Most Popular Books by Melissa Stewart

Blast off on a trip to discover the fascinating world of meteors. In this image-packed book, kids will learn all about these objects hurtling through space and into our atmosphere. Written in an easy-to-grasp style to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow!

Everyone loves chocolate, right? But how many people actually know where chocolate comes from? How it’s made? Or that monkeys do their part to help this delicious sweet exist? This delectable dessert comes from cocoa beans, which grow on cocoa trees in tropical rain forests. But those trees couldn’t survive without the help of a menagerie of rain forest critters: a pollen-sucking midge, an aphid-munching anole lizard, brain-eating coffin fly maggots—they all pitch in to help the cocoa tree survive. A secondary layer of text delves deeper into statements such as "Cocoa flowers can’t bloom without cocoa leaves . . . and maggots," explaining the interdependence of the plants and animals in the tropical rain forests. Two wise-cracking bookworms appear on every page, adding humor and further commentary, making this book accessible to readers of different ages and reading levels. Back matter includes information about cocoa farming and rain forest preservation, as well as an author’s note.

A colorful look at the amazing ways animals behave and interact with their environments on a rainy day. We go inside when the rain comes down, but where do animals go? This engaging book for young readers offers a first glimpse at how different animals in different habitats behave during a thunderstorm. Acclaimed children''s nonfiction author Melissa Stewart takes a lyrical look at the behavior of animals in forests, fields, wetlands, and deserts and briefly describes how each creature interacts with its rained-soaked environment. Constance Bergum''s soft watercolor paintings colorfully depict the animals and special features of each habitat.

Identifies seven different butterflies through a series of questions and answers. On board pages.

Fun and facts for children from one of the most trusted names in learning: the Smithsonian Institution.

A cozy look at the amazing ways animals behave and interact with their environments on a snowy day. When snow falls, we go home where it is warm and safe. But what about all those animals out there in the forests and fields? What do they do when snow blankets the ground? Award-winning science writer Melissa Stewart offers a lyrical tour of a variety of habitats, providing young readers with vivid glimpses of animals as they live out the winter beneath the snow and ice. Constance R. Bergum''s glowing watercolors perfectly capture the wonder and magic that can happen under the snow.

Prolific, award-winning nonfiction author Melissa Stewart reveals the surprising ways seashells provide more than shelter to the mollusks that inhabit them. Young naturalists discover thirteen seashells in this elegant introduction to the remarkable versatility of shells. Dual-layered text highlights how shells provide more than a protective home in this expository nonfiction exploration. The informative secondary text underscores characteristics specific to each shell. Elegant watercolor illustrations create a scrapbook feel, depicting children from around the world observing and sketching seashells across shores.

Discover the coolest robots of today and tomorrow in this colorful, photo-packed book. In this inviting and entertaining format, kids will learn about the science behind these amazing machines. Written in an easy-to-grasp style to encourage the scientists of tomorrow!

Explores the plant cycle, how seeds grow, ways they travel, and what it takes for a seed to become a plant.

Read and find out about droughts in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. The earth—and everything on it—needs water. But lately, it’s been unusually sunny, warm, and dry. The weather anchor announces that your area is experiencing a drought! Where do droughts happen? How do we know that we are in a drought? Why is rainfall important? Do droughts just affect people? Can scientists keep track of rainfall? Read and find out! This book is full of activities, like how to measure rainfall, how to visualize how much of the world’s water is freshwater, and how to create a cloud in a jar. It’s also full of graphic features perfect for visual learners, like a diagram of the water cycle, and rich vocabulary bolded throughout the text, with a glossary. This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It''s 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.

Read and find out about how hurricanes form, how scientists track the storms, and what you can do to keep yourself safe if one strikes in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. Winds whip. Waves crash. Rain pours down. A superstorm moves across the ocean and gets closer and closer to land. Hurricane watch! Perfect for budding meteorologists, and recognized as an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teachers Association, Hurricane Watch is bursting with fascinating facts paired with engaging visuals and diagrams. This picture book also includes a Find Out More section with an activity on air pressure, web research prompts, and a glossary of storm and weather vocabulary. Both text and artwork were vetted by Dr. William J. Brennan of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for accuracy. This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It''s 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.

With the soothing rhythm of a bedtime story and the scientific wonder of a nature doc, comes a celebration of the moon and all the creatures who rely on its light to find their way home. Under the glow of a shimmering moon, creatures great and small creep out of their dens, using its light to hunt, fend off predators, build their nests or build families. As the moon changes phases these animals adapt their behavior to match its waxing and waning—while human animals look on in wonder. As Earth''s closest companion in space, the moon has fascinated humankind for generations, and this nonfiction picture book sheds light on the mysterious ways it affects life on Earth. With luminous illustrations by Jessica Lanan and a lyrical text that is part lullaby and part scientific resource, Thank You, Moon is a treasure for all ages to enjoy.

