Best Selling Books by Ruth Owen

According to zombie lore, if a zombie bites a person, he or she will become a hungry flesh-eater, too. But how might a zombie virus actually get started—and spread? This book lifts the lid on a whole range of horrifying theories on how “zombie-fication” might happen. This fascinating new title invites zombie fans to investigate the many spine-chilling zombie origin stories. Packed with gruesome details, the book takes readers on a stomach-churning journey through zombie lore and science. Love zombies? Then lock the doors, hunker down, and discover the many weird ways of Becoming a Zombie!

This beautiful book for young readers uses stunning, detailed photographs and carefully leveled text to show a 24-hour period in the life of an oak tree. Readers will... discover how the tree''s network of underground roots find water and nutrients. learn how the tree uses sunshine to make sugary food for energy. see how its thick trunk and leafy branches are home to up to 1,000 different kinds of animals, including insects, spiders, and birds. This engaging book is a perfect introduction to plant lives and life cycles and is just right to help young students build an enjoyment of nonfiction reading.

How are animal bodies alike and different? What characteristics make a mammal a mammal, and a reptile a reptile? In this title, readers will turn their investigative skills to studying animals. Packed with fascinating facts and fun challenges, students will meet a host of animals including blue whales, great white sharks, colorful chameleons, and the world''s largest spider.

A space station is a very unique place to live. How do people who live on space stations get food, air, and water? What kinds of experiments are conducted on them? Readers find out as they explore what life has been like on space stations throughout their history. They tour the Soviet Union space stations of the past as well as today’s International Space Station through enlightening text and detailed photographs. Fun fact boxes provide readers with additional information about space stations and their role in space exploration.

Inside this book, meet 12 insects that take defense to a whole new level. From caterpillars that disguise themselves as blobs of bird poop to beetles that repel predators with poisonous, boiling-hot farts, every page is packed with truly unbelievable facts. Perfect for reluctant readers, these books deliver life sciences in the creepiest, yuckiest way possible!

Plants, animals, humans—all living things need water to survive. But what is this essential substance made of and why is it able to change from a liquid to a solid to a gas and back again? In this book, young students will carry out a series of fun and innovative experiments to learn all about water. What are water molecules and how do they behave? Why does water seem to disappear when it is warmed by sunshine? Why does water suddenly appear from nowhere on the sides of a cold soda can? How do rain and snow get up into the sky? And how does water travel through the parts of a plant and even through the cells in your body? Budding young scientists will love messing with water as they learn all about liquids, solids, and gases, evaporation and condensation, and the water cycle. They will ask questions, make observations, gather evidence, test theories, and record their conclusions. Students will also use scientific equipment and build and practice their science vocabulary.

From infestations of fleas and head lice to malaria-spreading mosquitoes and bacteria, a multitude of creatures live, eat, reproduce, and fulfill their life cycles...all on and inside our bodies! Filled with fascinating facts, Gross Body Invaders takes young readers on a voyage that will reveal our own bodies as habitats for a shocking array of organisms that both help and hurt us every day of our lives. Combining vivid, full-color microscope images and a controlled text, Gross Body Invaders is guaranteed to get young readers squirming to find out more about the world that is feeding and breeding within the dark, microscopic spaces of our bodies. Kids will also learn ways that they can get rid of harmful body invaders and treat the conditions that they cause.

Inside this book, meet 12 insects that take disgusting eating habits to a whole new level. From dung beetles slurping up elephant poop soup to tiny creatures that could be feasting on your body right now, every page is packed with truly unbelievable facts. Perfect for reluctant readers, these books deliver life sciences in the creepiest, yuckiest way possible!

People like to prepare for holiday celebrations by decorating with symbols and reminders of the special time. Thanksgiving is a day steeped in history and tradition, and the origami projects in this second book of Thanksgiving activities reflect this in a fun way. Beginner and advanced origami artists will love creating the Thanksgiving imagery, including a wreath of fall colors, the Mayflower, and, of course, a turkey. Each project is introduced with an explanation of the symbol''s significance to the holiday and is broken down into easy-to-follow steps and illustrations.

The golden retriever and poodle come together in this family friendly dog. Dog lovers with mild allergies will love this low shedding breed. Color photographs and engaging text introduce readers to this friendly breed.

