Joanne Mattern

Swamps, marshes, and wetlands are humid, wet, and full of surprising danger. However, people have lived and thrived in these places for centuries. This book presents to young readers the challenges and rewards of living in a wet environment and focuses on how residents have adapted technology so they can live and work in these unusual habitats. The narrative also explores the importance of wetlands to the natural world and considers how climate change and natural disasters are putting many coastal and marsh areas in danger. The easy-to-read text, accompanied by compelling photographs and helpful sidebars, will engage young readers as they learn about these dynamic and precious environments.

Life in the desert is challenging for many species. Lack of water and extreme temperatures make it hard to survive. Despite this, people have survived and thrived in the desert for thousands of years. This book describes deserts around the world and explores how people have adapted to life in this harsh terrain, from irrigation techniques to the special clothing they wear. The book also looks at the future of deserts and how climate change is affecting desert landscapes around the world. Through easy-to-read text and bold photographs, young readers will discover the complexity and beauty of the desert environment.

Morocco is a small country with a long and fascinating history. From the ancient African peoples who settled the land, the French and Spanish colonizers who came later, and today's independent Moroccans, those who have called this land home have been building an impressive culture for centuries. Morocco is a land of mountains and deserts, bustling cities, and beautiful buildings and mosques, which are shown to readers in vivid photographs. Readers learn about Morocco's culture and traditions through an engaging narrative, fact boxes, and sidebars that cover an array of topics, such as government, history, food, and sports.

Life is different at high altitudes. The air is thinner and the sun is brighter. High altitudes can be places of danger and illness, as well as places of incredible natural beauty. People live in large cities and small communities high in the mountains all over the world. This book explores the challenges they have faced over time and how technology has helped them to adapt to this type of environment. Through easy-to-read text and helpful sidebars, readers will also discover how high altitudes affect the body and why some people choose to live there. Compelling photographs and real-life geographical examples will keep readers interested and engaged as they learn about life in this unique, dynamic environment.

Wilma Rudolph overcame polio to win three Olympic gold medals. South Korea's Im Dong-hyun won Olympic gold in archery, and he's legally blind. Race car driver Alex Zanardi lost both of his legs in a crash. Today he's a champion hand cyclist. This book spotlights 12 athletes from around the world who achieved greatness despite their disabilities. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. A Learn More page zooms in on the topic of accessibility.

Sold in trucks, restaurants, and markets around the world, tacos have extended far past their Mexican beginnings. Young readers can learn about the history of tacos, from their mining origins to the creation of the hard shell, as well as the preparation of the food. Features such as recipes, a topping chart, and a timeline add extra spice to this low-level title

What do you like on your pizza? From pepperoni to fried eggs, just about anything can be a topping Readers can get the deep-dish on this popular meal, from preparation to history, and get a taste of it for themselves with special recipes. Additional features including an origin map, a timeline, and a topping chart make this low-level title easy to digest

Playing pro baseball is a dream job, but it's not all fun and games. This book is a frank and fascinating look at what it takes to get there, from starting young to staying fit, following rules set by the team, and spending time away from family and friends. Chapters cover the history of the game, a day in the life of a pro baseball player, the gear players wear, the physical risks, and honors players can hope to achieve, like being elected to the Hall of Fame. Each chapter features attention-grabbing photos and examples from the lives of well-known players. A Fun Facts section includes more facts, plus anecdotes and lore unique to America's favorite pastime.

Wilma Rudolph overcame polio to win three Olympic gold medals. South Korea's Im Dong-hyun won Olympic gold in archery, and he's legally blind. Race car driver Alex Zanardi lost both of his legs in a crash. Today he's a champion hand cyclist. This book spotlights 12 athletes from around the world who achieved greatness despite their disabilities. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. A Learn More page zooms in on the topic of accessibility.

Playing pro basketball is a dream job, but it's not all fun and games. This book is a frank and fascinating look at what it takes to get there, from starting young to staying fit, getting noticed and being a well-rounded player. Chapters cover the history of the game, a day in the life of a pro basketball player, overseas ball, and life after the buzzer. Some pro sports don't have leagues for women, but basketball does, so women are part of the story. Each chapter features attention-grabbing photos and examples from the lives of well-known players. A Fun Facts section includes more facts, plus anecdotes and lore unique to the game.

Readers grow their own bean plants to help Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk. With colorful spreads featuring fun facts, sidebars, and infographics, this book provides an engaging overview of the science of plants.

Playing pro football is a dream job, but very few people ever live that dream. This book is a frank and fascinating look at what it takes to make it to the NFL, from building skills to staying fit and going to college. (The NFL doesn't take players right out of high school.) Chapters cover the history of the game, a day in the life of a pro football player, the gear players wear, and the risks of playing. Football players suffer from many different injuries, some life-changing. Each chapter features attention-grabbing photos and examples from the lives of well-known players. A Fun Facts section includes more facts, plus anecdotes and lore unique to the game.

Readers grow their own bean plants to help Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk. With colorful spreads featuring fun facts, sidebars, and infographics, this book provides an engaging overview of the science of plants.

Readers construct and test their own box trap to help Hansel and Gretel trap the witch. With colorful spreads featuring fun facts, sidebars, and infographics, this book provides an engaging overview of the science and engineering of box traps.

Readers construct and test their own box trap to help Hansel and Gretel trap the witch. With colorful spreads featuring fun facts, sidebars, and infographics, this book provides an engaging overview of the science and engineering of box traps.