A raging wildfire can be a major disaster, costing lives and destroying homes. But fires in nature can help as well as harm, clearing forests of dead trees and allowing young plants to grow. Breathtaking photos highlight this surprising look at fire's part in maintaining the balance of nature.

When the unmanned spacecraft Galileo landed on Jupiter in 1995, what mysteries did it uncover?...

Did you know that...

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

Why is it important tochew your food?

Can you guess how long it takes for food to travel through your body?

Could you possibly have twenty feet of small intestines?

Where does that bad-smelling gas come from?

Your digestive system is out of sight and out of mind -- until things don't go right. Then you may wonder how these important organs work!

You'll find the answers in Seymour Simon's smooth, well-organized, and fascinating introduction to the digestive system. He explains how it works twenty-four hours a day, turning pizza, sandwiches, milk, and other food into energy and nutrients and waste. Striking photographs on every spread show how major organs including the stomach and intestines move food through your body, and how, eventually, waste is eliminated.

Guts takes the mystery out of something that happens to everyone, every day, while at the same time sharing a sense of wonder about the human body.

Did you know that:

• Penguins are champion swimmers.
• They spend 75 percent of their lives in water.
• They are birds, but they can't fly. Penguins are classified as birds because they have feathers.

Now you can explore a penguin's world by finding out how they can swim so fast, what they eat, and why people need to protect their habitats. Acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to take you on a journey to the Antarctic region for a close-up look at one of nature's most beloved and sociable animals.

Seymour Simon has written more than 150 award-winning science books about animals, anatomy, astronomy, earth science, and vehicles!

Named after the Roman god of war, Mars has fascinated people for thousands of years. Did you know that . . .

Hurricanes. Typhoons. Cyclones. No matter what you call them, these formidable, swirling storms are the most devastating events in nature. hurricanes takes young readers on an in-depth exploration of one of the most awe-inspiring phenomena on Earth! This dramatic account of hurricanes and the disasters they leave behind, including Andrew and Katrina, are intensified through arresting full-color photographs and satellite images. Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to bring you a new, updated edition of his acclaimed look at this astonishing, and often terrifying, natural disaster.

Cats are a perennial favorite with young kids. Filled with great tips and guidelines for kids getting their first cat. Lavishly illustrated with full-color, up-close photographs, Seymour Simon captures cats as they hunt, give birth, and play.

Ages: 5 - 9

Penguins certainly are a different bird! They spend seventy-five percent of their lives in water and they can′t even fly! Penguins are classified as birds because they have feathers. So explore a penguin′s world by finding out how they can swim so fast, what they eat, and how people need to help protect their habitats.

Includes:

o Smithsonian mission statement

o Glossary

o Index

o Website and additional reading sources

o Series thumbnails on back panel

Ages: 5 - 9

Lightning strikes the earth more than a hundred times every second. It's bright and dramatic, but it happens so fast that we rarely get a chance to see it. Now celebrated children's science writer Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution give you an opportunity to take a closer look at lightning. Newly updated, and boasting vivid photographs and Simons classic writing, this brand-new edition of a science favorite provides clear explanations of what causes those bright flashes of light in a stormy sky.

Don't move a muscle--read all about them! Did you know that...

• Without muscles you couldn't blink--or even breathe!

• Nearly 700 muscles control your life.

• Big or small, a muscle is made up of just one cell.

• Exercise doesn't give you more muscles, but it strengthens the ones you have.

Discover how muscles make us move--and see what it really looks like under your skin.

What animal can . . .

• run so fast, its feet don't always touch the ground,
• weigh more than 2,000 pounds,
• sense people's emotions bytheir smell,
• . . . and wear shoes?
• Why, a horse, of course!

Horses are some of the most fascinating -- and important -- creatures on Earth. In fact, our world would not be the way it is today if not for horses. Horses have carried medieval knights into battle, transported settlers to the American West, and hauled fire engines and buses. They even turned the wheels that provided power for factories! But one of their greatest, most enduring gifts to us is companionship and trust.

So come along with Seymour Simon, whom the New York Times calls "the dean of the [children's science book] field," and learn more about these amazing animals -- straight from the horse's mouth!

Now award-winning author Seymour Simon examines these twisting columns of air and destruction.With the clear, concise style he is noted for, Simon explains how tornadoes are formed, why and when they are most likely to occur, how scientists classify and track them -- and what to do if one touches down. Spectacular full-color photographs show this powerful phenomenon in action.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 2000--selected by Natn'l Science Tchrs Assoc. & Child. Bk Cncl.

The human brain is behind everything you do. From taking your first step to creating the computer, this vital organ gives humans the ability to learn and adapt to an ever-changing world. Now award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to bring you a new, updated edition of his acclaimed book about your amazing, versatile brain.

