Most Popular Books by Ruth Owen

Though people don’t often think of plants as needing to defend themselves, this book will illuminate the many ways that plants have developed defense mechanisms through subtle change over time. From prickly cactus spines to color changing and camouflage, varied adaptations of several plant species are covered. The illustrative labeled photos bring this fascinating topic to life and reinforce the concepts readers have learned.

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.

Sphynx cats are easily identified by their lack of a coat. Readers will learn how the breed came to be through nature and many committed breeders. Supplemented with websites and a further reading section to allow readers to continue learning after turning the final page.

In ancient Egypt, a queen has died. In their workshop, embalmers are preserving her body. Why did the ancient Egyptians believe that a person’s body must be preserved forever? How did they turn the bodies of the dead into mummies? And what happened to a mummy once it had been carefully prepared?

There are many species of box jellyfish, some of which are very small. Regardless of their meager size, they are able to deliver millions of poisonous stings that can stop a grown human’s heart. Read on to discover what makes the terrifying yet beautiful box jellyfish one of the deadliest creatures in the sea.

When you want to move, your brain sends a signal down your spinal cord. This signal travels through nerve cells to the part of the body you want to move. Learn about the fascinating ways the human body functions in How I Move, a My Body title. Each title in the series introduces readers to the ways in which their body senses things, grows, and interacts with the world around them.

The ancient art of origami comes from ancient Japan, but birds come from the dinosaurs! This unique book teaches budding origamists how to fold beautiful origami creations while providing fascinating facts on birds. Readers will love making winged paper creatures by following clear step-by-step instructions. Accompanying photographs make every fold clear and accessible, ensuring readers will be able to follow along with ease. This peaceful art form is as beautiful as birds themselves, and the hands-on approach to learning helps readers retain information. They�ll absorb interesting science topics while having fun, ensuring this dynamic book�s popularity.

Filled with pranks that promise big surprises, this volume is a must-have for young tricksters. Reluctant readers will clamor to learn how to gross out friends with worm sandwiches and how to douse enemies with exploding soda along with many other tricks. Simple yet impressive, each practical joke is explained in straightforward steps accompanied by photos.

Origami—the Japanese art of paper folding—can be made to fit any occasion, even Christmastime! With the help of this engaging how-to guide, readers learn to fold festive projects such as a Christmas tree, a reindeer, and a Star of Bethlehem. Step-by-step instructions guide readers through each fold, while helpful photographs show what the projects look like at various stages. Young artists of many ages and abilities can enjoy folding these fun crafts, which can be given as gifts and used to decorate.

Time for some origami fun! With the help of this step-by-step guide, beginning origamists can turn a piece of paper into a fun and creative figurine. This book introduces readers to this exciting paper craft that’s been popular in Japan for hundreds of years. They’ll learn how to make a colorful modular wreath that can be used as a holiday decoration. They’ll also learn how to make dragon and crane models. These figurines are useful for decoration, play, and even gifts. The clear design and colorful visuals aid the step-by-step instructions to provide an accessible guide to each project. With lots of practice, readers can become origami masters in no time!

Christmas can be made even more fun with lovely decorations and homemade gifts. For readers who love crafting, this book of fantastic, easy projects with a Christmas theme is perfect. With just a few basic craft supplies and even recycled materials from around the house, readers can create special crafts such as Christmas tree decorations, a homemade Advent calendar, and even snowmen made from socks. Each project includes detailed step-by-step instructions and lots of opportunities for readers to use their own creativity to make truly unique designs.

Most reptiles aren't thought of as cute and cuddly, but when made out of paper crafts, it's a whole other story. This accessible introduction to origami reptiles is the perfect way for readers to slither into this peaceful craft. In addition to a plethora of step-by-step projects, this fun guide is stuffed with cool facts about Earth's reptiles. Readers will learn about these amazing creatures as they fold their own paper playmates and create a reptilian world of beautiful objects. Full of interesting information and accessible projects, this guide will be a favorite in any library or classroom.

Some stingrays are small, and some have wingspans of over 20 feet. Some are gentle, passive hunters while others electrocute their prey to death. Those fascinated with the sea will be enthralled with the engaging facts and beautiful underwater photography found within this volume that captures the wonder of these elegant and deadly creatures.

