Cakes -- especially homemade ones -- make any celebration special! This book is filled with 19 easy-to-do cake designs and decorating tips simple enough for kids to try on their own. Decorating with candies, cookies and other goodies means that no fancy pastry bags or labor-intensive parental supervision is required. The illustrated step-by-step instructions, full-color photos and delicious cake and icing recipes help kids take cakes from plain to WOW in no time flat! Kids can make a * scary dinosaur * bright butterfly * spooky jack-o'-lantern * cuddly cat * lucky rainbow * terrific tiger...

THIS EDITION IS INTENDED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY....

Now kids can do more than just eat cookies! They can learn how to bake and build holiday decorations and wreaths, a garden of cookie flowers and candleholders -- all from cookie dough. It's fun and easy, and the best part is you can eat your mistakes! Bake It and Build It includes delicious cookie dough recipes kids can taste test as they learn how to cut out shapes, "glue" them together and decorate their cookie creations. There are also patterns for an impressive cookie castle and for a Thanksgiving turkey the whole family can gobble up! Clear instructions and step-by-step illustrations make each project easy for kids to build on their own....

Why do horses let people ride them? What did horses look like millions of years ago? Can horses really sleep standing up? Veteran children's author Elizabeth MacLeod answers these and dozens of other horsey questions in this ultimate companion book for young horse lovers. Like Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses and Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?, the question-and-answer format makes this book perfect both for browsing and for school-project research. Kids don't need to own or ride a horse to love this book, as it is not about riding but instead showcases the horse as a fascinating animal. Humans and horses have shared a long history together and this book covers it all: * When Horses Flew: famous horses, prehistoric horses, legendary horses, horse lore and facts * Pintos, Percherons and Palominos: breeds, ponies vs. horses, wild horses, horses around the world, weird horses * The Mane Tale: the many quirks of horse bodies and behavior * Straight from the Horse's Mouth: horse language, horse expressions, hero horses, horse whisperers...

Meet Harry Houdini - the most famous magician of all time. Harry performed many daring and astounding tricks still talked about today, including dangerous underwater escapes. Harry started his life in poverty but as a child got his own trapeze and performed for the neighborhood kids, calling himself "Prince of the Air." He went on to become one of the most famous people in the world, performing in front of huge crowds and making six movies. With level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations, this level 3 first reader tells the story of Harry Houdini's magic....

From a polka-dot pie that's perfect for a party to a silly salami you can eat for dessert, this book is choc-a-block with more than forty-five tasty chocolate recipes. Includes Quick Treats, delicious chocolate ideas kids can prepare in minutes, or even seconds! Kids can make * Triple chocolate cookies * Cool shakes * S'more gorp * Candy-covered pizza * Dirt dessert...

Now kids can do more than just eat cookies! They can learn how to bake and build holiday decorations and wreaths, a garden of cookie flowers and candleholders -- all from cookie dough. It's fun and easy, and the best part is you can eat your mistakes! Bake It and Build It includes delicious cookie dough recipes kids can taste test as they learn how to cut out shapes, "glue" them together and decorate their cookie creations. There are also patterns for an impressive cookie castle and for a Thanksgiving turkey the whole family can gobble up! Clear instructions and step-by-step illustrations make each project easy for kids to build on their own....

As a poor student in Paris, Marie Curie piled clothes -- and furniture -- on top of herself to keep warm at night. But Marie went on to become the first woman to win a Nobel Prize -- and also the first person to win this award twice. Marie Curie's discoveries in radiation changed the world. She became one of the most important women in science and her research is still important to scientists and doctors today. Radiation is used as a treatment for cancer and to produce electricity, kill organisms that spoil food and detect smoke in homes....

Meet Harry Houdini - the most famous magician of all time. Harry performed many daring and astounding tricks still talked about today, including dangerous underwater escapes. Harry started his life in poverty but as a child got his own trapeze and performed for the neighborhood kids, calling himself "Prince of the Air." He went on to become one of the most famous people in the world, performing in front of huge crowds and making six movies. With level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations, this level 3 first reader tells the story of Harry Houdini's magic....