Classic movies show giant gorillas scaling tall buildings and swatting planes from the sky, but actual gorillas are gentle social animals that live together in family groups like humans. In fact, gorillas are one of the closest genetic matches to people. And just like humans, gorillas can

• shriek
• chuckle
• hiccup
• even burp!

Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to bring you an updated edition of his classic full-color photographic introduction to these fascinating animals.

Imagine the biggest thing you can think of -- now imagine something bigger that hasn't even stopped growing. That is the universe. Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, though enormous, is a tiny speck among the 100 billion galaxies containing nebulas, planets, "space pods," billions of stars, and black holes that fill the cosmos. New stars, planets, and galaxies continue to form as the universe expands. Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to bring you a new, updated edition of his acclaimed book on this immense topic.

Spiders are one of the most familiar animals in the natural world, yet their biology and lifestyles are poorly known to the general public. The large orb webs in vegetation are a good indicator of their presence, but such webs are constructed by only a certain percentage of spiders. Other kinds live in the ground, in leaf litter, under tree bark, and in freshwater streams. Spiders have been found to never be farther than twelve feet from humans.

In this volume, award-winning author Seymour Simon provides an informative, concise, and sometimes surprising review of what is known about spiders.

—Gary F. Hevel
National Museum of Natural History

If you believe the movies andbooks about shark attacks, you probably think that sharks are the biggest, scariest animals on the planet. But are all sharks the giant man hunters they are so often made out to be? What do they eat, where do they swim, and what do they do on weekends? Now the acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution team up to bring you a new edition of his classic text on sharks, updated with recent scientific research on one of the world's most mysterious creatures.

Dogs are the most popular pet in the world and Seymour Simon provides useful tips and guidelines for any kid looking for a new pet. Lavishly illustrated with full-color, appealing photographs, Seymour Simon captures dogs as they work, and play.

Ages: 5 - 8

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

How much do you know about your favorite feline friend?

Cats are fascinating, complex creatures. Since cats were first tamed more than 100,000 years ago, they have enchanted people with their elegant beauty and mysterious manner. But cats can also be playful and affectionate pets, death-defying acrobats, or ruthless hunters.

Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to bring you an updated edition of his classic full-color photo-graphic introduction to these beloved animals.

For thousands of years these amazing animals have helped us herd sheep, hunt for food, and keep warm. Join beloved science writer Seymour Simon as he takes a close photographic look at the dog, our best friend....

Take a deep breath and then let it out. Did you feel your chest rise and fall? That is actually your lungs filling with oxygen and then pushing carbon dioxide back out when you exhale. Without your lungs and your entire respiratory system, the rest of your body wouldn't receive the oxygen you need to survive. To give your body the oxygen it needs, you breathe twenty times every minute. You breathe more than twenty thousand times each and every day. Acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to explore the important journey that air takes in and out of your lungs.

Now award-winning author Seymour Simon examines these twisting columns of air and destruction.With the clear, concise style he is noted for, Simon explains how tornadoes are formed, why and when they are most likely to occur, how scientists classify and track them -- and what to do if one touches down. Spectacular full-color photographs show this powerful phenomenon in action.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 2000--selected by Natn'l Science Tchrs Assoc. & Child. Bk Cncl.

Why is there no weather on the moon? Is there sound on the moon? Is it ever day on the moon? Why do astronauts bounce around on the moon? How old is the moon?

From Apollo 11's first landing to the mystery of moonquakes and the genesis of craters, this stunning introduction to our nearest neighbor in space describes the moon and its all-important relationship to Earth. Mesmerizing full-color photography and an informative text perfect this exciting and educational journey in space....

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

What animal can . . .

• run so fast, its feet don't always touch the ground,
• weigh more than 2,000 pounds,
• sense people's emotions bytheir smell,
• . . . and wear shoes?
• Why, a horse, of course!

Horses are some of the most fascinating -- and important -- creatures on Earth. In fact, our world would not be the way it is today if not for horses. Horses have carried medieval knights into battle, transported settlers to the American West, and hauled fire engines and buses. They even turned the wheels that provided power for factories! But one of their greatest, most enduring gifts to us is companionship and trust.

So come along with Seymour Simon, whom the New York Times calls "the dean of the [children's science book] field," and learn more about these amazing animals -- straight from the horse's mouth!

Whales are among the biggest creatures that have ever lived on our planet. Some whales grow bigger than one hundred feet long and can weigh as much as fifty cars or more. They are huge, majestic creatures, yet we rarely even lay eyes on them. Now the acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution team up to bring you a brand-new edition of his classic text on one of the world's truly amazing animals. This book is perfect for budding young scientists.

The original edition of whales was the first photo-essay book ever selected as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book!

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

Friendly and fascinating, dolphins are one of nature's most intelligent animals. They live in families called pods and can make a series of 2,000 high-pitched clicks to locate fish in the water. Despite their beauty and playfulness, dolphins face serious dangers from commercial fishing and human activity. It's vital that people support governmental laws to protect these wonderful creatures.

Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to give you an expert view of these clever, curious, and mischievous mammals in a full-color photographic introduction.

Trains can carry
grain and gravel,
milk and machines,
cars and computers,
pipes and people.

Seymour Simon's exploration of these very different trains and their uses, combined with his characteristically eye-catching full-color photographs, captures the beauty and power of steam trains, diesel trains, electric trains, and more -- all at work!

• Some trucks can weigh as much as ten elephants put together.
• Flatbed trucks can carry other trucks, houses, and even a space shuttle!
• Semitrailer cabs can have a bed behind the front seat so that drivers can pull over and rest on long trips.
• Road-train trucks pull multiple trailers at the same time, just like a locomotive pulls freight cars on a train.

Did you know that...

• opossums give birth to fifty tiny babies at once?

• Baby elephants weight over 200 pounds at birth?

• a newborn giraffe is as tall as a person?

Learn everything you ever wanted to know about exotic, irresisible baby animals in this fascinating book -- filled with full-color photographs.

...

Hurricanes. Typhoons. Cyclones. No matter what you call them, these formidable, swirling storms are the most devastating events in nature. hurricanes takes young readers on an in-depth exploration of one of the most awe-inspiring phenomena on Earth! This dramatic account of hurricanes and the disasters they leave behind, including Andrew and Katrina, are intensified through arresting full-color photographs and satellite images. Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to bring you a new, updated edition of his acclaimed look at this astonishing, and often terrifying, natural disaster.

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

Friendly and fascinating, dolphins are one of nature's most intelligent animals. They live in families called pods and can make a series of 2,000 high-pitched clicks to locate fish in the water. Despite their beauty and playfulness, dolphins face serious dangers from commercial fishing and human activity. It's vital that people support governmental laws to protect these wonderful creatures.

Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to give you an expert view of these clever, curious, and mischievous mammals in a full-color photographic introduction.

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

Born almost 5 billion years ago at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy, our Solar System is a place filled with mystery and wonder. In the last fifty years, we have learned more than ever about the farthest reaches of our world. With dramatic full-color photographs and spacecraft images, Our Solar System takes young readers on a fascinating tour of the sun, the eight planets, and their moons, plus asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution on this new, updated edition of his much admired book about the vast and mystifying part of the universe that we live in.

Trains can carry

grain and gravel,

milk and machines,

cars and computers,

pipes and people.

Seymour Simon′s exploration of these very different trains and their uses, combined with his characteristically eye-catching full-color photographs, captures the beauty and power of steam trains, diesel trains, electric trains, and more -- all at work!

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1991 (NSTA/CBC)
1994 Garden State (NJ) Children's Nonfiction Award...

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

One hundred trillion cells, more than 600 muscles, and over 200 bones—these are parts of the twelve major systems that make up the human body. Technological developments have given us a detailed glimpse within our bodies and led to a greater understanding of how we function. Starting with the integumentary system (that's your skin, nails, and hair) and finishing with the reproductive system, the human body covers everything about you—from the outside to the inside. Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution on this new book about the greatest wonder of the world: the human body.

It's easy to see why dogs are the most popular pets in the world. For a run in the park or a cozy snuggle on the couch, a dog is the perfect companion! But dogs are much more than just loyal pets. For thousands of years, these amazing animals have helped people herd sheep, hunt for food, and keep warm.

Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to bring you an updated edition of his classic full-color photographic introduction to man's best friend.

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

Classic movies show giant gorillas scaling tall buildings and swatting planes from the sky, but actual gorillas are gentle social animals that live together in family groups like humans. In fact, gorillas are one of the closest genetic matches to people. And just like humans, gorillas can

• shriek
• chuckle
• hiccup
• even burp!

Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to bring you an updated edition of his classic full-color photographic introduction to these fascinating animals.

Born almost 5 billion years ago at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy, our Solar System is a place filled with mystery and wonder. In the last fifty years, we have learned more than ever about the farthest reaches of our world. With dramatic full-color photographs and spacecraft images, Our Solar System takes young readers on a fascinating tour of the sun, the eight planets, and their moons, plus asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution on this new, updated edition of his much admired book about the vast and mystifying part of the universe that we live in.

Don't move a muscle--read all about them! Did you know that...

• Without muscles you couldn't blink--or even breathe!

• Nearly 700 muscles control your life.

• Big or small, a muscle is made up of just one cell.

• Exercise doesn't give you more muscles, but it strengthens the ones you have.

Discover how muscles make us move--and see what it really looks like under your skin.

Take a deep breath and then let it out. Did you feel your chest rise and fall? That is actually your lungs filling with oxygen and then pushing carbon dioxide back out when you exhale. Without your lungs and your entire respiratory system, the rest of your body wouldn't receive the oxygen you need to survive. To give your body the oxygen it needs, you breathe twenty times every minute. You breathe more than twenty thousand times each and every day. Acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to explore the important journey that air takes in and out of your lungs.