New Releases by Rebecca Stefoff

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.

Examines the 1972 Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia in regard to the death penalty.

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 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.

From emperor penguins nesting in the frozen reaches of Antartica to peregrine falcons that have made themselves at home among urban skyscrapers, birds are amazingly adaptable. The Bird Class surveys the many orders and families of living birds and traces the origins of these winged, feathered marvels. Bird biology, life cycles, behavior, and habitats are also explored. The Bird Class sounds a warning about the threats that many of the world''s ten thousand bird species now face, and describes some of the actions being taken to protect them. Book jacket.

Discusses monarchies as a political system, and details the history of monarchies throughout the world.

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.

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

Mammals with young that develop in pouches after birth are marsupials, or metatherians. Kangaroos, koalas, and Tasmanian devils are just a few of the best-known members of this order. Dozens of small, shy, little-known species are found in the Americas and around Australia. The Marsupial Order explores the origins of these mammals and examines their unusual reproductive method, which has unique advantages. In addition, The Marsupial Order discusses the biology, life cycles, and ecological roles of marsupials, as well as current threats to their survival and approaches to conservation. With a survey of the various metatherian suborders and families, The Marsupial Order introduces pouched mammals from wombats to wallabies and beyond. Book jacket.

Celebrate the richness and diversity of the United States of America in this exciting series. Readers can explore the unique character of each state—its land and waterways; its history; its government and economy; its festivals, cultural diversity, landmarks, and exciting stories of success. Celebrate the States, second edition, brings the series into the twenty-first century and updates the original titles to reflect the changes that have gripped the state in the past five to ten years. the second edition features a new design and all new photographs. Also included is a new chart showing the breakdown of the state''s workforce and two new maps. One shows the state divided by county, and the other presents the population distribution. the structure has been slightly changed as well. While the profiles of state luminaries remain in the back matter, the government and economy are given expanded coverage, each in its own chapter.

Focuses on the pros and cons of marriage in the United States--including covenant marriages, same-sex unions, and the effect of divorce on kids--through personal stories, opinions, and scholarly studies. Provides a historical look at marriage and includes

A critical exploration of magic, its history, and practitioners.

"An exploration of the origins, history, development, and societal impact of the microscope and the telescope"--Provided by publisher.

"An examination of the origin, history, development, and impact of the submarine and related underwater exploration and transport technology"--Provided by publisher.

An overview of the characteristics, habitat, way of life, and conservation status of various primates.

The impact and ramifications of cases argued before the Supreme Court are felt for decades, if not centuries. Only the most important issues of the day and the land make it to the nine justices, and the effects of their decisions reach far beyond the litigants. Under discussion here are five of the most momentous Supreme Court cases ever. They include Marbury v. Madison, Roe v. Wade, Dred Scott, Brown v. Board of Education, and The Pentagon Papers. An absorbing exploration of enormously controversial events, the series details, highlights, and clarifies the complex legal arguments of both sides. Placing the cases within their historical context (though they ultimately emerge as works in progress), the authors reveal each decision''s relevance both to the past and the present. the result is a fascinating glimpse across the centuries into the workings of the Supreme Court and the American judicial system.

An introduction to the geography, history, government, economy, people, achievements, and landmarks of the Evergreen State.

On March 23, 1900, Arthur John Evans and his staff began to excavate on Crete, looking for the fabled site of Knossos, where an extraordinary civilization, a precursor to classical Greece, was rumored to have existed. Almost from the first shovel stroke, artifacts began to emerge. Evans realized that here was "an extraordinary phenomenon, nothing Greek, nothing Roman. A wholly unexplored world." The Palace of Minos at Knossos recounts the exciting story of uncovering a remarkable society lost to the world for 3,500 years, from its initial discovery through its excavation to the structure we see today. Sidebars on archaeological techniques, illustrations of the sites, tables, and diagrams throughout provide a wealth of information on the Palace. The use of artifacts and other "documents" recovered from the Palace bring out the voices of the people of the past, offering clues to who they were and how they lived. The Palace of Minos at Knossos concludes with an interview with archaeologist Chris Scarre who talks about the misperceptions about Knossos and what we really know about its culture.

Presents information on some of the causes of the Civil War, the battles fought between 1861 and 1863, and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

One of the most beloved writers of all time, Jack London is best remembered for his tales of adventure, such as White Fang and The Call of the Wild. Jack London paints a well-rounded picture of London''s short, intrepid life, his prolific writings, his unusually clear and direct portrayal of people of different races, and his struggles with writing. The book includes excerpts, photographs, maps, suggestions for further reading, and a list of places to visit. Oxford Portraits are informative and insightful biographies of people whose lives shaped their times and continue to influence ours. Based on the most recent scholarship, they draw heavily on primary sources, including writings by and about their subjects. Each book is illustrated with a wealth of photographs, documents, memorabilia, framing the personality and achievements of its subject against the backdrop of history.

Traces the life and career of Vice President Gore, describes his experiences in Vietnam, and explains how he developed an interest in environmental issues.

Explores twelve archeological "lost cities," with accounts of site discovery and investigation of the meaning of recovered objects.

Examines the physical characteristics and behavior of jellyfish and describes six different kinds.

Examines the physical characteristics and behavior of frogs and presents many different kinds.

Examines the physical characteristics and behavior of snakes and describes six different kinds.

Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and camouflage abilities of this unusual fish.

This book describes one of the most important topics in the social studies curriculum, the great westward migration of the mid-nineteenth century, which was made possible by the Oregon Trail. It provides a glimpse into the lives of the emigrants, detailing their various reasons, ranging from greed to religious conviction, for their journey over the Trail which would pave the way for future highways.

A biography of president Richard Nixon including his early life and detailing his political career.

A biography of the Portuguese sea captain who commanded the first expedition that sailed around the world, thus providing the first positive proof that the earth is round.