From a polka-dot pie that's perfect for a party to a silly salami you can eat for dessert, this book is choc-a-block with more than forty-five tasty chocolate recipes. Includes Quick Treats, delicious chocolate ideas kids can prepare in minutes, or even seconds! Kids can make * Triple chocolate cookies * Cool shakes * S'more gorp * Candy-covered pizza * Dirt dessert...

Meet the Wright Brothers -- inventors of the airplane. The story of how they created one of the most influential machines in history is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations. A Level 3 first reader....

This book in the Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History series introduces young readers to the famous writer, comedian, world traveler and lecturer. This poor boy born Sam Clemens grew up to write books that changed literature in America and around the world. Celebrated around the world for his humorous writings, Mark Twain often had little to laugh about in his life. He was plagued by financial difficulties, and his wife and three of his children all died before him. Despite these setbacks, he maintained the broadly appealing sense of humor that made him the first American star. From his Mississippi boyhood, through the Civil War, his years of fame following the publication of Huckleberry Finn, and his business reversals and family tragedies, Mark Twain's story is a fascinating trip through a changing United States. Includes many photos, reproductions of contemporary art and artifacts, newspaper excerpts, a timeline of Twain's life, an index and a list of places to visit....

THIS EDITION IS INTENDED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Albert Einstein was one of the most brilliant scientists who ever lived. The theories that he formulated about time, light, and gravity have changed how we look at the world and resulted in m...

Meet Samuel de Champlain, explorer. The story of his exploration of the unknown lands of New France and his many adventures there is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations in this Level 3 first reader....

Meet Helen Keller -- advocate for the blind and deaf. The story of Helen's struggles to learn how to communicate and the enormous difference she made for the blind and deaf around the world is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations. A Level 3 first reader....

Danger and drama among the monarchs.

What would you do for absolute power? For many monarchs throughout history, it was a question that ruled their lives. Step into the world of palatial intrigue, where holding the throne means evading death... or causing it.

Some sovereigns were cunning at avoiding their killers. Cleopatra of Egypt once rolled herself into a rug and was carried out past her enemies' noses. Other royals were brutal when dealing with foes. VIad the Impaler's monstrous methods inspired the legend of Dracula the vampire.

From monarchs murdered at the hands of their subjects to kings killed on the battlefield, the stories of these ten royals are told:

• Cleopatra of Egypt (69 BCE-30 BCE)
• VIad III the lmpaler of Wallachia (1431-1476)
• Richard III of England (1452-1485)
• "Bloody Mary" 1(1516-1558)
• Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
• Elizabeth I (1533-1603)
• Louis XVI (1754-1793)
• Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)
• Elisabeth of Austria (1837- 1898)
• The Romanovs of Russia (1872-1918).

A final section offers examples from the 20th century -- from assassination attempts in England to a royal massacre in Nepal.

Blending dramatic storytelling and historical fact, and complete with fascinating photographs and artwork, Royal Murder is a compelling account of scheming sovereigns.

...

Meet Thomas Edison - world-famous inventor. The story of his many inventions, including the phonograph and the light bulb, is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations in the Level 3 first reader....

Meet Marie Curie -- Nobel laureate and world famous scientist. Marie was the first woman to win the world's top science prize -- and the first person to win it twice. The story of her discoveries, including the metals polonium and radium, and her contribution to the study of radiation is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations. This Level 3 reader contains longer, more complex stories and sentences, more challenging vocabulary, language play and minimal repetition....

Meet the Wright Brothers -- inventors of the airplane. The story of how they created one of the most influential machines in history is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations. A Level 3 first reader....

Based on the popular hardcover flap book of the same name, this lively board book is a colorful menagerie of animal sounds, rhymes and guessing games. Perfect for eager little hands, it will have young children purring, oinking and giggling their way to the surprise ending....