A teacher''s guide to using fiction and nonfiction picture books to teach life sciences.

Check out cool Smithsonian websites and exhibits throughout the book Meet a real Geologist See fabulous close-up photos Read extremely fun facts about rocks and minerals

What is a shadow? From day to nightThe reasons for the seasonsDoing more.

Introduces the parts of a plant, life cycles, and how they grow.

What are cells made of? Biologists have been studying cells since the mid-1600s, when Robert Hooke viewed a slice of cork through a microscope and coined the word "cell" to describe the walled-in spaces he saw. Most cells are invisible to the naked eye. Yet they carry out the many complex processes that make life possible. As microscopes have improved, scientists have learned more and more about cells and their organelles—the structures within cells. From the nucleus, the cell''s control center, to the tiny ribosomes, which help manufacture proteins, each part of a cell plays an essential role. This book tells the story of how biologists unlocked the secrets of cells and revolutionized the way we look at living things.

This lyrical tour of a variety of habitats offers young readers vivid glimpses of animals as they live out the hot season under the blazing sun. When the sun is shining brightly, people put on sunscreen or scurry inside to cool off. But how do wild animals react to the sizzling heat? Journey from your neighborhood to a field where an earthworm loops its long body into a ball underground, to a desert where a jackrabbit loses heat through its oversized ears, to a wetland where a siren salamander burrows into the mud to stay cool, and to a seashore where a sea star hides in the shade of a seaweed mat. Constance R. Bergum''s glowing watercolors perfectly capture the wonder of a hot, sunny environment.

Hands-on lessons can be fun and compelling, but when it comes to life science, they aren''t always possible, practical, effective, or safe. Children can''t follow a lion as it stalks a gazelle, visit the exotic kapok tree in a rain forest, or swim alongside the underwater life in a pond. But they can explore a whole world of animals, plants, and ecosystems through the pages of beautifully illustrated, science-themed picture books. Perfect Pairs , which marries fiction and nonfiction picture books focused on life science, helps educators think about and teach life science in a whole new way. Each of the twenty-two lessons in this book is built around a pair of books that introduces a critical life science concept and guides students through an inquiry-based investigative process to explore that idea-;from animal/environment interactions to the role of structure in plant and animal survival, from inheritance of traits to variation of species. Each lesson starts with a Wonder Statement- and comprises three stages. Engaging Students- features a hands-on activity that captures student interest, uncovers current thinking, and generates vocabulary. The heart of the investigative process, Exploring with Students,- spotlights the paired books as the teacher reads aloud and helps students find and organize information into data tables. Encouraging Students to Draw Conclusions- shows students how to review and analyze the information they have collected. Bringing high-quality science-themed picture books into the classroom engages a broad range of students, addresses the Performance Expectations outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards, and supports the goals of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Even if you are science shy,Perfect Pairs can help you become a more confident teacher whose classroom buzzes with curious students eager to explore their natural world.

Meet some of the world’s very smallest mini-mammals in this “interesting and engaging” (School Library Journal, starred review) picture book with actual-size illustrations from Sibert Honoree Melissa Stewart and Caldecott Honoree Brian Lies. Big mammals like elephants, hippos, and giraffes get a lot of press, but what about the little guys? From pint-sized flying squirrels to itty bitty chipmunks and teeny tiny mouse lemurs, learn all about the mini-est mammals from around the world, depicted at their real-life size.

Does that monkey really have a red face? Author Melissa Stewart introduces new readers to a variety of red animals in this easy-to-read book. This book lets readers learn to recognize simple repetitive words, while they enjoy stunning color photographs of many animal species.

Introduces the characteristics and importance of air.

Explains what fossils are, how and where they can form, and where they can be found.

Hands-on lessons can be fun and compelling, but when it comes to life science, they aren''t always possible, practical, effective, or safe. Children can''t follow wolves as they hunt elk, visit a prehistoric swamp, or shrink down to the size of a molecule and observe photosynthesis firsthand. But they can explore a whole world of animals, plants, and ecosystems through the pages of beautifully illustrated, science-themed picture books. Perfect Pairs, which marries fiction and nonfiction picture books focused on life science, helps educators think about and teach life science in a whole new way. Each of the twenty lessons in this book is built around a pair of books that introduces a critical life science concept and guides students through an inquiry-based investigative process to explore that idea-;from life cycles and animal-environment interactions to the inheritance of traits and the critical role of energy in our world. Each lesson starts with a Wonder Statement and comprises three stages. Engaging Students features a hands-on activity that captures student interest, uncovers current thinking, and generates vocabulary. The heart of the investigative process, Exploring with Students, spotlights the paired books as the teacher reads aloud and helps students find and organize information into data tables. Encouraging Students to Draw Conclusions shows students how to review and analyze the information they have collected. Bringing high-quality science-themed picture books into the classroom engages a broad range of students, addresses the Performance Expectations outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards, and supports the goals of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Even if you are science shy, Perfect Pairs can help you become a more confident teacher whose classroom buzzes with curious students eager to explore their natural world.

