This book explores the causes of and events leading to World War I. Easy-to-read, engaging text discusses major battles and key figures of the war and the technology and weapons used during the war. Through primary source quotes, readers will discover the experiences of soldiers and people on the home front. Readers will learn what impact World War I had on US history and the country?s development. Oversized photographs and informative sidebars enhance and support the text. Features include a timeline, facts page, glossary, bibliography, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

In the spring of 1607, an English ship landed at modern-day Virginia. The ship's passengers quickly built shelters and a fort. Their settlement, Jamestown, was the first permanent English colony in North America. This event marked the beginning of an important period in US history. Over the next 150 years, thousands of Europeans—men, women, and children—journeyed to North America. They came seeking wealth, religious freedom, or a fresh start in life. The thirteen colonies they created became the foundation for a new nation. Explore the history of each of the thirteen colonies. Track the important events and turning points in the creation of the United States.

This title examines the remarkable life of Queen Elizabeth I. Readers will learn about the queen's family background, childhood, education, as well as the saga of her ascension to the throne and influential rule-from the trials she faced with international diplomacy, military campaigns, and religious conflict to the Golden Age she inspired through her support of the arts and global exploration. Color and black & white photos and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text. Features include a table of contents, timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Lives is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

This title explores the creative works of famous director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino. Films analyzed include Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Kill Bill: Volume 2. Clear, comprehensive text gives background biographical information of Tarantino. “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.

Introduces parliamentary governments, discussing the social, political, economic, religious, and cultural effects, and examining various contemporary governments.

This title chronicles the song and dance genius of the King of Pop, whose recent death reinforced the level of his global influence and stardom. While covering controversies and oddities, from the trial on molestation charges to his cosmetic surgeries to his amusement-park house Neverland, the book also details his incredible songs, videos, work habits, childhood, and groundbreaking career. Jackson's music is still popular with young people, especially with the convenience of MP3 downloads and the enthusiasm passed down from older fans. Lives Cut Short is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.