"For the diver Kino, finding a magnificent pearl means the promise of better life for his impoverished family. His dream blinds him to the greed and suspicions the pearl arouses in him and his neighbors, and even his loving wife cannot temper his obsession or stem the events leading to tragedy. Kino and his wife illustrate the fall from innocence of people who believe that wealth erases all problems"--P. [4] of cover.

A biography of the Zapotec Indian who instituted many reforms during his fourteen years as President of Mexico.

Describes the discovery and exploration of the major rivers of the world from earliest times to the present day.

Surveys explorers who journeyed to faraway lands and wrote about their experiences, including Marco Polo, Lewis and Clark, David Livingstone, Freya Stark, and Ernest Giles.

Describes journeys to the polar regions and the people who risked their lives to reach the coldest places on earth.

Examines the structure and function of various parts of the human body, including skin, hair, muscles, and bones, and describes how the various parts of the brain sense our environment and coordinate our actions.

Examines the nature of outer space, our solar system, and our universe, including descriptions of the sun, moon, and planets, as well as constellations, nebulas and black holes.

Text, illustrations, and hands-on activities present information about earthquakes and volcanoes, including notable examples in history.