Best Selling Books by Louise Spilsbury

Sound produces some of the greatest joys in our lives. From the music we love to the mere sound of laughter, the vibrations our ears pick up play a major role in our life experience. This book shows readers just what sound is, how it travels, and how our ears understand the sounds that surround us all. Innovative flowcharts throughout the book give readers a fun alternative to plain text, showing the science of sound with vibrant colors and interesting fact boxes.

Not only are Froghoppers capable of concealing themselves within in a blanket of their own bubbly spit, they can also jump 140 times their body length. That’s the equivalent of a human jumping over a skyscraper! Think that’s interesting? It’s just the beginning of the unbelievable things that insects can do. From moths to ants to beetles, insects may be small in size but they’re giants in terms of their talents.

Is bamboo really as strong as steel? Do some flowers stink so bad that they attract flies? Can water lilies actually grow up to eight feet across? Find out these answers and more in this book. The facts and images will educate, shock, and fascinate budding botanists.

Traces the history of television''s invention from its beginning to the present day.

Uses everyday examples and activities to introduce key concepts about sound.

This book explores what causes floods and how people can prepare for them.

Examines how people use the earth''s natural resources such as water, trees, air, and oil.

Police officers are some of our communities’ most important people. These men and women put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe and protect the people living in them. Readers learn about the life of police officers and the tough and unique tasks they face. Readers will learn what it takes to become a police officer and the paths they can take to one day have a career in law enforcement. Specialized careers—such as crime scene investigators, detectives, and animal-focused jobs—are examined in depth. The text also covers high-interest topics such as police equipment, crime fighting, and the risks and rewards that accompany this career. The main text is enriched by instructive diagrams, informative sidebars, and helpful fact boxes.

Presents an introduction to the changing role of women, discussing how to research basic facts, find a topic, evaluate sources, use tangible evidence, and write a presentation.

What is an alveolus? Why does blood look red? How can we keep our lungs healthy? The Human Machine asks the questions that young people want answered. Each chapter contains a different question, so readers can develop their knowledge.

Large bodies of water are all around us: rivers flow through our towns and cities, inland lakes collect pools of fresh water, and the salty ocean covers nearly two-thirds of the Earth’s surface. In this volume, readers will learn about the importance of these three natural sources of water, as well as their similarities and differences. Emphasis is also placed on the relationship between humans and these various water sources, both in terms of constructive use of these precious resources and the risks inherent in pollution. Readers will walk away with a better comprehension of the science behind bodies of water and the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

The water cycle and each of its stages are presented in this book, which also guides readers through the role that plants, animals, and people play in that cycle.

Introduces minerals, discussing how they are formed, where they are found, and their properties and uses.

Describes the characteristics, habitat, behavior, diet, life cycle, and predators of cobras.

Describes the world of plants and the various parts of specific plants, such as flower, seed, roots, trunk, and more.

Offering fascinating insight into life beneath the waves, this book follows a shark through its day as it sleeps, hunts, eats, and moves.

Describes the physical characteristics and habitat of the Asiatic elephant, and explains why their numbers are threatened and what can be done about it.

Its ability to change colors is the first thing most people think of when it comes to chameleons. But did you know that a chameleon’s eyes can swivel independently of each other to look in two directions at once? The impressive, creepy, and weird things that reptiles do are compiled here and guarantee that readers will be left mesmerized and with a greater understanding of animal adaptations.

Examines the evolution of the airplane, its design, and how planes affect today''s world.

What plants do we eat? How do we use plants in medicine? How can plants be used for cleaning things? Plants are more than just pretty greenery in our yards and parks. They have many uses that can be helpful to people. Read ''Plant Products'' to look at the many ways people use plants in their daily lives. ''The Life of Plants'' series explores the amazing world of plants. Learn about the different elements of plants, including plant structures, life processes, plant classification, and plant uses. Examples range from familiar plants to fascinating plants. Activities and experiments are included in each book to give you a chance to apply what you have learned.

The place where plants live and grow is called their habitat. Different types of plants grow all over the world in many different kinds of habitats. Plants need light and water to live. Some habitats are cold and dark. Others may be hot and dry. Plants have different ways of surviving in these different habitats.

