Books published by Kids Can Press

From the time we''re babies, our brains constantly sort and label the world around us - a skill that''s crucial for our survival. But, as adolescents are all too aware, there''s a tremendous downside: when we do this to groups of people it can cause great harm. Here''s a comprehensive introduction to the science behind stereotypes that will help young people make sense of why we classify people, and how we can change our thinking. Besides the many ways this book could be used to inspire frank and in-depth discussions on the importance of addressing stereotypes and bias, it also links to many science and social studies curriculum topics.

Author Margriet Ruurs begins this engaging informational picture book by posing an intriguing question: "What is a school? Is it a building with classrooms? Or can it be any place where children learn?" The fascinating stories that follow will expand how young readers think of school, as they learn about the experiences of real children in thirteen different countries around the world. From Marta in Azezo, Ethiopia, and Luciano in Mérida, Venezuela, to Alina in Taraz, Kazakhstan, and Lu in Shanghai, China, the children who are profiled live in places that truly span the globe. However, while there are huge differences in their environments, all the children share similar desires to learn, read and play with others. Alice Feagan's charming cut-paper collage artwork further enhances the idea of a global community by featuring smiling, enthusiastic children's faces, which are equally joyous and filled with life in every situation. As with all the titles in the popular Around the World series, using a familiar concept such as going to school is a perfect way to introduce children to other cultures and places in social studies classes. The author has provided several resources at the end of the book, including discussion topics and a list of organizations that help children access education. A world map at the beginning of the book shows the location of each of the countries, and a glossary contains definitions of the foreign words. These, along with a table of contents, make useful tools for familiarizing young readers with book navigation.

María's family are poor Honduran farmers, growing barely enough to eat. Then a new teacher comes to town and shows María sustainable farming practices that yield good crops. An inspiring story, based on actual events, that shows us how farms and hopes are transformed as good gardens begin to grow.

The perfect introduction to plants.From crowded cities to open prairies, deserts to wetlands, plants grow everywhere! This comprehensive introduction will open children's eyes to the plants that surround them and their importance to all of our lives. First it explores plant parts, life cycles and growing zones. Then it brings children up close to nature by taking them on a season-by-season tour of what plants are doing throughout the year. And for hands-on experience, there's an interactive Q&A guide to help plant sleuths identify what they've spotted. Sure to inspire budding naturalists to stop and observe the wonders growing all around them!

A unique look at the boreal forest, Earth's vast and vital wilderness.The boreal forest, the planet's largest land biome, spans the northern regions like ¿a scarf around the neck of the world.¿ Besides providing homes for many species, the forest's influence is far-reaching: its trees and wetlands clean our air and water and are helping slow global climate change. In this evocative tour, a lyrical fictional narrative is paired with informational sidebars that describe life in the forest throughout the year, from one country to another.One of the world's most magnificent regions comes to vivid life through the art of storytelling.

A quest for the perfect birthday gift makes for laugh-out-loud fun.¿I wanted to get you the greatest present ever,¿ our narrator says. But somehow, nothing quite worked out. First there were the hand-knitted birthday socks (have you ever tried knitting birthday socks?). Then, a ten-scoop ice cream cone (a disaster to carry), a magic kit (it disappeared, just like magic!), an apple juice-fueled jet pack (just a few kinks to work out). And still our narrator has nothing. Or, maybe there is something here to give after all ...Everyone knows it's the thought that counts, right? Especially when it's a gift that comes from the heart.

Akiko Miyakoshi's enchanting new book explores how it feels to harbor a secret dream. People from all over the world come and go at the gracious innkeeper's little hotel, some even becoming friends over the years. Only, sometimes, the innkeeper feels the desire to travel far away himself. He longs to pack a big bag and journey from one unfamiliar town to another. He imagines stopping to visit his friends. And having wonderful and unexpected experiences. The innkeeper continues to go about his daily routine at his hotel. But, someday, he is sure, he will explore the world.For every child --- and adult --- who yearns for what lies beyond the horizon.

An unintended experiment teaches real-life lessons about life's intricate interconnections.In the 1800s, the American government decided to eliminate threats to livestock near Yellowstone National Park. By 1926, there were no gray wolves left in the park. This set off a cascade of devastating changes to virtually every part of the park's ecosystem, and the once-thriving landscape was soon in distress. Then, in an effort to reverse course, gray wolves were reintroduced in 1995. In time, animal populations start to stabilize, waterways are restored and, miraculously, health returns to the park. This remarkable story of transformation is sure to captivate, and to inspire respect for nature's surprisingly complex balancing act.

Not your typical bullying story.Gertie the elephant says everyone on the playground should stay away from Bunny because she's super mean. But Kitty has questions: How did Bunny become a bully? Was she born that way? Did she catch the bully flu? Wait, does that mean bullying is contagious? Could the other animals catch it? But ... then no one would play would them either, and that doesn't seem fair. Might Bunny be sorry? Should they give her a second chance?Flipping the focus turns ideas about bullies (and those who call them that!) on their heads.

