Best Selling Books by Steve Tomecek

Discusses the big, bright ball of gas shining in the sky.

A survey of the earth''s astounding variety of rocks and minerals and the fascinating ways people have transformed them into usable materials.

Brief text explores how soil is formed, its layers, and its importance as a natural resource that living things need to survive.

Introduces stars and what they are made of, how they shine, their positions with relation to earth, and more.

Introduces readers to facts and myths about the moon.

Describes how rocks and minerals are formed by geological processes, and how they''re used in our lives.

Come and explore the world under your feet with the Dirtmeister and friends! Part graphic novel, part fun guidebook, this very cool, rocky journey introduces both eager and reluctant readers to the basic geologic processes that shape our Earth. Clear and concise explanations of the various geologic processes reveal the comprehensive science behind each fascinating topic. Fun facts and simple DIY experiments reinforce the concepts while short biographies of important scientists inspire future geo-scientists.

Did you know the moon is considered a natural satellite? Or that its gravity affects ocean tides on Earth? This book explores the closest celestial body to Earth and the ways in which the moon and Earth affect each other. Chapters introduce topics including the moon''s origin, its makeup and phases, the first people to walk on its surface, and the moon''s role in both lunar and solar eclipses.Planets and stars, moons and galaxies! The universe is a vast and mysterious place with much to explore. And there''s no better way to make amazing discoveries about space than with this reimagined series. With the latest NASA imagery, the classic structure and features of A True Book, and lively text, the titles in Our Universe bring the awe of the cosmos directly to readers. Students will come away with a wealth of knowledge about the incredible celestial bodies in our universe.This series covers Next Generation Science Standards core ideas including "The Universe and its stars" and "Earth and the solar system."

Conditions on Earth are becoming more and more extreme and kids want to learn about it! Is it true that heat waves can make roads break apart? Yes! When it’s extra hot, the materials that roads are made of will swell and start to crack. INSIDE, YOU ́LL FIND: • How heat waves and droughts happen, why they happen, and an account of the most devastating ones in recent history; • A hands-on activity, a timeline, photos, diagrams—and what you can do if a heat wave or drought happens; • Surprising TRUE facts that will shock and amaze you! This new set in the ongoing A TRUE BOOK series will answer all of kids'' questions about nature''s most dangerous and destructive disasters! With an engaging layout, and spectacular photos, illustrations, diagrams and infographics, the past, present and future of extreme phenomenon happening on Earth will be explained. Readers will discover causes and consequences, as well as the cutting-edge science developed through the centuries to forecast them. First-hand accounts will bring science to life, and a special section will teach kids how to prepare for these extreme events.

Contains twenty-five standards-based activities designed to teach students in grades four to eight key concepts in physical, Earth, and life science, featuring lessons in static attraction, the force of atmospheric pressure, the germination rates of different seeds, and similar topics.

For hitting the game-winning run to running a record-breaking race, science is involved in every aspect of playing sports. Sports illustrates the scientific principles involved in sports such as soccer, football, gymnastics, and skateboarding, as well as why it''s important for athletes to stay in good physical shape. Twenty-five hands-on activities explore such topics as finding the "sweet spot" of a bat and why hitting a ball there gives you the best chance of hitting a home run, in addition to how Newton''s Laws of Motion can explain the way a skateboard works. This title is perfect for those curious about how science is involved in sports and for athletes looking to scientifically gain a competitive edge.

Science plays a big role in how we create and use the tools and machines that help us in our daily lives.

Concepts include how simple and compound machines lift things up, roll things along, turn things around, and help your own body work.

Resources include activities, demonstrations, questions and answers, year after year, and zingers.

Describes the force of electromagnetism and how it works.

Teaching electricity is exciting, easy, safe, and fun with lessons such as Charge It!, which uses a balloon and plastic wrap to teach about static electricity; Go With the Flow, about conductors and insulators; and Stuck On Electromagnets, a journey into electricity and magnetism. includes background information on the history of electricity, questions to guide students'' learning, extension activities, and reproducible data sheets. Linked to the National Science Standards. Grades 306.

From the music that thumps through a listener''s headphones to the strains of an orchestra tuning up for a performance, science plays a vital role in how we hear and create music.

Examines the evolution of plate tectonic theory from its beginnings as a wild idea of drifting continents to its acceptance as the main concept that drives geology today.

Resources include activities, demonstrations, questions and answers, year after year, and zingers.

Defines electricity, discusses how it can produce heat and light, and tells of the many scientists who have contributed to our understanding of electricity.

Resources include activities, demonstrations, questions and answers, year after year, and zingers.

45 technological touchstones are described and illustrated.

This comprehensive resource contains everything teachers need to teach a full year of science and more! Includes background information, standards-based mini-lessons with easy teacher demonstrations, and engaging hands-on investigations. Topics cover rocks and minerals, the solar system, animal adaptations, the human body, matter, forces and energy, and so much more! For use with Grades 3-6.

Presents information about the Sun, where it is, why it shines, and its importance to the Earth.

A thermometer, a water-cycle model, a wave machine, a greenhouse--these are just a few things students can make out of a simple soda bottle. This book features learning-rich, hands-on activities that teach about the weather, motion, changes in matter, ecosystems, and more. A fun and easy way to meet the National Science Education Standards! For use with Grades 4-8.

Find out how unique Planet Earth really is in this eye-catching book of comparisons

Where do diamonds come from? What makes gems sparkle? How did Mount Everest and the Grand Canyon form? Find answers to these questions and many more in this rockin'' reference book. Welcome to the amazing world of rocks and minerals! Let''s start at the very beginning, with an introduction to the origin of our rocky planet, then move on to explore the world of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. You''ll discover how they form, what makes them unique, and most importantly, how to identify them in your own backyard. Complete with the origin and description of some of the most important rock-forming minerals, readers will discover how some of the most beautiful and precious stones on the planet are created by the Earth itself. Each chapter includes dozens of profiles of amazing rocks and minerals, fun facts, sidebars, photo galleries, and more. At the end of the book readers will get to meet a real geologist and learn just what it''s like to dig in the dirt for a living. Thematic spreads cover topics such as birthstones, cool crystals, digging for diamonds, and more. And, of course, amazing photography and colorful graphics add visual awe to the lively text. Fans of other National Geographic Kids Ultimate "pedias" in the same series--Dinopedia, Bugopedia, Reptileopedia, Oceanpedia, Predatorpedia, and Weatherpedia--will want to add Ultimate Rockopedia to their must-have list.

The act of communicating is not just a human trait. All animals and insects use some type of communication to help them get food, find mates, and protect their territory.

Targeted to rock-crazy kids, this bold book is more energetic, more visually exciting, and more fun than enything else on the market--and with more information, too! -- publisher.