From our eyes to our toes, kids will find out what makes the human body tick in this engaging STEM nonfiction book. They'll discover that our hearts beat 100,000 times a day, which equals 36 MILLION times a year. And that our tongue's 8,000 taste buds can detect only 5 flavors. And that we have 60,000 miles of blood vessels, enough to circle the world more than twice!

Noted children's author Jennifer Berne shares these remarkable facts and numbers alongside vivid informative illustrations by Dawn DeVries Sokol, resulting in a book that will transport kids on an entertainingly educational journey.

The Children's Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year List - STEM & Outstanding Merit (2024)

The New York Public Library Best Books for Kids List (2023)

For millions of years these first bits of life
Became more, and then more, and then more.

Long, long ago, when the Earth was young and new, the world was a fiery place. Volcanoes exploded from deep down below, and steamy, hot clouds rose up high. Rain poured down for thousands of years, filling the world's very first oceans. There the teeniest stirrings of life began. Earth's creatures grew bigger and bigger, evolving into exciting forms like jellyfish, coral, and worms. Millions of years passed. Down in the depths and up on the surface, ocean life grew and spread. Now the sea teems with all kinds of animals--squid, turtles, dolphins, barracudas, even glowing fish, all living in the waters where long, long ago, life itself came to be.

Spanning 4.5 billion years of evolution, this extensively researched book is an accessible introduction to geology, oceanography, and marine biology. Entrancing verse, awe-inspiring art, and fascinating back matter capture the mysterious beauty of the ocean and the incredible organisms who call it home.

Michigan Reading Association Great Lakes Great Books Award for Grades 2-3 Nominee (2024-2025)

The Children's Book Council Teacher FAVORITES List 3rd-5th Grade (2024)

A 2020 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12! With an introduction from Neil DeGrasse Tyson about the importance of kid-like curiosity, this lyrical picture book biography on the beloved astrophysicist and host of Cosmos is the perfect gift for young astronomers and fans of all ages.

Neil deGrasse Tyson was born curious. And the secrets of a billion galaxies lay there--waiting for him to explore its cosmic mysteries. He just had to look up. Up beyond the city lights, up at the shining stars, up through the Milky Way, and past the veil of the night sky.

Follow young Neil's journey as he discovers the wonders of space, the thrill of science, and the joy in sharing the beauty of our amazing universe. Read his favorite mind-blowing facts and learn what mysteries are left to solve.

From On a Beam of Light author Jennifer Berne and debut paper illustrator Lorraine Nam comes the inspiring true tale of Neil's life and how he became a world-famous astrophysicist.

The future of discovery lays with you. Look up with Neil and begin your own journey into the cosmos.

A 2020 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12! With an introduction from Neil DeGrasse Tyson about the importance of kid-like curiosity, this lyrical picture book biography on the beloved astrophysicist and host of Cosmos is the perfect gift for young astronomers and fans of all ages.

Neil deGrasse Tyson was born curious. And the secrets of a billion galaxies lay there--waiting for him to explore its cosmic mysteries. He just had to look up. Up beyond the city lights, up at the shining stars, up through the Milky Way, and past the veil of the night sky.

Follow young Neil's journey as he discovers the wonders of space, the thrill of science, and the joy in sharing the beauty of our amazing universe. Read his favorite mind-blowing facts and learn what mysteries are left to solve.

From On a Beam of Light author Jennifer Berne and debut paper illustrator Lorraine Nam comes the inspiring true tale of Neil's life and how he became a world-famous astrophysicist.

The future of discovery lays with you. Look up with Neil and begin your own journey into the cosmos.

Emily Dickinson, who famously wrote Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, is brought to life in this moving story. In a small New England town lives Emily Dickinson, a girl in love with small things--a flower petal, a bird, a ray of light, a word. In those small things, her brilliant imagination can see the wide world--and in her words, she takes wing. From celebrated children's author Jennifer Berne comes a lyrical and lovely account of the life of Emily Dickinson: her courage, her faith, and her gift to the world. With Dickinson's own inimitable poetry woven throughout, this lyrical biography is not just a tale of prodigious talent, but also of the power we have to transform ourselves and to reach one another when we speak from the soul.

- Fantastic educational opportunity to share Emily Dickinson's story and poetry with young readers
- An inspirational real-life story that will appeal to children and adults alike.
- Jennifer Berne is the author of critically acclaimed children's biographies of Albert Einstein and Jacques Cousteau.

Fans who enjoyed Emily Writes: Emily Dickinson and her Poetic Beginnings, Emily and Carlo, and Uncle Emily will love On Wings of Words.

- Books for kids ages 5-8
- Poetry for children
- Biographies for children

Jennifer Berne is the award-winning author of the biographies Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau and On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein. She lives in Copake, New York.

Becca Stadtlander is the illustrator of many children's and young adult publications, including Sleep Tight Farm. She was born and raised in Covington, Kentucky.

• Balance brief strategic reading lessons with whole-class work
• Structure and guide reading groups consistently
• Assess students before and during reading groups
• Cue students and gauge understanding as they read

Personal interactions are the single most effective way for teachers to understand and evaluate their student as learners. Responding specifically to new Common Core State Standards in reading and writing, this book introduces pre- and inservice teachers to a method of one-on-one interaction the authors refer to as the stretch conference. This book provides detailed practical advice on the logistics of implementing these conferences during the busy school day, including tips on how and when to schedule conferences and how to successfully manage the classroom during conference time. The authors argue that, rather than using valuable conference time for word-level concerns and editing, teachers should focus on more ambitious goals that will deepen (or stretch) students' skills in comprehension and writing. This resource suggests where conferences fit in with other important pieces of literacy instruction; introduces a variety of high-quality cues to use during conferences; and shows how conferences can function as formative assessment for reading and writing skills.

Book Features:

• Written by two veteran teacher educators who conduct frequent workshops and professional development with teachers.
• Helps teachers adjust their instruction for the demands of Common Core Standards, specifically Reading Anchor Standards 1 and 10, and Writing Standards 1-5 and 10.
• Shows teachers how to schedule individual conferences within typical classroom time constraints.
• Includes many detailed examples of effective conferences taken from real classrooms.