Showing 1–16 of 27 results

  • Make Your Mark, Make a Difference—A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up For People, Animals, and the Planet

    $24.00
    Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
    Make Your Mark, Make a Difference is a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Take the first steps into activism with this comprehensive middle grade guide that empowers readers to choose and become knowledgeable in a cause they are most passionate to reform, and to create meaningful change through learning what’s already been accomplished—and what can still be done.

    Getting involved can be an overwhelming prospect, but this guide provides readers with tools to become informed and effective activists with an accessible approach offering hope and perspective.

    From Black Lives Matter and light pollution to climate change and healthcare equity for all, the book leads readers through an overview of issues, an essential human rights background, and stories of how other young activists tackle local, national, and international problems. Readers will discover a multitude of ways to build change and learn that every contribution matters.

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    Kirkus Review excerpt: “The text…embodies the clear communication skills the author endorses and is leavened with subtle humor. The book explains and encourages the many life skills and qualities involved in effective activism, such as research, critical thinking, organization, record-keeping, and empathy. A hands-on, practical, wide-ranging, and information-packed handbook for budding activists.” Read full review

    Release date: February 13, 2024
    Trade Paperback ISBN: 9781582708447
    Hardcover – ISBN13: 9781582708454
    EPUB: 9781665910354
    Publisher: Aladdin (Simon & Schuster)/Beyond Words
    For ages 10 and up/grades 5 and up
    352 pages

    Categories
    CHILDREN’S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN’S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION

    Make Your Mark, Make a Difference Simon & Schuster Digital Catalog Page

    Order on this site or though these retailers: 

    Your Independent Bookstore
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    Bookshop.org
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    BeyondWord.com
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    Amazon.ca
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  • Wildlife Crossing: Giving Animals the Right-of-Way

    $23.00

    $23.00

    What happens when the needs of people and nature collide?

    More than 13 million miles of roads crisscross landscapes in 222 countries. Roads offer many human benefits, but they also create problems for nature. Their construction leads to a loss of biodiversity through habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation. Roads isolate wildlife populations, impede migration and allow invasive plant and animal species to spread, while giving rise to pollution from garbage, light, noise and airborne contaminants. With innovative tools, like wildlife overpasses to reconnect landscapes, smart roads and vehicles to maximize safety, and a little hands on help, we can create environmental harmony. And sitting in the passenger seat, young people can play a part in helping highways and habitats coexist.

    The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

    Well organized and includes clearly explained examples from many locations…This volume offers considerably more information for students researching the topic. An intriguing subject and a good resource for middle-grade reports.” – Booklist

    Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection | 2024 | Commended

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  • Mortimer: Rat Race to Space

    $14.00

    A spot on the International Space Station (ISS) has opened up, and Mortimer, a journal-keeping lab rat, is not about to miss his chance to become an intergalactic space rat. And that’s just the first step in his master scheme to prove that rats are much better suited than humans when it comes to a future mission to Mars.

    Mortimer sets out to expose the impracticality of human astronauts by conducting experiments and recording the evidence for YouTube. As far as he’s concerned, pellet-eating rats are much easier to feed than fussy humans, and just think of all the unwashed underthings floating around the galaxy—especially when compared to the versatile rattail!

    But when Mortimer’s schemes go awry, he is forced to face new truths about dreams, friendship, and choosing the right thing to do. Maybe not everything is a rat race.

    • Shortlisted, Red Cedar Children’s Choice Book Award, British Columbia, 2024 (winner will be announced in spring 2024)
    • Listed in Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Spring 2023
    • Toronto Public Library TD Summer Book Program recommended title, 2023

    Read an excerpt.

    Watch the book trailer.

    See Joan’s author talk on Mortimer.

    Download the Teacher’s Guide.

    “An absolutely charming adventure. Fans of The Secret of NIMH will love this!” 

    ― Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo award-winning author of Far-Seer

    “Mortimer’s adventures provide an exciting and funny story for readers to follow along. With a narrator like Mortimer, readers are never bored and are always laughing at his jokes and pranks. Galat has written a story with an extremely loveable nar-rat-tor, a character readers will remember for a long time to come.” Highly Recommended.

    ― Deanna Feuer ― CM Magazine

    “It’s a beautiful combination of storytelling and non-fiction. Joan Marie Galat seamlessly integrates so much fascinating information about astronauts and the ISS while telling an engaging story about a determined little lab rat.”

