Most Popular Books by Larry Verstraete

More than 30 riveting - and true! - survival stories from Larry Verstraete, the master of adventure non-fiction. A slave in mid-1800s North Carolina squeezes into a 2'' x 3'' box and has friends mail him to Philadelphia . . . and freedom. A doctor injects 8000 Polish Jews with a substance that makes it appear they have typhus, getting them sent into quarantine instead of to death camps. Apollo 13 astronauts use duct tape, a hose, and other spare parts to fix failed machinery and bring their spacecraft safely home. Following the popularity of the award-winning At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times, winner of the Silver Birch Award for nonfiction, this new collection from Larry Verstraete features over 30 incredible true stories of survivors who found creative ways to beat impossible odds.

Think about your worst fears -- being attacked by a wild animal, swept away by a killer storm, trapped in a wrecked car or a burning building. Here are stories of real people who survived life-threatening situations. They kept their cool in the face of everything from nature''s fury to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This gripping book features twenty-nine hair-raising stories plus over forty dramatic photos. Each section includes Survival Tips that give readers essential information about what to do in dangerous circumstances.

Accidental Discoveries - a man inhales laughing gas...and feels no pain in his leg - a blast of water in a bathroom leads to a billion dollar invention - a scientist dreams the answer to the question that had him stumped - a spill creates an explosive even more powerful than dynamite Some discoveries come about by logic and reasoning. Others happen because of blunders, fumbles and freaky circumstances - in short, by accident. Over 80 stories about the stumbles, goofs, and strange twists that have resulted in amazing breakthroughs from laughing gas to dynamite.

Collects more than twenty true stories of people facing critical life or death decisions, including a man saving someone in the path of an oncoming train, a tragic mountainclimbing accident, and a family caught in a tsunami.

On May 6, 1937, the giant German airship the Hindenburg was destroyed by fire as it attempted to land at Lakehurst Naval Base in New Jersey. Of the 93 people on board, a remarkable 62 survived, including Werner Franz, the ship''s 14-year-old cabin boy. In Surviving the Hindenburg, writer Larry Verstraete recounts young Werner''s story of the airship''s final voyage. Through Werner''s memories young readers will explore the inner workings of the giant airship, marvel at the breathtaking vistas from its observation windows, and hold their breath during Werner''s terrifying escape from the fiery devastation. "My mind didn''t start working again until I was on the ground," Werner said later. "Then I started running." Captured in detailed, dramatic artwork, the story of the doomed airship comes alive for readers and history buffs of all ages. Larry Verstraete''s book, S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet, was named a 2011 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students by the National Science Teachers Association. He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. David Geister''s work has been featured in The History Channel Magazine. His books include B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A fascinating look at how scientists solve today''s mysteries and centuries-old "cold cases." Savvy investigative work and scientific knowledge combine to answer perplexing questions and to uncover long-unknown truths. Using a trail of evidence -- clues, careful observation, laboratories and new testing protocols -- scientists reveal intriguing answers to such questions as: What really killed Beethoven? Are the Hitler diaries real or fakes? The stories and sidebars show how scientists collect clues, analyse them, test theories, and arrive at solutions -- or gather enough evidence to support further investigation. The cases involve branches of science as wide-ranging as astronomy and biochemistry to geology and physics. These are gripping high-interest stories for middle-grade non-fiction lovers, with Canadian content throughout. A helpful index and glossary are also provided.

What clutter-busting need was behind the invention of the World Wide Web? Which stain-fighting chemical got its start when a lab assistant dropped a beaker on a lab floor? In S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet, the origins behind some of the most important scientific discoveries are explored. Budding young scientists will learn what Galileo witnessed in a church that led to his theory of measurement; how biologist Rachel Carson''s book, Silent Spring, helped to spur the first call to action in the environmental movement; and why Ivan Pavlov''s study of a drooling dog laid the foundations for a new branch of psychology. From discoveries that fundamentally changed scientific methods to everyday inventions that are now taken for granted, S is for Scientists sheds light on the events and people who have shaped our lives today. A former teacher, Larry Verstraete now spends his time writing, visiting schools and libraries, and presenting at conferences and festivals. S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet is his second picture book with Sleeping Bear Press. He lives in Winnipeg. David Geister''s fascination with American history is celebrated in his work, and his paintings have been featured in The Saturday Evening Post. Dave''s books for Sleeping Bear Press include B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet and Riding to Washington. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

True stories of people who found sunken Spanish ships...a seven-million dollar painting...the largest T-Rex bones ever discovered...and more! Who hasn''t dreamed of searching for something valuable or rare that has been lost, abandoned, forgotten or simply overlooked by others? From pirate booty and exotic coins to missing silver mines and lost cities, the allure of finding lost treasure is very real. Fame, fortune or - at the very least - the thrill of adventure, await the treasure hunter. Readers find out what amazing treasure lies waiting to be discovered, and some which have already been found...sometimes right under their noses.

