Can you believe that the first tennis balls didn't bounce? Or that the world's first basketball hoop was a peach crate? Get ready to learn the amazing stories behind inventions you use every day. From the Minnesota teen who invented water skis to the Missouri mechanic who came up with the idea of driving over cars with his monster pickup truck, you'll find out how we got some of our favorite entertainment inventions.

Can you believe that the paint used on cars inspired the invention of nail polish in the 1920s? Or that people have been making hair dyes for thousands of years, using everything from boiled walnuts to gold powder? Get ready to learn the strange stories behind inventions you use every day. From the woman who invented "kissproof" lipstick to the role toothpicks played in the creation of Q-tips, you'll find out how we got the beauty inventions that...

The reclassification of Pluto in 2006 not only decreased the number of planets in our solar system by one but also introduced the new category of dwarf planet. Readers will come to understand what separates a dwarf planet from a planet-or for that matter from any of the other bodies found within the solar system. They'll learn about Pluto itself, as well as its fellow dwarf planets, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris. Full of recent information, this...

WHAT MAKES A CANDLE BURN? Solid wax is somehow changed into light and heat. But how? Travel back in time to December 28, 1848 in London, England to one of the most famous juvenile science Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution. British scientist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) encouraged kids to carefully observe a candle and to try to figure out how it burned. Known as one of the best science experimenters ever, Faraday's passion was always to answer...

This accessible and engaging book teaches young readers the fundamentals of Neptune, one of the most intriguing planets in our solar system. They will learn about Neptune's physical features, it's super storms that can reach 1,500 miles per hour, its ring system, the Voyager missions, and its status as one of the gas giants. Since the book includes images directly from NASA and with those taken by the Voyager missions themselves, readers can feel...

This curriculum-based, fun, and approachable book offers everything young readers need to know to begin their study of the Red Planet. They will learn about the fundamental aspects of the Mars, including its size, mass, surface features, interior, orbit, and spin. Further, they will learn about the history of the missions to Mars, including the Viking spacecraft and the Curiosity and MAVEN rovers. Finally, readers will learn about why scientists think...

Retells the story of Orion and variations of the myth, discusses the astronomical features of the constellation Orion, and describes the history of the constellation and its myths in world culture. Since ancient times, people of all ages have gazed up at the stars in wonder. Ancient peoples created fascinating stories about the shapes they saw in the stars. With eye-catching graphics and engaging text, the Constellations series explores popular star...

The seventh planet from the sun, Uranus is known for its blue-green color and tilted axis, which makes it look like it's spinning on its side. But what causes these distinctive features? This engaging, easy-to-follow resource gives readers insight into Uranus, from its discovery in 1781 to the latest insights about it gained from satellite images, explaining its features, conditions, rings, and moons. Sidebars define challenging vocabulary words and...

This lively introduction to the fascinating world of science explores the different kinds of science, what scientists do, and the amazing things that scientists study: animals and plants; oceans and space; earthquakes and volcanoes; sound and light; inventions and more! Make sure kids' first experience of the wonders of science is a thrilling eye-opener with this fun reference book. Fun activities, games, and simple experiments encourage interactive...

Retells the story of Ursa Minor as the nurse of Zeus and recounts the tale of Zeus's birth and rise to power, discusses the astronomical features of the constellation Ursa Minor and the star Polaris, and describes the history of the constellation and its myths in world culture. Since ancient times, people of all ages have gazed up at the stars in wonder. Ancient peoples created fascinating stories about the shapes they saw in the stars. With eye-catching...