Move over, James Bond! A new spy is in town! After reading this handbook, boys will be able to send messages written in invisible ink, to invent and read secret codes, to construct hiding places for important items, and much more. With these tricks up their sleeves, the sky’s the limit in what will be a promising career of espionage.

Venus, our mysterious neighbor, with its wild atmosphere and clouds of acid makes for an exciting subject. Young astronomers will learn about its place in the solar system and its harsh surface conditions. Awe-inspiring illustrations will excite their imaginations and leave them wanting to learn much more about space science.

Readers can help the Easter Bunny provide yummy treats with the help of the easy-to-follow recipes provided in this festive volume. Readers will learn to make themed snacks and treats with the assistance of accessible instruction and vibrant color photographs. Friends and family are sure to enjoy an Easter basket full of sweet treats after readers begin trying new recipes.

Geothermal power has been harnessed in different ways for thousands of years. Readers are introduced to the ways people are using this energy source today as well as the possibilities of its use in the future. Diagrams and vivid photographs will keep the interest of readers from cover to cover.

Saturn’s rings have long sparked the curiosity of scientist and layperson alike. Readers will learn about Saturn and its place in the solar system and also what makes up its beautiful rings and how they came to be. Breathtaking illustrations accompany easy-to-follow text.

It’s time to grab a chef’s hat and get cooking! Readers will love the fun and accessible recipes in this book, which include scrumptious pumpkin soup, gingerbread, and ice cream. They’ll learn how to make their own pizzas from scratch with homemade sauce and healthy toppings. Each recipe includes a list of ingredients and equipment needed to cook their masterpiece meal. Step-by-step instructions and accompanying visuals allow budding chefs to follow the recipe to perfection. This book is a great introduction to the creative world of cooking!

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.

Biomass power is one possibility for using renewable resources to power our everyday lives. Among the topics discussed are the benefits, history, and possibilities of biofuels as a sustainable power source. Readers are presented with the facts, and then asked to make up their own minds about the pros and cons.

Teaches readers about many different mathematical concepts through soccer facts and statistics.

A puffin’s colorful beak is its most unusual physical feature. Readers will fall in love with this little black and white bird while learning about the ways it has adapted to it’s frigid environment. Easy-to-follow text and colorful photographs make this a truly exciting read.

In this book, readers will explore a forest habitat and discover how the wildlife and plants that call it home form an ecosystem and rely on each other for survival. This title cleverly takes young readers on a mini safari through a forest making connections between the living things that call it home. For example: "High above the ground in an old oak tree, a woodpecker and a squirrel are raising their families. In autumn, acorns from the tree will become food for the squirrel family. And when a deer dies in the forest, its body becomes food for hungry raccoons and a host of different insects." • Packed with curriculum science information • Learn about the life cycles of some common mammals and birds • Discover how fungi are a forest’s clean-up crew • Controlled vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure • Beautiful, labeled photographs throughout • Close photo/text match • Includes a forest food web diagram Filled with facts about the natural world, this title is perfect for students studying habitats, animal and plant life cycles, and ecosystems.

Presents information about parrots and how they demonstrate intelligence by using spoken words to represent things, eating clay as a medicine in the wild, and dancing to the rhythm of music.

Probes are unmanned spacecraft, and they collect important information for scientists on Earth. They’ve helped people learn more about asteroids, comets, and other planets such as Mars. Readers learn about the incredible discoveries made by probes in the past, as well as the discoveries present probes are making throughout our solar system. Fact boxes accompany enlightening main text to provide readers with as much information as possible about this fascinating topic. Each page of detailed text is accompanied by vibrant photographs of probes and the amazing places they’re sent to explore.

Filled with fear and excitement, three men hurriedly dug their way through a dark passage. They were in search of treasure inside a dead king’s tomb deep beneath the desert sands. If successful, they would be rewarded with gold, jewels, precious oils, and other treasures. If discovered, their punishment would be a terrible death! Why did some ancient Egyptians risk their lives to steal from the dead? And what tricks did tomb and pyramid builders use to hide burial chambers from grave robbers?

Satellites are important parts of space exploration as well as everyday life on Earth. They’re used for telephone communications, military strategy, weather observation, and many other purposes. Readers learn about the many uses we have for satellites and how those have changed since the first satellites were launched. Through informative text and helpful fact boxes, readers also explore the history and importance of both the Hubble Space Telescope and the Kepler Space Observatory. Detailed photographs allow readers to see a variety of satellites up close to learn even more about these helpful space objects.

