Can you solve this month's mystery? —Feliz cumpleaños a ti —cantaban las amigas de Samara en la cafetería mientras ella se ponía colorada de la vergüenza.  Esa mañana Samara había traído magdalenas de su casa, y ahora le estaba dando las que quedaban a las niñas con quien almorzaba todos los días, Natalia y Viol Abril Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios cortos que resuelves con ciencias! Vete a caminar Los estudiantes estaban felices con el clima el día de la excursión. Había llovido todo el día y la noche anterior, pero esta mañana solo estaba fresco y nublado mientras los niños caminaban hacia el Centro de Visitantes. La clase estaba estudiando distintos ecosistemas, y había tomado un autobús a un parque con un prado, un estanque y bosques. Estaban divididos en tres grupos para buscar muestras y tomar fotos. Tenían radio-teléfonos para mantenerse en contacto, porque los teléfonos celulares no funcionaban allí. Un grupo tomó un sendero largo y empinado para llegar al Estanque del Sapo con el Sr. Wysor. El grupo de Marcel y Tucker cruzó hacia la pradera con la Sra. Smith, mientras que el tercer grupo se encargó de estudiar el bosque en una ladera con la Sra. Hammerick. Después de más o menos una hora, el grupo de la Sra. Smith había terminado. Regresó al Centro de Visitantes, pero ninguno de los otros grupos había regresado. La Sra. Smith le pidió a Marcel que verificara cómo estaban los demás. —Terminamos en el prado y podemos irnos en cualquier momento. ¿Cómo están ustedes? Cambio —dijo por el radio-teléfono. —Tenemos nuestras muestras y estamos tomando las últimas fotos. Caminaremos de regreso en un par de minutos. Cambio- —respondió una voz. —Estamos tomando muestras, pero hay tanta neblina aquí que las fotos no saldrán. Dennos otros 20 minutos. Tal vez la niebla se levante. Cambio —respondió otra voz. —No reconocí esas voces. ¿Cuál grupo necesita más tiempo? —le preguntó Tucker a Marcel. REVELAR RESPUESTA

Can you solve this month's science mystery? Junio Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Matemáticas! Un cuento largo Día de los desafíos era uno de los más esperados en la semana del campamento. A los campistas se les enviaba a hacer toda clase de tareas extrañas, como, por ejemplo, encontrar pelo de animales, ciertos tipos de hojas, nueces, y otros pedacitos de naturaleza. Dominic y Vincent estaban convencidos de que se les había encargado la tarea más difícil de todas: calcular la altura exacta del árbol solitario en el centro del campamento. Por poco sueltan carcajadas cuando les entregaron solo dos herramientas para hacerlo: una regla de una yarda de longitud y una gran bola de hilo. —Es imposible —dijo Dominic, ojeando hasta la punta del árbol con los ojos entrecerrados. Era un día soleado. —No puede ser imposible —dijo Vincent—. El consejero dijo que otros chicos lo han hecho con las mismas cosas que nos dieron a nosotros. Pensaron por un rato. —Bueno, tengo una idea —dijo Dominic—. Pero no será fácil. Uno de nosotros puede sostener la bola de hilo mientras que el otro se amarra un extremo del hilo al cinturón y trepa el árbol. Podríamos llegar lo suficientemente cerca a la punta como para estimar cuánto falta, y después podríamos agregar ese estimado a la longitud del hilo desde el punto al que alcanzamos hasta el suelo. —No creo que nos gustará el resultado de eso —dijo Vincent. —¿Por qué? —preguntó Dominic. REVELAR RESPUERTA

