Best Selling Books by Ruth Owen

Welcome to the world of designer dogs: new types of dogs that get their nickname from combining the names of their parents’ breeds. From appearance to temperament to the care of these special pets, readers will learn about the characteristics that make chugs the coveted designer mix that they are. Easy-to-follow text and full-color photographs will keep readers engaged from beginning to end.

If you love spiders, or if you are terrified of spiders, or if you just want to be mind-boggled by some incredible arachnid facts, this book is for you! These little eight-legged creatures are often the stuff of people''s nightmares, but spiders are amazing animals that are essential for our world. In this book, spiders set out to convince their human doubters that they really aren''t out to scare or harm people. In fact, they are far too busy weaving beautiful silk structures, hunting, keeping insect pests under control, and raising their young to want to frighten humans. Meet some weird and wonderful spiders, including bat-eating spiders, scuba-diving spiders, and spiders that disguise themselves as poop Learn how spiders are essential to ecosystems everywhere Investigate why some people are afraid of spiders And celebrate the lives of these little animals that so often get ignored or are dismissed as scary Told from a spider''s point of view, this fascinating, fact-packed celebration of spiders is determined to turn kids everywhere into spider fans and protectors.

Readers explore a backyard habitat and discover how garden animals and plants form an ecosystem and rely on each other for survival. This title cleverly takes young readers on a mini safari through a backyard making connections between the living things that call it home. For example: As aphids suck nectar from the stems of plants, a ladybird leaves its winter hiding place to start munching on aphids. As worms wriggle through the soil helping to bring nutrients and rainwater to the roots of the garden’s trees, a robin hunts for worms to feed to its chicks. • Packed with curriculum science information • See how backyard animals make their homes and what they eat. • Learn about the life cycles of some common mammals and birds • Discover how insects pollinate plants • Controlled vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure • Beautiful, labelled photographs throughout • Close photo/text match • Includes a backyard food web diagram Filled with facts about the natural world, this title is perfect for students studying habitats, animal and plant life cycles, and ecosystems.

"In the middle of the big city, there was a tired, ugly place that made Mr. Green feel very sad." So begins this uplifting and charming story of the magic that can happen when young people, older people, and plants come together. Mo has lost his father. But as he helps his neighbor Mr. Green create a beautiful garden in an abandoned, forlorn space in the city, a smiley feeling grows inside Mo and he learns that a garden can be a very good place to remember people we''ve lost. As the two friends grow their garden, readers will also discover: • How being in nature is good for our mental health • How intergenerational friendships are important • The importance of rebuilding ecosystems and making places for wildlife • How plants grow, including vegetables • The importance of planting trees • How soil is a living thing that needs to be nurtured The story is told with beautiful artwork created from collage and pencil drawings.

It’s a big day for a father seahorse. For a month he has been carrying his babies in a special pouch on his tummy. Now the young seahorses are ready to begin their lives in the ocean. With a series of pushes, he gives birth to 1,000 tiny babies. As the seahorse babies swim away, his protective role as their father is over. In this book, young readers will discover the unusual life cycle of seahorses. The fascinating text is accompanied by beautiful, detailed photographs. Learn how a pair of seahorses mate for life and live amongst the seaweed on a coral reef. See how the mother seahorse transfers her eggs to the father’s body. And discover how a father seahorse carries the pair’s eggs and then their babies in his body. In this book, young readers will meet a pair of seahorses and discover the unusual life cycle of these tiny fish. The fascinating text is accompanied by beautiful, detailed photographs.

Everything a boy needs to make his Halloween the scariest ever is compiled right here. Blood, torn flesh, masks, slime, and more! Readers will unleash their inner mad scientist as they master their comprehension of procedural language. Photographs accompany step-by-step instructions that will guide even the most reluctant readers into creating their own Halloween horrors.

The schnoodle is a combination of a schnauzer and a poodle. This intelligent breed is easy to train and enjoys structure. Readers will learn many traits of this dog through accessible and informative text.

Ghosts, pumpkins, spiders, and witches are great subjects for Halloween craft projects. Through the step-by-step directions in this book, readers can take on a plethora of fun crafts to celebrate the spookiest holiday, including a witchu0092s hat piñata, a spider bracelet made from duct tape, and a pumpkin candy dispenser made from recycled cardboard boxes. Whether Halloween is soon or itu0092s simply a rainy day, these crafts engage readers of all ages with their simplicity and the ability of each crafter to make the project uniquely theirs.

