Rebecca Kraft Rector

"Looking up at the stars on a clear night can inspire many questions in young minds. This easy-to-follow text provides lots of answers about star formation, sizes, temperatures, colors, constellations, and the life and death of stars. A fun, hands-on-activity illustrates why stars shine only at night. Fast facts and Words to Know sections offer additional information, while colorful photographs bring each concept into splendid focus. This book correlates...

"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 text and offer additional...

"The sun, planets, moon, and other space objects are all part of our solar system. In 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...

"All of the planets in our solar system circle around one giant ball of gases: the sun. This simple yet fascinating text explains how the sun was formed and where its energy comes from. Readers also learn to identify the different parts of the sun. A hands-on activity investigates the sun's changing place in our sky, while full-color photographs and fast facts enhance the text. This book correlates directly with the Next Generation Science Standards'...

"A burning log, a rotting banana, a rusting bicycle...all are examples of chemical changes. In this accessible text, 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 photos, fast facts, and an engaging activity expand and reinforce the new ideas. The book supports Common Core and...

"Throughout our solar system, chunks of ice, gas, and dust fly around in the form of comets. This engaging text 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...

"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 text 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 Common Core and Next Generation...

"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 text 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...