1215 is one of the most famous dates in English history, and with good reason, since it marks the signing of the Magna Carta by King John and the English barons, which altered the entire course of English and world history. John Lackland was born to King Henry II and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitane in December, 1166; he was the youngest of five sons. However, he unexpectedly became the favored heir to his father after a failed rebellion by his older...

The Shipwreck of the Whaleship Essex is the harrowing narrative of an unfortunate vessel's calamitous encounter with a great white whale, and the crew's perilous fight for survival on the open sea. This Explorer's Club edition faithfully reproduces Owen Chase's original 1821 narrative, in which he chronicles the great whale's attack on the ship, the Essex's subsequent sinking, and the more than exhausting months at sea that followed, in which the...

Dot is feeling a bit underappreciated. After all, Dot is only a dot, and what good is a dot? It looks like Dot could use a reminder of his important place in the world. How could a person see if he only had one dotted eye? And what would a dalmatian be without all its spots? More importantly, how could children ask for sweet treats without the dot in a question mark? Dot is about to get a big lesson on just how important he is-because there's a special...

In Spacecraft, readers will be introduced to the evolution of spacecraft technology over time, and peek into the possibilities for the spacecraft of tomorrow. This fact- and photo-filled text explains how engineers deal with the challenges of reaching and working in space. The Engineering Wonders series for grades 4–8 explores the ways engineers identify the needs to be met and/or problems to be solved and crated solutions through innovative design....

How do you make the perfect jack-o-lantern? With the right pumpkin and some help from your mom, that's how.

Private investigator Jamie McAdams couldn't exactly say the quiet woman running the daycare at his godfather's factory looked like an embezzler, but all the clues did point to her. She wouldn't have easy access to the money but out of everybody he'd investigated, she was the only one sticking out and she lived seriously outside her means. He didn't like it and not just because things didn't add up in a way he liked. Andi Morrow smelled like vanilla,...

Gerri Frager has spent much of her life working in the care of critically ill infants and children and integrating the arts into patient care and education. Poetry and pottery have each been a sanctuary during tough times as has noticing the everyday beauty found in nature. In Signs of Life: Images formed from Words and Clay, the author merges these passions to create a most unique and insightful book. Each poem is accompanied by an image of pottery...

Tales from the Crib will make all parental units feel better about themselves-no vegetables required. Let's be honest. Nobody wants to sit next to that chipper mom at playgroup who knows everything. Please. You want to plop down by the mom who's just as clueless and cranky as you are and have a good, hearty, conspiratorial laugh together. Because that mom gets it. That mom makes you feel better. That mom isn't afraid to admit that chicken nuggets...

If you think steering clear of dairy means giving up your favorite dishes, you're in for a delicious surprise. In Lévana Cooks Dairy-Free!, respected restaurateur, chef, and cooking instructor Lévana Kirschenbaum offers a collection of creative and luscious recipes, made with natural dairy alternatives such as soy, rice, oat, almond, and coconut milks-all significantly leaner than their fatty dairy counterparts. Addressing the needs of the lactose-intolerant...

At one time, protecting your children was as easy as ensuring they were in at dark, brushed their teeth and had a delicious and healthy dinner. The world has changed throughout the years, however, and nowadays it is a much scarier place to live than we ever could have imagined 15 or 20 years ago. It seems that we live in a world where dangers lurk at every corner; especially for the harmless...