Elizabeth Rusch

"At 11:35 p.m., as Radio Armero played cheerful music, a towering wave of mud and rocks bulldozed through the village, roaring like a squadron of fighter jets." Twenty-three thousand people died in the 1985 eruption of Colombia's Nevado del Ruiz. Today, more than one billion people worldwide live in volcanic danger zones. In this riveting nonfiction book--filled with spectacular photographs and sidebars--Rusch reveals the perilous, adrenaline-fueled, life-saving work of an international volcano crisis team (VDAP) and the sleeping giants they study, from Colombia to the Philippines, from Chile to Indonesia.

Will It Blow? explores the science behind Mount St. Helen's eruptions and the world of volcanology, and shows children to how do their own sleuthing to determine when and if the volcano will blow again. Will Mount St. Helens erupt again? Will it spit lava or unleash a deadly mudflow? These are some of the many mysteries that scientists are working to solve. Learn how to be a volcano detective, sifting through the evidence, searching for clues, and solving real-life cases to determine: will it blow?

Award-winning biographer Elizabeth Rusch and two-time Caldecott Honor-recipient Marjorie Priceman team up to tell the inspiring story of the invention of the world's most popular instrument: the piano. Bartolomeo Cristofori coaxes just the right sounds from the musical instruments he makes. Some of his keyboards can play piano, light and soft; others make forte notes ring out, strong and loud, but Cristofori longs to create an instrument that can be played both soft and loud. His talent has caught the attention of Prince Ferdinando de Medici, who wants his court to become the musical center of Italy. The prince brings Cristofori to the noisy city of Florence, where the goldsmiths' tiny hammers whisper tink, tink and the blacksmiths' big sledgehammers shout BANG, BANG Could hammers be the key to the new instrument? At last Cristofori gets his creation just right. It is called the pianoforte, for what it can do. All around the world, people young and old can play the most intricate music of their lives, thanks to Bartolomeo Cristofori's marvelous creation: the piano.

Big kids Anna and Oliver give young readers the inside scoop on what to expect when a new baby is expected. In a fresh picture book/comic style, Ready, Set . . . Baby offers up a funny, loving, reassuring peek into life as a big brother or sister-with solid information, kid-friendly humor, and even tips for parents on how to help kids thrive when the new baby arrives. AGES: 4-7 AUTHOR: The award-winning freelance writer Elizabeth Rusch is the author of a number of award-winning nonfiction titles for children, including: 'Generation Fix', 'Will it Blow?', 'The Planet Hunter', and 'For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart'. Her previous Scientists in the Field titles include 'Eruption!','The Mighty Mars Rovers' and 'The Next Wave'. You can visit Liz online at www.elizabethrusch.com. Qin Leng was born in Shanghai, and lived in France and Montreal. She now lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Toronto. To learn more, visit qinleng.tumblr.com

"An engaging volume that will encourage both budding scientists and anyone intrigued by the creative process." -- Kirkus Reviews Here is the story of the ambitious young man who brought life-changing ideas to America, despite the obstructive efforts of his hero-turned-rival, Thomas Edison. From using alternating current to light up the Chicago World's Fair to harnessing Niagara Falls to electrify New York City and beyond, Nikola Tesla was a revolutionary ahead of his time. Established biographer Elizabeth Rusch sheds light on this extraordinary figure, while fine artist Oliver Dominguez brings his life and inventions to vivid color. Back matter includes additional information about Tesla, scientific notes and explanations, source notes, a bibliography, and suggestions for further reading.

Journey to the wave-battered coast of the Pacific Northwest to meet some of the engineers and scientists working to harness the punishing force of our oceans, one of the nature's powerful and renewable energy sources. With an array of amazing devices that cling to the bottom of the sea floor and surf on the crests of waves, these explorers are using a combination of science, imagination, and innovation to try to capture wave energy in the hopes of someday powering our lives in a cleaner, more sustainable way.

Every kid dreams of having super powers--Max discovers he really has them But will he be able to solve the mystery behind Marsh Creek? "Muddy Max takes that eternal struggle between kids and parents---whether to play in or stay out of mud puddles---and turns it into an epic tale full of secrets and superpowers and one very important lesson: Don't eat mud. It's earthworm poop." --Matthew Holm, co-creator of Babymouse and Squish "What happens when genius-writer Elizabeth Rusch and super-artist Mike Lawrence get together? A book you won't be able to put down---or wash off Not only does Muddy Max ooze adventure, it can also teach all of us something about bravery, science, and earthworm poop." --Bart King, author of The Big Book of Superheroes and The Big Book of Gross Stuff Max may be the cleanest middle-school kid in the world--his neat-freak parents make certain of that. But what's behind their mysterious fear of mud? When Max finds himself face-down in a murky puddle, muddy from head to toe, he discovers something amazing: Mud gives him super powers. But there's more going on in Marsh Creek--and in his family--than he could ever imagine. Follow Muddy Max and his friends as they dig through the dirt to solve the mystery of Marsh Creek.

When Liza's mother takes away her beloved crayons, her world suddenly goes gray. How does the budding artist repond? She squirts her toothpaste angrily and stomps through mud puddles. Through these acts, Liza inadvertently creates art-and eventually discovers color in the world around her. Liza loved her crayons. She treasured turquoise, adored apricot, and flipped over fuchsia.