Meet some gigantic prehistoric critters!A bug the size of a small crocodile? Or as large as a basketball player? As scary as it seems, supersized, insect-like creatures such as these roamed Earth long before humans. This peek into prehistory introduces seven of these fascinating megabugs --- the ancestors of modern-day insects, spiders, crabs and other arthropods --- which lived from 480 million to 47 million years ago. It explores when, where and how they each lived, why they grew so big and what caused their eventual extinction.Kids will never look at bugs the same way again!

How much room is enough for a pup?Mia wants a dog more than anything. But according to her mom, there is just NO ROOM in their very small apartment. Then one day, when Mia and her grandma are visiting a friend who is giving away puppies, Mia falls in love with Spot. She has to convince her mom to let her keep him! With help from Grandma's pet-owning friends, can Mia show her mom how much room there really is in their apartment?As kids everywhere know, there's always room for one more!

A lyrical look at numbers, with a philosophical twist!2 is a little. 0 is nothing. 1 is not enough.But, sometimes ... 1 sun is a lot. 1 dog is a lot. 2 can even be too much. And when it comes to rain clouds, 0 is perfect. It's curious, but true. It all depends on what you're counting!How many is enough? In this unique picture book, children will discover a different way to appreciate numbers.

In this fun, interactive game of hide-and-seek, young children learn all about positional prepositions. Bear, Fox and Owl are playing hide-and-seek in a woodland playground. They each take a turn counting to ten, then shouting ''Ready or not, here I come!'' When Fox finds Bear INSIDE the castle and Owl ON the slide, Bear hugs Fox and Owl. When Owl spots Bear BEHIND the climbing wall and Fox UNDER the bench, Bear hugs Fox and Owl again! But when Fox and Owl are not BETWEEN the swings, AMONG the trees, THROUGH the tunnel or ACROSS the bridge, Bear is the one who needs a hug. Will Fox and Owl come out of hiding to help their friend?

Mr. Russet is the first to spot it. It''s right in the middle of the couch. A potato. It doesn''t belong there, yet there it is. And he''s had enough. ''Every day I pick up this, I pick up that, I pick up everything!'' Mr. Russet exclaims. ''I will not pick up that potato!'' And he doesn''t. In fact, he decides to take a stand and not pick up anything else either! But as the days pass, Mrs. Russet and the two Russet children don''t seem to mind the potato in the living room. Or the mess growing all around them. What''s a potato protestor to do?

Adolescents are no strangers to stress. This book explores the science behind that sweaty, heart-racing, under-pressure feeling they sometimes get as they struggle to navigate their changing world. It covers the fight-or-flight reaction to sudden danger, how people cope with chronic stress, how trauma can affect the brain, and the surprising treatments scientists have found for stress in everyday life. The book is divided into chapters and sections that break the information into easily readable chunks, with sidebars and factoids throughout, and simple and often humorous illustrations by Marie-Eve Tremblay.

This riveting narrative told from the astronauts'' points of view offers a unique approach to the story behind Apollo 11''s successful - though nearly disastrous - 1969 moon landing. Readers are brought along on the ride of a lifetime, as they relive every step of the mission, including the nail-biting (and relatively unknown) crucial moments when it came close to failure. And, setting this book apart, each section is linked to the innovations and discoveries from the past four centuries that made each step possible - from Copernicus to the Nazis, the sextant to Velcro.

This book about the science of smells takes a funky subject and makes it fascinating--and hilarious! It starts with the basics, from the reason why things stink to how our sense of smell works. It also offers strong curriculum links in the life sciences, particularly the human body structure and systems, and molecules and organisms. Full color.olor.

Using increasingly sophisticated levels of artificial intelligence (AI) and embodied intelligence (EI), a new generation of robots is being designed to look, act, and even think like humans. Hubots, or human-inspired robots, are expanding the boundaries of what robots can do. This book highlights 10 different real-life hubots. Full color.

This book celebrates more than 30 examples of nature's influence on building and bridge designs all over the world. Sidebars profile famous architects who have used nature to spectacular effect in their designs. Includes step-by-step instructions for science experiments and a design-your-own-structure activity. Full color.

Do pigeons plus people have to equal problems?The erudite big-city pigeon Dr. Archibald Coo is tired of the way people treat him and his pigeon friends. They're always being shooed and swatted, and they're never admired the way the other birds are. But it wasn't always this way. Pigeons once delivered news of the Olympic Games throughout ancient Greece and medicines to soldiers on battlefields. They were heroes! Dr. Coo resolves to find a way for pigeons to once again get the admiration they deserve. But can it be done?Pigeons unite! It's time to teach the people a lesson in peacemaking.