Did you know that cats can smell over 200 million different scents? Or that you can communicate with your cat just by blinking?These are just a few of the cat facts to discover in this ultimate companion book for young cat owners and admirers. How did cats and humans begin to live together? How were cats treated in ancient times? Why do cats like to bump up against you? How do you know if a cat is pedigreed? Here you'll find the answers to these and many more questions, plus lore, legends, superstitions, hero-stories, quizzes and cat training tips. Feline Facts: The Chartreux breed's rounded forehead and long, narrow muzzle make it look like it s always smiling. Famed English scientist Sir Isaac Newton invented the cat flap for his cat Spithead. Long ago in Burma, cats were owned by royalty and priests, and legends say that each cat had its very own servant. A cat's ear contains 32 muscles - compared to a human's 6. A cat named Ninja once traveled more than 850 miles to find its old house. The Turkish Van cat actually likes swimming....

This book in the Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History series introduces young readers to the famous writer, comedian, world traveler and lecturer. This poor boy born Sam Clemens grew up to write books that changed literature in America and around the world. Celebrated around the world for his humorous writings, Mark Twain often had little to laugh about in his life. He was plagued by financial difficulties, and his wife and three of his children all died before him. Despite these setbacks, he maintained the broadly appealing sense of humor that made him the first American star. From his Mississippi boyhood, through the Civil War, his years of fame following the publication of Huckleberry Finn, and his business reversals and family tragedies, Mark Twain's story is a fascinating trip through a changing United States. Includes many photos, reproductions of contemporary art and artifacts, newspaper excerpts, a timeline of Twain's life, an index and a list of places to visit....

Meet Lucy Maud Montgomery -- world-famous author. The story of her dedication to her craft and the creation of Anne of Green Gables, her best-loved novel, is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations. A Level 3 first reader....

Danger and drama among the monarchs.

What would you do for absolute power? For many monarchs throughout history, it was a question that ruled their lives. Step into the world of palatial intrigue, where holding the throne means evading death... or causing it.

Some sovereigns were cunning at avoiding their killers. Cleopatra of Egypt once rolled herself into a rug and was carried out past her enemies' noses. Other royals were brutal when dealing with foes. VIad the Impaler's monstrous methods inspired the legend of Dracula the vampire.

From monarchs murdered at the hands of their subjects to kings killed on the battlefield, the stories of these ten royals are told:

• Cleopatra of Egypt (69 BCE-30 BCE)
• VIad III the lmpaler of Wallachia (1431-1476)
• Richard III of England (1452-1485)
• "Bloody Mary" 1(1516-1558)
• Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
• Elizabeth I (1533-1603)
• Louis XVI (1754-1793)
• Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)
• Elisabeth of Austria (1837- 1898)
• The Romanovs of Russia (1872-1918).

A final section offers examples from the 20th century -- from assassination attempts in England to a royal massacre in Nepal.

Blending dramatic storytelling and historical fact, and complete with fascinating photographs and artwork, Royal Murder is a compelling account of scheming sovereigns.

...

Albert Einstein was one of the most brilliant scientists who ever lived. The theories that he formulated about time, light and gravity have changed how we look at the world and resulted in many new inventions. But did you know that he was so absentminded that he once forgot where he lived? Or that even though he was an advocate of world peace, his work led to the creation of the atom bomb? Using photographs, maps, quotes, letters and drawings, this biography introduces young readers to Albert Einstein. Also included are a time line of his life and a list of places to visit to learn more about one of history's greatest thinkers....

Meet Thomas Edison - world-famous inventor. The story of his many inventions, including the phonograph and the light bulb, is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations in the Level 3 first reader....

Harry Houdini is still the world's most famous magician -- thanks to his inventive tricks, death-defying stunts and incredible talent for publicity. He claimed he could escape from anything! The immigrant son of a rabbi, Harry overcame grueling poverty to become a one-man phenomenon, wowing audiences around the world. Harry happily hung upside down from skyscrapers, leapt into rivers in chains and survived in an airless coffin -- but driving a car made him nervous. He also starred in six Hollywood movies, some still available on video. This biography introduces young readers to the multitalented, mysterious and contradictory man behind the tricks, escapes and dangerous feats....

Meet Samuel de Champlain, explorer. The story of his exploration of the unknown lands of New France and his many adventures there is told in level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations in this Level 3 first reader....