Making purple was tricky. The dye was concocted from a certain snail, and later, from plants, bugs, and rocks. Then it had to be soaked in minerals and . . . urine! The process was very complicated and expensive (not to mention smelly!).Until 1856, when a boy named William Henry Perkin invented a new way. While testing a hypothesis about a cure for malaria, he found that his experiment resulted in something else -- something vivid and rare for the times: synthetic PURPLE. Perkin, a pioneer of the modern scientific method, made numerous advances possible, including canned food and chemotherapy. But it was his creation of purple that started it all.Authors Tami Lewis Brown and Debbie Loren Dunn craft a compelling tale, and Francesca Sanna's dynamic art is a joyous celebration of Perkin's impactful purple.

    Lay on a BIG spidey smoocheroo.b. Smile, but back away slowly.c. Grab the closest object, wind up, and let it fly.d. Run away screaming.If you chose b, c, or d, then this book is for you! (If you chose a, you might be crazy.)I'm Trying to Love Spiders will help you see these amazing arachnids in a whole new light, from their awesomely excessive eight eyes, to the seventy-five pounds of bugs a spider can eat in a single year! And you're sure to feel better knowing you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being fatally bit by a spider. Comforting, right? No? Either way, there's heaps more information in here to help you forget your fears . . . or at least laugh a lot!

    This beautiful picture book is a celebration of every child’s ability to connect with the environment and make a positive impact .A monthly exchange of ideas between the kids and Earth becomes a lasting friendship in this affectionate story about how to be an Earth Hero, lyrically written by Erin Dealey and gorgeously illustrated by Dilys Evans Founder Award-winning illustrator Luisa Uribe.Young readers will learn about environmental conservation, along with simple things they can do to help care for the planet—like recycling and reducing energy consumption. There is even a reversible jacket cover that features a poster printed on the inside with twelve months of Earth Hero activities. These fun and interactive activities will encourage children to help protect our planet year-round. Dear Room 5, Your letter arrived on the wind. A whisper of hope in the night. I’m thankful for helpers who care for their planet…

    The frolicking skeletons will captivate children and adults while they sing along with this well-known, catchy song. Accompanied by interesting, informative "bone facts" this book makes a wonderful addition to both home and classroom libraries and a fun treat for Halloween!

    When all the clouds darken up the skyway, there's a rainbow highway to be found, Leading from your window pane to a place behind the sun, just a step beyond the rain. You may not immediately recognize these words...but you definitely know and love the song to which they belong. This is the introductory verse to "Over the Rainbow," sung with such memorable poignancy by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Although she actually recorded these opening lyrics, they were never used in the film. Now, this classic song has been transformed into a magnificent picture book and CD set. Breathtaking and magical artwork by Eric Puybaret will carry young readers from a little red farmhouse up over the rainbow, into the sky where bluebirds fly and castles rise high in the clouds, and beyond.The extraordinary soundtrack for this book is performed by Judy Collins, who has recorded what might be the very best version of "Over the Rainbow" ever sung. The winner of a Grammy Award, Collins's glorious voice is one of the most admired of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her version of this classic will delight and touch the heart of every parent and child who listens.  As an added bonus, the enclosed CD also contains two delightful additional songs recorded by Judy Collins: White Choral Bells and I See the Moon.

    Jurassic Park, and, The lost world: the complete story, based on the screenplay by David Koep and Michale Crichton.

    Antoine dreamed of flying and grew up to be a pilot—and that was when his adventures began. He found a job delivering mail by plane, which had never been done before. He and his fellow pilots traveled to faraway places and discovered new ways of getting from one place to the next. Antoine flew over mountains and deserts. He battled winds and storms. He tried to break aviation records, and sometimes he even crashed. From his plane, Antoine looked down on the earth and was inspired to write about his life and his pilot-hero friends in memoirs and in fiction. Peter Sís's remarkable biography celebrates the author of The Little Prince, one of the most beloved books in the world. A Frances Foster Book.

