Donna Reynolds – författare

The Civil War still holds a prominent place in the American imagination. Reenactments and battlefield visits are popular tourist attractions for both Northerners and Southerners. The underlying issues of racism and states'' rights that caused the war are also still visible in American society. Sidebars, timelines, and historic images augment the informative narrative. Detailed maps illustrate how the Civil War was fought. Annotated quotes and discussion questions help readers develop a deeper understanding of the reality of the American Civil War and draw comparisons between this historical period and modern times.

The oldest civilizations on Earth started in ancient Mesopotamia. There, small settlements grew into large, complex cities. Some were completely forgotten until archaeologists began to dig up their foundations, but the contributions they made to the world live on today. Informative main text is supplemented with full-color photographs and engaging sidebars. A thorough timeline gives readers a clear idea of the sequence of events in ancient Mesopotamia, and a glossary of new terms gives readers a better understanding of these amazing civilizations.

Ancient Egypt has long fascinated citizens of the modern world. Mummies, pyramids, pharaohs, and other elements have inspired a romantic and sometimes mystical view of this ancient society. However, viewed through this lens, the facts are sometimes overlooked and the lasting contributions may be obscured. This book takes a down-to-earth, factual look at ancient Egypt. The engaging main text describes its history and culture, while engaging sidebars highlight common misconceptions. The “History Happened Here” section brings this ancient civilization to life, showing readers the places and artifacts that remain today—a visual reminder that the past has very real effects on the present.

China is considered by many historians to be the oldest continuous civilization in the world. Its culture has changed relatively little since ancient times. In this book, readers learn about the rich history of China and how its ancient roots have influenced its modern-day society. Full-color photographs augment the engaging text, and a detailed timeline gives a clear overview of the time period. The “History Happened Here” section brings this ancient civilization to life, showing readers the places and artifacts that remain today—a visual reminder that the past has very real effects on the present.

Greece has been called the birthplace of Western civilization. However, its plunge into illiteracy during a dark age that lasted centuries has made much of its early history an intriguing mystery. This volume examines what historians know and what they can only surmise based on the archaeological record. In-depth sidebars highlight interesting facts, and full-color photographs allow readers to imagine ancient Greece at the height of its glory. Additionally, a thorough timeline gives readers a clear idea of the sequence of events in ancient Greece, and a glossary of new terms gives readers a better understanding of this amazing civilization.

The Roman Republic was a major world power for years. However, it eventually fell and was replaced by the Roman Empire, which then endured for another few centuries. In this volume, readers learn about the history of ancient Rome, with a focus on the main factors that contributed to the Roman Republic’s collapse: income inequality, civil wars, and corrupt politicians. The engaging main text is augmented by an in-depth timeline, and full-color photographs bring this unique civilization to life. Informative sidebars highlight interesting facts, and a glossary of new terms gives readers a better understanding of ancient Rome.

Although ancient India was unearthed by archaeologists long after Egypt and Mesopotamia, experts now believe it was one of the first civilizations in history. Ancient India has given the world Hinduism, Buddhism, advanced mathematics and astronomy, games such as chess and Chutes and Ladders, and much more. Through engaging sidebars and an in-depth timeline, augmented by full-color photographs, readers learn about the history and achievements of this remarkable civilization. Furthermore, the “History Happened Here” section brings this ancient civilization to life by showing readers the places and artifacts that remain today.

Some people believe Americans should make an effort to buy goods made in the United States. Others think that it doesn''t matter where something is made. Thanks to allowances, many children are consumers in their own right. They should strive to make ethical decisions about where their money is spent. Through alternating viewpoints, complemented by fact boxes and a graphic organizer, this objective narrative explores both sides of the argument so readers can develop their own intelligent opinions and make informed choices about how they spend their money.

Although graphic design is all around us, we rarely take time to notice and appreciate it. Advertisements, logos, websites, and many other things rely on graphic design to create eye-catching content. This volume explores the skills artists need to produce aesthetically pleasing designs and the development of this field into the major industry it is today. Skill-building information is included for readers who are interested in pursuing graphic design as a career. Striking photographs display some of the most innovative examples of this prominent medium.

Skin conditions such as acne, warts, eczema, and rosacea can be embarrassing and frustrating for people to deal with. Treatments are available for many of these conditions, but while waiting for a condition to be diagnosed or treated, it can be difficult for someone to maintain self-confidence. The informative text, supplemented with engaging sidebars and annotated quotes by medical experts, gives readers essential facts about the causes and treatments of common skin conditions. Readers can use this knowledge to take control of their own health, better understand their changing body, and offer support to others dealing with these problems.

Bobcats may look more like housecats than a tiger or lion does, but they are much fiercer than an ordinary pet. Their shy nature means they are rarely a threat to humans. In fact, they generally avoid humans so completely that it is rare to see one at all. This lack of firsthand observation means people tend to know very little about these beautiful and independent animals. Through engaging main text, augmented with informative fact boxes and full-color photographs, readers learn about the bobcat’s behavioral patterns, diet, habitat, and more.

In wild boars’ native habitats of Eurasia and North Africa, they play important ecological roles. Their activity in the forest creates habitats for other creatures and spreads seeds to other locations, promoting biodiversity. Sadly, as an invasive species in the Americas, they often do more harm than good. This volume examines the ways wild boars affect the environment around them. Through the engaging main text, enhanced with full-color photographs and a detailed graphic organizer, readers learn about these intelligent animals’ behavior, habitat, diet, and more.