Best Selling Books by Franklyn M. Branley

Will a magnet pick up a paper clip or a feather? The answer is, just the paper clip. Magnets only pick up things that contain bits of iron. In this new addition to the Let''s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, veteran author Franklyn Branley explains the properties and behavior of magnets. True Kelley''s charming illustrations will entertain readers as they discover for themselves what makes a magnet. Hands-on activities include making a magnet and compass.

What goes up must come down. Everybody knows that. But what is it that pulls everything from rocks to rockets toward the center of the earth? It''s gravity. Nobody can say exactly what it is, but gravity is there, pulling on everything, all the time. With the help of an adventurous scientist and his fun-loving dog, you can read and find out about this mysterious force.

Moonlight is really sunlight! Did you know that the moon doesn''t make its own light? Instead, it receives light from the sun and reflects it to us on the Earth. Read and find out about how the sun, the stars and light bulbs make light so we can see.Did you know that moonlight is really sunlight? The moon can''t make its own light, so it receives light from the sun and then sends it to us here on the Earth. Any child who''s ever wondered about the fascinating properties of light will want to read this classic science title. Readers will even learn how fast light can travel: from the moon to the Earth in less than three seconds! Veteran science author Franklyn M. Branley''s lively text and Stacey Schuett''s new illustrations combine fun facts and hands-on activities in this accessible introduction to the science of light. Did you know that moonlight is really sunlight? The moon can''t make its own light, so it receives light from the sun and then sends it to us here on the Earth. Any child who''s ever wondered about the fascinating properties of light will want to read this classic science title. Readers will even learn how fast light can travel: from the moon to the Earth in less than three seconds! Veteran science author Franklyn M. Branley''s lively text and Stacey Schuett''s new illustrations combine fun facts and hands-on activities in this accessible introduction to the science of light.

Read and find out about one of nature’s most mysterious forces—the earthquake—in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. Some earthquakes are so small that you don’t even feel them, while others can make even big buildings shake. Learn why earthquakes happen, where they are most likely to occur, and what to do if one happens near you. Now with updated text and art, this classic picture book describes the causes and effects of earthquakes (including a tsunami). This book features rich vocabulary and fascinating cross-sections of mountains, volcanoes, and faults in the earth’s moving crust. This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. The text and art were vetted by Dr. Roland Burgmann, Professor of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley. This is a Level 2 Let''s-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series are: hands-on and visual acclaimed and trusted great for classrooms Top 10 reasons to love LRFOs: Entertain and educate at the same time Have appealing, child-centered topics Developmentally appropriate for emerging readers Focused; answering questions instead of using survey approach Employ engaging picture book quality illustrations Use simple charts and graphics to improve visual literacy skills Feature hands-on activities to engage young scientists Meet national science education standards Written/illustrated by award-winning authors/illustrators & vetted by an expert in the field Over 130 titles in print, meeting a wide range of kids'' scientific interests Books in this series support the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards. Let''s-Read-and-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

Have you ever dreamed of being an astronaut? Wondered what it might be like to see the sun set sixteen times in one day? Open this book and be transported on an information-packed voyage aboard the space shuttle. True Kelley’s kid-friendly diagrams and illustrations and Franklyn Branley’s straightforward text reveal what astronauts eat, how they move, and what kinds of work they do in space.

When Mount Vesuvius blew up in A.D. 79, ash, cinders, and stones buried a great city below the mountain. Volcanoes are dramatic and powerful. There are thousands of them all over the earth. Franklyn M. Branley''s clear text and Megan Lloyd''s striking illustrations explore the fascinating subject of volcanoes—how they form and erupt, where they are found, and when you can expect a volcano to blow its top.

Did you know that lightning bolts can be over a mile long? Or that they may come from clouds that are ten miles high? Storms can be scary, but not if you know what causes them. Before the next thunderstorm, grab this book by veteran science team Franklyn Branley and True Kelley and learn what causes the flash, crash, rumble, and roll of thunderstorms!

Where is it partly cloudy and 860°F? Venus. Read about the eight planets in our solar system and Earth''s special place in it. This book also includes instructions for making your own solar system mobile, and on the new "Find Out More" page learn how to track the moon and visit the best plant web sites.

‘Branley explains these powerful storms in simple terms young children can understand. He describes the funnel cloud and how it forms and [tells] what to do during a tornado. The book ends on a comfortable note, that the idea is not to panic but to know what to do to ensure safety.’ —BL. A Reading Rainbow Selection

Snow is falling. Snow is wonderful - for sledding, for skiing, and for building snowmen. But did you know that snow can actually keep things warm? Find out how snow helpf plants, animals, and people to survive. But when a blizzard blows, watch out! The snow that is so useful can be dangerous too. Franklyn M. Branley and Holly Keller team up for a fun and colorful exploration of the world of snow, including experiments and activities for cold winter days. A Let''s Read and Find Out Science book, for Stage 1.

