Most Popular Books by Ruth Owen

Dolphins are geniuses of the deep with their complex language and cognitive abilities. These playful animals have been extensively studied and continue to impress scientists with their intelligence. This wonderful book uses vivid photographs and engaging text to guide young readers through the fascinating world of dolphins.

In 1996, archaeologists made an incredible discovery—a huge, ancient burial place in the Western Desert of Egypt. As the team worked at the site, they discovered mummies encased in gold, jewels, coins, and jars that once held wine. What have archaeologists learned about life in ancient Egypt by studying the mummies? What secrets have the artifacts buried in the tombs revealed? And could it be possible that more than 10,000 ancient Egyptian mummies are buried in the valley?

Explains facts about polar bears including where they live, how strong they are, what their life cycle is like, and how dangerous they can be.

Folding a paper craft and giving it as a gift can be a great way to give thanks to the important people in one’s life. Readers of this informative volume learn how to fold all sorts of Thanksgiving origami crafts, from leaves and pumpkins to a turkey and even a model of the Mayflower. The paper models can be used as decorations and place cards, or they can just be made for fun! Colorful photographs guide readers through the step-by-step instructions, making the activities accessible for readers of many levels.

What plants and animals live in a garden? What do the living things in this habitat need from their environment? And who eats who in a garden ecosystem? In this title, readers will investigate simple food chains and natural habitats, including a garden, forest, tide pool, desert, and even a tree stump micro-habitat.

Step-by-step instructions for origami Easter decorations.

Readers will explore the ways plants and animals interact and help each other to live and flourish. Labeled full-color photographs will illustrate new terms and concepts, connecting readers to the natural world around them. Easy-to-follow text, helpful diagrams, and clearly labeled photographs will make this topic not only accessible but interesting to readers.

One of the most popular questions of childhood remains confounding even to some adults: Why is the sky blue? This vibrant and informative volume presents a carefully crafted answer through achievable and age-appropriate text. Inviting images and fun photographs support the appealing content. Readers of all levels will be motivated to become inquisitive about other aspects and occurrences in the natural world around them.

In this title, join a tiny stag beetle as he grows from a larva that lives underground, to an adult insect. Watch as the stag beetle emerges from the dirt and flies through the forest, ready to do battle with other males, using his magnificent stag-like antlers. The book combines repetitive text with high-frequency and familiar sight words. Unfamiliar vocabulary is supported by detailed photographic images with labels, close photo/text matches, and a picture glossary.

Presents facts about trees and leaves combined with such nature projects as bark castings, twig rafts, fall leaf wreaths, and leaf masks.

Could a creature really defy death by existing on human blood? If vampire myths are just stories, why have people continued to report seeing vampires for centuries? From Count Dracula to Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, both history and popular fiction have been fascinated by these creatures of the night. In Vampires and Other Bloodsuckers, children will read historical stories and modern-day accounts of vampire encounters. Children will explore the truth behind vampire tales, and examine the fears and superstitions of different cultures that might explain the origins of vampire stories. Kids will also look at the scientific facts that might explain the seemingly unexplainable. Could vampires and other bloodsuckers really exist? Check out this book and decide for yourself!

The American Longhair, also known as a Maine Coon, is one of the oldest natural breeds of North America. This is just one of the fascinating facts readers will learn about these cuddly cats. Easy-to-follow text accompanied by full-color photographs make this a great addition to any cat lover's library.

It sounds like something from a science-fiction movie, but today, many scientists are exploring the possibility that humans could one day live on the planet Mars. This fascinating book, packed with real-life space science, explores the latest ideas of the people who dream of colonizing another planet. How would we get to Mars? How would we breathe? What would we eat and drink? What would a home on Mars look like, and what would everyday life be like on a freezing-cold planet millions of miles from Earth?

Reveals the human body as a habitat for an array of organisms that are both helpful and harmful.

When you blow the fluttering fluff off a dandelion, what is the result? From acorns to pine cones, milk weed to walnuts, plants have a multitude of ways of spreading their seeds and ensuring more plants of their kind grow and multiply. Readers will delve into this vital science topic with zeal as they learn not only the ways plants spread their seeds, but how the seeds themselves are created.

Introduces the physical characteristics, habits, and environment of the only arctic animal that spends the long northern winter entirely in the open.

