Can you solve this month's real-world math mystery? “Hannah!... Would you please come out here already? Your sister, father, and I have been waiting for you for almost 10 minutes!”... ¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... November Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! Home on the Range Guillermo and Fiorella’s family was enjoying their last hike of the fall before the weather turned too cold to go hiking. Halfway up a mountain on a trail they had never taken before, their father said, “This would be a great spot to have a house.” They looked around the edge of the sunny meadow, down to a stream, feeling a fresh breeze coming down the mountain. “You’re right, Dad,” Guillermo said. “I would love to live here, too,” said Fiorella. “It’s so pretty and I’m sure there are deer and all kinds of other animals here. It would be great to watch wildlife right from our front porch.” “I don’t know about living in a place like this,” their mother said. “There’s no electricity and you kids couldn’t live for more than a day without your gizmos. You could never get the power company to run an electrical line this far out into the woods.” “Well, if we were allowed to build a house here, we could make our own electricity,” Fiorella said. “But making electricity requires energy. Where would we get it?” their father asked. REVEAL ANSWER

Can you solve this real-world math mystery? Kyle y su amigo Antonio habían estado viendo las olimpiadas de verano el diía anterior. Sus eventos favoritos eran los de pista y campo. Kyle era el corredor más rápido de la escuela en distancias cortas, mientras que a Antonio le gustaba correr distancias más largas... Julio Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios cortos que resuelves con ciencias! Barco a la vista —¡Ahoy, compadre! —gritó Liam, entrando a la habitación de su hermano mayor, Theo. —Vete a dormir —gruñó Theo—. ¡Son las seis de la mañana! Sabes que necesito dormir. —¡Pero Theo, hay parte de un naufragio en el océano! ¡Parece haber estado ahí por cienaños! —Entonces estará ahí cuando me levante —gruñó Theo y se dio vuelta. Era la primera mañana de sus vacaciones familiares y habían llegado tarde la nocheanterior a una playa que no habían visitado antes. Liam era un madrugador y habíacaminado hasta la playa justo después del amanecer. Como Theo no quería levantarsey nadie más estaba despierto, Liam se fue a su habitación a leer. Cuando Theo finalmente despertó cerca del mediodía y fue a la playa donde suspadres ya se habían instalado con sillas y mantas, vio gente quemada por el sol bajolas sombrillas y cangrejos de arena corriendo alrededor, pero nada en el océanoexcepto olas. —¿Vieron un naufragio por ahí? —Theo le preguntó a sus padres . —No, pero solo hemos estado aquí por una hora —dijo su padre—. Nos levantamos unpoco tarde. Después los tres fuimos directamente al mercado mientras dormías. —Vinimos acá después de guardar las compras —añadió su madre—.Liam nos habló deun naufragio, pero no lo hemos visto todavía. —El naufragio está allá fuera y se los voy a demostrar —dijo Liam. —¿Cómo? —preguntó Theo. REVELAR RESPUERTO

"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 OUR EIN: 52-2232301 OUR DUNS #: 097524644 OUR CAGE CODE: 64MV8 OUR PRIMARY NAICS CODE: 511130 *Additional NAICS codes—as well as PSCs and FSCs—can be found on our CS . 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 CONTACT US PRIMARY POC: Victoria@PlatypusMedia.com ACCOUNTING: Martha@PlatypusMedia.com +1 (202) 546-1674 LinkedIn.com/Company/Platypus-Media-LLC LinkedIn.com/Company/Science-Naturally- Twitter.com/PlatypusMedia | Twitter.com/SciNaturally Facebook.com/PlatypusMedia | Facebook.com/ScienceNaturally

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

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

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

Can you solve this real-world math mystery? Ron and Lauren’s father had made a New Year’s resolution to be healthier. Part of his program, along with exercising, was eating only cereal for breakfast, instead of things like bacon and eggs. ¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... March Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! Think Green, Guys! Pranav and Maneet’s family had decided to buy a house in a new development. There were several models to pick from and they had chosen one with the features they wanted. Two houses of that model were finished and for sale. Their backs faced each other, one house looking north and the other looking south—each with a big, open lawn in front. There were tall trees between them, coming almost to the back of each house. “It’s hard to pick. These two houses are exactly the same,” their mother said, as they stood on the back deck of the house that faced north. “The price is the same, too, although either way we’re going to have to watch our money more closely after buying a new house,” said their father. Pranav could feel warmth in the sunlight, even through the bare branches of the trees. Spring was coming. Where they lived, winter was short and mild, and furnaces ran only a little while. Summer was long and hot—air conditioners ran almost all day. “We should buy this one,” Pranav said, after thinking for a moment. “What did you do? Flip a coin in your head?” Maneet asked. REVEAL ANSWER

