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Have you ever had one thought lead to another one that is seemingly unrelated? Open this unique book and readers will be able to follow trails from one thought to another, all playfully illustrated. Just right for browsing, the factoids contain nuggets to amaze and delight.

Mars continues to intrigue but photographs sent from a powerful camera known as HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) has provided clues if not answers to many questions. Information and a lyrical text combine with astonishing, textured photographs for a look at the mysterious red planet for a book that can be read, viewed, and enjoyed in several ways.

“A tree may seem like an ordinary thing. But hundreds of years ago, a tree was about to embark on an extraordinary journey.” Sir Isaac Newton sat under that tree and came up with the theory of gravity, a tree and an idea that have continued to inspire other scientists and people all over the world. Straightforward text and engaging illustrations present the Gravity Tree. Backmatter included.

Start at the beginning or jump into a topic that interests you! Whichever way you approach this handsome, fresh, and large volume, you will find fascinating information on a range of topics. As its reputation suggests, the venerable Britannica provides trustworthy information from cited authorities all in an engaging package.

Starting small and familiar, children look into a telescope and the amazing comparisons begin. After glimpsing the cosmos, readers are brought back on earth with children viewing their place in the universe. Limited text and stunning illustrations progress to present enormous ideas of cosmic proportion in this memorable look at one’s place in the universe.

The child of immigrants, Jonas Salk helped develop the first flu vaccine in response to the devastating 1918 flu epidemic and went on to do again with the polio vaccine. This timely look at one man’s impact provides a glimpse at his life and the science of vaccines.

A family of mechanical parts greets its newest member, baby Flange. Intricate illustrations and a lot of humor (especially for savvy readers) reminds us that a new child is always a happy event.

Holly loves doing experiments and learning new things in science class! But when she finds out the next experiment is making slime, she’s worried. Slime is made with glue, and glue is sticky. Holly has sensory issues because of her autism and doesn’t like anything sticky! With help from family and her teacher, Holly receives the accommodations and encouragement she needs to give slime a try.

They communicate, play, use tools, and sometimes even fight. Find out how different animals behave in this well-organized, engaging, and educational look at animal behavior. Illustrations complement the accessible text on each double-page spread. A glossary and additional resources are included.

From the Atmosdragon to the Oblivionped, the Earth is in grave danger. Science and folkloric creature are creatively integrated in this call to action. Attractive and accessible, “monster cards” add a game-like quality as well as a way to compare impact. Source notes and index are included.

Lots of things happen all over the world every day. Have you ever considered what one small second of time can hold? What would happen in a minute? An hour? Colorful, bold graphic illustrations punctuate the statistics cited with sources noted at the end. The eye-popping numbers and images are sure to ignite wonder if not curiosity.

Apis Mellifera, the worker honeybee, does a lot during its short life. Poetic language and highly detailed illustrations provide an up-close look at the bee, its hive, and expansive travels, cleverly seen in a double gatefold. Backmatter and further reading conclude this stunning book.

Former children’s poet laureate, J. Patrick Lewis, allows the polar bear tell us what he’s called in different cultures — White Bear, Ice Bear, Sea Bear, Sailor of the Icebergs, the Ever-wandering One. The Inuit’s say “I am Nanuk”). The devastating ending shows the polar bear adrift on a shrinking bit of ice, “losing hold” — a reference to how this Arctic animal is threatened by extinction and in need of human protection.

Look! A line of paw prints in the snow. Follow the tracks to see the rare and majestic snow leopard and visit her secret world. Join a zoologist in the Himalayan mountains as he searches for the elusive creature. With her pale gold and silver-gray coat painted with black rosettes, she blends so well into the boulders, it’s no wonder she’s thought of as a ghost of the mountains. Written by a zoologist and interwoven with fascinating facts, this look at a fascinating animal includes an end note suggesting resources to explore.

“Help! I’m melting!” A boy rescues a snowball again and again in this funny story about a snowball that gets to see all four seasons. Back matter offers information about the seasons and the three states of water (solid, liquid, and vapor)

Matter can be liquid, sold, or gas that can have a role in its [light’s] creation. In large, luminous, light-filled photographs and understandable text, explore various aspects of light from incandescence to the color spectrum, iridescence, and more. Additional information about topics concludes this inspiring and informative overview to light.

A meteorologist tries to enlighten the handsome but clueless anchorman about weather, weather forecasting, and climate. The comic book format presents complex information about climate change, balancing it with just the right amount of humor. Advice to prepare for emergency preparedness and a glossary are included. Transportation and car enthusiasts will enjoy Science Comics: Cars Engines that Move You (opens in a new window) by Dan Zettwoch.

How do we know something that is invisible is really all around? With our noses! Human “noses can detect more than 400,000 different smells.” Animals use their noses for different reasons; dogs smell marked territory, great white sharks detect prey. Sometimes humorous illustrations and flaps that lift reveal a bundle of information sure to inspire further inquiry.

There is great drama to be found on the Serengeti witnessed by scientists. Meet some of those who study the migration of wildebeest in Tanzania. Observe the animals that share the land with the wildebeest. The author’s insightful, illuminating, and highly readable narration in a handsome format with stunning photographs is also a plea for humankind to respect other mammals.

Twelve-year-old Lucy lives with her father in Rockport, Massachusetts. Her mother, a marine biologist, died several years earlier. Lucy and her best friend and neighbor with a passion for science are making a field guide about marine animals: Fred writes; Lucy draws. Loss, grief, and healing are deftly handled in this memorable, striking novel in which community, art, science, and love intersect.

From farming to feelings, from teamwork to community, “…it turns out that the respect for animals that is so important in indigenous traditions makes very good sense.” In other words, humans and animals share a great deal, making all creatures “humanimals” — a case presented in clear illustration and straightforward text. The scientists who study animals and their behavior are included, as are additional resources.

Never heard of the black and rufous sengi? How about Brainville’s beaked whale? Lions, and tigers and giraffes are all familiar, but in this humorously illustrated and informative volume you’ll find out about even more less-well-known animals. As in the first book in the series, Lesser Spotted Animals (opens in a new window), readers meet unfamiliar animals, where they are found, what they eat, and if they are thriving. After all, “how can we help something survive if we don’t even know it exists?”

The story of steamships and transatlantic travel is intertwined with Macaulay’s personal story of leaving the United Kingdom for America in 1957. Sophisticated readers will appreciate the detailed narrative describing the evolution of ocean voyages though the richly detailed illustrations are likely to have broader appeal. Photographs (including a young David) and an afterword are included.

Who said that there isn’t fact in fun? They haven’t met the heroes in this highly, hysterically illustrated space adventure. AlphaWolf, SmartHawk, LaserShark, and StinkBug explore the universe in their Thomas Jefferson Nose Rocket looking for a Goldilocks planet but find danger instead. Earth, the narrator, also provides information about climate change in this wild and witty adventure.