Why is Shay the real hero of the Uglies series? Who was the better boyfriend for Tally: David or Zane? How can we prevent prettyheaded behavior in our own world?
In "Extras," the last book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series, Aya tells us that when Tally Youngblood made the mind-rain fall, it cured all the pretties and changed the world forever. But Tally and her friends did more than change their world; they changed ours too.
"Mind-Rain" continues what Tally started, with startling, funny and insightful essays on the world, characters and ideas of the Uglies series, plus the short story that inspired Westerfeld to write the books in the first place.
Think you know everything about Tally's world? After "Mind-Rain," you'll never look at the Uglies series the same way again.

Here in a swift and compelling narrative, Peter Burchard tells the story of the greatest black American of the nineteenth century, a pioneer who laid down a firm foundation for all men and women who came after him.

As a child and as a youth, Frederick Douglass was a slave, but his intelligence, his resilient character, and his innate charm, together with a measure of good fortune, made it possible for him to rise above a state of servitude. He became a forceful speaker and persuasive writer and conducted a campaign to abolish slavery and secure civil rights for his people and for all Americans. He saw himself as a soldier in a battle for the dignity of the "great family of man."

This new biography presents Douglass as he lived through the misery, tragedy, and heartbreak of his early years, as he escaped from slavery only to endure anxiety and outrage in the free states of the North. He eventually made his way to Great Britain, where he lectured forcefully against slavery.

In the United States, as the Civil War began, Douglass recruited young black men to fight and die for their freedom and the freedom of their brothers held in bondage in the South. He became a friend and counselor to presidents, senators, and governors.

Here is a full-length portrait of this strong and passionate American.

The heartwarming story behind J.K. Rowling's rise to fame--and the answers to Harry Potter fans' most burning questions!
Harry Potter is loved throughout the world, and so is his creator. Joanne Kathleen (J.K.) Rowling is a true wizard, a woman who has the ability to recall vividly her days as a child and capture those wild, wonderful, difficult times--an ability that helps make her creation, Harry Potter, seem so real.
In this revealing book, fans of the Harry Potter series will get to see their favorite author as they never have before. From a child with a wonderful imagination who didn't quite fit in, to a single mother with almost overwhelming responsibilities, J.K. Rowling and her story provide a wonderful chance for adults and children to enjoy a heartwarming, magical story. . . together.
Inside are the answer to some of the most frequently asked questions:
* Where did the idea for the Harry Potter series come from?
* How the birth of her third child impacted her life
* What's the latest on the top secret writing projects that will follow HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS?
* What re Joanne's feelings about the Harry Potter saga finally ending?
*Which of the characters does J.K most identify with?
*What is J.K. Rowling's simple rule about writing?
*And much more!

Building on the success and maintaining the 99 Jumpstarts format of the two previous books, 99 Jumpstarts for Kids' Social Studies Reports is divided into broad topical sections. Each topic is arranged in alphabetical order under its section. Topics are all new to this title and include the Ancient World, Historic World Events, State and Local History, US History, Government and Citizenship, Sociology, Culture and Economics. The book includes the following sections in each Jumpstart: A cited quote about the topic, Related Jumpstarts, New Words, You are There, Topics to Consider, Books, Internet, For the Teacher, and a relevant activity. Each Jumpstart provides a helpful pathfinder that enables students to efficiently access information and learn new information literacy skills as they research topics of personal interest or gather information for school reports. Grades 3-8.

THIS IS THE LEGEND OF LAO TZU, "who may or may not have been born; who may or may not have founded Taoism, on of the greatest religions in the world; and who may or may not have written one of the greatest books of wisdom in the world: the Tao Te Ching, or the "Way of Heaven.""

This thoughtful and thought-provoking book opens with a biography of Lao Tzu, the mysterious philosopher who is said to have been born at the age of eighty-one with snow-white hair, the ability to walk and talk, and unparalleled wisdom. Many credit him with creating the Tao Te Ching, which was written for the good of all humankind. Twenty of the eighty-one passages of the Tao Te Ching are included here, paired with stunning illustrations by the award-winning artist Demi. On topics ranging from silence to moderation, from governing to the balance of earth and heaven, these passages carry a powerful message and are sure to give each and every reader something new to consider.

"The Narnia Chronicles" are some of the most beloved children's books of all time. Now, for the first time ever, comes an interactive guide for young readers to help them further explore "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe". This books answers some of the "who, what, when where and why" questions of the first Narnia book. For example: Why is Aslan a lion? What exactly is Turkish Delight? How did C.S. Lewis come up with the ideas for the book? And much more! The guide will also include trivia, games, and a dictionary of Narnia terms. This practical guide will be the ultimate resource for readers who love "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe".

Make Your Mark
Looking for a way to express yourself? Need some extra spending money? Do you want to beef up that college application package? Look no further than this book.
With advice on how to write newspaper and magazine features, Web blogs, music and movie reviews, novels, graphic novels, short stories, and more, the father-daughter team of Timothy and Elizabeth Harper shows that it's possible for anyone who writes well to get published.
Topics include:
- How to find subjects to write about
- Learning productive research and writing habits
- Identifying the best market for your work
- Managing your career
- And so much more
With practical information on every step of the writing process, writing samples, personal anecdotes, tips from the pros, profiles on young authors such as Christopher Paolini and Zoe Trope, and a resource section, "Your Name in Print" has all the tools and advice young writers need to break into the writing world.

From A to Z and everything in between, here's a page-turning, eyebrow-raising head-shaking collection of "too-werid-to-be-true" facts.
For instance. Turkey vultures are big meat-eaters. But they hate to kill. Instead, they feast on succulent leftovers...like roadkill Potent stomach acids help them digest the "ripe" meat. Yum....
The longest worm in the world measure as astounding 180 feet long
A man in Minnesota claims to have wound the world's largest twine ball: it's more than twelve feet around and weighs more than 21,000 pounds

Follow a day in the life of the cubs with Joanne Ryder's spare and simple text and full-color photographs by Dr. Katherine Feng, Wolong's leading photographer.

