New Releases by Rebecca Stefoff

Aimed at readers ages 12 and up, the brand new "Colonial Life" series complements the world history and American history curriculum and follows the National Standards guidelines. Easy-to-read chapters featuring full-color maps and illustrations take students from the early days of discovery and exploration, through the establishment of the first colonies by the vying European powers, to the events leading to the Revolutionary War and the founding of the United States.Comprehensive in scope, the series covers events in North, Central, and South America, including the early settlements, the thirteen British colonies, Canada, the Spanish possessions of the southwest and California, and the French territories. Thematic volumes introduce students to daily life on the settlements, the diversity of the people, rule of government, religions and beliefs, and the regional and global economies involving trade and commerce. Coverage also includes material on Native American cultural groups from the pre-Columbian era through their interactions with the European colonists and settlers.Feature boxes and sidebars in each volume discuss high interest events and developments and offer biographical information, and primary source material displays historical documents along with quoted text from important figures and excerpts of their writing. A glossary and a guide to further information including Internet resources help make this set an invaluable addition to any school or public library.

This book charts the course of colonial America from Christopher Columbus'' "discovery" of the new world in 1492 to the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1775. Works and personal accounts by historical figures like John Smith and Benjamin Franklin provide students an understanding of topics like life in Jamestown and colonial education. In addition to learning about European settlers and explorers through primary sources, students will learn about the Native Americans who originally inhabited the country. Similarly, students will learn about African Americans who were forced into slave labor. Overall, students will gain an understanding of the colonies and how they became the United States of America.

Between the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, nearly forty million people immigrated to the United States. Poverty, widespread famine, and the California gold rush prompted many people to leave their home countries for America. Over time, however, the government tried to slow the flow of immigration with laws like the Johnson-Reed Act in 1924. Students will read accounts from immigrants about the decision to leave home, the journey to America, and life in the new world. Additionally, students will read about xenophobic responses to immigration from the descendants of colonists. Through primary sources, this book provides students with an in-depth understanding of immigration to the United States.

This title explores and explains how the Panama Canal was built. The canal''s construction is described in terms of the engineering process. The book explores why the canal was built and describes the design stages and technologies used during construction. The book also describes the challenges builders faced while building the canal.

Huge coral reefs can stretch across oceans for miles! But take a closer look, and you''ll see that each coral is actually a tiny, simple animal. Discover how both hard and soft corals build colonies. Then learn about the threats to corals and their reefs and how people can protect them.

Termites are amazing builders. Some build mounds more than 15 feet above ground! How do they do that? These social insects live and work together in colonies. Each colony member has its own job. Discover how termites build their nests, communicate, and depend on one another to survive in their huge colonies.

"Discusses the main concerns of the environmental movement in the 1960s, and how those have evolved since; what''s changed for the better, what might be worse, and where ... we go from here"--Amazon.com.

The Erie Canal was mocked as a big ditch when it was started, but by the time it was completed in 1825 it was called an engineering marvel. Readers learn how engineers overcame a rise in elevation of 568 feet between the Hudson River and Lake Erie with locks and aqueducts to create a waterway that changed America.

The Hoover Dam is called one of American''s seven modern civil engineering wonders. Hurdles to clear included building access roads, diverting the Colorado River, and creating a way to cure massive amounts of concrete quickly enough to complete the project on time. Readers will learn how what was then the world''s tallest dam was built in a region that presented challenges in geography and weather.

Soil is something we donu0092t just live on, itu0092s something we live in. Throughout history, mankind has developed ways of using soil to build dwellings. The ancients built cities out of bricks, the Native Americans of the Southwest used soil to build adobe settlements, and the pioneers on the prairies built sod homes to combat heat and cold. This book examines the properties of different kinds of soil and what makes that soil useful for building a structure.

Farmers were tilling soil to grow crops before the dawn of recorded history. This book examines how soil is formed and the history of agriculture and how it changed life for mankind. Students can learn what properties make soil fertile and which ones allow different crops to thrive in various regions. Finally, it reports on advances in soil science and what technology means for the future of farming.