    ― Storytime with Stephanie via Instagram

    “A fun, fast-paced adventure, perfect for kids who love animals or outer space.”

    ― L.E. Carmichael, author of The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World’s Largest Biome

    “Details about the space station come alive as the story unfolds. A fun read and the 27 chapters move along at a quick pace. A perfect addition to the middle grade shelves.”

    ― Greg Pattridge ― Always in the Middle…

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  • Solve This! Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You

    $32.00

    From the first wheel to the International Space Station, the miracles of engineering are all around us. Think cars, bridges, skyscrapers, and yes – even bubble wrap! Engineers dream up new ideas and bring them to life while figuring out creative solutions to problems they encounter along the way. But how do they do it? Find out in Solve This!

    In this fun book, kids are confronted with wacky scenarios like this one: You’re playing with your little sister when a vulture swoops down and grabs her favorite teddy bear. Mid-flight, the vulture realizes it doesn’t care for the taste of fake fur and drops it to the ground. But now the plushie is on the other side of a raging river. How do you stop your sister from crying, stay safe, and save the day? Each challenge invites kids to think creatively to problem solve. Then they can see how different National Geographic explorers tackled the challenge. One of the big lessons? There’s often more than one solution!

    Published by National Geographic Kids.

    Videos
    Don’t Steal My Candy! A STEM Activity
    Make a Coin Sorter! A STEM Activity.

    Read an excerpt on Amazon.

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  • Too Much Trash

    $23.00

    How Litter is Hurting Animals

    Litter is not only an eyesore but a serious threat to animals and their habitats. We can all work together to keep the planet healthy and clean.

    Did you know that gum on the sidewalk is litter? Even a banana peel that is thrown in a ditch is litter. Trash poses a threat to animals everywhere, including pets, farm animals and wildlife. They can get injured or trapped in the litter and even eat garbage that makes them sick.

    In Too Much Trash: How Litter Is Hurting Animals, we discover how garbage ends up everywhere—from city streets and the wilderness to farmland and the ocean. But there’s good news: litter is a problem everyone can help prevent. Around the world, kids and adults are finding ways to take out the trash. Find out how you can help clean up the planet for all species.

    CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection   | 2023  |  Commended
    The Nature Generation Green Earth Book Award – Children’s Nonfiction   | 2024  |  Long-listed
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  • Dark Matters – Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution

    $22.00

    by Joan Marie Galat

    Light and dark have affected the very ways humans, plants, and animals have grown and thrived. In fact, light and dark have affected pretty much the entire natural world around us. But lights from cars, streetlights, houses, shopping malls, skyscrapers, and other structures make towns and cities glow with light so bright it can be seen from outer space. What happens when humans tamper with the age-old balance of day and night?

    Told through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Joan who loves the outdoors, Dark Matters introduces young readers to the fragile animals that are impacted by our increasingly threatened nighttime skies.

    Come discover the amazing night life of frogs and bats, turtles and fireflies, birds, plants, and so much more. And learn how their lives and ecosystems are negatively impacted by light—much of which is so unnecessary.

    This book is packed full with fascinating and unexpected facts and illustrations, and comes with tips and suggestions on how young people can help reduce light pollution. Because dark matters.

    Published by Red Deer Press July 15, 2017.

    Watch the book trailer.

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  • Dot to Dot in the Sky – Stories of the Aurora

    High above Earth, glowing bands of color dance, shimmer, and soar across the night sky. Whether you know them as the northern or southern lights, auroras are one of nature’s most dazzling spectacles. It’s hard not to marvel—why do they exist? Joan Marie Galat explores the answer in this addition to the Dot to Dot in the Sky series, revealing the incredible cosmic circumstances that lead to such brilliant displays of light.

    Find out what happens when solar winds strike the Earth’s atmosphere and electrical and magnetic forces react together. Then go back in time to discover how ancient cultures explained the mysterious lights. Meet a Norse frost giant that refuses to marry, a chief who follows his son across the Milky Way, and a seven-headed monster yet to lose a fight. From celestial fires to dancing spirits, auroras have taken many meanings over time. These rich tales, with stunning illustrations and full-colour photographs, are the perfect way to discover this spectacular phenomenon for yourself.

