New Releases by Rebecca Stefoff

From emperor penguins nesting in the frozen reaches of Antartica to peregrine falcons that have made themselves at home among urban skyscrapers, birds are amazingly adaptable. The Bird Class surveys the many orders and families of living birds and traces the origins of these winged, feathered marvels. Bird biology, life cycles, behavior, and habitats are also explored. The Bird Class sounds a warning about the threats that many of the world''s ten thousand bird species now face, and describes some of the actions being taken to protect them. Book jacket.

Celebrate the richness and diversity of the United States of America in this exciting series. Readers can explore the unique character of each state—its land and waterways; its history; its government and economy; its festivals, cultural diversity, landmarks, and exciting stories of success. Celebrate the States, second edition, brings the series into the twenty-first century and updates the original titles to reflect the changes that have gripped the state in the past five to ten years. the second edition features a new design and all new photographs. Also included is a new chart showing the breakdown of the state''s workforce and two new maps. One shows the state divided by county, and the other presents the population distribution. the structure has been slightly changed as well. While the profiles of state luminaries remain in the back matter, the government and economy are given expanded coverage, each in its own chapter.

This volume describes the diverse peoples who came to the United States from 1820, when records began to be kept, to 1924, when the gates were nearly closed to immigrants. The reactions of Americans to the new arrivals, laws that were passed, and the experiences of those who lived through it are richly presented here.

"A critical exploration of witches and witchcraft"--Provided by publisher.

Focuses on the pros and cons of marriage in the United States--including covenant marriages, same-sex unions, and the effect of divorce on kids--through personal stories, opinions, and scholarly studies. Provides a historical look at marriage and includes

A critical exploration of magic, its history, and practitioners.

"An exploration of the origins, history, development, and societal impact of the microscope and the telescope"--Provided by publisher.

"An examination of the origin, history, development, and impact of the submarine and related underwater exploration and transport technology"--Provided by publisher.

Describes the country of Zimbabwe.

Surveys the geography, history, people, and customs of one of the three states that make up the region known as the Pacific Northwest.

Discusses the development of the telephone, from its early days until today.

An overview of the characteristics, habitat, way of life, and conservation status of various primates.

Describes the characteristics, life cycles, and roles of various flowering plants.

The impact and ramifications of cases argued before the Supreme Court are felt for decades, if not centuries. Only the most important issues of the day and the land make it to the nine justices, and the effects of their decisions reach far beyond the litigants. Under discussion here are five of the most momentous Supreme Court cases ever. They include Marbury v. Madison, Roe v. Wade, Dred Scott, Brown v. Board of Education, and The Pentagon Papers. An absorbing exploration of enormously controversial events, the series details, highlights, and clarifies the complex legal arguments of both sides. Placing the cases within their historical context (though they ultimately emerge as works in progress), the authors reveal each decision''s relevance both to the past and the present. the result is a fascinating glimpse across the centuries into the workings of the Supreme Court and the American judicial system.

Presents the history of the New Republic of America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through excerpts from documents, letters, journals, and newspaper articles.

Examines the physical characteristics, life cycle, and natural habitat of different species of penguins.

An introduction to the geography, history, government, economy, people, achievements, and landmarks of the Evergreen State.

Describes the evolution, body structure, and behavior of cats, and discusses their interaction with people.

Discusses the evolution, biology, life cycle, and social and mating and behavior of chimpanzees.

On March 23, 1900, Arthur John Evans and his staff began to excavate on Crete, looking for the fabled site of Knossos, where an extraordinary civilization, a precursor to classical Greece, was rumored to have existed. Almost from the first shovel stroke, artifacts began to emerge. Evans realized that here was "an extraordinary phenomenon, nothing Greek, nothing Roman. A wholly unexplored world." The Palace of Minos at Knossos recounts the exciting story of uncovering a remarkable society lost to the world for 3,500 years, from its initial discovery through its excavation to the structure we see today. Sidebars on archaeological techniques, illustrations of the sites, tables, and diagrams throughout provide a wealth of information on the Palace. The use of artifacts and other "documents" recovered from the Palace bring out the voices of the people of the past, offering clues to who they were and how they lived. The Palace of Minos at Knossos concludes with an interview with archaeologist Chris Scarre who talks about the misperceptions about Knossos and what we really know about its culture.

Details the American expansion into Texas and the far west from the late eighteenth- to the mid-nineteenth century, including information on the Oregon Trail, the war with Mexico, and the California gold rush.

Describes the evolution, body structure, and behavior of dogs, and discusses their interaction with people.

Discusses the various conflicts between the colonists and Native Americans and, later, between the United States and Native Americans.

Describes the discovery of Pluto, the ninth planet, what has been learned about it, and the current controversy over whether it is a planet at all.

Presents the history of the westward expansion of the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through excerpts from letters, newspaper articles, journal entries, and laws of the time.

Presents information on some of the causes of the Civil War, the battles fought between 1861 and 1863, and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Discusses the territorial expansion of the United States following the Civil War, as well as the country''s increasing role in international affairs and its growing population.

One of the most beloved writers of all time, Jack London is best remembered for his tales of adventure, such as White Fang and The Call of the Wild. Jack London paints a well-rounded picture of London''s short, intrepid life, his prolific writings, his unusually clear and direct portrayal of people of different races, and his struggles with writing. The book includes excerpts, photographs, maps, suggestions for further reading, and a list of places to visit. Oxford Portraits are informative and insightful biographies of people whose lives shaped their times and continue to influence ours. Based on the most recent scholarship, they draw heavily on primary sources, including writings by and about their subjects. Each book is illustrated with a wealth of photographs, documents, memorabilia, framing the personality and achievements of its subject against the backdrop of history.

Examines the causes, events, and aftermath of America''s war for independence.