"Explores various perspectives on the Space Race. The reader''s choices reveal the historical details"--

A religious refugee fleeing for his life in his own country. A trickster asking an enemy for safe haven. A horrific visit to a psychiatric ward overrun by its charges. An unexplained theft from a biomedical lab. The last known survivor of a mysterious plague. A wormhole to the most peaceful and secret place in the world. A detective on the trail of a human trafficker. What does asylum mean to you? In the 2015 anthology collection from the Northwest Independent Writers Association, seventeen authors explore the obvious and hidden meanings of this theme-from a werewolf on a mission and self-sacrifice in a post-apocalyptic world, to shadowy wizardry, a questing knight, and a gentle prison for geniuses. Featuring stories by: Jeffrey Cook * William Cook * Pamela Cowan * Jonathan Ems * Ginger Dawn Harman * Connie J. Jasperson * Madison Keller * Cody Newton * E.M. Prazeman * Katherine Perkins * Dey Rivers * Walt Socha * D.L. Solum * Laurel Standley * Rebecca Stefoff * Jennifer Willis * Matthew Wilson The Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA) supports indie and hybrid authors and promotes professional standards in independent writing, publishing, and marketing. Learn more at NIWAwriters.net.

Roads allow people and goods to travel across land quickly and safely. Discover the engineering behind roads.

Bridges have helped people cross large bodies of water for millennia. Readers discover the engineering behind bridges.

Skyscrapers stretch high into a cityu0092s skyline, providing places to work and live for millions of people. Discover the engineering behind skyscrapers.

Dikes and levees help protect people from rising floodwaters and hurricanes. Discover the engineering behind dikes and levees.

Dams change the landscape, providing reservoirs of freshwater and even producing electricity. Discover the engineering behind dams.

Through centuries of storytelling, giants have evolved into monstrous fairy tale creatures with unique powers. This book explores many stories about giants and discusses their place in history as well as in todayu0092s society.

Tunnels allow people to cut through tall mountains or even travel deep underwater. Discover the engineering behind tunnels.

How do you know you are getting the best deal in town? Sharpen your consumer smarts with Smart Spending. Curriculum Connections: - Shows how math can be used in real-world situations - Provides multistep word problems with the four basic functions - Compares and contrasts differences between needs and wants - Meets the national standards for fourth grade personal finance education

Discover the life of Redbeard (Heyreddin Barbarossa), the powerful Ottoman Admiral who nearly conquered Africa.

Discover the life of Captain Kidd, the privateer-turned-pirate who is rumored to have buried a massive treasure near New England.

Whale Sharks are the most massive fish. Learn about their history, behavior, lifecycle, and the conservation efforts that are being done to protect these gentle giants of the sea.

Goliath Beetles are among the largest insects on Earth at about the size an adult hand. Learn about their history, behavior, lifecycle, and the conservation efforts that are being done to protect these huge bugs.

Polar Bears are the largest bears on Earth. Learn about their history, behavior, lifecycle, and the conservation efforts that are being done to protect these arctic hunters

Alchemy is an idea based on superstition and philosophical global traditions spanning hundreds of years. Alchemists made medicines and pharmaceuticals from the earthu0092s materials and purified objects through philosophy, magic, and spirituality. Chemistry is based on the material principles of mixed bodies, and spans all natural or physical sciences in its practices. This book on alchemy and chemistry shows the scientific method at work and proves and disproves the subjects at hand. It explores a branch of modern science or a major scientific milestone, comparing and contrasting it with an older idea that has been proved wrong or fails to meet the strict and studied standards of science.

We say that the sun "rises" in the morning and "sets" at night, but is it really moving? Readers will learn about the long, sometimes dangerous struggle to discover whether the sun revolves around Earth, or Earth around the sun, and find out what scientists now know about our planet''s place in the universe.

Magic is an art form that effects events by using mysterious or supernatural forces. Much of magic is rooted in tricking the viewer to look elsewhere while the effect, or trick, is performed. Medicine is rooted in science and is the practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. This book on magic and medicine shows the scientific method at work. it explores a branch of modern science or a major scientific milestone, comparing and contrasting it with an older idea that has been proved wrong or fails to meet the strict and studied standards of science.

Alchemy is an idea based on superstition and philosophical global traditions spanning hundreds of years. Alchemists made medicines and pharmaceuticals from the earthu0092s materials and purified objects through philosophy, magic, and spirituality. Chemistry is based on the material principles of mixed bodies, and spans all natural or physical sciences in its practices. This book on alchemy and chemistry shows the scientific method at work and proves and disproves the subjects at hand. It explores a branch of modern science or a major scientific milestone, comparing and contrasting it with an older idea that has been proved wrong or fails to meet the strict and studied standards of science.