Discover what machines are, how they work, and how they have developed through history, in this fascinating fact file and learn-it-yourself project book. You can find out about levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, gears, hydraulics, wind power and much more. It includes 19 practical experiments - make a windmill, a hydraulic lifter and even a vacuum cleaner! Over 260 images include step-by-step photographs and explanatory illustrations. It is an accessible and lively introduction to machines, ideal for home or school use for 8- to 12-year-olds. From sophisticated computers to a simple pair of scissors, we are surrounded by machines. This engaging science book looks at the enormous variety of machines in our world and how they function. Fascinating hands-on projects, such as making your own gears and belt drives, a pulley, a block and tackle, a can crusher, a water wheel, and an Archimedean screw, will help you to fully understand the principles behind them. "Find Out About" is a series for young readers who would like to explore the exciting world of science. Each book covers a different topic, bringing the subject to life with vibrant photographs, detailed drawings and clear diagrams, making it really fun to learn. There are easy-to-do experiments using everyday objects and equipment so that young scientists can enjoy finding out all the fantastic facts for themselves.

This title offers an in-depth examination of colonialism as presented in Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart, as well as contemporary perspectives on this issue. Discussions include the use of language to convey status and power, the clash of Igbo and European cultures, the loss of personal identity, and the different faces of neo-colonialism.

Dreams - sometimes they change the world, sometimes they just plain fall through. Over the course of a weekend at grandpa's farm near Luverne, Minnesota, 14-year-old Josh Lindstrom gets in touch with his dreams as they spend their time inventing, and grandpa relates the stories of some of the great Minnesota inventors. Success, however, does not come easily. So, is there anything to be learned from the inventors that preceded them, especially those of the aptly named Greatest Generation? Josh and his grandpa discover together that when it comes to dreams of inventing, failure is okay. As Minnesota inventor Earl Bakken had said, "Failure is closer to success than inaction." Some surprises are revealed along the way, and the unexpected ending soars with a heartfelt and compelling, once-in-a-lifetime, encounter. An appendix featuring profiles of the Minnesota 80 serves as a resource of the state's key inventors.

Series of essays about issues surrounding treatment of the mentally ill with violent tendencies.