Blaine Wiseman

Text and illustrations introduce the characteristics and functions of these machines that are used to move material such as soil, rock, and dirt.

Lynxes are wild cats with excellent hearing and eyesight. They make sounds similar to those of house cats. Find out more in Lynx, one of the titles in the Backyard Animals series.

Tarantulas include some of the biggest, heaviest spiders on Earth. The largest tarantulas are the size of dinner plates. Discover more in Tarantulas, one of the titles in the Spiders series.

People experience the effects of Earth's orbit around the Sun every day. As Earth travels around the Sun, the planet's tilt causes different places to experience different seasons. Learn more in Earth and the Sun, a title in the Space Systems: Stars and the Solar System series.

The governor is the top politician in his or her state. Each of the 50 U.S. states elects its own governor.

Once a European colony, Jamaica's history has been shaped by its struggle for freedom. Today, this independent spirit can still be seen in the Jamaican people, who have worked hard to maintain and promote the island's vibrant culture and easy-going nature. Learn about Jamaica's fascinating history, culture, geography, and more in Jamaica, an Exploring Countries book.

Snowboarders practice in the snowboard parks at ski resorts. They know they will need a variety of tricks to score well in competitions. Learn more about one of the world's most daring sports and the athletes who take part in it in Snowboarding, part of the Extreme Adrenaline series.

Practitioners of martial arts must study for years to understand them. Martial arts help teach discipline, patience, and respect. Learn more in Martial Arts, a For the Love of Sports book. Each title in the For the Love of Sports series features easy-to-read text, stunning visuals, and a challenging educational activity. A unique book code printed on page 2 unlocks multimedia content. These books come alive with video, audio, weblinks, slideshows,...