It’s party time! This book is a step-by-step guide to throwing a party for every occasion. From cooking a meal to crafting decorations to dressing up in costumes, this book is packed with ideas to help readers create their own themed parties. Each party theme—from Halloween to superheroes and villains—includes ideas and instructions for easy-to-prepare food, and entertaining games and activities. Using accessible directions and materials, readers can use their creativity to throw a big bash for their friends and family!

Halloween is the perfect time to great creative! Young readers are encouraged to embrace the spirit of this holiday through a series of exciting DIY projects guaranteed to gross out their friends. This high-interest topic is presented through clear text that sets the scene and breaks down each project into simple steps. By following the helpful instructions, readers are able to practice following written directions as they independently create impressive Halloween horrors. Safety tips and eye-catching materials lists ensure a safe and successful DIY experience, and colorful photographs enhance the creepy fun.

Huddled in tense silence, a team of scientists watches a bank of flickering screens. Years of design and engineering work, tests, failures, redesigns, and successes are bound up in this moment. Finally, a grainy picture appears on the screens. Cheers erupt as the men and women realize their robot has landed safely on Mars! Get to Work with Science and Technology is a fascinating new series that introduces readers to the real-life applications of STEM subjects. In Exploring Distant Worlds as a Space Robot Engineer, readers will meet the scientists who design and build robots, send them into space, and even drive the rovers that are exploring Mars today. Told in a lively narrative style, this book includes firsthand accounts of life as a space scientist and robotics engineer, dramatic anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes photos. Readers will also get the chance to try out their robot designing skills with activities that are perfect for science fair projects.

Zoom into the tiny but incredibly busy world of a colony of leafcutter ants. Stunning macro photography will allow young readers to get up close to these fascinating and industrious insects as they get to work cutting leaves and carrying them back to their nest to feed to the fungi that they grow in their underground fungus farm. After reading, put your knowledge to the test with a simple science project.

"The first trick to baking successful St. Patrick''s Day treats is to make them green. The second way to make excellent treats for this March holiday is to make enough to feed everyone at the party. Readers can find excellent St. Patrick''s Day baking inspiration by paging through this book''s many themed recipes. Step-by-step instructions guide both new and experienced bakers through the recipe, and a full-color photograph of each finished product shows what they have to look forward to sharing with friends and family."

Decorating for Halloween can be just as fun as dressing up and going trick-or-treating—especially if it involves origami! Readers of this captivating guide follow step-by-step instructions to create their own special Halloween crafts. The paper projects can be displayed as decorations, given as gifts, or just held onto as keepsakes. Colorful photographs are shown alongside the text, giving readers an idea of what the origami model should look like at various stages and ensuring that readers of many ages and levels can follow along.

"In many cultures, making food for those you love is common practice. Since we celebrate those special people on Valentine''s Day, it''s the perfect holiday to make some amazing baked treats. Each themed recipe is written especially for young bakers, including safety tips, ingredients and equipment lists, and step-by-step instructions. A full-color photograph accompanies each recipe so readers can page through the book to find just the treat they want to make. Whether it''s sweet for a sweetheart or has the traditional red in it, whatever recipe readers choose will stand up to the inclusion of an extra ingredient, love."

Describes the physical characteristics, life cycle, and natural environment of beluga whales, and the ways in which they have adapted to their frigid environment.

Packed with science, this book dives into the underwater world of plankton. Just because we can''t see them doesn''t mean these microscopic ocean superheroes aren''t essential for life on Earth. Meet some weird and wonderful species of zooplankton and phytoplankton See how many marine animals begin their life cycles as tiny zooplankton Learn how plankton are essential to all marine ecosystems and food webs And discover how plankton make oxygen and take harmful carbon dioxide gas from the air Using fantastic photos, 3D artwork, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) imagery, this book lets kids explore the complicated, fascinating, and incredible worlds of these tiny superhero life forms.

Instead of wood or plastic, imagine a woven Easter basket made of duct tape! Using materials from around the house, including recycled items, the crafts in this book are sure to make preparing for Easter even more fun. Readers are guided by detailed step-by-step instructions to create table centerpieces for Easter dinner, try great twists on traditional painted eggs, and more. Spring can be a rainy time of year, but these Easter crafts can help readers pass afternoons inside with creativity, imagination, and practice reading and following directions.

If you had to make your own shelter, could you? Could you create an oven or a refrigerator that doesn’t use electricity? When it comes to learning how to rough it, this book is all anyone needs. Fun, inventive, and simple projects, explained in simple steps and photo-illustrated, will captivate the most reluctant of readers.

