With lyrical language and blooming illustrations, Mara Plants a Seed demonstrates the transformative power of simple actions. By cleaning up an empty lot and planting fifty sunflower seeds, Mara begins to create a flourishing, wild garden — but she doesn’t do it alone. AVAILABLE NOW! How does an imaginative girl turn an empty lot into a flourishing garden? With lyrical language and blooming illustrations, Mara Plants a Seed demonstrates the transformative power of simple actions. By cleaning up an empty lot and planting fifty sunflower seeds, Mara begins to create a flourishing, wild garden — but she doesn’t do it alone. Little does Mara know, flying insects, digging worms, hungry birds, noisy neighbors, and other secret gardeners are working to help transform the lot into something even more beautiful than she imagined. Rain storms wash away seeds, but rabbits leave some behind. Some helpers nibble up weeds, and others fertilize the soil. Each time Mara visits the garden, she’s expecting to see her sunflowers growing. But as the flowers blossom, she uncovers the exciting secrets waiting for her! Mara Plants a Seed inspires young readers to develop a deeper connection to the environment around them and study the many ways natural processes and ordinary animals help plants grow and thrive. Children will watch as Mara’s simple action of restoring an empty lot transforms a community and the beautiful way the garden bursts to life. . ORDER NOW Book Details Hardcover (ISBN 978-1-958629-76-5) $18.95 Age range 2 - 7 years Grade range Pre-K - 2nd Grade Trim Size 10" x 10" Page Count 40 pages PRESS RELEASE Praise for Mara Plants a Seed "While the book’s empty-lot-to-garden conceit is well-trod ground, the emphasis on ecological interdependence offers readers an enduring takeaway." - Publishers Weekly "A sweet and endearing story of hope and all of the delicate and special pieces required to sustain it." - Tyler Thrasher, Botanist, Artist, and Author of “The Universe in 100 Colors.” “Such a wonderful book that shows children that just one small act can make a beautiful difference. 'Mara Plants a Seed' is a perfect story to share with young readers that is packed with valuable lessons." - Melissa Inferrera, 1st Grade Teacher and Plant Mom, @musicmindandsoul “This precious tale of a girl’s journey into the garden inspires us to take a look around and imagine the possibilities. People, insects, bugs and even beings one can not see all come together in harmony. Powered by hope, tenacity and the help of community, we see how magical a single seed can be!” - Tamara Elmore, Tam in the Garden @taminthegarden "A once barren and neglected lot is transformed into a gorgeous, natural garden full of life, though Mara keeps an eye out for those sunflowers she's planted. She's not at all disappointed and neither was I! We're treated to a delightful, vertical two-page spread that I couldn't help but smile wide for when I turned to it. Bailey does a fantastic job of conveying how utterly wonderful it is to behold a wild garden, and Napoli and Furrow do an equally excellent job of explaining the process of seed to flower (including a blurb in the back encouraging readers to plant their own seeds)." - Goodreads Reviewer , Charessa "The principles of seed growth are entwined into this simple story leading to further discussions in the classroom about plant needs, ecosystems as well as ways to turn the unattractive and unused into something beautiful and well-loved." - Primary Teacher, Melanie Dulaney "Mara Plants A Seed is a lovely, heartfelt, relatable, lesson-filled, and creative story! This book is absolutely charming! Mara is a precious character. With her little act of kindness a trashed vacant lot begins to flourish. Her patience, love, and kindness helps nature become activated. The reader sees all the intentional, natural, and accidental actions which help the lot turn into a garden. The resiliency of nature and the joy nature brings to everyone is on full display. I adore this book!" - Goodreads Reviewer, Bailey Young (Check out the full review here ) Meet the Authors Robert Furrow is a gardener, a wildlife educator, and a birder. He is also a professor of teaching at the University of California, Davis, where he lives with his wife and daughters and dog. He teaches many shades of introductory biology, including wildlife natural history and how to garden for wildlife habitat. This is his sixth book co-authored with his mother Donna Jo Napoli. Donna Jo Napoli has published books for preschoolers through high schoolers. She is a gardener, a dancer, and a dual citizen of Italy and America. She is also a linguist who works on sign languages, advocates for the language rights of deaf children, and co-directs the website RISE, which offers bimodal-bilingual video books for free. She lives with her husband outside Philadelphia . Meet the Illustrator Melissa Bailey is the daughter of an avid gardener and granddaughter of a farmer. She is also an award-winning illustrator of 50+ children’s books and the author-illustrator of 2 picture books. Melissa loves living in rural Michigan, thinks it would be awesome to live in a treehouse, and tries to remember to water her plants.