Although adult Arctic foxes have the warmest fur of any mammal and can actually sleep out in the open, they need dens to raise their pups in. So every spring, the mother and father fox move into an earthen den that they have often used year after year. There, 7 to 15 pups are born, each blind and almost helpless. For two months, both parents work continuously to keep their babies fed, bringing them lemmings every single day. Readers will see how the cute little pups soon learn to hunt and feed themselves—and eventually, to move out and live on their own. Combining gorgeous photos and clear, simple text, this coming-of-age introduction to Arctic fox pups is sure to delight emergent readers.

From fabric-munching moth caterpillars and hungry houseflies to fur-dwelling fleas and biting bedbugs, our houses are homes to thousands of creatures that feed on our clothes, our food and garbage, our pets, and even human blood! Filled with fascinating facts, Icky House Invaders takes young readers on a voyage that will open their eyes to the tiniest, most unwelcome houseguests imaginable. Combining vivid, full-color electron microscope images and a controlled text that contains a wealth of information, Icky House Invaders is guaranteed to get young readers buzzing about the wonders of a world that exists right before our eyes—and just beyond our sight.

Readers will be awestruck as they learn to transform a simple piece of paper into a majestic elephant, towering giraffe, or bold zebra. As the clear text breaks each animal project into simple steps, pictures illustrate a variety of origami folds. Images of the animals in their grassland homes with depictions of each finished project will inspire and delight origami and animal enthusiasts alike.

Could a human being really come back from the dead to feed on human flesh and brains? If myths about zombies and other walking dead are just fictional stories, why have so many people claimed to have witnessed the return of the dead from the grave? What would it be like to become a zombie, and how can you tell if the person stumbling toward you with glassy eyes and outstretched arms is one of the living dead? In Zombies and Other Walking Dead, children will read historical stories and modern-day accounts of zombie encounters and get all the information they need to protect themselves from these frightening creatures. Children will also investigate the truth behind zombie stories and examine how the fears and superstitions of different cultures might explain the origins of zombie myths. Kids will also look at the scientific facts that might explain the seemingly unexplainable. If you love a spine-tingling horror story but also want to investigate the truth behind these myths, this is the book for you!

Through the bitter Antarctic winter, a father emperor penguin nurtures and broods a large egg while his partner is out at sea, feeding. When the chick hatches, mom returns from the ocean to meet her new baby for the first time and bring it a nourishing meal of regurgitated fish. So begins the life of one of the most fascinating birds on Earth! In Penguin Chicks, readers will learn the details of how these baby birds grow up in a penguin nursery among thousands of other chicks. Each little penguin grows bigger and bigger until the day when its parents no longer arrive with a meal. Then the chick must trek to the freezing ocean to look for fish and begin its adult life. The colorful interior spreads and gorgeous photos of penguin chicks are sure to delight emergent readers.

What are rovers, and how do they safely land on and explore other planets? The answers to these questions and more are waiting for readers to discover as they explore the fascinating world of rovers. Readers are introduced to the stories of famous Mars rovers, including Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity. They learn who controls rovers, what discoveries rovers have made, and many other fun facts about these space vehicles. Fact boxes provide additional information, and eye-catching photographs allow readers to see rovers and the planets they explore up close.

Astronomers have been studying the night sky for thousands of years. Today, technology including space telescopes, rovers, and deep-space probes makes astronomy a truly exciting field. Young readers may be inspired to help solve the mysteries of our universe when they grow up.

Describes life on an egg farm, including hatching chicks, collecting and processing eggs, and bringing eggs to market.

In a world of technology and pollution, gardening is a therapeutic and green hobby that anyone can enjoy. This accessible guide helps readers blossom into masterful gardeners with ease! Engaging projects and gardening crafts will entice even reluctant readers to try out their green thumbs. Charmingly designed, helpful visuals and simple step-by-step instructions make projects easy and fun. Readers will love innovative and eco-friendly activities, such as upcycling old rain boots into delightful flowerpots! They�ll gain confidence in their gardening skills and creativity. Projects act as springboards to help readers design and cultivate their own unique gardens. With inspiring ideas and easy instructions, this introduction to gardening will be popular in any library.

Describes how galaxies are formed and their different types, with details on the Milky Way and other well-known galaxies which have been seen through the Hubble Telescope.

How does an acorn become a mighty oak tree? What does a tiny sunflower seed need to grow into a tall yellow flower? In this title, readers will investigate how plants grow and how they disperse their seeds. They'll also discover that many of the foods we eat are seeds!

