New Releases by Melvin Berger

Questions and answers provide information about volcanoes and earthquakes, covering such aspects as why, how, when, and where these phenomena occur.

Ka-choo! Brrr. Yawnnnn. Have you ever wondered what makes you sneeze when you''re in a dusty room? Or shiver when you get out of the bathtub? Or yawn when you''re tired? All of these actions are reflexes. Your body makes them happen even though you don''t tell it to. Budding young scientists will be amazed as Melvin Berger and Paul Meisel reveal the mysteries behind the reflexes that happen in our bodies every day and offer fun-filled experiments to try on family and friends. Let''s Read and Find Out Science, Stage 2.

Presents information about a variety of insects, including flies, bees, butterflies, and caterpillars.

Provides answers to such questions about the weather as "What makes the weather?", "Does air have weight?", "How big are hailstones?", and "What is El Niño?"

Provides answers to such questions about various species of whales and dolphins as "Do all whales have teeth?", "How long do most whales live?", "Why do dolphins whistle?", and "Can dolphins save humans?"

Using the various sensory organs, people can see, hear, touch, taste and smell.

Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and life cycle of crickets while giving particular emphasis to how they chirp.

Provides answers to a variety of questions about the human body including "Why do you blush?", "Why do you need two ears?", "How strong is hair?", and "What are goosebumps?"

Turtles are among the oldest living creatures in the world. They have been on earth for nearly 200 million years! In Look Out for Turtles! readers will discover why these creatures have survived so long. Hard shells protect many turtles from harm. Colorful markings on their shells help some turtles to blend in with their surroundings. Different kinds of turtles can live almost anywhere on land or sea and can eat many kinds of plants and animals...Today turtles must struggle to. survive. They are hunted, and threatened by pollution. There is less and less open space for turtles to live in. If turtles are going to be around for another 200 million years, they are going to need our help!

Student Book

Student Book

With Marilyn Hefner''s new full color illustrations, bacteria and viruses have never looked so good! As packed with wit and good humor as with charts and diagrams, this book is still the best explanation of how your body fights germs. ‘An introduction to bacteria and viruses and how each of the two forms attacks cells and makes a person feel sick. The text mixes information with reassurance. . . . A nonthreatening first exposure, administered with a pleasant bedside manner.'' ''K. A Reading Rainbow Featured Selection Best Children''s Science Books 1995 (Science Books and Films)

Explains the cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation that provides fresh water to the earth and describes how this supply is brought to people''s homes.

Wintertime survival strategies of several different animals.

An accomplished violinist, Berger has played in orchestras under many famous conductors, supplied program notes for concerts and recordings, taught at the City University of New York, and lectured widely. Intent on providing a guide that would help others enjoy orchestral music to the fullest, Berger (Guide to Choral Masterpieces, LJ 10/1/93) chose the entries by studying the programs of orchestral concerts and music radio stations, perusing CD catalogs, and seeking the opinions of various eminent musicians, as well as drawing from his own background in music. Each entry begins with a short sketch detailing the circumstances surrounding the creation of a composition; a brief analysis of its form and occasionally a delightful anecdote are also included. An appendage of "75 more masterpieces" generally given a sentence each seems like a tease. Perhaps Berger should think of doing a supplement that would give proper treatment to those additional works. Essentially an endeavor of personal taste, this guide may inspire readers to investigate similarly well-done works, such as D. Kern Holoman''s Evenings with the Orchestra (Norton, 1992). Recommended as a succinct guide for academic and public libraries. Kathleen Sparkman, Baylor Univ., Waco, Tex. -- Library Journal.

Explains how the postal system works by following a letter on its way to its destination.

Did you know that an oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year? Berger and Mirocha focus on one of the worst spills in history-the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill-to explain in simple terms and with bold, full color illustrations why oils spills happen, how experts clean up after them, and what effect spilled oil has on ocean plants and wildlife. "A good introduction to the subject."--BL. 1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA) Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1995 (NSTA/CBC)

Explains the process of making a jar of peanut butter from peanuts growing in the field to processing to table.

Discusses garbage removal and recycling.

Discusses immigration, past and present, focusing on how four children from different countries came to live in the United States.

Children are given an introduction to reading and using maps, plus detailed descriptions of the continents, the poles, and the equator. Explains directional cues and map symbols.

Through simplified scientific explanations and colorful pictures, a child can learn how to read a weather map on the nightly news, how rain is formed, and how to sort the different kinds of clouds. Full color throughout.

Basic information on our solar system, its components, their movements, and their likely history.

This book explains how these basic household items work and how a child can help ensure that they keep working. Technical terms are explained in easy-to-understand words, using analogy and examples to teach and inform. Only the very basic, non-dangerous trouble-shooting methods are described for each household item, including the importance of parental supervision. Illustrated.

Introduces basic theories about the nature and behavior of the atom and the field of nuclear physics.

Describes in simple scientific detail how the body heals itself when cuts, scratches, and scrapes occur.

With the same authority, insight, and unique ability to bring music to life on the printed page that he brought to his Guide to Chamber Music, Melvin Berger gives us an indispensable guide to the sonata form. Comprehensive, analytical, and historical, including descriptions in nontechnical language of over two hundred of the best best-known sonatas, Guide to Sonatas is designed to help all music lovers—casual listeners, experienced concertgoers, performers, conductors, or teachers—deepen their understanding and enhance their enjoyment of the classical repertoire. “Mr. Berger is a gifted writer, and his annotations . . . are jargon-free, informative, and balanced in their approach to the musical material. He does not talk down to his readers, nor lose his enthusiasm for his specialty. Others could emulate him with profit.”—Musical America “Berger evokes the mood of each composition through judiciously chosen adjectives and alliterative expressions . . . he has found the right vocabulary to communicate with sophisticates and enthusiasts alike. Reading his analysis is the next best thing to listening to the work analyzed.”—Wilson Library Bulletin

This account explores the world of killer bees, fire ants, & other such bugs.

Postulates what life would be like living in a colony on Mars and presents up-to-date scientific knowledge of that planet.

Discusses how the various musical instruments produce sound and describes how records, tapes, and disks are made and how the playback equipment for them generates sound waves.