Love crazy animal facts? Open Earth: Mammals Unlocked is now in paperback! Get answers all your wackiest wildlife questions with an interactive Q&A format in English or bilingual (English/Spanish) editions! Unlock the wild world of mammals—now in paperback! Fuzzy, scaly, clawed, and finned—mammals can be found in the depths of the ocean and the heights of the mountains. Mammals Unlocked and the bilingual edition, Mammals Unlocked / Mamíferos descubiertos, illuminate the vastness of the mammal world in a simple, interactive question-and-answer format. These first paperback editions of the Open Earth / Tierra Abierta series are a dynamic introduction to class Mammalia, perfect for any kid who’s fascinated by mammals big and small. Discover all the facts you need in order to wow your friends, impress your teachers, and dazzle your dog! Mammals Unlocked is sure to stimulate and challenge even the most knowledgeable animal lover. Press Release Book details English Paperback (ISBN 978-1-958629-13-0) $14.95 Bilingual Paperback (ISBN 978-1-958629-15-4) $14.95 Age range 8 - 12 years Grade range 3rd - 7th Grade Get the book in Hardcover Available now! English English/Spanish "★★★★★ This resource, with its engaging questions and introduction to diverse mammalian members followed by its clearly explained answers, provides an arousing and intriguing introduction to basic science and an awareness of the adaptations nature provides for the survival of the species." —Manhattan Book Review "Find all of what you didn’t know about mammals in this engaging and thought provoking new series. The chapters take you around the world visiting many of the over 6,400 mammal species... Mammals Unlocked is perfect for upper elementary and beyond. The level of curiosity is enhanced with each fact unlocked. A great gift for this upcoming holiday season." —Always In the Middle, Middle Grade Book Reviews Praise for Mammals Unlocked MEET THE AUTHOR Dia L. Michels is an award-winning science and parenting writer who has authored or edited over a dozen books for both children and adults. While her topics include science and math books for middle grade students, her passion is promoting attachment parenting and supporting breastfeeding. A popular speaker, she lectures frequently at conferences, universities, libraries, and schools around the country. The mother of three grown children, she lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., with five cats and a dog. She can be reached at Dia@PlatypusMedia.com . MEET THE Illustrator Bonnie Hofkin's first picture books and early readers, growing up in the home of a physician, were medical journals and anatomy texts. With her interest in the human body thus igniting a lifelong love of art, she first obtained a BA in commercial illustration, followed by a master's degree in medical illustration. Subsequently, she embarked on a 40+ year career as a freelance illustrator. Still going strong, her unique style, in which an eye for accuracy and visual appeal is combined with a classical look reminiscent of the great Renaissance masters, is instantly recognizable.

"Sorry I'm late. We had to spend 10 minutes scraping the ice off the car before we could get going," Ignacio said as he joined the tennis class. He and his friend Deshi were taking Saturday morning lessons at the tennis club's indoor courts... ¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... January Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! Setting the Date One night, Elijah and Kevin were watching the debate for the upcoming presidential election. They were in Kevin’s family room taking notes about the topics that were being discussed and the main points each candidate was making. There was going to be a quiz on the debate in their social studies class the next morning. Kevin’s younger brother, John, was sitting at the computer in the corner, working on the invitations for his birthday party, which was going to be on January 6th. He always had his party on the actual day of his birthday, even if it was a school day. He was getting excited about it already, even though it was more than two months away. Kevin had helped him get started on the computer program, but had to move over to the TV when the debate came on. John read aloud what he had written so far: “You are invited to a party for John’s birthday on . . . something, January 6th. Kevin, what day of the week is my birthday going to be? We don’t have a calendar for next year yet.” “How should I know?” Kevin said. “I’m trying to watch this debate.” “Do you remember what day of the week your birthday was on earlier this year?” Elijah asked John. “Sunday,” John replied. “I remember we watched a pro football game on TV during the party.” “Well, then shouldn’t it be obvious which day of the week your next birthday will be?” Elijah asked. REVEAL ANSWER

Stay Ahead of the Curve with Science Naturally | Discover Upcoming Books in STEM and More | Get Ready for Exciting Releases in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics! COMING SOON Click on the photos below for more information November 2025

Enero Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Matemáticas! Fijando la fecha Una noche, Elijah y Kevin estaban viendo el debate de las próximas elecciones presidenciales. Estaban en la sala, en casa de Kevin, tomando notas sobre los temas debatidos y los argumentos principales de cada candidato. La mañana siguiente tendrían un examen al respecto en su clase de Estudios Sociales. El hermano menor de Kevin, John, estaba sentado en la computadora en una esquina de la sala, preparando las invitaciones para su fiesta de cumpleaños, que sería el 6 de enero. Siempre celebraba su fiesta el mismo día de su cumpleaños, aunque fuera un día de escuela. Ya se estaba emocionando con la idea, a pesar de que faltaban más de dos meses. Kevin le había ayudado a empezar en el programa de la computadora, pero se había tenido que regresar al televisor cuando empezó el debate. John leyó en voz alta lo que había escrito hasta el momento: —Estás invitado a la fiesta de cumpleaños de John el día . . . lo que sea, 6 de enero. Kevin, ¿qué día de la semana es mi cumpleaños? Todavía no tenemos un calendario para el próximo año. —¿Qué se yo? —respondió Kevin—. Estoy intentando ver este debate. —¿Recuerdas en qué día de la semana cayó tu cumpleaños este año? —le preguntó Elijah a John. —Domingo —contestó John—. Recuerdo que vimos un partido de fútbol profesional en la tele durante la fiesta. —Bueno, ¿no es obvio el día de la semana en que caerá tu cumpleaños? —preguntó Elijah. REVELAR RESPUESTA

Condensations of award-winning science and math resources for early childhood, elementary, and middle school students. Condensations On this page you can find condensed versions of all of our books. Click on the images below to view each Condensation.