Introduces common animals in everyday surroundings, their life cycles, and body parts.

"This book introduces a new way to sort, study and recognize nonfiction through the authors'' categorization system of its five types - active, browsable, traditional, expository literature and narrative. After introducing the concept, the authors discuss ways this system can improve instruction, help students, teachers and librarians understand nonfiction better, and ultimately create stronger readers and writers"--

In this nature-themed picture book, nonfiction expert Melissa Stewart and illustrator Amy Hevron offer an inviting peek into tree holes and the amazing animals that inhabit them. Imagine this: one day you''re walking through the woods and spot a tree hole large enough to slip inside. So you do. And you wonder, what kind of creature lived here? In this science and nature-themed picture book, nonfiction expert Melissa Stewart and illustrator Amy Hevron offer up an inviting peek into the secret world of tree hole dwellers. From black bears to tree frogs and bobcats, it''s surprising just who you''ll find! A main text gives general information about tree holes ("a treehole can be a daytime den") and a secondary text provides more detail. This inviting look at trees, tree holes, and fascinating animals is sure to be a classroom and kid favorite.

Ideal for today''s young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive "To Find Out More" section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers.

How can you tell a butterfly from a moth? What is the difference? With colorful photographs and simple language, author Melissa Stewart shows young readers how to identify these animals using critical thinking skills. Readers find all the tips and hints they need to tell these two animals apart.

A 2022 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book Everyone knows about animals that hibernate in the winter. But it''s time to discover animals that sleep all summer long! All science classrooms discuss animals that hibernate during winter months, but few know about animals that estivate--a prolonged sleep during hot or dry periods. Dual layers of text awaken readers to the reasons estivating animals become dormant--whether it''s because warm weather threatens food supply or to avoid increased body temperatures. From the ladybug to the salamander, from the lungfish to the desert hedgehog, twelve estivating animals and their habits--both when sleeping and awake--are explained through clear text and elegant watercolor illustrations that create a scrapbook feel.

Frogs are not the only green animals in our world. Author Melissa Stewart introduces new readers to a variety of green animals in this easy-to-read book. This book lets readers learn to recognize simple words as they are repeated throughout the text.

Readers will explore the world of the ladybug with author Melissa Stewart. Readers find out what ladybugs look like, what they eat, and what their life-cycle stages are. Use the ''Zoom In'' bubbles in the book for an up close look at different parts of a ladybug''s body, including its wings and antennae.

Your mouth contains more bacteria than a dog''s. Money is covered with germs that can make you sick. The germs in a sneeze travel only an arm''s length. You may have heard these common sayings or beliefs before. But are they really true? Can they be proven through research? Let''s investigate seventeen statements about the microscopic world and find out which ones are right, which ones are wrong, and which ones stump even the experts! Find out whether millions of tiny creatures are living under your bed! Discover whether bacteria cause the common cold! See if you can tell the difference between fact and fiction with Is That a Fact?

Did your readers know that a spider monkey can use its tail like an extra hand? Or that squirrels use their tails for balance? Author Melissa Stewart explores how animals use their tails to move, balance, and stay safe.

This fascinating nonfiction picture book filled with stunning illustrations details the end of life for a whale, also known as a whale fall, when its body sinks to the ocean floor and becomes an energy-rich food source for organisms living in the deep sea. Winner of the AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books • An ALA Notable Children’s Book • A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids When a whale dies, its massive body silently sinks down, down, through the inky darkness, finally coming to rest on the silty seafloor. For the whale, it''s the end of a 70-year-long life. But for a little-known community of deep-sea dwellers, it''s a new beginning. First come the hungry hagfish, which can smell the whale from miles around. Then the sleeper sharks begin their prowl, feasting on skin and blubber. After about six months, the meat is gone. Year after year, decade after decade, the whale nourishes all kinds of organisms from zombie worms to squat lobsters to deep-sea microbes. This completely fascinating real-life phenomenon is brought to vivid and poetic life by nonfiction master Melissa Stewart and acclaimed illustrator Rob Dunlavey.

Author Melissa Stewart shines a light on a bright insect in this book. Readers will discover a firefly''s life cycle, eating habits, wings, and more in this addition to the Zoom In on Insects. series. The ''Zoom Bubbles'' allow readers an up close look at important parts on a firefly''s body.

"Describes the physical characteristics, habitat, behavior, life cycle, and conservation status of the rabbit"--Provided by publisher.

Introduces young readers to ways human action or inaction can affect fish populations.

A bug scurries across the floor in front of you. Or is it a bug at all? Do you know how to tell the difference between an insect and a spider? Readers will learn the tips for telling which animal is which. Appealing color photographs and concise text make this book a must-read. Readers will see if they can tell whether they''ve found an insect or a spider.