    Published by Whitecap Books.

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  • Dot to Dot in the Sky – Stories of the Planets

    $18.00

    When you look up into the sky, do you notice that some stars don’t seem to twinkle? That’s because these objects are planets, not stars! The planets in our solar system appear to wander against a backdrop of stars as they revolve around our Sun. Journey through this fun guide to the planets and discover the exciting stories created long ago to explain the mysteries of the ancient world. Learn how to identify the planets and check the Planetary Notes to see what makes each one unique. Next time you look into the night sky, find the planets and remember the stories of the ancient gods for whom they were named!

    Published by Whitecap Books, 2003.

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  • Dot to Dot in the Sky – Stories of the Moon

    $18.00

    by Joan Marie Galat

    People all around the world gaze up in wonder at the Moon. Ancient peoples marveled too, and told many stories inspired by its mystery. Dot to Dot in the Sky: Stories of the Moon, the third book in the Dot to Dot in the Sky series, is a collection of stories and myths from many different cultures.

    Join Rabbit of the Mi’k Maq legend as he captures the thieving Moon Man. Discover why, in China, the Man in the Moon has a greedy face. Learn why the Moon in West Africa is now a treasure for everyone to share.

    Magical illustrations accompany these engaging Moon myths along with facts about geology, tides, Moon phases, eclipses, and much more.

    Stories are from Greece, Africa, Mi’k Maq, Korea, China, Russia, Japan, England, and Polynesia.

    Published by Whitecap Books.

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  • Dot to Dot in the Sky – Stories of the Zodiac

    $18.00

    Stories of the Zodiac is the fourth book in the best-selling Dot to Dot in the Sky series, blending sky science with ancient myths. The adventures of gods, animals and heroes are illustrated in the 12 zodiac constellations. Each constellation presents a Greek myth to discover and myriad celestial objects to explore, including nebulae, multiple star systems and meteor showers.

    Discover how the constellations have been used to create horoscopes that describe personalities and predict the future. Find out the difference between astrology and astronomy. Use the glow-in-the-dark map of the night sky to identify the constellations and search easily for them. Learn the stories that originated long ago, when people first gazed at the same star patterns we see today.

    Published by Whitecap Books

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  • Dot to Dot in the Sky – Stories in the Clouds

    $18.00

    by Joan Marie Galat

    What will the weather be today? Is it going to be sunny and clear, or will there be icy winds? Do I need a coat? These seem like simple questions, but the challenge to predict and understand the weather has perplexed humankind for thousands of years.

    In Stories in the Clouds, Joan Marie Galat expands the scope of her popular Dot to Dot in the Sky series to look at the weather as we understand it today, contrasted with the myths and legends our ancestors used to explain the weather—from sunshine and clouds to violent storms. Read about Russia’s Father Frost, whose icy touch was a danger to those he deemed unworthy. Discover the tale of Maui, the Hawaiian god who brought powerful winds to his island just to fly his tree-sized kite, and Lei-Gong, the Chinese Thunder god who, when displeased, could make the clouds roll and rumble with each strike of his drum.

    With gorgeous pastel illustrations by Georgia Graham, Stories in the Clouds features detailed sidebars to explain the seasons and our atmosphere. You will find curious facts and trivia that explain the weather’s strange and erratic behavior, alongside stories from around the world. Together they demonstrate what a mysterious and wonderful phenomenon the weather can really be.

    Published by Whitecap Books.

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  • Dot to Dot in the Sky – Stories in the Stars

    Look up in the sky! There’s a flying horse, a queen, and even a dragon! The night sky is a treasure trove of stories filled with heroes, wild animals, and adventure. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look.

    Fifteen constellations are portrayed in this fun guide to astronomy, from the easily recognizable Ursa Major, the big bear, to the distinct stars of Orion, the famous hunter. Each constellation features a pronunciation guide, a myth to explain the constellation, and sure-fire instructions on how to find each group of stars. This ultimate guide to star-gazing is the perfect bed-time book– just don’t expect to get much sleep!

    – A Canadian National Bestseller – Published by Whitecap Books.

    This title is temporarily unavailable.  Instead, consider Dot to Dot in the Sky—Stories of the Zodiac, which also features constellations.

