English

Take a walk in the rain forest. It's hot and humid and humming with life. Look up into the dense canopy of leaves above you. Tangled vines lead to the treetops, where parrots squawk and monkeys swing from branch to branch.

The ancient Egyptians were skilled in the crafts of painting, pottery, and carving. They knew how to weave cloth and how to work with precious stones to make beautiful jewelry. They built magnificent palaces and elaborate tombs for their rulers and decorated the walls of these structures with paintings of gods, goddesses, and scenes from everyday life. Come along on an archaeological journey and learn amazing facts about the ancient Egyptian culture. You can also create a snake game, fashion a clay pot, and prepare for a fabulous feast!

Teachers and students will benefit from this comprehensive resource about the fascinating culture of Ancient Egypt. This book combines teacher notes, historical information, high quality reproducible activities and detailed drawings to bring this subject to life. Topics covered include geography, agriculture, domestic life, culture and society, religion, hieroglyphics and much more. Many hands-on activities are included, such as making a model of a papyrus skiff with simple materials. The content and reading level in this book is appropriate for students in grades four to seven.

presents the ingenious, devoted, and indefatigable builders who perfected the medieval cathedral as a stone prayer to God and a place of community pride. Though again treading on the heels of David Macaulay, MacDonald and James hold their own, pointing out the religious significance of a bishop's seat, describing pilgrims' routes to other cathedrals, depicting the daily life of both workers and the religious community, and showing the variety of arts and crafts necessary to construction.

Step inside a medieval castle and discover for yourself what it was like to live and work inside its massive walls. Superb illustrations and thoroughly researched information provide a vivid and intimate look at every aspect of castle life. You will see the craftsmen and builders at work, witness a great dinner in the main hall, learn about the life of the lord and lady, learn how a page became a knight, and more.

Wilbur is the runt of a litter born to a pig on the farm of Fern Arable's father. When it is announced that her father is going to kill the pig, Fern rushes forth to save it, asking of her father: "If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?" Her father spares the pig, but only if Fern agrees to care for it. Falling in love immediately with the little pig, she feeds him regularly with a bottle, and names him Wilbur.

To celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the Caldecott Medal and another decade of award-winning picture books, noted children’s book historian Leonard S. Marcus has updated this absorbing and informative picture of the world’s most prestigious illustration award and seven of its acclaimed winners: Robert McCloskey, Marcia Brown, Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Chris Van Allsburg, David Wiesner, and now Mordicai Gerstein.

Nothing can stop John Henry — no boulder, no mountain, and definitely no steam drill. Newbery Honor winner Julius Lester writes with such power that this African-American folk hero becomes as awesome as a natural phenomenon. Jerry Pinkney received a Caldecott Honor for his exuberant, glowing watercolor paintings of the hero. The book, celebrating its tenth year in print, was also a Boston Globe — Horn Book Award winner, a Parents Magazine Best Book, and an ALA Notable Book, among other honors.