The school student council was putting up decorations for the Valentine's Day party later that day in the multi-purpose room. Elinor came into the room... Febrero Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Ciencias! Helados de frío —No puedo creer que mi madre me hizo usar este abrigo pesado —se quejaba Paige mientras caminaba a la escuela con sus amigas una mañana. —Mi madre es igual —dijo Tyra, chapoteando en un charco con sus botas impermeables. —Oigan, esperen un momento —dijo Lin, recogiendo el sombrero que se le había volado de la cabeza—. ¿Sus madres estaban escuchando esa estación de radio nueva que toca las canciones viejas que le gustan a los padres? —¡Sí! —dijo Paige—. ¡No puedo creer la música que tocan! —¡Algunas de esas canciones deben tener 20 años! —añadió Tyra. —Estaba puesta en nuestra casa también —dijo Lin—. Escuché al locutor decír que se sentiría como -4 grados Celsius esta mañana y fue entonces que mi mamá me entregó estos guantes. —¿Y qué? —preguntó Paige. —Entiendo lo que quiere decir Lin —dijo Tyra, saltando de charco en charco—. A -4 grados Celsius el agua estaría congelada. El agua se congela a 0 grados Celsius o menos. —Creo que nuestros padres debieran empezar a escuchar otra estación de radio —dijo Lin. —No creo que eso ayude —dijo Paige. —¿Por qué no? La gente de esa estación claramente no sabe nada del tiempo ni de la música —dijo Tyra. REVELAR RESPUESTA

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

Want to gain experience at a small independent press? Come join us for a publishing internship! Internship Opportunities We are always seeking interns to help us out in the off ice and provide opportunities for young people to expand their knowledge of the publishing industry. Through our internship program, students gain invaluable, real-life working experience, new skills, and a passion for educational children's books. Science Naturally's unique Editorial and Marketing Associate Program gives our interns an opportunity to assist in all aspects of a small publishing house, including manuscript evaluation, editorial, marketing, sales, inventory management, and administration. Editorial and Marketing Associate Internship Program Duties may include, but are not limited to: Reading and critiquing manuscript and art submissions Editing manuscripts in production and creating marketing materials Supporting the launch of new titles Assisting with arranging author appearances and events Supporting trade show endeavors Maintaining various media resources, customer records, and other lists Researching new media and sales outlets Customer follow up and sales Packing orders Helping support the work of the office We mentor 2-4 interns in all aspects of the publishing business each semester and during the summer. Interns are expected to work 12-20 hours/week during the semester and 20-30 hours/week during the summer. Our internships are unpaid, but we do reimburse local travel expenses up to $7.00/day. We are located in Washington, DC, near the U.S. Capitol (at the Union Station Metro stop). For summer internships, please apply by April 1. For fall internships, please apply by August 1. For spring internships, please apply by November 1. To apply, send a resume, writing sample, two references, and availability to: Ali Trujillo at Ali@ScienceNaturally.com or 202-465-4798

Kassandra, Ingrid, Quan, and Ricky are getting ready for their school's Halloween party, but something's amiss with the decorations. Can you use science help them solve this haunting mystery... before it's too late? ¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... Halloween Bonus Mystery Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 MORE 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 though 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

These beautifully illustrated books are the perfect holiday gift idea for parents and younger children. Spark an interest in animals and science by exploring the worlds of several different species and how they interact with their environment and each other! Gifts for Budding Scientists These beautifully illustrated, award-winning books are the perfect gift for a budding young scientist (or animal lover)! Babies Nurse Great gift idea for the budding young scientist and/or animal lover! Perfect for parents of young children. This beautifully illustrated book’s overarching theme of breastfeeding inspires conversations about parenting, biology, habitats, survival, and more, making this book an engaging choice for young children as well as elementary school readers. Click Here to View Cuddled and Carried Beautiful images introduce the reader to attachment in the natural world. Watching mothers lend a paw, wing, flipper, or hand to care for their young fosters empathy, kindness, and compassion. Supplemental back matter and a free Teacher's Guide helps parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers creatively describe caretaking, while introducing a range of early science concepts. Click Here to View If My Mom Were a Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers All mammal mothers feed, protect, and teach their young, even though these tasks can challenge their own needs for survival. But a mammal baby’s journey to maturity varies dramatically depending on whether it is a bear or a bat, a shrew or a seal, a hippopotamus or a human. This fascinating look at life cycles portrays the normalcy of birth and breastfeeding and explores how mothers help 14 different mammals navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults. Click Here to View