Leaves change color and fall from trees. Farmers'' crops are fully grown and ready for harvesting. The days grow shorter and cooler. What does it all mean? It must be fall! From changes in plant growth to adjustments in animal behavior (for example, storing food for winter), this colorful book gives kids an exciting opportunity to discover nature in action. Fun activities, such as making a weather notebook to regularly record temperature, cloud cover, and precipitation, help emergent readers participate in a key part of the scientific process. Expertly crafted to meet early elementary reading and science curriculum standards, How Do You Know It''s Fall? introduces young readers to science concepts and the two fundamental components of scientific inquiry--making observations, and drawing inferences from those observations.

Some look like dog vomit. Others pretend to be mushrooms. There''s even one that grows in the shape of a pretzel. They are creepy, crawly, colorful slime molds and they are living in a backyard, park, or forest near you! These unusual living things ooze over dead leaves and old wood feeding on these substances and acting as one of nature''s clean-up crews. And even though a blob of slime mold has no brain, it spreads out tendrils that work as a team telling each other when they find some food. Kids will love discovering all about the lives and life cycles of these real-life, living blobs of slime! After reading, put your knowledge to the test with a simple science project.

Our TV screens are filled with terrifying images of the walking dead. However, people have been frightened of zombies long before movies and TV shows. This book uncovers the blood-curdling history of the undead—from Viking draugar to dancing Tibetan corpses to medieval revenants that crawled out of the ground, spreading plague and death. This fascinating new title introduces zombie fans to a horrifying host of zombies, both past and present. Packed with gruesome, spine-chilling details, the book takes readers from lurching Ro-langs in Tibet to zombies in 20th century America. Love zombies? Then lock the doors and dare to investigate Zombies Through the Ages!

In this fun book filled with beautiful, detailed photographs and fun worm facts, readers will enter the secret underground world of the earthworm. Discover how worms feed on soil and rotting leaves. Learn all about worm poop and how it’s a nutritious food for trees and other plants. See how a worm''s body is perfectly designed for wriggling through soil. Learn how worms must keep safe from being eaten by hungry birds and toads. And discover how worms mate, lay eggs, and make more worms! This book is a perfect introduction to critter life cycles that''s packed with core science vocabulary. The carefully leveled text and close-up images are a great way to get young readers enthused about nonfiction books and will get little nature fans seeing the humble earthworm in a whole new light.

This vibrant, colorful science book brings STEM to life and gets students thinking and working like scientists as they investigate how trees grow, stay healthy, and reproduce. The book will get readers asking and answering questions, making observations, collecting, recording, and analyzing data, performing tests, using scientific language and equipment, and having fun with experiments and science activities. Discover how huge trees grow from tiny seeds Learn how a tree’s branches and trunk grow See how a tree’s roots spread underground delivering water and nutrients to the tree Explore how a tree’s leaves make food through photosynthesis Discover how trees produce oxygen and take carbon dioxide from the air Investigate how trees produce flowers and fruits And learn about a wide range of unusual trees from around the world The book is supported with free, downloadable worksheets, activities, and resources for teachers Packed with facts and beautiful photographs, this title is perfect for non-fiction reading and is ideal for teaching all aspects of tree life cycles.

Everyone loves being wowed and tricked by hard-to-spot animals, and this book doesn''t disappoint. Each double-page spread presents a stunning photo of a camouflaged animal hiding in plain sight in its backyard habitat—if you can find it!

Can you really grow a carrot cake? Today, many children do not know where the foods they eat come from. This book takes kids step-by-step through all the stages needed to go from a packet of seeds to a crop of carrots and finally, a delicious carrot cake.

Could a human really change into a savage, bloodthirsty, wolflike creature? In Werewolves and Other Shape-Shifters, young readers will investigate this question and more as they read historical stories and modern-day accounts of werewolf encounters! Packed with spooky illustrations and historical photos, this title profiles some of the most famous werewolves throughout history and explores the fears and superstitions of different cultures that might explain the origins of werewolf stories. Kids will also look at the scientific facts that might explain the existence of werewolves. Could werewolves and other shape-shifters really exist? Check out this book and decide for yourself!

With yaks, mountain leopards and goats, this is anything but a garden-variety origami book. Chock-full of exciting mountain animals, this book teaches readers how to create paper replicas, while instructing them about the eating, social, and daily habits of each creature. Easy-to-follow instructions ensure success with each project, while photos and illustrations will delight readers.

If you''ve ever been told, "Don''t play with your food," it''s time to forget that instruction! In this fact-packed title, the core science topic of "Changing States of Matter" just got fun as science escapes the laboratory into the kitchen. As kids embark on each new experiment in this book they will be actively encouraged to get messing with food as they investigate the science behind the things we eat. How can chocolate be a solid and a liquid? What happens when a foodstuff is frozen? Why do flour, eggs, and butter become crunchy cookies when combined? And much more! Students will explore the work of food technicians—the scientists that invent new foodstuffs for us all to enjoy. And they will get the chance to invent a new sandwich and develop and make their own brand new ice-cream flavor! As they cook and do science, students will follow step-by-step instructions, use the scientific method, work with science equipment, and practice and build their science vocabulary.

