Bobi Martin

From tiny organisms to plants and people, all living things need nitrogen. This engaging STEM resource introduces elementary school readers to the importance of the nitrogen cycle in clear, easy-to-follow text. Readers will learn why nitrogen is an essential nutrient for growth, where nitrogen is found, the important role legumes play in the nitrogen cycle, and more. Colorful illustrations and photographs add interest and additional information to each page. Compare and Contrast, Vocabulary, and Think About It sidebars support Common Core standards. This is a must-have book for any shelf.

Many animals live in water, but only some can be defined as fish. Twenty-eight thousand species of fish exist, each with different characteristics. Readers from grades one through four will learn that fish have a distinct impact on their ecosystem and will see how fish survive when well-adapted to an uncompromised environment. Beautiful photographs demonstrate the great diversity of fish and accompany intellectually stimulating explanations of their varying roles and traits. From page to page, what a fish is unfolds in vocabulary call-outs, insightful questions, and relatable compare-and-contrast examples.

Many animals live in water, but only some can be defined as fish. Twenty-eight thousand species of fish exist, each with different characteristics. Readers from grades one through four will learn that fish have a distinct impact on their ecosystem and will see how fish survive when well-adapted to an uncompromised environment. Beautiful photographs demonstrate the great diversity of fish and accompany intellectually stimulating explanations of their varying roles and traits. From page to page, what a fish is unfolds in vocabulary call-outs, insightful questions, and relatable compare-and-contrast examples.

Whether they glimmer to attract prey, to ward off predators, or for another reason entirely, glowing organisms are some of the most mesmerizing wonders of nature. This stunning volume introduces elementary readers to bioluminescence and biofluorescence, using accessible language to explain how and why various organisms make their own light. Vibrant images allow readers to journey through woods haunted by fox fire, soar high with fireflies that punctuate a summer night's sky, and dive deep to view the myriad creatures that illuminate the ocean's depths. Boxed text encourages critical thinking about Earth's incredible biodiversity and the behaviors and chemistry of living things.

Voting may not be a legal obligation, but it is certainly one of the most important privileges citizens of a democracy have. Serving as a primer on civic engagement, this lively volume teaches readers about the basics of the electoral process--from registration to casting a ballot--in the United States. Readers will learn about the different types of elections, what campaigns are, and how ordinary citizens can effect change. Guiding questions invite readers to consider the reasons for various electoral practices and educate them on the importance of making their voices heard.

There are over 600 muscles in the human body that we can strengthen, stretch, flex, or simply leave alone. Whether we use them consciously or not, muscles work to protect our bones and keep our blood flowing. In this volume, readers will learn about the different kinds of muscle and why muscles are so essential to everything we do, from eating to smiling to mastering a sport. Labeled diagrams complement text and highlight important muscles in the body, while boxed questions encourage readers to think critically about the information they learn.