Discover the enchantment of the nighttime sky with 'Twinkle Twinkle Nighttime Sky' - a captivating book coming February 2024. Dive into the wonders beyond our stars! How I wonder what you are... Let's explore beyond our star! Everyday, the sun sets and the sky grows dark. Twinkling stars start to shine, and we watch the moon as it changes phases throughout the month. But the sky we see each night is only a small piece of our huge universe. What else is out there in the nighttime sky? Twinkle, Twinkle, Nighttime Sky is the second board book in the Skytime series, following Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star. Based on the familiar nursery rhyme, the Skytime series first introduces kids to the bright star that lights our daytime sky, and now explores the universe beyond our solar system! Readers learn about constellations, how the moon affects the tides, astronauts and the moon landing, our Milky Way galaxy and the billions more galaxies out in space, phenomena such as comets and nebulas, and so much more. Twinkle, Twinkle, Nighttime Sky is a must-have for children who love marveling at the stars and learning about astronauts and planets. With breathtaking illustrations of space and fascinating facts, this book puts our one-of-a-kind planet in perspective! Preorder Preorder Coming October 2024 Press Release Book details Age range 2 - 7 years Grade range Preschool - 2nd grade Board book (ISBN 978-1-958629-37-6) $11.95 Paperback Extended (978-1-958629-68-0) $12.95 eBook (ISBN 978-1-958629-38-3) $10.99 Bilingual (English/Spanish) Board book (ISBN 978-1-958629-39-0) $11.95 Bilingual Paperback Extended (978-1-958629-69-7) $12.95 Bilingual (English/Spanish) eBook (ISBN 978--1958629-40-6) $10.99 Reviews "A wonderful primer to get small children excited about learning about space." —Goodreads reviewer Pamela Powell "Beautifully illustrated bilingual board book for little ones and their caregivers to share! Everett’s rhyming couplets have great rhythm and rhyme in their English version and cover interesting facts about space and space travel." —Goodreads reviewer Melanie Dulaney About the Author About the Illustrator Elizabeth Everett spent 16 years as a classroom teacher before venturing into writing. Inspired by her energetic youngster, Jalen, and his love for books, she took her background in education and meshed it with his childhood interests. The result was edu-tainment in the form of children’s books! She currently lives in Colorado with her family where they love spending time outdoors in the Western sun. This is her first children’s book and she is excited to have several more coming out soon. She can be reached at Elizabeth.Everett@ScienceNaturally.com . Beatriz Castro has been drawing and writing fantastic stories since she was a little girl. She studied illustration at the School of Arts in Logroño, Spain. Inspired by the natural world, Beatriz specializes in colorful images and funny character designs. Her fun and beautiful art appears in books published around the world. She likes classic stories and fairy tales and listens to rock and punk music. You can see more of her work at BeatrizCastroIlustracion.com.

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

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

Did you see us in the November issue of STEM Connections ? Welcome Members! Have you figured out the solution to Turning Up The Volume ? (Didn't see the mystery? Click here .) Click to Reveal Solution Want to see more? Each month we share a mystery on our website. See if you can solve the Mystery of the Month . This mystery was drawn from 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Math . Click on the book cover for more information. We also offer this book in a bilingual edition , perfect for English Language Learners, dual-language students, and anyone looking to expand their language and math skills ¿hablas español? In the holiday spirit, we are happy to offer 25% off and free shipping sitewide to ITEEA members. Use code ITEEA to redeem this offer on ScienceNaturally.com before the end of 2018. Schools and after-school programs across the country use our books. Learn more about our resources below: Click on book covers below for more information. One Minute Mysteries Got a minute? Then we have a mystery for you! Written by a father-daughter team, these literature-based titles make math and science fun. Each mystery takes just one minute to read and features real-world scenarios. The brainteasers challenge kids to use critical thinking skills, while the real-life scenarios help keep the content engaging and relevant. With mysteries in biology, chemistry, physics, earth and general science, these books are as popular with educators as they are with kids. Titles in the series include: bilingual! ages 8-12 ages 8-12 ages 10-14 ages 10-14 ages 8-12 101 Things Everyone Should Know... So many questions! Why do we put salt on roads when they are icy? How do you to measure half of one-third a cup in a baking recipe? These books help simplify and demystify math and science concepts with entertaining real world connections in sports, travel, food, weather, and more. With a fun question-and-answer format, these are the perfect titles for kids, parents, educators, and anyone interested in understanding how math and science affect our lives. ages 10-14 ages 8-12 Blended S.T.E.M. Fiction Math and science abound in our fun fiction adventures! These two blended fiction books combine history, mystery, and more to create an immersive cross-curricular adventure. The perfect blend of entertaining and educational science topics for both the classroom and after school. Each of these books come with a free downloadable Teacher's Guide to extend and expand opportunities for learning. Titles in the series include: What is S.T.E.M. Fiction and why do my students need it? "The great thing about S.T.E.M. fiction is that it takes concepts and explains them, then uses the concepts in story form to reinforce the explanation ... "Just because it's S.T.E.M. doesn't mean the stories won't also delve into the worlds of magical realism, humorous exaggeration, or even science fiction in order to tell a good story. It's fiction for a reason! ... "It's important to put entertaining books into children's hands that will whet their appetites for further exploration." Read more about S.T.E.M. Fiction here . ages 10-14 ages 10-14 wondering how educators use our books? click here for some ideas Find us in Kansas City! Stop by booth 401 to say hi, check out our books, and meet company president and founder Dia Michels. Will you be at the 81st ITEEA Annual Conference? Plus, don't miss teachers present how they use our books in the Showcase! In the holiday spirit, we are happy to offer 25% off and free shipping sitewide to ITEEA members. Use code ITEEA to redeem this offer on ScienceNaturally.com before the end of 2018.