Readers will discover how climatologists and meteorologists do a lot more than just study climate and predict weather. A climatologist may chase some of the most dangerous storms, and a meteorologist can be a local or national celebrity. A stimulating introduction to two exciting careers in science.

Spend 24 hours with a hungry snail as it emerges from its daytime hiding place to forage for food and find a mate. But can the snail avoid becoming a meal for a hungry toad? Packed with science vocabulary and beautiful photographs, readers will discover all about the nocturnal lives of these amazing critters and find answers to question such as: Why do snails spend the day tucked up in their shells in cool, hiding places? How do snails slide from place to place? What do snails use to munch on juicy leaves and other parts of plants? What happens when a pair of snails meet up to mate and produce eggs? Snails are truly fascinating creatures, and young readers will love the weird and wonderful snail facts in this carefully leveled nonfiction book.

Dr. Bob and his wise canine, Hank, journey to the savannas of Africa to study the warthog. Think you know pigs? Think again! Readers may be taken off guard by what is revealed about these energetic hogs. This is one safari you won’t want to miss.

This beautiful book for young readers uses stunning, detailed photographs and carefully leveled text to show a 24-hour period in the life of a ladybug as she searches for a place to lay her eggs. Readers will... discover that a ladybug eats lots and lots of insects called aphids every day. learn all about the body of a ladybug and how she has powerful wings for flying tucked beneath her red spotted shell see ladybug eggs and larvae and be introduced to the life cycle of these popular little beetles. explore how a ladybug has clever ways to avoid being eaten by the predators that share her backyard habitat. The engaging text is a perfect introduction to insect lives and life cycles and is just right for building an enjoyment of nonfiction reading.

Could a spirit of the dead really come back to haunt the living? If tales of ghosts are just fictional stories, why do so many people report seeing these supernatural beings? What would it be like to be the restless spirit of someone who has died, and how can you tell if ghosts inhabit the house you live in? In Ghosts and Other Spirits of the Dead, children will read historical stories and modern-day accounts of ghostly encounters. Kids will get all the information they need to help them spot or sense the spirits of the dead and to protect themselves from being haunted by ghosts. Children will also investigate the truth behind ghost stories by first exploring the fears and superstitions of different cultures that might explain the origins of the stories, and then looking at the scientific facts that might explain the seemingly unexplainable. If you love a spine-chilling horror story but also want to investigate the truth behind these myths, this is the book for you!

This vibrant, colorful science book brings STEM to life and gets students thinking and working like scientists as they investigate how animals, plants, and microbes make their homes in tiny microhabitats. The book will get readers asking and answering questions, making observations, collecting, recording, and analyzing data, performing tests, using scientific language and equipment, and having fun with experiments and science activities. Learn about the fungi, insects, and other minibeasts that make a compost heap their home. See the microscopic animals that inhabit moss and muddy puddles. Learn how the body of a dead whale becomes a home and food for animals at the bottom of the ocean. And discover some of the microhabitats on and inside the human body. Throughout readers will explore how living things rely on their microhabitat for survival. The book is supported with free, downloadable worksheets, activities, and resources for teachers. Packed with facts and incredible close-up photographs, this title is perfect for non-fiction reading and gives students and teachers a fresh and exciting approach to the topic of habitats.

From weather and day length, to plants and animals, in this title, readers will investigate how the world around them changes as the seasons change. With activities such as recording temperatures and going on seasonal scavenger hunts, students will be challenged to observe and analyze the changing of the seasons.

Discussion of both the positive benefits and negative aspects of nuclear power are presented as the topic becomes ever more relevant in our daily lives. Readers are introduced to the developments of today and the possibilities of tomorrow. From cover to cover, this is an exciting read for any environmentalist.

Inside this book, meet 12 insects whose life cycles take weird to a whole new level. From wasps that turn spiders into zombies to help them take care of their larvae to bot flies that start life by burrowing into a horse’s tongue, every page is packed with truly unbelievable facts. Perfect for reluctant readers, these books deliver life sciences in the creepiest, yuckiest way possible!

Enter the terrifying, yet fascinating, world of a 17th century Caribbean pirate and discover what life was truly like aboard a pirate ship. Did pirates really have wooden legs and parrots? What weapons did they carry? And can it be true that these ruthless outlaws actually lived by a set of ship''s rules and shared the treasure they stole equally between them?