Rebecca Kraft Rector – författare

Not only was Turing one of the founders of computer science, he also helped the British military break Nazi codes, allowing them to decipher messages that helped the Allies win World War II. Turing was a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence; he developed the Turing test, which determines whether a machine is capable of intelligence like that of a human being. Despite his impressive list of accomplishments, Turing was persecuted for his homosexuality. Sidebars offer extra information about topics such as Bletchley Park, ciphers, and the times Turing lived in, while a timeline serves as a quick reference for the chronology of key events in Turing’s life.

The earliest civilizations developed in fertile river valleys, where the conditions were right to support large, settled populations. This book tracks how social hierarchies, religion, culture, written language, technology, and more developed first in Mesopotamia and then independently in the Nile, Indus, and Yellow River Valleys. A timeline helps readers get a better grasp of what developments were happening simultaneously in different parts of the world. This title will give readers a real appreciation for the contributions of each of these influential civilizations.

In this clever and playful fractured fairy tale picture book, the Big Bad Wolf is so distracted by Little Red’s poorly written thank you note to her grandmother that he keeps missing the chance to eat her!Once upon a time, Little Red received a bold new cape from her Granny. She wrote her a thank you note, packed a basket of goodies, and walked through the meadow to Granny’s house. But swish swash SWOOP, the big bad wolf stops her in her tracks, opens his mouth wide, leans in close and…​ Sees the note. Mr. Wolf can’t believe how sloppy the letter is—Red can’t give this to Granny! He corrects her grammar but misses out on his dinner while he’s distracted each time he encounters Red on the path. Can she keep outsmarting the Big Bad Editor and make it all the way to Granny’s house?

Explore the past, present, and future of the Amazon Rainforest. Beautiful photos, fact-filled text, and engaging infographics help readers learn all about this natural wonder and how to protect it long into the future.

Explore the past, present, and future of the Grand Canyon. Beautiful photos, fact-filled text, and engaging infographics help readers learn all about this natural wonder and how to protect it long into the future.

Explore the past, present, and future of the Great Barrier Reef. Beautiful photos, fact-filled text, and engaging infographics help readers learn all about this natural wonder and how to protect it long into the future.

Explore the past, present, and future of the Sahara Desert. Beautiful photos, fact-filled text, and engaging infographics help readers learn all about this natural wonder and how to protect it long into the future.

Explore the past, present, and future of the Amazon Rainforest. Beautiful photos, fact-filled text, and engaging infographics help readers learn all about this natural wonder and how to protect it long into the future.

Explore the past, present, and future of the Grand Canyon. Beautiful photos, fact-filled text, and engaging infographics help readers learn all about this natural wonder and how to protect it long into the future.

Explore the past, present, and future of the Great Barrier Reef. Beautiful photos, fact-filled text, and engaging infographics help readers learn all about this natural wonder and how to protect it long into the future.

Explore the past, present, and future of the Sahara Desert. Beautiful photos, fact-filled text, and engaging infographics help readers learn all about this natural wonder and how to protect it long into the future.

Readers discover the amazing world of reptiles in this fact-filled text. Readers are introduced to reptile characteristics, habitats, adaptations, diet, life cycles, and behavior. Simple text focuses on the three main reptile groups, snakes and lizards; turtles; and crocodiles and alligators. Colorful photographs enrich the text with additional details and examples. Fun facts, a glossary, and a final activity expand the reader''s learning experience. This book is aligned with the Common Core English Language Arts standards for reading informational texts, and also supports Next Generation Science Standards.

Shawn Mendes was only fifteen years old when he became an online singing sensation. Within a few years, he quickly progressed to become an international superstar. Readers meet Shawn through well-researched, accessible information on his life and accomplishments. The high-interest text is enhanced with full-color photographs, a timeline, and direct quotes from Shawn himself. This book invites leisure reading, as well as supports the social studies curricula. It is aligned with the Common Core English Language Arts standards for reading informational texts, and with the College and Career Readiness anchor standards.

A burning log, a rotting banana, and a rusting bicycle. These are examples of chemical changes. With this accessible narrative, readers are introduced to the basics of chemical changes. Easy-to-follow explanations cover matter, forms, properties, and changes. Further detail introduces how to make chemical changes and how to recognize them. Color photographs, fast facts, and an engaging activity expand and reinforce the newly learned ideas. This book supports Next Generation Science Standards, correlating directly with the NGSS Grade 2 standard to "classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties."

Children learn about color at a very young age, but there is a lot more to red, yellow, and blue than meets the eye. This simple, engaging book introduces readers to basic forms and properties of color, including kinds of colors, how color changes, and what those changes might mean. Fast facts and a hands-on activity reinforce the new ideas, while colorful images compel attention and underscore concepts. This book supports Next Generation Science Standards, correlating directly with the NGSS Grade 2 standard to "classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties."