Readers will dive into this fascinating book and uncover the mysteries of how plants sustain themselves. With bright photos clearly labeled with specific life-science vocabulary, readers will learn the cycle of how plants convert water and light into nutrients. The easy-to-follow text and brightly colored pictures and diagrams will bring this topic to life.

Horses are majestic and beautiful, but they are also highly intelligent and sublimely sensitive. Once thought to be incapable of abstract thought, horses are actually quite capable of performing cognitive tasks. How and what horses can learn is thoroughly examined in this enlightening volume. Vibrant images and accessible text guides readers through the interesting world of horses.

Describes the habitat, diet, and life cycle of the blue whale.

In this title, readers will investigate and discover a range of animal life cycles. How does a tadpole become a frog? In what ways do lambs, puppies, baby mice, woodpecker chicks, and caterpillars change and grow? And how do animals care for their young?

In this book, readers will explore a pond habitat and discover how pond animals and plants form an ecosystem and rely on each other for survival. This title cleverly takes young readers on a mini safari through a pond habitat making connections between the living things that call it home. For example: “As a muskrat feeds on cattails, a mother duck uses these plants as a safe place to hide her eggs. As newly-hatched frog tadpoles nibble on algae, dragonfly nymphs go hunting for tadpoles. And discover how microscopic zooplankton are a pond’s clean-up crew.” • Packed with curriculum science information • See how pond animals make their homes and what they eat • Learn about the life cycles of frogs and dragonflies • Discover how water plants are food and shelter for pond animals • Controlled vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure • Beautiful, labeled photographs throughout • Close photo/text match • Includes a pond food web diagram Filled with facts about the natural world, this title is perfect for students studying habitats, animal and plant life cycles, and ecosystems.

From insects that chomp on chocolate and strawberries to grain weevils and fruit flies, the food we eat is not ours alone. Virtually everything we consume is a target for thousands of creatures, some of them harmful to our health and some helpful. Filled with fascinating facts, Disgusting Food Invaders welcomes young readers to feast their eyes on a host of tiny, uninvited dinner guests. Combining vivid, full-color microscope images and a controlled text that contains a wealth of information, Disgusting Food Invaders is guaranteed to make young readers come back to fill up on more facts and photos of the little animals right under their noses.

Under the ocean, a mother orca gives birth to her calf and then gently pushes the baby to the water’s surface so it can take its first breath of air. So begins the life of a little orca calf. In this coming-of-age introduction to these marine mammals, readers will see how an orca calf feeds, swims, and spends its days surrounded by the protection of its family pod. Children will discover that, unlike many young animals, most orcas do not leave their mothers as they approach adulthood, but will stay with their family for their entire lives. The colorful interior spreads and gorgeous photos of orca calves are sure to delight emergent readers.

Christmas just wouldn't be the same without cookies to leave for Santa, gingerbread houses, and other tasty baked treats. Full of complete recipes specially chosen for young bakers, readers can refer to this book year after year for their Christmas baking projects. Each recipe includes an ingredient and equipment list and simple step-by-step instructions that will guide readers to impressive, and yummy, results. Whether new to baking or a holiday baking veteran, all readers can enjoy the great variety of recipes offered in this volume.

The jungle is one of the most diverse and mysterious habitats on Earth…and its creatures are among the most fascinating. In this volume, readers will learn more about jungle creatures such as parrots, gorillas, and snakes through intriguing facts and color photos. At the same time, they’ll be able to follow clear instructions and illustrated steps to create origami versions of these amazing animals.

Christmas can be made even more fun with lovely decorations and homemade gifts. For readers who love crafting, this book of fantastic, easy projects with a Christmas theme is perfect. With just a few basic craft supplies and even recycled materials from around the house, readers can create special crafts such as Christmas tree decorations, a homemade Advent calendar, and even snowmen made from socks. Each project includes detailed step-by-step instructions and lots of opportunities for readers to use their own creativity to make truly unique designs.

In this book, readers will discover all about the basic structure of plants and the jobs that roots, stems, leaves, and flowers do. Packed with information about wild and garden plants, this title gets readers investigating how plants take in water, make food with their leaves, and produce seeds. Students will even get to go on scavenger hunts to find out all about leaves, tree bark, and colorful flower petals.