New Releases by Rebecca Stefoff

Birds that are smarter than a fifth grader--smart enough to do math, that is. Chimps that use tools. These are just two examples of the amazing skills of the animals all around us. In this jovial book, award-winning author Rebecca Stefoff tells us not just that animals are intelligent, but explains how researchers have discovered how smart they are. Readers will learn the languages of chimps and the mental maps of birds as well as the disputes that have arisen over the years about the very idea of animal intelligence.

Can animals feel empathy or have a consciousness? Through the extensive work from ethologists like Charles Darwin and Jane Goodall, it is widely thought that some animals do feel empathy. Research is ongoing, however, dogs, birds, elephants, rodents, and dolphins are thought to all have a moral compass. In what ways do these animal species show empathy or feeling? Through explanative based text by award-winning author Rebecca Stefoff, your readers will be challenged to notice animal behavior in a myriad of ways. Key scientific terms and phrases are explained and step-by-step guidance for scientific observation procedures are included.

Focusing on a variety of groups-Jews, Chinese, Japanese, Africans, Irish, Mexicans, Afghans, Vietnamese, and more-this volume tells America''s story through the millions of people who came here seeking the opportunity.

In the nineteenth century, over half a million men, women and children traveled west on the Oregon Trail. Stretching two thousand miles from Independence Missouri, to the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Trail was the longest overland route used in the westward expansion. Crossing mountains and deserts, fighting disease, short of both food and water, pioneers endured many hardships to follow the trail west with their hopes and dreams of seeking fortunes in the unsettled west. Author Rebecca Stefoff traces the roots of the Oregon and California Trails back to the seventeenth century, telling the stories of those who left the security and comfort of their homes, to endure months of hard travel in the hope of a new life.

Readers of the books in Todays Writers and Their Works will learn the story behind each writers story.

Forensic Science Investigated takes young readers inside this fast-growing field, showing them how crime scene investigators and forensic specialists gather evidence, solve crimes, and even liberate innocent people who have been mistakenly imprisoned.

Forensic Science Investigated takes young readers inside this fast-growing field, showing them how crime scene investigators and forensic specialists gather evidence, solve crimes, and even liberate innocent people who have been mistakenly imprisoned.

Forensic Science Investigated takes young readers inside this fast-growing field, showing them how crime scene investigators and forensic specialists gather evidence, solve crimes, and even liberate innocent people who have been mistakenly imprisoned.

The history of the United States is, in large part, the history of its Landmark Legislation. In this series, the authors take the reader behind the scenes to show the drama that led to each bill''s being passed and the effect each piece of legislation has had in the development of our country. Each book includes an informative "From Bill to Law" feature, which explains in easy-to-follow fashion how the process of legislation works. Patriot Act tells the story of how the events of September 11, 2001, led to the bill officially known as the USA PATRIOT Act, and the controversy over civil liberties versus national security that has been debated ever since. Book jacket.

Take a step back in time to explore the first humans.

Take a step back in time to explore the origin of humans.

This series takes readers on a journey through the evolutionary history of humans.

Forensic Science Investigated takes young readers inside this fast-growing field, showing them how crime scene investigators and forensic specialists gather evidence, solve crimes, and even liberate innocent people who have been mistakenly imprisoned.

Nevada is... a state where American Indians have lived for thousands of years, adapting their ways of life to the resources it offered. European explorers and American pioneers, however, saw Nevada as a dry and dangerous obstacle to be crossed. Only when the land revealed its mineral riches did settlers come to Nevada. By the twenty-first century Nevada was America''s fastest-growing state. As the population boom shapes the state''s future, the influences of the land''s pioneer past and of the land itself remain strong. Book jacket.

Celebrate the richness and diversity of the United States of America in this exciting series.

This series takes readers on a journey through the evolutionary history of humans.

Two of every five mammals on Earth are rodents, yet most people know little about this amazingly diverse order of animals. Rats and mice may be all too familiar, but what about gundis and degus? And did you know that porcupines are rodents, but rabbits are not? The Rodent Order explores the world of rodents, from prehistoric guinea pigs the size of horses to the Laotian rock rat, a "living fossil" recently found alive in the forests of Southeast Asia. The Rodent Order also examines the long relationship between people and rodents. For thousands of years, rodents have influenced human life as pests, food, pets, and carriers of disease. Today human activities are threatening the survival of some rodent species, but other rodents are flourishing-sometimes right under our noses. Book jacket.

