A riveting WWII account of survival at sea—Book 4 in the middle grade True Rescue series from Michael J. Tougias, the author of the New York Times bestseller The Finest Hours. A Bank Street Best Book of the Year! On May 19, 1942, during WWII, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. The submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia. Most onboard were merchant seamen, but there were also civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina, and their two children. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensued—and each family member had to find their own path to survival. This inspiring historical narrative tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, blinding oil, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast. Christy Ottaviano Books New York Times bestselling author Michael J. Tougias adapts his histories of real life stories for young readers in his True Rescue Series, capturing the heroism and humanity of people on life-saving missions during maritime disasters. Illustrated Chapter Books for ages 6-9: True Rescue: The Finest Hours True Rescue: A Storm Too Soon Young Readers Adaptations, for ages 9-14 The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition) A Storm Too Soon (Young Readers Edition) Into the Blizzard (Young Readers Edition) Attacked at Sea (Young Readers Edition)

Beauty and the Beak is a nonfiction picture book about Beauty, the wild bald eagle that made world news when she was illegally shot, rescued, and received a pioneering, 3D-printed prosthetic beak. Beauty and the Beak follows Beauty close up from the moment she uses her baby beak to emerge from her egg, through her hunt when she uses her powerful adult beak to feed herself, to the day her beak is shot off leaving her helpless. This brave and uplifting story continues through her rescue, into the months of engineering her 3D-printed prosthetic beak and intense hours of her beak surgery, to the moment she takes the first drink of water by herself with her new beak. Beauty and the Beak captures the spirit and courage of this amazing bird and America's national symbol-whose species was nearly wiped out by human activity, only to be restored and thriving because of environmental conservation and human compassion. This book will resonate with those who have their own stories of other animals endangered or in need, and humans, from young children to military veterans, in need of prosthetic limbs, who are being given new lives with state-of-the-art devices. The book includes expanded information about bald eagles as a top predator species, their near extinction in most of the U.S., their successful reintroduction back into the wild, and efforts to conserve this critical raptor species today.

"Six-year-old Sachiko and her family suffered greatly after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and in the years that followed, the miraculous survival of a ceramic bowl became a key part of Sachiko's journey toward peace"--

In this sequel to the award-winning A Boy Is Not a Bird, a boy is exiled to Siberia during World War II. Based on a true story. Torn from his home in Eastern Europe, with his father imprisoned in a Siberian gulag, twelve-year-old Natt finds himself stranded with other deportees in a schoolyard in Novosibirsk. And he is about to discover that life can indeed get worse than the horrific two months he and his mother have spent being transported on a bug-infested livestock train. He needs to write to his best friend, Max, but he knows the Soviet police reads everyone's mail. So Natt decides to write in code, and his letters are a lifeline, even though he never knows whether Max will receive them. Every day becomes a question of survival, and where they might be shunted to next. When his mother is falsely arrested for stealing potatoes, Natt is truly on his own and must learn how to live the uncertain life of an exile. Practice being invisible as a ghost, change your name and identity if you have to, watch out for spies, and never draw the attention of the authorities. Even then, he will need luck on his side if he is ever going to be reunited with his family.

True stories which reveal the amazing science and history behind family time activities What did the world's first playgrounds look like? What do families all over the world eat for breakfast? How did dinosaurs look after their babies? In this compendium of 5-minute really true stories you will meet all types of family--human and animal!--and learn about the many ways they spend time together. From family bicycle rides to animal migrations, and from tidy up time to cosying up with pets, discover the amazing science and history of family activities. With up-to-the-minute, expert information and stunning illustrations, this book will bring out the joy of the everyday things we do at family time.

7-year-old Sophia Spencer was bullied for loving bugs until hundreds of women scientists rallied around her. Now Sophie tells her inspiring story in this picture book that celebrates women in science, bugs of all kinds and the importance of staying true to yourself. Sophia Spencer has loved bugs ever since a butterfly landed on her shoulder--and wouldn't leave!--at a butterfly conservancy when she was only two-and-a-half years old. In preschool and kindergarten, Sophia was thrilled to share what she knew about grasshoppers (her very favorite insects), as well as ants and fireflies . . . but by first grade, not everyone shared her enthusiasm. Some students bullied her, and Sophia stopped talking about bugs altogether. When Sophia's mother wrote to an entomological society looking for a bug scientist to be a pen pal for her daughter, she and Sophie were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response--letters, photos and videos came flooding in. Using the hashtag BugsR4Girls, scientists tweeted hundreds of times to tell Sophia to keep up her interest in bugs--and it worked!