Overlooking the River Nile and guarding the Giza pyramids is one of the world’s oldest and largest statues—the Sphinx. Carved from the bedrock beneath the desert, the half-lion, half-human creature has watched over the desert for thousands of years. But who built the giant statue, and why? After centuries of exploration and investigation, which of the Sphinx’s secrets have been uncovered and which still remain a riddle?

Are people in danger of being hit by falling space garbage? Readers find the answer as they learn about what space garbage is and how it could affect other objects in space and people on Earth. Through comprehensive text, readers learn about the many kinds of space garbage, including pieces of rockets! They also find fact boxes designed to give them even more information about space garbage. This otherworldly problem is shown in vivid detail through amazing photographs. Readers will be excited to learn about space through a closer look at the garbage orbiting Earth.

Presents information about chimpanzees and how they demonstrate intelligence by making tools, participating in organized hunting, and communicating.

Christmas and Hanukkah light up the winter with festive celebrations, and readers learn how to add to the fun with their own origami crafts. This multicultural guide to popular holidays introduces readers to a variety of paper folding projects, including Christmas cards, Santa Claus, a menorah, and a dreidel. Clear, step-by-step instructions with visual examples help readers master each project, and helpful tips and materials lists ensure they’re prepared before they begin. In addition, fun facts about the history behind these holidays are presented throughout, allowing readers to learn as they play.

Though the Japanese art of paper folding is an ancient tradition, it still delights young and old today. This second volume of Christmas origami projects will appeal to all. Using colored paper or even recycled wrapping paper, readers will be able to make decorations and even small gifts for friends and family. Each high-interest project is accompanied by thoughtful text that explains the significance of the symbols and objects associated with the Christmas holiday. Step-by-step instructions and labeled illustrations guide budding artists as they make reindeer, wreaths, and more.

Crunch! Munch! Delicious! We eat fruits and vegetables every day, but how do these foods actually grow? In this book, kids will discover how seeds develop into mature plants from which farmers or gardeners can harvest a crop. Many children are not aware of how the foods they eat are produced, so this eye-opening book will have them looking at produce as plant scientists. They will also learn how fruits and vegetables are good for our bodies and help to keep us healthy. The book includes critical thinking questions, activities and experiments, and it is supported with downloadable worksheets.

Have you ever noticed a yellow dandelion growing from a crack in the sidewalk? It may be hard to believe, but this little wild plant has a very important role to play in its habitat. As readers spend 24 hours with a dandelion, they will discover: how dandelion nectar is an essential food for bumblebees in early spring. how a dandelion''s juicy leaves, stems, and flowers are food for many different munching critters. how the fluffy, flyaway seeds can become a meal for many creatures, such as ants, birds, and mice. This book is packed with core science vocabulary and a perfect introduction to plant lives and life cycles. The carefully leveled text and beautiful images are a great way to get young readers enthused about nonfiction books and will get little nature fans seeing the humble dandelion in a whole new light.

In this book, readers will explore a seashore habitat and discover how tide pool animals rely on each other for survival. This title cleverly takes young readers on a mini safari through a tide pool making connections between the living things that call it home. For example: "As fish and other animals feed on seaweed, crabs use the seaweed as a place to hide from predatory seabirds. As barnacles feed on plankton, dog whelks go hunting for barnacles. And after an oystercatcher eats a dog whelk, a hermit crab that’s grown too big for its shell, moves into the empty dog whelk shell!" • Packed with curriculum science information • See microscopic tide pool plankton up close • Discover how seaweed is essential to seashore life • Learn about the food, homes, and life cycles of seashore animals • Controlled vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure • Beautiful, labelled photographs throughout • Close photo/text match • Includes a seashore 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.

On the island of Haiti, stories tell of corpses brought back to life. Fact or fiction? Do voodoo witch doctors called bokors really have the power to raise people from their graves? Or is there a scientific—but just as chilling—explanation involving powerful poisons and ruthless con-men? This fascinating new title introduces zombie fans to the spine-chilling world of Haitian zombies. Did a man named Clairvius Narcisse really live as a zombie for almost 20 years? And what do puffer fish and poisonous cucumbers have to do with the undead? Love zombies? Then lock the doors, settle in, and get ready to learn all about Voodoo Zombies!

In this book, readers will get the chance to investigate their bodies like scientists! They''ll learn all about their skeletons, muscles, hearts, lungs, and blood. They''ll also discover how to take care of their bodies and learn answers to the questions: Why is it important to drink lots of water? What foods should we eat every day? And why should we be active, brush our teeth, and get plenty of sleep?