Idaho is ... a state of astonishing natural beauty with a complex identity. Geography divides Idaho into two distinct regions, and some Idahoans find it easier to identify with their neighbors in earby states than with the rest of their own state. Divided and ruggedly independent as they are, however, Idahoans are united in the proud affection they feel for their state. They are torn between wanting to sing its praises and wanting to keep its secrets to themselves. Book jacket.

Monerans, the most numerous life-forms on earth, are better known as bacteria. They are prokaryotes, organisms that consist of a single cell without a nucleus. Invisible to ordinary sight, bacteria were discovered in the seventeenth century, after the invention of the microscope. Then, in the 1970s, scientists using the new tool of DNA sequencing discovered another group of prokaryotes called the archaea. The Moneran Kingdom explains the differences between bacteria and archaea-two of the three domains of life on Earth-and provides an overview of milestones in microbiology. The reader is introduced to the structure and life cycle of the prokaryotes, the role of bacteria in the origins of life on earth, and the many ways monerans influence life for human beings-from disease to digestion to decomposing waste. Bacteria may be "germs," but they are vital to our continued survival. Book jacket.

Conifers range from familiar pines that grow in almost all parts of the world, to the towering redwoods and sequoias of the American West, to rare plumyews found only in remote Asian forests. these 600 or so species of evergreen trees and shrubs bear their seeds in cones and keep their needlelike leaves through all seasons. Although the conifers are greatly outnumbered by other kinds of plants in the world today, they are an ancient part of the plant kingdom. The Conifer Division explores the origins of these 310-million-year-old plants, as well as their unique physical features and roles in the environment. The Conifer Division also looks at the enormous cultural and economic importance of these plants and at the questions hanging over the fate of the world''s last great conifer forests. Book jacket.

Argues both sides of the debate on assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Provides a brief history of robotics, describes tasks for which robots are useful, and suggests future development.

Whether it is a big furry dog or a tiny freshwater fish, a fluffy rabbit or a hard-shelled box turtle, caring for a pet is a great joy and a great responsibility. Books in this series help a reader learn more about the many animals that make great pets. Packed with informative text and vivid photographs, each title explains how to choose the right pet and how to take care of it. With interesting sidebars and fun facts, these books are perfect for a first-time pet owner or for students who are interested in learning more about these great pets.

"An exploration of the origin, development, and societal impact of the camera"--Provided by publisher.

Explores the past, present, and future to shed light on complex, high-priority public policy. Offers the pros and cons of each issue with opinions from social policy experts.

"A critical exploration of ghosts and haunted houses"--Provided by publisher.

Did you know that half of all the animals in the world that have backbones are fish? There are more kinds of fishes than there are amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals added together. And scientists are discovering more species of fish almost weekly. Brilliantly colored or camouflaged, as big as a whale or smaller than a little fingernail, fishes are found almost everywhere there is water. The Fish Classes explores the origins of the first fishes, with a glimpse of some of the extraordinary varieties that became extinct long ago. The book also examines the five classes of modern fishes, surveys their physical features, habitats, and ways of life, as well as some of the threats they face today. Book jacket.

Enormous underground mushrooms and microscopic molds belong to an immensely varied group of organisms that occupy a unique branch in the tree of life. The Fungus Kingdom traces the history of this half-billion-year-old kingdom and explores its diversity, as well as its complex reproductive methods. The Fungus Kingdom also examines the effects of fungi on human life, which are both helpful and harmful. From poisonous mushrooms and disease-causing spores to life-saving penicillin and the yeasts used in making food and drinks, fungi are woven into the fabric of life in important, and sometimes unexpected, ways. Book jacket.

Explores the folklore and facts connected with vampires, zombies, and shape-shifters such as werewolves.

"A summary of the life cycle, diet, behavior, anatomy, and conservation status of deer"--Provided by publisher.