Sophie Washburne

"When people think of Mexico, they may immediately envision its pristine beaches, delicious food, and distinctive musical styles. However, tourists also visit Mexico every year to see its historical monuments, such as the largest pyramid in the world. Mexicans are proud of their country and its rich cultural heritage, which goes back to at least 1600 BCE. Through full-color photographs and intriguing fact boxes, which augment the engaging, age-appropriate...

In the mid-1960s, Native Americans began organizing to demand civil rights from the US government. This movement, which was initially called the American Indian Movement, scheduled sit-ins, marches, and other forms of protest to get the attention of lawmakers. Although the movement achieved several important aims, Native Americans continue to fight to this day for equal treatment and basic rights. Vibrant, full-color photographs and engaging fact...

Both kids and adults often have strong feelings about children being given an allowance. Before young people take a side, it's important for them to learn the basic arguments and facts on both sides of this debate. They're able to do this with the help of

When opossums' habitats are threatened and they move into urban areas, they pose a high risk of disease transmission to humans. This has given them a bad reputation. However, left alone in the forest, opossums make up a vital part of the ecosystem. One way they help humans is by eating large amounts of ticks, which limits the spread of Lyme disease and other sicknesses. Full-color photographs and a detailed graphic organizer give readers more information...

Social media has undeniably changed the world. While people disagree about whether this change is mostly good or mostly bad, it's clear that it will continue to influence our lives. This is why it's imperative to give children an introduction to this new, influential form of social connection long before they're old enough to make their first social media account. Vivid photographs, graphic organizers, and intriguing fact boxes augment the engaging...

Trains have been a crucial part of the world's transportation infrastructure since the 1800s. They made travel so much easier, faster, and cheaper that vacations, which had previously been accessible only to the very wealthy, suddenly became feasible for lower-class families. Although cars and airplanes replaced the majority of train travel over time, trains are once again becoming competitive as tracks are upgraded to accommodate incredibly fast...

The Wright brothers are well known for building the first successful airplane. However, they were neither the first nor the last to design an aircraft. Early designs looked very different than the planes we have today, but engineers from 1903 onward have generally tried to improve on the existing plane design rather than reinventing it. This volume looks at the successes and failures of airplane design, from the ancient Egyptian Saqqara bird to the...

Steve Jobs is a controversial figure who is regarded with awe by some and disgust by others, but he inarguably changed the faces of technology and entertainment with his involvement in Apple and Pixar. This volume presents both sides of the debate, citing Jobs's proponents and detractors, allowing readers to come to their own conclusions about his actions. Detailed sidebars, a fact-filled timeline, and full-color photographs augment the engaging discussion....

People have been using ships to sail the world's oceans for thousands of years, but after the Industrial Revolution, they were able to make ships much bigger and faster. Today, cargo ships carry goods all around the world, cruise ships sail international waters at a leisurely pace, and military ships patrol their country's borders. This volume explores the science that goes into designing various kinds of ships as well as their environmental impact....

When human remains are found at a crime scene, forensic anthropologists examine them to determine the time and cause of death, as well as the identity of the victim. How do they know the answers to these questions? Body farms are facilities where specialists can study the ways bodies decompose under different conditions, which helps forensic anthropologists solve crimes more effectively. Informative fact boxes, full-color photographs, and engaging...