With this picture book, explore a variety of eye conditions and the helpful tools that people use to better see the world around them. What is it like to see the world through someone else's eyes? If you’ve ever been curious about how your eyes work, why some people need glasses, or what you see if you're colorblind, How Do You See the World? has the answers! Eyes are complicated, and each little part has to work together in order to build a clear picture of what you see. Engaging science content covers eye anatomy, how light enters our eyes and sends an image to our brain, how we see color, and even ways we can perceive invisible light. Written by an optical physicist, this informative picture book explores the various eye conditions that kids may have or may learn about through their friends and relatives. Discover clear explanations of eye conditions such as amblyopia, astigmatism, colorblindness, and glaucoma, paired with illustrations that show how these conditions affect what you see, and what tools you can use to improve your vision. How Do You See the World? helps kids ages 7–10 understand their own eyes and empathize with how others experience the world around them. Fun, diverse characters will help normalize all types of visual impairments and celebrate the tools and technology that help us see more clearly. We are proud to announce How Do You See the World? as a winner in the 2025 Outstanding Science Trade Book Awards, representing each year’s best K-12 science books, chosen by science educators. Learn all about it here. Press Release Teacher's Guide Order in Paperback Order in Spanish Did You Know? How Do You See the World also comes as a reflowable eBook, specifically created for children experiencing blindness and low vision, with features including: Detailed alt text for the book’s illustrations Full display transformability High-contrast image text Navigation features, including a page list to match the original hardcover edition Text-to-speech compatibility Updates to the content for the purpose of clarity Reflowable eBook and standard fixed format available soon on: Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Overdrive Learn more about our commitment to accessibility here. Book details Age range 7 - 10 years Grade range 2nd grade - 5th grade Trim size 10" x 8" Pages 40 Hardcover (ISBN 978-1-958629-43-7) $18.95 Paperback (ISBN 978-1-958629-75-8) $16.95 Spanish (ISBN 978-1-958629-73-4) $16.95 eBook (ISBN 978-1-958629-44-4) $13.99 Accessible eBook (ISBN 978-1-958629-70-3) $13.99 Reviews by Experts “A great book for young children that explains the phenomenon of vision and how the eyes work. It helps children appreciate the problems that some people have with their vision.” —David Atchison, D.Sc., Professor of Visual Optics, Queensland University of Technology, Australia “Learning about the visual system could not be more fun and simple as How Do You See the World? makes it.” —Dana Spearin, Optometric Physician “Intricately explains how the eye functions and emphasizes the importance of eye health in a simple yet comprehensive manner. I recommend adding this book to your child's collection, for it will engage their curiosity and yours.“ —Brittani Carver-Schemper, OD, Eye Doctor and Eye Health Educator (@bettervision) “This book is the perfect choice for curious young minds who are eager to discover the science behind the gift of sight.” —Dr. Kelsea Brown, Optometrist “ The science behind how we see is fascinating and can be complex, but this book breaks it down into easy-to-understand segments. I truly loved sharing this book with my kids and will be recommending it to my patients as well!” —Dr. Way C. Yu, Doctor of Optometry About the Illustrator Noureddine Melikechi is a Professor of Physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he works on the interaction of light with various types of samples. He has studied why various objects have different colors and how we are able to see. Noureddine has also used light to detect early signs of cancers. A native of Algeria, Noureddine received his Diplôme d'Études Supérieures in Physics from the University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algeria, and his M.Sc. and D.Phil., both in Physics, from the University of Sussex. Michelle Simpson grew up in the forests of Niagara Falls, Ontario. She is heavily inspired by nature and mythical folktales. Michelle graduated from Sheridan College with a BAA in Illustration, and now creates artwork for children’s books and television shows. She also wrote and illustrated the picture book Monsters In My House. In her spare time, Michelle likes to garden, go for forest walks, and annoy her cats, Sushi and Mr. Pounce, with endless amounts of love. About the Author

