Kids Can Press, 2004
ISBN 1-55337-623-4 (hc)
ISBN 1-55337-624-2 (pb)
Illustrated by Nancy Gray Ogle

This title is available in French as Les rapaces nocturnes (Les Editions Scholastic)

It’s a dark winter night, but the owl is wide awake, listening and watching. A mouse moves under the snow, far away. The owl swoops down, needle-sharp talons ready. Its silent wings, fine-tuned hearing and large eyes are designed for hunting…

How owls hunt is just one of fourteen topics in this clearly written look at the two main groups of owls – typical owls and barn owls. You’ll find out where owls live, what they eat, how young owls learn and much more.

Did you know?
* a group of owls is called a parliament
* owls can’t move their eyes from side to side, but flexible necks allow then to look over their backs
* owls use hoots, whistles and screams to warn unwanted visitors away from their territories
* owls live on every continent except Antarctica

East-to-read text and accurate, detailed illustrations meet the research needs of young children and satisfy their curiosity about these mysterious birds.

“This one is for inquisitive young readers. Excellent detailed illustrations and information to satisfy curiosities about owl wildlife. I highly recommend it.” – Review Books

Kids Can Press, 2003
ISBN 1-55337-406-1 (hc)
ISBN 1-55337-407-X (pb)
Illustrated by Nancy Gray Ogle

This book is available in French as Les loutres (Les Editions Scholastic)

Following their mother, two otter pups slide down the muddy bank and slip into the river. It’s time for their daily lessons. Mother is teaching them how to swim, dive and catch food. When the pups are a year old, they’ll leave their mother’s side. But for now there is still time to wrestle and play. Splash!

How otters grow and learn is just one of the fourteen topics in this clearly written look at the two kinds of North American otters – river otters and sea otters. You’ll find out about where otters live, what they eat, how they protect themselves and much more.

Did you know?
* sea otters’ hind feet are so large they look like flippers
* river otters can swim fast enough to catch fish
* sea otters can stay underwater for as long as four minutes
* river otters sometimes sneak into a beaver’s den or muskrat’s burrow to fight them

“Offers young readers a comprehensive look at this unique aquatic animal through informative facts about its habitat, diet, survival skills, and more.” – Books and More

“How can you resist that face staring out at you from the cover of this informative and fact-filled book? This is a great addition to the [Kids Can Press] Wildlife series…” – Brandon Sun

“…this book [is] a useful reference for readers interested in wildlife.” – Science Books and Films

Honours
* Our Choice , 2004, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
* Science in Society Book Award, 2003, shortlist
* Best Bet, 2003, Ontario Library Association

Kids Can Press, 2005
ISBN 1-55337-758-3 (hc)
ISBN 1-55337-759-1 (pb)
Illustrated by Claudia Dávila

This title is also available in French as Les forces c’est quoi? (Editions Scholastic)

Move It! takes the physics of why and how things move and transforms it into an enjoyable and easy-to-understand first science book.

Move It! is part of the Primary Physical Sciences series. These books include easy-to-read text, hands-on activities, energetic illustrations and a special section for parents and teachers with more activity ideas and information. This series was created with the cooperation of a Primary Science consultant and fits science curricula in the largest states and provinces.

“The drawings are colorful and age appropriate for young children. The vocabulary is also suitable for children and has scientific validity. The text is suitable for reading by children in primary grades or for reading to them.” – Science Books and Films

“…a welcome contribution to the resources available for teaching young children.” – Canadian Materials

“This excellent series is a must-have for elementary schools.” – Canadian Children’s Book News

Honours
Best of 2005 (Non-fiction; Pre-school to Grade 6), Resource Links

Purchasing
You can order this title from your local bookstore or online at:
* In Canada: Kids Can Press or In the US: Kids Can Press USA

THE BIG BOOK OF PRIMARY PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Illustrated by Claudia Davila

Developed in cooperation with a science education consultant, this series is loaded with surprising facts and hands-on activities designed to hold young children’s interest. Topics match the primary physical science curriculum and includes: materials, matter, mass, magnets; structures, systems, shapes; solids, liquids, gases; motion, forces, friction, gravity.