    Parents be warned: this book is so appealing that, come next December, you may find yourself out in the cold, counting birds." ―Booklist OnlineFor the New England Christmas Bird Count, young Ava and her mother prepare to be the best "citizen scientists" they can be. With the help of their team leader Big Al, they record the tally of all the birds they see. Ava dutifully counts all the birds along the way, using her most important tools―her eyes and ears―and the birding identification techniques she's learned. But will she locate her favorite raven again this year in time for their town's annual Christmas Bird Count party?Author Susan Edwards Richmond introduces young readers to birdwatching with simple explanations of birdwatching techniques and clear descriptions of bird habitats. Stephanie Fizer Coleman's charming illustrations add color and context to a joyful story that's sure to inspire the citizen scientist in us all.Backmatter includes more information about all the birds featured in the book and about the Christmas Bird Count, the nation's longest-running community science bird project.Teacher's Guide available!Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and TeensParents' Choice Silver Honor Award

    Quirky full-color illustrations portray dozens of birds chatting about their distinctive characteristics, including color, shape, plumage, and beak and foot types, while tongue-in-cheek cartoons feature banter between birds, characters, and the reader ("Here I am, the noble spruce grouse. In a spruce grove. Eatin’ some spruce. Yep."). Interactive and enjoyable tips bring an age-old hobby to new life for the next generation of bird-watchers.

    The minute Elmer had a chance he jumped right into that rich, melting pie and ate till his elfin stomach bulged. It was delicious, and Elmer wanted another one right away. But nobody can see an elf, or hear an elf, or feel an elf, so none of his people knew he was trying to tell them something.Then, when Elmer was unhappily sampling cherry pie, he had an inspiration! But, dear reader, we can't give the ending away. Let's just say that Elmer's ingenious solution satisfied his craving for blueberry pie and, being a polite elf, he thanked his people.Elmer has been the most appealing and industrious elf around for nearly fifty years, and he'll continue to delight children for generations to come. Seymour Fleishman's charming illustrations transform our familiar household world into the tiny world of elves.

    So they decided they wouldn't just rebuild the same old thing; this time, they would build a town that could not only survive another storm, but one that was built in an environmentally sustainable way. Told from the point of view of a child whose family rebuilt after the storm, this companion to Energy Island is the inspiring story of the difference one community can make--and it includes plenty of rebuilding scenes and details for construction lovers, too!

    You may doubt the existence of your soul, but that may be because you have had little conscious knowledge or experience with it. Your soul is always whispering to you, but its voice is often drowned out in everyday life by a cacophony of countless thoughts and emotions. Even if you heard it once, over time you may have forgotten it. Yet your soul wants to be free, like a bird soaring in the azure sky. Your thoughts and emotions, heavy from past memories, attachments, and fixed ideas, weigh down your soul and keep it trapped. To free your soul, you need to release your thoughts and emotions first, and begin to listen to your soul's voice. Ilchi Lee wrote this short, illustrated story of a man named Jay and his relationship with his soul, symbolized by a sweetly, singing bird, to help you remember your soul. It is his own story, and he believes it is many people's story. Traveling life's journey with Jay, you rediscover what is most precious and important, and the wisdom, meaning, and potential that come from your soul. Accompanying the story are a guided meditation CD with two audio tracks and a 21-Day Meditation Journal to help you begin your own journey to a close relationship with your soul. They guide you in releasing and purifying your thoughts and emotions and take you on a flight with your own bird of the soul, enabling you to experience your soul's freedom. Consciously connect and communicate with your soul for 21 days, and your soul will gradually expand and finally take its proper place at the center of your life.

    Fun and informative back matter takes the shape of an interview so that readers learn more right from the bird's bill. Ken Pak's lively illustrations, paired with Rita Gray's words, render a visual and sonorous picture book to be enjoyed by young naturalists.

    Filled with illustrations of some of the most adorable babies in the kingdom, this awww-inspiring book looks at the traits that all baby mammals share and proves that, even though they're born in the wild, they're not so very different from us, after all!

    of a spider. But don't be worried – he's more scared of you and your gigantic shoe! Actually, he's a lot like you. He goes to gym class and has Grandparents' Day at school. But he also spins sticky webs, scales walls, and takes wind–catching lessons. Lucky for him, his best friend is a fly!Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the #1 bestselling Diary Of A Worm, spin a hilarious tale about the upside–down web world of an eight–legged charmer and his unlikely friend, Fly.