Some things bend while other things break. With this accessible narrative, readers are introduced to the property of flexibility and how it relates to the different forms of matter. Colorful images accompany real-life examples that explain what is flexible and how flexibility changes with heat, cold, and wetness. An experiment allows readers to discover the concept of flexibility in action, while fast facts and Words to Know sections encourage understanding and interest. This book supports Next Generation Science Standards, correlating directly with the NGSS Grade 2 standard to "classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties."

Some objects can be scratched or dented easily. Others can take a beating and still look as good as new. This may be one sign of hardness. This accessible narrative introduces basic concepts about the property of hardness of matter. Readers learn how to identify hardness through senses and tests, as well as how hardness may change. A hands-on activity gives readers a chance to experience the concepts in action. Fast facts and vivid images offer additional nuggets of information. This volume supports students'' ability to "classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties" in second grade as specified in the Next Generation Science Standards.

A plate breaks, an ice cube melts, a room is painted. Each of these is an example of a physical change. Readers are introduced to physical changes in matter. Simple explanations cover forms of matter, properties, and changes. Real-life examples illustrate important concepts. Fast facts and Words to Know sections provide additional information. Full-color images expand and support the narrative, while an activity reinforces ideas through experimentation. This book supports Next Generation Science Standards, correlating directly with the NGSS Grade 2 standard to "classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties."

Soft, slippery, rough, or prickly. All day long, we encounter objects with different textures. Readers are introduced to fundamental concepts of matter and texture. The connection between texture and touch is explored, as well as specific examples of texture in solids and liquids. Fast facts, Words to Know, and detailed full-color images stimulate curiosity and learning. An activity underlines the new concepts and allows readers to experiment. This book correlates directly with the expectation for students to "classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties" in second grade as specified in the Next Generation Science Standards.

We may not be able to see asteroids without a telescope, but there are thousands of these space rocks circling the sun. Readers learn about asteroid formation, size, shape, and orbits. They are also introduced to the methods that scientists use to track asteroids. Fast facts and a hands-on activity expand the reader''s learning experience, while full-color images enrich the narrative with additional details and examples. This book supports English Language Arts standards and also correlates directly with Next Generation Science Standards.

One of the most fascinating planets in our solar system is the one that we call home. This simple yet fact-filled volume encourages readers to learn about planet Earth. Details of Earth''s place in space, orbit, rotation, and tilt are shared, as well as facts about Earth''s layers and atmosphere. Fast facts are set in eye-catching boxes, and Words to Know help the reader navigate the text with ease. Full-color images expand on the narrative and offer additional details. An exciting activity reinforces new knowledge with hands-on fun. This book supports English Language Arts standards and correlates directly with Next Generation Science Standards.

Our solar system is just one small part of our galaxy, and there are thousands of galaxies besides this one. Readers are introduced to the marvels of galaxies. Formation, sizes, and shapes of galaxies are discussed, including the Milky Way. Galactic movement and how scientists study galaxies are revealed. Color photographs, fast facts, and Words to Know sections increase the reader''s learning experience, while a final hands-on activity emphasizes what the reader has learned. This book supports English Language Arts standards and correlates directly with Next Generation Science Standards.

The sight of the moon in the night sky can be both familiar and mysterious. Readers are introduced to concepts such as the moon''s rotation, orbit, and formation. They learn the basics of gravity, tides, atmosphere, and the phases of the moon. Fast facts, a hands-on activity, and eye-catching images capture readers'' attention and enhance their understanding. This book correlates directly with the Next Generation Science Standards'' expectation for understanding Earth''s Place in the Universe in first and second grades.

The sun, planets, moon, and other space objects are all part of our solar system. With this fact-filled book, readers learn what a solar system is and what it contains, such as asteroids, comets, the Kuiper Belt, and the Oort Cloud. Full-color photographs and fast facts illuminate this fascinating topic, while a Words to Know section and an entertaining activity reinforce new knowledge. This book correlates directly with the Next Generation Science Standards'' expectation for understanding Earth''s Place in the Universe in first and second grades. It is also aligned with English Language Arts standards.

Throughout our solar system, chunks of ice, gas, and dust fly around in the form of comets. This engaging book introduces readers to the wonders of comets: their size and shape, their formation, and how they orbit the sun. Each of the main parts of the comet is explained using simple vocabulary as well as full-color photographs. Fast facts increase readability and interest, while a fun activity encourages readers to use their new knowledge in an entertaining way. This book supports English Language Arts standards and also correlates directly with Next Generation Science Standards.