"Parents who are responsive to their children's needs often find themselves swimming upstream against the culture. Platypus Media books encourage parents as they create families that are close-knit. Through sharing stories, Platypus Media is building a caring community where children and parents alike can thrive." —Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D., Author of The Hidden Feelings of My Motherhood "Platypus Media books give us a fun way to help meet curriculum objectives in reading, science, language arts, and social studies. The kids love them—and the free activity guides do a lot of the work for us!" —Catherine Pfeiffer, School Librarian, Capitol Hill Cluster Schools, Washington, D.C. "Caring parents will be delighted with the gentle way these books foster love and respect between parent and child." —Marguerite Kelly, Author of The Monster's Almanac "What's really exciting about this line of books is that children from every background can relate to them. Platypus Media books have captured the values of close-knit families from many different perspectives." —Maria Salvadore, Children's Literature Specialist, Washington, D.C. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING Our mission is to get books into the hands of children all over the world, and we are proud to work with local, state, and federal programs to further this goal. We are now registered on SAM.gov as well as with the SBA. DOWNLOAD OUR CAPABILITY STATEMENT SEARCH FOR US ON SAM.gov VIEW OUR SBA PROFILE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CERTIFICATIONS Small Business Women-Owned Small Business CORE COMPETENCIES Platypus Media, LLC is comprised of two independent publishing houses: Platypus Media and Science Naturally. Platypus Media creates materials that support and promote attachment parenting, breastfeeding, and family. We share evidence-based practices and family support resources with our readers. Our imprint, Science Naturally , makes math and science accessible and engaging for children ages 0-14. Our STEM books encourage skill acquisition in reading, science, and math and are available in several languages and formats. CORPORATE IDENTIFICATION Platypus Media has been in business since February 2000, but our founder and president, Dia Michels, has been working in publishing for the last 30 years. Over the years we have accumulated a permanent staff of 4, who have helped to produce 45+ titles and print more than 500,000 books. We are honored to say that our books have won more than 60 literary, science, math, and language awards. WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT? Literature-based science and math Problem-based learning Spanish/bilingual education Free downloadable Teacher's Guides Medically certified authors Father, sibling, and NICU support Customization opportunities All of our STEM books meet Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Accepts government credit cards and purchase orders PAST PERFORMANCE *Please contact us for POC information Kids Read Now | 02/05/2019–03/27/2020 Provided 15,800 customized children's' books over the span of nearly fourteen months (four orders) at a cost as low as $2.89/book California Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) / SLAHP | 03/22/2018–09/17/2019 Provided 3,500 breastfeeding booklets over the span of eighteen months (two orders) at a cost as low as $2.95/booklet Colorado WIC / CDPHE | 08/29/2019 Provided 850 hardcover children's' books within one month (one order) at a cost as low as $4.95/book Healthy Start Oklahoma | 01/03/2019 Provided 1,000 customized children's' books within one month (one order) at a cost as low as $2.95/book New Mexico WIC / DOH | 12/04/2018 Provided 6,115 customized children's' books within one month (one order) at a cost as low as $2.95/book