The human mind is more complex and powerful than any technology humanity has ever created. How much do we really know about these incredible organic computers that power our bodies? This engaging book explores the human brain using clean, simple flowcharts to break down difficult concepts into accessible chunks. Each chapter condenses key concepts into flowcharts to help readers retain essential information. Curious readers will love learning about this high-interest topic through fun graphics and clear, easy-to-understand language. This innovative format makes important science curriculum material fun and easy to absorb, making this book an invaluable addition to any library.

Teaches about tsunamis including the causes, after effects, and major storms in history.

Teaches about earthquakes and how scientists detect these natural disasters.

Describes how lions live, hunt, and raise their young in Africa.

Jump into the past and visit the world of the mysterious Mayans. Get the lowdown on gruesome sacrifice. Discover why the Mayans wore the heads of their enemies. Take a peek inside the world of the spooky Mayan priest, find out why children were cross-eyed, and discover the world''s first chocolate money as you hunt down the secrets of the dead!

This volume provides a basic history of the printing press, and the printing industry.

Humanitarian aid workers dedicate their lives to helping people in need. They bring medicine, emergency supplies, and other kinds of disaster relief to countries affected by war, natural disasters, and poverty. Aid workers help refugees and also build infrastructure, hospitals, and schools in struggling nations. Readers will determine if this career is in their future after reading this text, which explores the heroic lives of these brave people. They’ll learn about the challenges and rewards of this career and see how it impacts the global community. The text’s age-appropriate content will inspire readers to do their part one day, while memorable images help readers visualize aid workers’ important work. Fact boxes, sidebars, and diagrams further support this career-focused text.

Arguably the most intelligent of nonhuman animals, chimpanzees are endlessly fascinating. Sadly, their population has been drastically reduced over the past 50 years. This book explains what makes these animals so interesting, the dangers they grapple with, and a number of conservationist efforts.

Find out what happens when the monsoon season starts, why people visit the Red Sea, and why dugongs are also called sea cows.--Back cover.

This book describes how food is broken down so the human machine can get nutrients for the energy it needs to live, grow, and repair itself and how the human machine''s waste disposal system works.

How does a rollercoaster work? Why don''t I fly off a scrambler or octopus ride? How do bumper cars work? Covering lots of different rides, including traditional, more tame rides such as rollercoasters, helter-skelters and bumper cars, to more white-knuckle screamers such as scramblers, loop-the-loops, gondolas and corkscrews, Race that Bike! takes a fun look at forces in an amusement park. While learning about forces you will find that you also find out the answers to many questions that you have asked yourself about how amusement park rides work, and more. This Feel the Force series shows how forces and motion work in the world around us, in a set of high-interest situations. Each book includes three simple activities or investigations for readers to try. Overlays over large photos, plus diagrams, show how forces are acting in a given situation. Topics covered in the series include basic pushes, pulls and friction, air resistance, gravity, mass, weight and springs.

Looks at the impact of tourism around the globe and in such specific places as Mexico, Cyprus, and Kenya.

PHYSICS. Visually interesting and easy to understand. This series presents basic physical science by asking a question, answering it, then giving three hands-on activities to try. Ages 9+

Why do astronauts feel heavy after take-off? Why are rockets long and thin? How do spacecraft orbit Earth? Covering lots of different aspects of space exploration, including looking at how spacecraft such as rocket launchers, satellites and space stations work and more human questions such as why astronauts need to keep so physically fit and what kit they need in their spacesuits, Fly to Mars! takes a fun look at forces in space. While learning about forces you will find that you also find out the answers to many questions that you have asked yourself about astronauts and space, and more. This Feel the Force series shows how forces and motion work in the world around us, in a set of high-interest situations. Each book includes three simple activities or investigations for readers to try. Overlays over large photos, plus diagrams, show how forces are acting in a given situation. Topics covered in the series include basic pushes, pulls and friction, air resistance, gravity, mass, weight and springs.

Looks at some of the endangered animals that call North America home, including kangaroo rats, polar bears, condors, sturgeons, and red wolves.

Explores the functions of cells and how they work.

Describes the physical characteristics, life cycle, habitat, and individual and group behavior of the chimpanzee.

A simple introduction to the life cycle of the frog offers brief explanations of each stage in its development.