Cross over the yellow tape and enter the behind-the-scenes world of forensics! E is for the evidence you’ll discover as you learn about the real tools and steps used to hunt for clues and crack the case. Engaging for young children and entertaining for adults, this is the perfect read aloud for science lovers, true crime junkies, armchair detectives, and their pint-sized partners in crime. AVAILABLE NOW ! How does science help solve a crime? Cross over the yellow tape and enter the behind-the-scenes world of forensics! From the crime scene to the laboratory, learn about the real tools and steps used to hunt for clues and crack the case. E is for the evidence you’ll find in this fascinating A to Z book . Watch as forensic scientists brush fingerprints and swab samples. See how UV lights and microscopes uncover clues. Learn how special gear keeps evidence safe from contamination. And, most importantly, discover how asking questions is the key to every investigation. Written by a forensic scientist and STEM educator, Dr. Judy Staveley, C Is for Crime Scene is a quirky, science-focused peek at what really goes into solving a crime. Colorful and offbeat illustrations by Alessandra Vitelli highlight creative thinking and reveal the amazing possibilities of forensic science. Engaging for young children and entertaining for adults, this is the perfect read aloud for science lovers, true crime junkies, armchair detectives, and their pint-sized partners in crime! . Book Details Hardcover (ISBN 978-1-958629-91-8) $18.95 Ebook (ISBN 978-1-958629-92-5) $15.99 Age Range 2-7 years Grade Range PreK-2nd Trim Size 8" x 8" Page Count 32 Press Release Order Now Praise for C Is for Crime Scene "Everyone loves forensic science—even kids! Dr. Staveley's book takes the mystery out of the work forensic scientists do every day." —Rana DellaRocco, MS, MPA, ABC-MB, Chief of Science & Evidence, Baltimore Police Department Meet the Author and Illustrator Dr. Judy Staveley is a biotechnology expert and STEM consultant with advanced degrees in forensic science, biology, and health psychology. She has worked on biodefense and public health with federal agencies and has taught at multiple universities. Dedicated to mentoring future scientists, Dr. Staveley has directed the American Junior Academy of the National Association of Academies of Science and has served as President of the Washington Academy of Sciences. An advocate for gender inclusivity in STEM, she collaborates with organizations like STEM for Her and STEMifyGirls. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area and can be reached at Judy.Staveley@ScienceNaturally.com . Alessandra Vitelli 
is a freelance illustrator based in Naples, Italy.
She has worked on several children’s books for Italian and international publishing houses and teaches illustration at the Scuola Italiana di Comix in Naples. Alessandra is inspired by many things, including her children, her kittens, dreams, and new colors she sees around the world. In addition to illustration, she is passionate about photography and typography. She currently lives in Naples with her partner, two children, and two cats.

Can you solve this month's real-world math mystery? —¡Hannah!... ¿Puedes salir ahora mismo, por favor? ¡Tu hermana, tu papá y yo llevamos casi diez minutos esperándote! ... Noviembre Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Ciencias! Hogar, dulce hogar La familia de Guillermo y Fiorella estaba disfrutando de su última caminata del otoño antes de que el tiempo se pusiera muy frío para salir a caminar. A la mitad del camino, subiendo una montaña por un sendero desconocido, su padre dijo: —Este sería un gran sitio para una casa. Miraron a lo largo del prado soleado hasta una pequeña quebrada, sintiendo una brisa fresca que bajaba por la montaña. —Tienes razón, papá —dijo Guillermo. —A mi también me encantaría vivir aquí —dijo Fiorella—. Es tan bonito y estoy segura que hay ciervos y todo tipo de otros animales aquí. Sería tremendo ver la vida silvestre justo desde el balcón del frente de a casa. —No estoy segura de que viviría en un lugar como éste —dijo la madre—. No hay electricidad y ustedes no podrían sobrevivir más de un día sin sus aparatos. Jamás convencerían a la compañía eléctrica de instalar una línea eléctrica en este bosque tan remoto. —Bueno, si nos permitieran construir una casa aquí, podríamos crear nuestra propia electricidad —dijo Fiorella. —Pero generar electricidad requiere energía. ¿De dónde la sacaríamos? —preguntó su padre. REVELAR RESPUERTA