Where can one find a town nicknamed the "Polar Bear Capital of the World"? Or see more than 3,000 beluga whales? Or stand along a lakeshore and hear the sound of the Great Kitchie Manitou beating a huge drum? Visit the province of Manitoba in G is for Golden Boy: A Manitoba Alphabet and learn about these and other wonders, along with fascinating history and important facts. Readers can traverse northern Manitoba on the amazing Ice Roads, a 2,200-km network of temporary roads; attend a dogsled race at the Festival de Voyageur in St. Boniface; or take a trip back in time at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden. From the A of Ancient Shores to the Z of the Z-dike, G is for Golden Boy showcases the history and natural wonders of Manitoba.Larry Verstraete, a native Manitoban, grew up in the French Quarter of Winnipeg, a stone''s throw from the Golden Boy. A former teacher, he now spends his time writing, visiting young readers in schools and libraries, and presenting at conferences and festivals. Larry lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Brian Lund recently retired from a career in digital mapping at the City of Winnipeg and now has time to indulge his passion for oil painting. He has a degree in Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba, and is a self-taught artist. Brian lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Hundreds of true stories of invention, some the results of determination, some inspired by strange circumstances...and many that happen entirely by accident!

You will discover the techniques used to solve mysteries of history.

Looks at a variety of technological innovations, including dishwashers, toasters, light bulbs, and vacuum cleaners, and how they work.

"Imagine a street filled with horses and buggies, or the skies without airplanes! You might not realize that, before vehicles, it used to take days--even weeks--to visit friends or family! This title looks at major innovations in transportation over the years, and the ingenious inventors, scientists, and engineers who made them. With a little inventive thinking, what might you create to help us change the way we travel?"--Provided by publisher.

Nominated for the MYRCA Sundog Award Selected for Best Books for Children and Teens 2019 Coop is an aging, cynical, down-and-out dachshund who faces the ultimate test when his new owner, Mike, and Mike''s grandchildren, Zach and Emma, run into trouble. Mike rescued him, but does Coop have what it takes to do the same? Drawing strength from the stories about great dogs that Mike shares with him, Coop charts a dangerous journey to save his new family. "Sensitively examines the impact domestic abuse has on all members of the family as well as the damaging psychological effects repeated failed adoptions have on rescue animals. Tears are likely to be shed reading this book due to the author''s deft hand in writing emotional scenes with cinematic sunrise quality. A quick and enjoyable read filled with endearing characters, moments of humour and heartfelt storytelling, Coop the Great is a wonderful middle-school novel for all readers. Perfect for both young readers who love animals, as well as a classroom or bedtime read-aloud focusing on important themes of empathy, heroism, and the power of a positive mindset, this is a novel worthy of purchase and priority placement on bookshelves."--CM Magazine

Driving across the North American Heartland, surrounded by prairie, it is almost impossible to imagine that once this was once a huge inland sea. The Western Interior Seaway, which split the entire continent of North America in half, once teemed with predatory creatures - fanged fish and turtles the size of small cars; prowling sharks and giant squid; hungry plesiosaurs and immense crocodiles. At the top of this prehistoric food chain, stretching up to nearly 15 metres (50 feet) and weighing a hefty 50,000 kilograms (50 tonnes), ruled the mighty mosasaur, the T-Rex of the sea. Through a cooperative partnership with the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (CFDC), home to ''Bruce'', the world''s largest mosasaur skeleton, author Larry Verstraete and illustrator Julius Csotonyi combine fascinating facts, astonishing discoveries, and the latest paleontological information to bring the ancient marine creatures of the Seaway to vivid life.

Four months after Gramp''s mysterious death, Nate helps out at Gram''s garage sale. An eerie feeling, as if Gramps were reaching beyond the grave to send Nate a message, leads Nate to a box full of clues. A missing plane. A secret to keep. A map highlighting the route where Gramps died and the message, "Shipment #35-Gold." Nate and his best friend, Simon, are convinced that Gramps was on a treasure hunt when he died. They''re just as convinced that Gram''s shifty next door neighbour, Fortier, is after the gold too. Nate and Simon sneak away on a Greyhound bus for the small town of Paradise where Nate is sure treasure awaits. Can they find the gold before Fortier gets his thieving hands on a treasure that rightfully belongs to Gramps? Larry Verstraete is an award winning author of 13 non-fiction books for young people. This is his first work of fiction.

Sometimes scientists have to put everything onthe line to promote and test their ideas. ExtremeScience tells the stories of scientists like GiordanoBruno, who was executed in the 17th century forwriting that there might be life on planets other thanearth. Or Alfred Nobel, who risked his life and thelife of others by conducting dangerous experimentswith nitroglycerine to find a stable explosive.Extreme Science takes readers to the cutting edge ofdiscovery. From death-defying tornado chasers to aman who fell through the sky so fast that his bodybroke the sound barrier, these true stories will keepreaders on the edge of their seats! Includes sidebarsfeaturing additional extreme facts.