It was April 1, 1873. In the middle of the night, Sarah Jane spotted flares off the coast of her island home. She woke her father, who quickly gathered their neighbours. Over the next several hours, rescuers pulled 429 traumatized survivors out of the wreckage of the SS Atlantic, a White Star Line passenger steamship. But 535 people didn't survive, including Bill, a sailor. However, this story isn't about death-- it's about living. Swapping out their dress for a pair of pants, Bill had run away from New Jersey in search of adventure, anonymity, and a place in the world. When they were hired to work on a cargo steamer, everything seemed to fall into place-- but it didn't take long for Bill to realize they were really just searching for a place where they could be themselves.

In September 1900, the people of Galveston, Texas, knew a storm was coming. But they'd experienced storms before and didn't think much of it. However, the hurricane that hit on September 8 was more powerful and damaging than anybody expected. Will you find a way to survive the storm and write about the experience for the local newspaper? Can you find a way to save your family's business and the customers inside when the storm hits? Will you rescue a young woman who is floating by on the detached roof of a house in the middle of the storm? With dozens of possible choices, it's up to YOU to find a way to survive through one of the deadliest storms in history.

In September 1900, the people of Galveston, Texas, knew a storm was coming. But they'd experienced storms before and didn't think much of it. However, the hurricane that hit on September 8 was more powerful and damaging than anybody expected. Will you find a way to survive the storm and write about the experience for the local newspaper? Can you find a way to save your family's business and the customers inside when the storm hits? Will you rescue a young woman who is floating by on the detached roof of a house in the middle of the storm? With dozens of possible choices, it's up to YOU to find a way to survive through one of the deadliest storms in history.

The date is April 18, 1906. The city of San Francisco has just been rocked and shaken by a huge earthquake. Even worse, the quake causes huge fires to break out across the city. Can you escape your damaged home before it collapses? Will you join the firefighters as they try to save the city from the devastating fires? Will you be accused of looting after helping a boy escape from some rubble? With dozens of possible choices, it's up to YOU to survive one of the worst earthquakes ever recorded.

The date is April 18, 1906. The city of San Francisco has just been rocked and shaken by a huge earthquake. Even worse, the quake causes huge fires to break out across the city. Can you escape your damaged home before it collapses? Will you join the firefighters as they try to save the city from the devastating fires? Will you be accused of looting after helping a boy escape from some rubble? With dozens of possible choices, it's up to YOU to survive one of the worst earthquakes ever recorded.

On May 31, 1889, heavy rains and a dam failure sent flood waters sweeping into Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The 50-foot-high wall of water quickly demolished much of the town. Will you and your new husband be able to escape certain doom as you wait for your train to leave the station? Can you climb onto your house's roof for safety before the building completely fills with water? Will you join in the effort to save others who are floating by on the roofs of their houses? With dozens of possible choices, it's up to YOU to find a way to survive one of the deadliest disasters in American history.

On May 31, 1889, heavy rains and a dam failure sent flood waters sweeping into Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The 50-foot-high wall of water quickly demolished much of the town. Will you and your new husband be able to escape certain doom as you wait for your train to leave the station? Can you climb onto your house's roof for safety before the building completely fills with water? Will you join in the effort to save others who are floating by on the roofs of their houses? With dozens of possible choices, it's up to YOU to find a way to survive one of the deadliest disasters in American history.

It is January 12, 1888, and you are caught by surprise by a powerful blizzard that sweeps across the Midwest. Dangerously cold temperatures, high winds, and deep snow make travel nearly impossible. Will you be able to find your way home through the storm after leaving school? Can you find your father after he becomes lost in the blinding snow? Will you be able to help your students find shelter after the storm ruins your schoolhouse? With dozens of possible choices, it's up to YOU to find a way to survive one of history's worst blizzards.