School is in session But this is no ordinary kindergarten class. Meet sixteen young giant panda cubs at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Preserve. The cubs are raised together from infancy in a protected setting, where they grow strong. Under the watchful eyes of the scientists and workers, the cubs learn skills that will help prepare them to be released into the wild.

These special cubs have captured the attention of people around the globe. Thanks to dedicated staff and unique resources at Wolong, this threatened species now has a second chance. Here is the true story of their incredible journey toward hope and survival. This is a comprehensive exploration of the life of panda cubs.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

The Penguin Dictionary of Chemistry is the ideal source of information for students of all sciences, whatever their level, and for anyone who encounters chemical terms in the course of their everyday work. Comprehensive, packed with vital information and illustrated throughout, it has now been substantially updated to take account of the very latest developments in this key subject area.

· Explains chemical terms from all branches of the subject, from AAS to zwitterions
· Includes concise entries on elements, compounds and other substances
· Offers succinct accounts of important chemical operations, including industrial processes
· Discusses important biochemical and environmental issues

Who names newly discovered planets? What exactly are black holes? Where are there the most earthquakes? When did the first Homo sapiens walk the earth? Why is the night sky dark? How does the fluoride in toothpaste prevent cavities? Since 1845, Scientific American has answered questions and provided the best information available in all areas of science. Now, Scientific American is proud to present an accessible, one-volume reference covering all the sciences. Whether you want to examine the tiniest microbes, the properties of the earth’s core, or the farthest reaches of space, this handy desk reference is the resource to turn to for the answers you need. • Over 500 biographies of key science figures • Thousands of glossary terms • Hundreds of useful Web sites • Tables, charts, diagrams, and illustrations • Sidebars featuring fascinating facts, mnemonic aids, and quizzes • Essays exploring ideas in-depth

This is part of an eight-volume series providing short biographies of men and women from Roman to Victorian times. Each entry places the subject in the context of their age and evokes what was distinctive and interesting about their personality and achievement.

The "British History Series" tells the story of the people and changing landscape of Britain. It aims to bring people and events to life and set them in a historical context. This title explores Early Britain and readers can find out, amongst other things, why Stonehenge was built, who the Romans and Vikings were, what the Domesday Book was, and how the Battle of Hastings changed the face of Britain.

By the same teacher-authors of the best-selling Information Please Kid's Almanac. Hundreds of fabulous illustrations, charts, and graphs.; Hundreds of interesting sidebars filled with facts and trivia.; Thumb tabs and chapter symbols for quick access to the facts.; Eleven chapters cover women's achievements, prizes and record-setting through history, female body and health issues, international dating and marriage customs, fashion trends, and more. The newest addition to the Information Please family is sure to be a huge hit among girls aged eight to fourteen who have a variety of interests. The eleven chapters of heavily illustrated and engagingly designed material explore women's achievements (in sports, science, the fine arts, entertainment, government, business, and more), fashion trends, and dating customs around the world, and cater to a young girl's need for specific body and health information. At once informative and inspirational, The Information Please Girls' Almanac is a bo

Silly foods, sweets, and foods from other countries are some of the features of this delicious resource. Building on the concepts offered in the acclaimed Mudluscious (Libraries Unlimited, 1986), this delightful volume focuses on the ever-popular topic of food, with an emphasis on activities that span the curriculum and offer opportunities for both written and oral expression. Original stories, songs, chants, and other learning activities are provided. Grades K-3.

Whether in the classroom or at home, this handy reference, with its thumb tab index, is specially designed to give easy access to difficult-to-find information and fun facts for kids. It answers questions about everything from the smallest animal to the mos distant star, U.S. government to award-winning books. Illustrations, graphs, and charts on every page.

Biographies of apparent wonder-workers, some of whom were masters of illusion and some of whom actually claimed to have psychic powers, including Daniel Home, Harry Houdini, and Edgar Cayce.

Scared of speaking in public? You're not alone! This accessible guide, written by a former teacher and poetry slam coach, will help tweens and teens find their voice! If you have weak, wobbly knees and a pounding heart when you face an audience--don't worry, that's good! Joy Jones is here to show teens and tweens that stage fright is your friend. With its funny, friendly, slightly irreverent approach, Fearless Public Speaking helps young people feel more comfortable and confident in front of a crowd. Jones covers it all, from how to write and organize your speech, to how to deliver it and use audiovisual equipment, to how to troubleshoot when things go wrong.

Did you know more than 50 Moons can fit inside Earth? Or that Mount Everest is 10 times higher than the world's tallest building? Filled with facts that are hard to believe, this book is designed specially for visually impaired readers. Packed with mind-blowing records and facts from around the world described in both large print and braille, DK Braille It Can't be True! also features tactile images for readers to feel what they are reading, from the largest eyeball to the biggest spider. Through the use of detailed embossing, you can feel the world's largest hailstone (three times larger than a tennis ball!) and a bird so small it can sit on the end of your thumb. Fully endorsed by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), DK Braille It Can't Be True will keep you entertained and amazed for hours.

Robert Holt, himself the successful author of four self-published books, now shares his knowledge and savvy with other would-be author-publishers in this step-by-step guide to every aspect of self-publishing. If you yearn join the ranks of such self published authors as Henry Thoreau, Upton Sinclair, Anais Nin, and George Bernard Shaw, if you've ever thought of doing it yourself, then this is the book for you. How to Publish Promote and Sell Your Own Book provides you with everything you ever wanted to know about self-publishing--and never even thought to ask.