Tiny Tern’s extraordinary journey begins! Arctic terns make the longest migration of any species. Every year, they fly all the way from the northern Arctic to the southern Antarctic—and back. Experience a bird’s-eye view of getting lost in heavy storms, protecting hatchlings from predators, and finally reaching your destination. This book is a celebration of the power of perseverance and a reminder that sometimes all it takes is a little bravery. Bilingual Reversible Edition Available Now! We’re thrilled to make this extraordinary story even more accessible to readers and language learners everywhere! Whether you’re a Spanish speaker, an English speaker, or learning either language, this edition is designed for you. Tiny Tern’s extraordinary journey begins! Arctic terns make the longest migration of any species. Every year, they fly from the northern Arctic to the southern Antarctic—and back—spending most of the year in flight. As the days grow shorter and colder, Tiny Tern and the flock prepare to leave the Arctic and begin their journey towards sunlight and warmth. The terns travel all the way to the other side of the world. Along the way, they encounter many dangers. Experience a bird’s-eye view of getting lost in heavy storms, protecting hatchlings from predators, and finally reaching your destination. Following the story, discover more educational content about arctic terns. Read about what they eat, how they fly, and everything they encounter during their time in the Arctic and Antarctic. With lyrical text and wondrous illustrations, join the flock of terns on their incredible journey, and learn about the power of perseverance from the birds who do it best. Tiny Tern Takes Flight is a celebration of nature, featuring the seemingly ordinary tern’s lifelong quest for summer sunlight. PRESS RELEASE Book Details Age Range 4 - 7 years Grade Range Preschool - 2nd Grade Bilingual (EN/SP) Paperback ISBN: 978-1-958629-84-0 • $16.95 ORDER NOW Reviews "I'm delighted to see the incredible journey of the Arctic Tern celebrated in this beautifully illustrated and evocative book. It's a wonderful addition that brings diversity to children's literature, inspiring the next generation to appreciate and protect our natural world." - Grant Ballard , Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, Point Blue "In Tiny Tern Takes Flight, Donna B. McKinney invites readers into Tiny Tern and their flock’s enchanting migration journey. With Fiona Osbaldstone’s vibrant illustrations, this delightful tale sparks imagination and fosters a love for nature in young readers.” – S. Cargill , @shontalthebirder “The best children’s books should be familiar enough to be relatable – and mysterious enough to be intriguing. ‘Tiny Tern Takes Flight’ achieves both of these by telling the story of the Artic Tern - one of the world’s most itinerate travelers – who ventures from pole to pole annually in search of sun and food. Avian migration is truly one of the world’s most intriguing natural phenomena - this story can only help engage future naturalists and ornithologists.” – Dick Evans , San Francisco-based Documentary Photographer, Birder and author About the Author About the Illustrator Donna B. McKinney lived most of her life in the Washington, D.C. area, where she worked at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, writing about science. Now she has another great job—writing books for kids, including her previous release titled Lights On. Donna currently lives in North Carolina with two full-of-mischief dogs. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, fishing, and playing a game called pickleball (kind of like a mix of tennis and ping pong). Born and bred in Kent, England, Fiona Osbaldstone loved painting as a kid and used to paint her own versions of Disney characters. She always wanted to do something with art and went to the Kent Institute of Art & Design. She was inspired by the works of David Shepherd and Norman Rockwell for their detail and diversely different styles. Her work includes natural history, botanicals, people, and scenes. Outside of the artistic field, although not too far removed, she loves pottery and makes and sells her own pieces. She enjoys photography as well as cycling but is “not too good at that and will invariably end up in a ditch.”

Can you solve this real-world math mystery? Spring had turned the corner and twins Frances and Fiona were pleased that they could start spending time outside in their backyard. The family's yard was sheltered by trees with long branches, perfect for the girls' hobby of bird watching.  Mayo Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios cortos que resuelves con ciencias! Hallando la solución La primavera había llegado y las gemelas Frances y Fiona estaban contentas de que podrían empezar a pasar tiempo afuera en su jardín. El jardín de la familia estaba cubierto por árboles con ramas largas; el sitio perfecto para el pasatiempo de las gemelas de avistar aves. Frances tenía la labor de mezclar azúcar con agua para el bebedero de los colibríes. En el pasado, las niñas habían notado que mientras más dulce preparaban el almíbar, más colibríes venían. Este año Frances había decidido hacer la mezcla lo más dulce posible. En la cocina, agregó el azúcar al agua caliente hasta que el azúcar empezó al acumularse al fondo de la hoya aun cuando revolvía el agua. Luego llenó el bebedero de los pájaros con la solución de agua. —¡Me encanta cuando vemos muchos colibríes! —exclamó Frances, tapando el bebedero. Las niñas colgaron el bebedero de una rama que podían observar desde su terraza. Pasaron varios días antes de que empezaran a aparecer los colibríes, y cuando por fin llegaban, se iban casi al instante. Las niñas fueron a revisar el bebedero. —Creo que veo el problema —dijo Fiona, raspando polvo de los hoyos en el bebedero. —¿De dónde salió eso? —preguntó Frances. —Los pájaros no pueden sacar la mezcla del bebedero —dijo Fiona—. Este polvo que está obstruyendo las aperturas en el bebedero es azúcar. —Pero yo no puse azúcar en la parte de afuera —protestó Frances—. Y dejé de agregarle azúcar al agua cuando se empezó a acumular en el fondo mientras la revolvía. Sé que cuando el agua ya no aguanta más azúcar, está saturada y no puede disolver más. ¿No es cierto? REVELAR RESPUESTA