Parrots, gorillas, and snakes—oh my! These jungle creatures and more await readers within the pages of this project-filled book. As readers learn how to create each animal, they will effortlessly absorb facts about the subject creature in its jungle habitat. Even reluctant readers will be captivated by the vibrant photos and clear illustrated projects in this title. Hands-on origami projects keep readers entertained as they read and learn.

This big book of info-packed pages introduces young readers to the subject of life cycles using a question-and-answer format. The life cycles featured include pet animals, farm animals, wild mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and spiders. This high-interest topic is perfect for early elementary nature and life science projects, and the fantastic imagery and quantity of information will have kids returning to the book again and again, making it a valuable resource for classrooms and libraries.

Once a moray eel has clamped down on a fish, something terrifying happens...a second set of jaws lunges out of its throat and begins to devour its prey! Readers won’t be able to turn away as they learn all about the moray eel, its adaptations and habitat, and the dangers it presents to scuba divers.

Longer than a school bus and weighing more than 22 elephants, Megalodon was a truly enormous and powerful prehistoric predator. This ancient ancestor of today''s most feared ocean predator, the shark, would have hunted whales and been able to snap up a great white shark as a snack! In this book, readers get to dive into the world of a prehistoric ocean giant and find out how scientists have used fossils and studies of modern-day sharks to look back millions of years and piece together the story of Megalodon.

From shamrocks to leprechauns, many symbols are associated with St. Patrick’s Day. With the help of this guide, readers learn how to fold their own St. Patrick’s Day origami depicting some of these festive symbols. Each project features step-by-step instructions and colorful images to help support readers of many levels. By the end of a project, readers can feel accomplished and proud of their artwork, which can be held on to as a keepsake, given as a gift, or used as a decoration.

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, isn''t just one special day, but eight. Through the thoughtful text and engaging projects in this high-interest book, a follow-up to its popular predecessor, readers will explore more symbols that reflect the beliefs and traditions surrounding this Jewish holiday. They''ll love making their own origami versions of menorahs, gift boxes, stars, and more. The folds and techniques artists will learn in each carefully explained activity will prove invaluable in mastering challenging origami projects in the future.

In this book, readers will dive beneath the ocean to discover how fish, marine mammals, and a whole host of animals that make this habitat their home form an ecosystem and rely on their habitat and each other for survival. This title cleverly explores the connections between a range of ocean animals, plants, seaweeds, and other living things. Packed with curriculum science information See how ocean animals find or hunt for their food Learn about the life cycles of whales, sharks, and other marine animals Discover how some animals migrate to find food and mates Encounter some weird and wonderful creatures that live on the seabed Controlled vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure Beautiful, labeled photographs throughout Close photo/text match Includes an ocean 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.

Could a river in Thailand really be home to giant stingrays powerful enough to pull boats through the water? Do man-eating catfish truly lurk in murky waters waiting for a chance to swallow an unsuspecting swimmer or angler? In this book, look deep beneath the surface of rivers, lakes, and oceans worldwide and discover some truly bizarre, dangerous, and enormous fish. If you think sharks are the scariest members of the fish family, you''ve obviously never encountered an alligator gar or a giant tiger fish!

Ruth Owen takes Regency romance for a walk on the wild side as a desperate woman’s dangerous charade compels a tormented nobleman to raise the stakes on love. Sabrina Murphy has spent years trying to live down the reputation of her gambler father. But after being accused of a murder she didn’t commit, Sabrina decides to wager her life on the success of an audacious scheme. She will assume the identity of an heiress who disappeared as a child, duping the wealthy and powerful Trevelyan line long enough to lift the family jewels and flee the country. The hitch? She must convince the dark, handsome, and mysterious widower Lord Edward that she’s not bluffing. When the young beauty claiming to be his long-lost cousin arrives at the Trevelyan estate, Lord Edward is justly skeptical. Her very existence jeopardizes his inheritance. And yet even he must admit there is a striking resemblance—and that her gentle presence works magic on the tattered remains of his family. But when a series of suspicious accidents threatens her life, she and Edward are drawn together by a need to expose the truth—and by a desire neither can resist. Praise for Gambler’s Daughter “Ruth Owen writes with a wonderfully original voice. Gambler’s Daughter is a feast for the senses from beginning to end!”―New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston

All around us Earth''s rock cycle is in action. Wind and rain turn rocks to sand; dead leaves mix with rock particles to make soil; over millions of years, layers of sand and soil turn to sedimentary rock; beneath our feet in Earth''s crust, extreme heat and pressure create metamorphic rocks; while lava bursts from volcanoes and cools to become igneous rock. This in-depth look at rocks and fossils gives students the chance to carry out investigations such as examining rock properties, building a rock cycle model, and even creating their own fossils.