A special 7-page section for parents and teachers provides more activity ideas and information to help answer young learners’ challenging questions.

“Mason has crafted what could easily be adopted by primary classrooms as their sole physical-science textbook. Dávila’s charming digital illustrations depict rosy, round-faced multiethnic children in a variety of settings exploring the world around them. Bright colors and the amusing asides of anthropomorphic animals are sure to keep readers’ interest. Gathering in one place the physical-science concepts typically presented to primary children, this is ideal for the youngest scientists and explorers, a worthy addition to school and library collections.” – Kirkus Review (Read the full review here.)

Kids Can Press, 2006
ISBN 1-55337-837-7 (hc)
ISBN 1-55337-838-5 (pb)
Illustrated by Claudia Dávila

This title is also available in French as Les solides, est quoi? (Editions Scholastic)

What does the smell of baking bread or the fizz in your pop have to do with science? Lots. Science is all around you, even in the simplest things. Change It! takes the physics of matter – solids, liquids and gases – and transforms it into an enjoyable and easy-to-understand first science book.

Change It! is part of the Primary Physical Sciences series. These books include easy-to-read text, hands-on activities, energetic illustrations and a special section for parents and teachers with more activity ideas and information. This series was created with the cooperation of a Primary Science consultant and fits science curricula in the largest states and provinces.

“The description of… [each] concept being introduced is appropriate for the intended audience and is often presented in a manner that tests children’s understanding… There are too few books like this available for young children. I recommend the “Primary Physical Science” books to parents and to school librarians responsible for adding important books to their library’s collection. Highly recommended.” – Canadian Materials

“An enjoyable and easy-to-understand first science book…” – Books for Growing Minds

“It is often difficult to find a book on any aspect of physical science that is suitable for very young children. The Primary Physical Sciences Series by Kids Can Press fills this important niche. “ – National Science Teachers’ Association – “NSTA Recommends” list

Honours
* 2007 Information Book Award (shortlisted)
* 2007 OUR Choice, starred selection (Canadian Children’s Book Centre)

Purchasing
You can order this title from your local bookstore or online.
* In Canada: Kids Can Press or in the US: Kids Can Press USA

Kids Can Press, 2002
ISBN 1-55337-027-9 (hc)
ISBN 1-55074-838-6 (pb)
Illustrated by Pat Cupples

This title was also published in German as Lu & Leo Diebe auf dem Rummelplatz, Edition Bucherbar, ISBN 3-401-08435-6.

Summer’s here and the carnival’s in town! Lu and Clancy can’t wait to go on their favorite ride, the Drop of Doom. The only problem is that Lu’s annoying cousin, Jake, is tagging along…

While Jake takes part in a magic show, Clancy uncovers more than hocus pocus when he overhears two crooks planning a robbery at the Drop of Doom. Now the dog detectives must launch into action to stop the crime—but first they have to get Jake off their case!

Help Lu and Clancy foil the evil plot—and learn to do simple magic tricks at the same time. You’ll find out how to
* pour water into a hat without getting it wet
* step through an ordinary piece of paper
* slice a banana without peeling it, and more…

Carnival magic saves the day when the thieves come out to play!

