New Releases by Rebecca Stefoff

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.

The arachnids include some of the planet''s most feared creatures, such as venomous scorpions and deadly funnel-web spiders. Other arachnids-like the tiny house dust mites that live by the millions in all of our homes-are among the world''s smallest and most successful animals. The Arachnid Class explores the origins, scientific classification, and biology of arachnids, from familiar garden spiders to less common creatures such as wind scorpions and the rare, cave-dwelling "living fossil" spiders of Southeast Asia. The more than 80,000 known species of arachnids play important roles in the world''s ecosystems. As The Arachnid Class shows, these creatures also affect human life in a variety of ways. 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

"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.

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

Presents the history of the Wild West through a variety of primary source images and documents, such as diary entries, newspaper accounts, public speeches, popular literature, and personal letters.

Describes the country of Zimbabwe.

Presents the history of the New Republic of America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through excerpts from documents, letters, journals, and newspaper articles.

Describes the evolution, body structure, and behavior of cats, and discusses their interaction with people.

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.

Details the American expansion into Texas and the far west from the late eighteenth- to the mid-nineteenth century, including information on the Oregon Trail, the war with Mexico, and the California gold rush.

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.

Describes the evolution, body structure, and behavior of dogs, and discusses their interaction with people.

Discusses the territorial expansion of the United States following the Civil War, as well as the country''s increasing role in international affairs and its growing population.

In this explosive book, Houston Baker takes stock of the current state of Black Studies in the university and outlines its responsibilities to the newest form of black urban expression—rap. A frank, polemical essay, Black Studies, Rap, and the Academy is an uninhibited defense of Black Studies and an extended commentary on the importance of rap. Written in the midst of the political correctness wars and in the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots, Baker''s meditation on the academy and black urban expression has generated much controversy and comment from both ends of the political spectrum.

Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitats of different kinds of beetles.

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

Examines the physical characteristics, life cycle, and natural habitat of various kinds of hummingbirds.

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.

A biography of entrepreneur Ted Turner, who, after a number of diverse achievements, pioneered the world''s first twenty-four hour, nonstop news station and changed the history of television.