Describes some of the signs of summer, including changes in light and temperature, plants in flower, green leaves, young animals starting on their own, and other differences, and suggests related activities.

St. Patrick's Day is usually known as a fun holiday of parades, music, and people dressed in green from head to toe. Readers may wonder about the images associated with St. Patrick's Day, though. They may question what a leprechaun is and wonder why a shamrock has come to symbolize the Irish people. In this engaging activity book, they'll learn the answers to these queries and more, while using the exquisite art of origami to create the most popular symbols of St. Patrick's Day. Colorful photos, labeled illustrations, and easy-to-follow steps guide budding origami artists through each paper-folding activity.

Provides information about lions, including their physical characteristics, habitats, life cycle, and eating habits.

Valentine’s Day is best celebrated with lots of fun decorations. With the help of this creative volume, readers can learn how to make some decorations of their own! This helpful guide introduces readers to the Japanese art of paper folding—origami—and shows them how to make Valentine-themed origami art. Simple step-by-step instructions are paired with eye-catching photographs to help visual learners understand the many folds involved in creating these beautiful origami models. The final products can be used to decorate, given as gifts, or just made for fun!

A powerful telescope has discovered a giant object speeding through our solar system. Is it an asteroid? Will its orbit bring it close to Earth? Is there a chance it could one day collide with our planet? It's time for a team of asteroid hunters to go into action and track the object as it hurtles through space! Get to Work with Science and Technology is a fascinating new series that introduces readers to the real-life applications of STEM subjects. In Asteroid Hunters, readers will meet the scientists who use high-powered telescopes and super computers to watch for dangers from space. Told in a lively narrative style, this book includes firsthand accounts of life as an asteroid hunter, dramatic anecdotes, behind-the-scenes photos, and the coolest facts about asteroids and comets. Readers will also get the chance to try out their space scientist skills with activities that are perfect for science fair projects.

What�s furry, gives birth to live babies, and feeds them milk? A mammal, of course! Readers will be surprised at how many different animals fall into this classification. They�ll love making elephants, dolphins, raccoons and other adorable creatures in this inspiring book. Step-by-step instructions with visuals for each fold make origami accessible and fun. As they craft, readers will learn fascinating facts about each mammal. This peaceful art form helps readers retain information and gets them excited about learning. Fun and informative, this unique mix of origami projects and important life science topics is a must-have for any library.

For readers ready to learn a new art form, loom crafts are fun projects for creative crafters of all ages. Readers will use this easily accessible guide to master the art of making bracelets, flower charms, and coasters. The book also includes instructions for making a colorful circular rug for the reader’s bedroom. Colorful images allow readers to visualize each step in the creative process, while direct and clear instructions guide them through the project from beginning to end. There’s no limit on the number of decorations and accessories readers can make using their loom!

Our solar system’s largest planet is also one of many mysteries, including its Great Red Spot, an enormous, perpetual storm. Stunning illustrations help to introduce young readers to this fascinating planet. Supplemented with a websites and a list of books for further reading.

Eek! Insects and spiders everywhere! Origami enthusiasts with a passion for tiny, many-legged creatures will love this guide to creating origami insects and spiders. Step-by-step instructions with examples of each fold make each project easy and fun, while accompanying photographs help readers visualize every step. As they craft, they�ll learn fascinating facts about these itsy-bitsy critters. This hands-on approach to learning helps readers retain interesting and essential science information. Origami is a peaceful pastime, leaving readers with a sense of calm and accomplishment. They�ll love creating their own collection of paper creepy-crawlies!

A mother sea otter gives birth to her pup in the ocean. Then, as she floats on her back on the water’s surface, she lifts the little pup up from the water so it can feed and sleep while snuggled into her warm, furry chest. So begins the life of this marine mammal. In Sea Otter Pups, children will read how this little water baby receives its mother’s undivided attention until it has learned the swimming, diving, and hunting skills it needs to leave mom and go off to begin its adult life. The colorful interior spreads and gorgeous photos of sea otter pups are sure to delight emergent readers.

Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and habitat of the Arctic fox.

Independence Day is a day filled with fireworks, hot dogs, and symbols of America like the bald eagle. These are just some of the fun origami projects readers can make as they follow along with this encouraging and exciting guide to Fourth of July crafts. As readers follow each step, visual examples help them see what each stage of the process should look like. Additional help is provided in an opening section of basic tips and lists of materials needed before each craft. Fun facts about this holiday are also included to make readers feel even more patriotic.