The sun brings heat, warmth, and energy to the Earth. What is the sun made of? How big is it? How far away? Read and find out!

Are there furry creatures on the moon? Or Martians who ride spaceships to Earth? Today we know Martians don''t exist, but we also know that plants and animals may live far beyond our solar system. Franklyn M. Branley''s fascinating text and Edward Miller''s zany illustrations tap into kids'' curiosity to give a dazzling tour of life out among the stars. Updated with new photos of Mars and a "Find Out More" page full of hands-on activities.

Read and find out about the phases of the moon in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, introduces basic information about the moon. Have you noticed that the moon sometimes seems to grow and shrink? Does it look like a big round ball? Or is it just a sliver of light in the sky? The moon seems to change. But it doesn''t really. The moon revolves around the Earth. It takes about four weeks to make the journey, and as it travels around we can only see certain parts of it. Try the simple experiment described inside using an orange, a pencil, and a flashlight, and you''ll understand why the moon seems to change. This is a Level 2 Let''s-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series are: hands-on and visual acclaimed and trusted great for classrooms Top 10 reasons to love LRFOs: Entertain and educate at the same time Have appealing, child-centered topics Developmentally appropriate for emerging readers Focused; answering questions instead of using survey approach Employ engaging picture book quality illustrations Use simple charts and graphics to improve visual literacy skills Feature hands-on activities to engage young scientists Meet national science education standards Written/illustrated by award-winning authors/illustrators & vetted by an expert in the field Over 130 titles in print, meeting a wide range of kids'' scientific interests Books in this series support the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards. Let''s-Read-and-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

Young stargazers learn about different star colors and brightnesses, how to locate major constellations, and how to make mini planetariums by using coffee cans and flashlights. ‘A fine job of encouraging young people to look at stars and constellations. . . . Highly recommended as a science resource book." —Science and Children. "A dandy book for [primary grade] readers." —AP.

What happened to the dinosaurs? For millions of years these fantastic creatures roamed our planet. Then, suddenly, they all disappeared. Scientists wonder why. What could have caused this huge extinction 65 million years ago? In this enlarged edition, distinguished writer Franklyn M. Branley and award-winning artist Marc Simont provide the perfect introduction to an always fascinating subject - the disappearance of the dinosaurs. Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1989 (NSTA/CBC)

‘Accompanied by NASA photographs and Dorros’s colorful, lively drawings, the text explains the Earth’s rotation in clear and simple terms. An experiment using a lamp as the ‘sun’ further clarifies the principles introduced.’ —BL.

When it''s not windy, it can be easy to forget about air. But air is everywhere–it fills your house, your car, and even your empty milk glass. In fact, a regular room holds about 75 pounds of it! This Level 1 book, reillustrated with John O''Brien''s clever, eye–catching illustrations, tells you how to discover the air that''s all around you.

The sun shines down on us, giving warmth and light. But did you know that the sun also makes the seasons? As the earth makes one complete rotation around the sun every year, the seasons on the earth change -- from winter to spring to summer to fall and back to winter again. Find out how the light from the sun affects life on the earth for all living things in this look at the only star in our solar system.

Imagine that you''re walking on the moon. What is it like? For thousands of years people looked up at the moon and wondered about it. Now we know what the moon is like. There is no air on the moon and nothing grows, but there are towering mountains and deep craters--and much more! Colder than the desert, the hotter than the desert, the moon is an amazing place to explore.

"[This new edition of a book first published in 1962 is] an excellent introduction to the night sky and star gazing. The beauty of this book is its simplicity and the high percentage of success a young reader would have following its directions." —AP.

The International Space Station races through space at 17,500 miles per hour. How do people live there? What may they discover? Find out the story of the twenty-first century''s great scientific adventure. Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 2001--selected by Natn''l Science Tchrs Assoc. & Child. Bk Cncl. and Booklist "Top 10 Science Books for Children" 2000

Takes the reader on an imaginary journey to a black hole.

Explains what shooting stars are, what they are made of, and what happens to them when they land on Earth.

Let''s-read-and-find-out about Mars Someday people from Earth may live on Mars. In this century, we will go to the planet to learn more about it. It will become our outpost in space -- our space colony.

Offers an examination of this geological phenomenon through a review of the earth''s plates, the events that cause them to happen, the process by which they are measured, and their impact on the world throughout history. Simultaneous.

Explains how the water cycle leads to different types of weather patterns.

Colorful illustrations and clear, easy-to-read text about causes of seasonal changes. --School Library Journal

Discusses various weather phenomena, including rain, hail, smog, snow, lightning, hurricanes, and tornadoes.