Science Naturally's Event Sales Program allows you to fundraise while offering quality STEM materials to your customers, families, or event participants. Order ahead, send back anything left after the event, and pay 50% off retail for the books you sold. EVENT SALES PROGRAM Our Event Sales Program allows you to fundraise while offering quality STEM materials to your customers, families, or event participants. Perfect for book fairs, conferences, and more! Here's how it works: Select the books you'd like by browsing our store Order any of our books at a 50% discount Return the books that you don't sell Receive your bill after your event Only pay for the books you sold To learn more or to place an order, contact Martha at Martha@ScienceNaturally.com or 1-866-724-8976 "These are some of the most engaging nonfiction books I have ever read!" -Sonya Smith Science Field Coordinator, ATOMS2XP and IMPACT2, Mississippi State, MS "We love the Science Naturally Event Sales Program. It allows us to offer great products to our students with no money upfront." -Doug Tackett PTA Dad Amarillo, TX Download our Book Sale flyer for more information

President and founder of Science Naturally, Dia Michels is an internationally published, award-winning science writer. A popular speaker, she lectures frequently at universities, libraries, and conferences across the country. Read about her presentations below. President and founder of Science Naturally, Dia Michels is an internationally published, award-winning science writer. Her topics include science and math books for middle grade students, and her passion is fostering curiosity in young minds. A popular speaker, she lectures frequently at universities, libraries, and conferences across the country. Read about her talks below. Creativity, Curiosity, and Critical Thinking Combined Discover Strategies to Build Confidence and Encourage Curiosity In today's fast-paced world, schools encourage kids to memorize facts and learn answers to test questions. Unfortunately, this focus often means children are not learning the critical reasoning skills that are so important for applied science and math, which they will encounter in higher education and in real life. To succeed in life and excel in STEM careers, it is imperative for today's students to learn how to use what they know to deduce what they don't. It's not enough to know the answer, they also need to know the "why". This workshop will teach strategies that help kids get to the all-important "ah-ha!" moment. We'll use short questions and brainteasers as an opportunity for creative At the end of this session the participant will be able to... Use literature-based math and science to develop critical thinking skills and promote curiosity. Implement strategies to build confidence and encourage curiosity in the classroom and beyond. analytical reasoning, with each simple mystery as an example of real-life STEM applications. Hands-on activities and fun worksheets help extend the material. Content is interdisciplinary and supports current curriculum standards. Get inspired to encourage creativity, confidence, and curiosity through science and math! If My Mom Were A Platypus Teaching Science through Mammal Life Cycle Stories There are approximately 5000 species of mammals on our planet. They live and reproduce and raise their young in every conceivable habitat, from icy arctic waters to the unrelenting heat of the desert; they live in caves, in trees, in seawater, in freshwater; some are as small as a grape, others the size of a bus. This lively, hands-on workshop shows teachers how to introduce kids to life cycle curricula through engaging mammal stories. Science and parenting writer Dia L. Michels shares insights about the behaviors and characteristics of mammals from her book If My Mom Were a Platypus . This fascinating introduction to the world of mammals captures the universality of the life cycle. The stories are charming, but more importantly, they convey significant scientific insight. The content aligns directly with the Next Generation Science Standards as well as both primary and middle school curricula. Attendees will leave the room with a new set of tools for teaching—and a keen sense of what makes mammals special! At the end of this session the participant will be able to... Use engaging mammal facts to help kids understand and take interest in a variety of life science concepts (sensory perception, infant identification, habitats, nutrient density, adaptations, ecology, metabolism, anatomy, biomes, and classification). Easily incorporate the lessons and activities from the presentation into their curriculum to spark curiosity in their students. Game Show - kids' edition! Are You Smarter than a Mammalogist ? FOR KIDS! This fun-filled, interactive game challenges your mammal knowledge. What can we learn by exploring how other mammals are born and raised? With a focus on early childhood, we uncover fascinating facts, amazing adaptations, and parenting peculiarities. There are over 6,000 mammal species, ranging in shape, size, and habitat. Learn about the diverse ways babies develop (in a womb, pouch, or egg), survive (are they “nest,” “cache,” “follow,” or “carry” mammals?), and how fast or slow the young grow up (newborn blue whales gain 8 pounds per hour!). Come ready to learn, and leave with an appreciation for the diversity in animal adaptations. Plus, pick up prizes along the way! At the end of this session the participant will be able to... Recognize the fundamental similarities and astonishing differences across the mammal class. Gain a greater appreciation for their inner mammal and deeper understanding of their place in the natural world. Understanding How Special it is to Grow Up Human Classifying Mammals in Meaningful Way for Children Educators teach children that we classify living things so we can make order out of our world. We teach them that they are mammals and tell them that there are four requirements to be a mammal: they must have hair or fur, be endothermic, have a backbone, and the females must raise the young on mother's milk. Most of these characteristics, however, apply to many other members of the animal kingdom. Are there more meaningful ways we can teach students to classify mammals? Dia Michels, author of If My Mom Were A Platypus , explores some mammal attributes that provide a fresh perspective on classification and helps kids understand why being a mammal is so special. At the end of this session the participant will be able to... Identify the core characteristics that make a mammal. Understand why and how scientists classify life on Earth and why these taxonomic classifications may be challenged or changed. Understanding How Special it is to Grow Up Human Preview the content in Dia's own words in this short podcast recorded at ALA 2019: Interested in booking Dia for one of these talks? Email Info@ScienceNaturally.com for more details.

"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

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.