“The simple text is geared to newly independent readers, and the five magic tricks that are included are sure to capture interest. Children can be encouraged to problem solve and try to figure out how to pour water into a hat without getting it wet, slice a banana before peeling it, and walk through a playing card. Step-by-step instructions with plenty of illustrations explain how to perform these tricks. Great for budding sleuths and magicians alike.” – Canadian Materials

“I get the biggest kick out of the Kids Can Press book featuring two great dogs Lu & Clancy.” – Prime Time

“An easy to read beginning chapter book in picture book format, The Carnival Caper combines story and directions for magic tricks. It is a good read aloud, and the tricks would be great fun to try.” – Resource Links

Honours
Our Choice, 2003, Canadian Childrens’ Book Centre

Kids Can Press, 2006
ISBN 1-55337-835-0 (hc)
ISBN 1-55337-836-9 (pb)
Illustrated by Claudia Dávila
This title is also available in French as Les structures, c’est quoi? (Editions Scholastic)

From bicycles to bridges to beaver dams, structures are all around us. Build It! explores the function of structures, the materials they’re made of, how their parts are joined together and more.

Build It! is part of the Primary Physical Sciences series. These books include easy-to-read text, hands-on activities, energetic illustrations and a special section for parents and teachers with more activity ideas and information. This series was created with the cooperation of a Primary Science consultant and fits science curricula in the largest states and provinces.

“Build It! is a great book for growing minds. It’s not just about the structures around us and their functions, it’s about the materials they’re made of, and how those materials were joined together.” – Calgary Herald

“Whether your child has the curious mind of a future architect or just wants to know how tissues catch a sneeze, the answers are in these pages…. This delightful, well-illustrated book has more ideas and experiments listed in the back pages for parents and teachers to use.” – Together Magazine

“The description of … [each] concept being introduced is appropriate for the intended audience and is often presented in a manner that tests children’s understanding … There are too few books like this available for young children. I recommend the “Primary Physical Science” books to parents and to school librarians responsible for adding important books to their library’s collection. Highly recommended.” – Canadian Materials

Honours
2007 Our Choice, starred selection (Canadian Children’s Book Centre)

Purchasing
You can order this title from your local bookstore or online at:
* In Canada: Kids Can Press or In the US: Kids Can Press USA

Kids Can Press, 2003 ISBN 1-55337-524-6 (hc) ISBN 1-55337-525-4 (pb) Illustrated by Nancy Gray Ogle

This title is available in French as Les Chauves-souris (Les Editions Scholastic)

It’s a calm summer night when suddenly, the air is filled with flying shadows. Bats! As they hunt for food, the bats make squeaking noises that bounce off objects and echo back to them. This tells them whether the object ahead is something to avoid, like a tree, or whether it’s a tasty dinner treat!

How bats use their senses is just one of the thirteen topics in this clearly written look at the two main kinds of bats – megabats and microbats. You’ll find out where bats live, what they eat, how they move and much more.

Did you know?
* bats are not blind
* bats are the only mammals that have wings and can fly
* the tiny bumblebee bat weighs less than a penny
* mother bats usually give birth while hanging upside down

Easy-to-read text and accurate, detailed illustrations meet the research needs of young children and satisfy their curiosity about these unusual mammals.

“A book that I am happy to have for my child’s home library and that I recommend for libraries serving children in lower elementary school grades.” – Science Books & Films

“Bats is a straightforward look at critters with a high cringe quotient. The clear text and equally clear illustrations describe the various types of bats, explain how they live and may demystify them for the frightened.” – Associated Press

“Wonderfully detailed realistic illustrations by Nancy Gray Ogle complement this informative reference book. The table of contents reveals 13 separate bat topics from where bats live to what bats eat. And a handy index for quick reference and a glossary make this fascinating read a great addition to your research library.” – New Brunswick Reader

“[In] her clear, simple style, Adrienne Mason offers interesting and accurate facts for beginning researchers. Focusing on North American bat species, each section presents brief information in an easy-to-read print format, with generous illustrations and labels. Most sections include a Bat Fact box with a neat bit of trivia. There’s enough data here to satisfy a youngster with early reading skills or to intrigue an older reader who can use the book as a starting point for further investigation of the topic.” – Canadian Materials

“…an excellent read for a young reader doing research on this mammal.” – Resource Links

Honours
Science in Society Book Award, 2004, shortlist