"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

Can you solve this month's real-life science mystery? —¡Rayos! Estos mosquitos me están comiendo vivo —se quejó Franklin, golpeándose los brazos y piernas.  Los chicos del barrio estaban jugando voleibol en el patio trasero de Franklin. Sus padres habían comprado la red recientemente, pero era difícil quedarse... Agosto Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Matemáticas! Síguele la corriente —Les va a encantar este lugar —dijo el abuelo de Jesse—. Yo voy a cada rato. Jesse y su amigo Thomas estaban de visita en casa del abuelo de Jesse, a quien le encantaba navegar y recientemente había comprado una lancha nueva. Desde la casa del abuelo de Jesse, navegarían río abajo hasta un parque con un muelle de pesca y un restaurante. —¿Cuán lejos es? —preguntó Thomas al abordar la lancha. —Veinte millas náuticas —respondió el abuelo—. Una milla náutica es aproximadamente 1/6 más larga que una milla, o casi 2 kilómetros. Durante el viaje de ida, el cual tomó 48 minutos, el velocímetro de la lancha indicaba que el motor iba a 20 nudos—que, de acuerdo al abuelo de Jesse, significaba veinte millas náuticas por hora. Pasaron muy bien el día, pese a que no pescaron ni un pez. Durante el viaje de regreso, que tardó 1 hora y 20 minutos, el velocímetro indicaba la misma velocidad. Thomas y Jesse se bajaron en el muelle mientras que el abuelo de Jesse ataba la lancha. —Bueno, aprendimos algo hoy —le dijo Thomas a Jesse. —¿Te refieres a que no somos buenos pescadores? —le preguntó Jesse. —No, a eso no. Si la distancia al parque era de 20 millas náuticas y la lancha navegaba a 20 nudos, el viaje debió haber tardado una hora, pero no fue así, en ninguna de las dos direcciones. O el velocímetro indicó mal la velocidad, o tu abuelo está equivocado sobre la distancia —contestó Thomas—. Pero, ¿cuál? 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

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.

Can you solve this real-world math mystery? Kyle and his friend Antonio had been watching the summer Olympics the day before. Their favorite events were track and field. Kyle was the fastest sprinter in school, while Antonio liked running longer distances.  On this day, they were at the high school football... ¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... July Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! Ship Shape “Ahoy, matey!” Liam yelled, running into his older brother Theo’s bedroom. “Go back to bed,” Theo growled. “It’s six o’clock in the morning! I need my sleep, you know.” “But Theo, there’s part of a shipwreck out in the ocean! It looks like it’s been there for a hundred years!” “Then it will still be there when I get up,” Theo grumbled and rolled over. It was their family’s first morning of vacation after arriving late the night before at a beach they had never been to before. Liam was an early riser and had walked down to the beach just after dawn. Since Theo didn’t want to get up and no one else was awake, Liam went to his room to read. When Theo finally woke up around noon and went to the beach where his parents had already set up chairs and blankets, he saw sunburned people under umbrellas and sand crabs scurrying around, but nothing in the ocean except waves. “Have you seen a shipwreck out there?” Theo asked his parents. “No, but we’ve only been here for an hour,” their father said to Theo. “We slept in a little. Then the three of us went straight to the grocery store while you slept.” “After we put away the groceries we came here,” their mother added. “Liam told us about a shipwreck, but we haven’t seen it yet.” “The shipwreck is out there, and I’ll prove it,” Liam said. “How?” Theo asked. REVEAL ANSWER

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? 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

Science, Naturally is an independent press committed to increasing bilingual science and math literacy in early childhood education. We know that every classroom in the country needs more STEM materials, but we also know that schools in the US are chronically underfunded. We are here to solve both problems! Our award-winning trade books are the perfect way to expand and enhance your classroom and ELO curricula. We've helped numerous schools apply for grants to get these STEM resources in their classrooms and libraries. Let us help you! This page contains: Foundation Grant Resource Document Freelance Grant Writers Grant Resources gRANT wRITERS Need a grant writer? Hiring a grant writer can be an effective way of bringing resources into your institution. A number of individuals who have worked as grant writers and may be able to work with you on grant requests either as a writer or as a consultant is listed below. ** Science, Naturally! has no financial connection to any of these individuals. ** There was a technical issue on our end. Try again or refresh. FOUNDATION GRANT RESOURCE DOCUMENT We have helped many schools locate foundations that support STEM education and successfully apply for funding. Click the links below for our guide: There was a technical issue on our end. Try again or refresh.

Can you solve this month's real-life math mystery? "Come on class, to the candy aisle!" Miss Hanson called out. The class groaned at the thought of being in the candy aisle, knowing that they couldn't have any for themselves. They were on a field trip to a grocery store to buy supplies for a project... ¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... October Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! Halloween Hippie “Hey, I have an old picture of my grandma looking just like that, only it wasn’t a costume to her,” Kassandra said as Ingrid walked into the homeroom. “She said they actually thought they looked cool.” Their school normally had a dress code, but it was Halloween and everyone had come in wearing costumes. Ingrid was dressed like a hippie. She had a tie-dyed shirt, beads, sandals, and sunglasses with orange lenses shaped like hearts. Ingrid took off the sunglasses for class, but put them back on in the afternoon when it was time to get ready for the Halloween party. The class was decorating the classroom and painting signs for the school parade. Quan, who thought he was funny, was hanging decorations upside down. Preston was pretending to sword fight in his pirate costume with a paint brush, and Ricky was playing with fake blood after putting some on his zombie costume. When it was almost time for the parade, Kassandra noticed that one of the signs had been decorated with a red, rather than orange, pumpkin. “Okay, who’s the joker here?” Kassandra asked. She looked around the room for a guilty face. REVEAL ANSWER

"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.