Matt Lilley – författare

Just 2 inches long full-grown, this little guy is the foundation of the Southern Ocean food chain... “Hi. What are you? You appear to be an egg. You are an egg sinking. For many days, you sink. You sink a mile down, and you keep sinking down… down… until…”The unidentified narrator follows one krill among billions as it pursues its brief existence, eating and eating while metamorphosing from one thing into another and trying to avoid being eaten. Questions and advice are hurled at the krill on every page, but the krill never responds—because, after all, krill can’t talk, and this is nonfiction.  Krill are the largest animals able to catch and eat phytoplankton, and they in turn are eaten by the largest animals ever to live on earth—blue whales—as well as by seals, penguins, and a host of others. In other words, krill are really good at eating, and they make really good eating. And that makes them the most important animals in the high-latitude oceans.  As in The Whale Fall Café, Dan Tavis’s illustrations combine scientific accuracy with Nemo liveliness and humor. Our star krill is so good at gobbling up phytoplankton that he turns green, so we can pick him out from the crowd racing to escape a penguin’s beak or a blue whale’s gaping maw. The book has been reviewed and endorsed by global krill expert Dr. Stephen Nichol, and the manuscript earned an honorable mention in Minnesota’s McKnight Artist Fellowships for Writers. Helpful backmatter is included.

This book reveals the fascinating history of vaccines, from when they were first invented to the latest innovations, as well as the changes they've created in people's lives. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, a That's Amazing special feature, quiz questions, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. This Focus Readers title is at the Beacon level, aligned to reading levels of grades 2-3 and interest levels of grades 3-5.

Learn about the tools and technology that help doctors find and diagnose various types of cancer. Easy-to-read text is paired with informative sidebars, a "That's Amazing!" special feature, a table of contents, quiz questions, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. This Focus Readers series is at the Navigator level, aligned to reading levels of grades 3-5 and interest levels of grades 4-7.

Learn about the tools and technology that help doctors find and diagnose viruses and other contagious illnesses. Easy-to-read text is paired with informative sidebars, a "That's Amazing!" special feature, a table of contents, quiz questions, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. This Focus Readers series is at the Navigator level, aligned to reading levels of grades 3-5 and interest levels of grades 4-7.

Learn about the tools and technology that help doctors find and diagnose various types of cancer. Easy-to-read text is paired with informative sidebars, a "That's Amazing!" special feature, a table of contents, quiz questions, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. This Focus Readers series is at the Navigator level, aligned to reading levels of grades 3-5 and interest levels of grades 4-7.

Learn about the tools and technology that help doctors find and diagnose viruses and other contagious illnesses. Easy-to-read text is paired with informative sidebars, a "That's Amazing!" special feature, a table of contents, quiz questions, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. This Focus Readers series is at the Navigator level, aligned to reading levels of grades 3-5 and interest levels of grades 4-7.

The Great Wall of China is one of the world's most amazing wonders and the longest human-made structure ever built. Constructed more than 2,000 years ago, the ancient wonder is a celebration of China's culture, especially that of the Ming Dynasty. This elementary-level introduction, filled with vibrant photos and factual text, examines the structure and how it was constructed. The wall's significance in history and why it was built are also included. A Wonder Spotlight features the wall section called "Old Dragon's Head." Captions, on-page definitions, additional resources, and an index support young readers.

Stonehenge is one of the world's most amazing, mysterious wonders. Erected more than 4,000 years ago, the ancient set of stone circles in southern England may be a monument to the dead, a calendar, or something else entirely. This elementary-level introduction, filled with vibrant photos and factual text, examines the structure and how it was made. The stones' significance in history and why they were erected are also included. A Wonder Spotlight features the structure's smaller stones, called bluestones. Captions, on-page definitions, additional resources, and an index support young readers.

What is that rocky object flying far beyond Earth's atmosphere, past stars, moons, and planets? It's a celestial body called an asteroid! With the help of vibrant images and factual, elementary-level STEM text, this nonfiction astronomy title for children examines asteroid age, composition, formation, and location. It also explores key discoveries in history. A space science feature spotlights a NASA spacecraft's visit to an asteroid. Captions, on-page definitions, additional resources, and an index support readers in grade 2 and up.

What is that big collection of gas, dust, and stars floating far beyond Earth's atmosphere? It's a galaxy! With the help of vibrant images and factual, elementary-level STEM text, this nonfiction astronomy title for children examines the history of galaxies, their age, location, composition, and formation. It also explores how they were discovered. A space science feature spotlights galaxies as windows to the past. Captions, on-page definitions, additional resources, and an index support readers in grade 2 and up.

What is that big, bright object high in the night sky, reflecting the sun's light? It's the moon! With the help of vibrant images and factual, elementary-level STEM text, this nonfiction astronomy title for children examines the history of Earth's lunar satellite, its composition, formation, location, and effect on our planet. A space science feature spotlights the last manned visit to the moon and how soon astronauts will return. Captions, on-page definitions, additional resources, and an index support readers in grade 2 and up.