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  • Absolute Expert: Space: All the Latest Facts from the Field

    $32.00

    Discover everything you’ve ever wanted to know about space in a stellar book for aspiring experts.

    Ready to go on an out-of-this world adventure? Travel across the Milky Way and into new galaxies to explore every corner of space so YOU can become an absolute expert. Get up close to the sun and moon, asteroids and comets. Learn about the Oort Cloud, supernovas, black holes, and rockets and other spacecraft. Discover the incredible work of astronauts, astronomers, physicists, and other cool space scientists. On this journey across the universe, you’ll make your way from our familiar home here on Earth to planets and solar systems that are many light-years away. Rub elbows with the stars on this cosmic adventure complete with special features, sidebars, wacky trivia, and more, including exclusive astronomical insights and info from National Geographic explorer and astrophysicist Munazza Alam!

    Published by National Geographic Kids (2020)

    Video
    Joan discusses Absolute Expert: Space on Book Talk.

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  • Sale!

    Branching Out – How Trees are Part of Our World

    Original price was: $24.00.Current price is: $15.00.

    by Joan Marie Galat

    Trees have been around for nearly 400 million years, and today about 25,000 species of trees have been identified. We’ve relied on trees for everything from fuel, food, and medicine to building railways. Today, trees still touch our lives in countless ways. But what do we really know about them?

    Branching Out takes an in-depth look at these incredible plants, introducing the basics of tree biology and profiling 11 different trees from around the world, including familiar ones such as the red maple as well as lesser-known trees, like the tall-stilted mangrove.

    It showcases the inextricable ways trees are part of our society, culture, and economy. It also outlines how animals need trees – and sometimes even help trees survive through symbiosis. Full of useful facts and rounded out with a section on conservation, Branching Out is an essential primer that will leave young readers wanting to treat trees as well as they have treated us.

    Watch the book trailer.

    • Publisher: Owlkids
    • Pages: 64
    • Dimensions: 21.6 x 0.6 x 25.4 cm
    • ISBN: 978-1-77147-049-0 (hardcover)
    • ISBN-13: 978-177147-082-7 (softcover)
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  • The Discovery of Longitude

    $26.00

    Discover the fascinating story behind one of the most important changes to nautical navigation. Long ago, sailors risked their lives, cargo, and ships when traveling the seas. They followed the shoreline, navigating by recognizable landmarks and the stars, but often became lost or wrecked upon rocky coasts. Those who traveled the waters wanted more; they wanted to be able to consistently, and safely, navigate across oceans. To do so, they needed to know three things: latitude, longitude, and direction. A good ship’s captain could use a sextant, compass, and certain stars to find direction and latitude, but he needed to know the time, both on the ship and at a reference point, to find longitude. Unfortunately, an accurate source of time measurement at sea did not exist.

    In 1714, the British government decided to offer a large reward to anyone who could solve the problem. Learned men and great thinkers tried unsuccessfully to work out a solution. They declared it unsolvable! Carpenter and clockmaker John Harrison was intrigued; he thought he might have a solution. For years he strived to design and construct a clock that worked at sea. Harrison’s solution enabled sailors to cross the oceans of the world safely, but it took a king to make sure he received the prize he had earned. A detailed map of the world in the 1700s and a timeline of Harrison’s work on the longitude problem are included in this triumphant tale of ingenuity and innovation.

    Video
    The Discovery of Longitude book trailer

    Product details

    • Publisher:‎ Pelican Publishing Company; Illustrated (2012)
    • Hardcover:‎ 32 pages
    • ISBN-10:‎ 1455616370
    • ISBN-13:‎ 978-1455616374
    • Grade level: ‎Kindergarten – 3
    • Item Weight:‎ 12.5 ounces | 354 grams 
    • Dimensions:‎ 8.78 x 0.28 x 11.08 inches | 22.3 x 0.71 x 28.14 cm
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  • Erupt! 100 Fun Facts About Volcanoes

    $12.00

    Kids will burst with excitement as they learn all about the science and wonder of volcanoes in this new National Geographic Kids Reader. The Level 3 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging information for fluent readers. Plus, the book includes 100 fun facts for quick and quirky information on all kinds of volcanoes, all around the world–and even some that are out of this world! The Facts Readers series bridges the gap between short, digestible knowledge nuggets and informative sustained reading.

    Published by National Geographic Kids

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