Because they are so far away, quasars look like faint red dots from the view here on Earth. However, quasars are actually the brightest objects in the universe. This volume explains what exactly quasars and black holes are in simple, easy-to-understand language. Bright photographs and illustrations further aid understanding.

Spacecraft have a very important job-transporting people between Earth and space. Readers explore the history of this mode of transportation, including the spacecraft that brought people to the moon and the Soyuz spacecraft that carry astronauts today. This information is presented to readers through engaging main text and fun fact boxes, which provide additional details about this topic. Readers also learn about the future of space exploration, including spacecraft that could one day take people to Mars. Colorful photographs of spacecraft in action make this an out-of-this-world reading exper.

Introduces lion cubs and describes how these little lions learn to hunt and live as a group.

In this book, readers will explore a tree stump microhabitat and discover how the tiny animals, plants, and fungi that live here form an ecosystem and rely on each other for survival. This title cleverly takes young readers on a mini safari around, beneath, and inside a tree stump making connections between the living things that call it home. Packed with curriculum science information See how tree stump minibeasts make their homes and what they eat Learn about the life cycles of snakes and lizards Discover how tardigrades and other microscopic animals live in moss Controlled vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure Beautiful, labeled photographs throughout Close photo/text match Includes a tree stump 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.

Cards and gifts made with love are popular parts of Valentine’s Day, and readers have fun making these tokens of their affection with the help of this guide to Valentine’s Day origami. By following simple steps and looking at visual examples, readers are able to make hearts, roses, and cards by folding paper into beautiful shapes. Each project features a helpful materials list and fun facts about the symbols and objects being made and why they’re a special part of this holiday. The encouraging and conversational tone takes the stress out of making the perfect Valentine’s gift for loved ones.

On the Arctic ice, a mother harp seal gives birth to her pup. Camouflaged against the ice by its white fur, the helpless pup sticks close to mom, feeding on her rich milk. So begins the life of a harp seal pup. In this coming-of-age introduction to these adorable marine mammals, readers will learn that after just two weeks, the mother seal abandons her pup and returns to the sea. The little pup waits alone on the ice for its white baby coat to be replaced by gray fur, and then, at just a few weeks old, it dives into the freezing sea to find its own food and begin its ocean-dwelling life. The colorful interior spreads and gorgeous photos of fluffy, white seal pups are sure to delight emergent readers.

This big book of 96 science-packed pages introduces young readers to all the key facts about our solar system and the universe in a fun question and answer format. The book’s wide-ranging Q&As include: How many stars are there in space? Where does the Sun go at night? Will astronauts visit Mars? Which planet has diamond rain? What is the Moon made of? What is an eclipse? Which asteroid is the biggest? Is there another planet like Earth? And could I become an astronaut? • Perfect for earth and space science study: “The Universe and Its Stars” and "Earth and the Solar System” • Clear, accessible explanations of how the solar system works • Packed with photos, diagrams, and stunning NASA imagery • Close picture and text match with lots of labels • Key content vocabulary • Includes a glossary and comprehension quiz This high-interest topic is perfect for introducing students to non-fiction reading. And the fantastic imagery and quantity of information will have kids returning to the book again and again, making it a valuable resource for classrooms and libraries.

One can change its color and texture; the other has tooth-like structures in each sucker; and both have beak-like mouths. With this book’s concise anatomy breakdowns, wealth of detailed information, and array of impressive underwater photographs, readers will become familiar with the similarities and differences between the giant squid and octopus.

"There can never be too many treats on Thanksgiving Day. From pies to pumpkin cookies, readers are sure to be familiar with the wonderful baked goods often served at their family''s dinner. With this book in hand, they''ll be able to find the inspiration they need to bake up a themed surprise. With simply written ingredients and equipment lists and easy-to-follow instructions, each recipe was specially formatted and chosen for young bakers eager to take on part of the Thanksgiving meal."

u0093Minibeastsu0094 is a fun way to describe all types of very small animals. Readers will have the chance to make all types of crafts, including ladybug dominoes and even a worm farm. Step-by-step instructions accompanied by colorful photographs will keep readers engaged from cover to cover.