The Sahara is a land of extremes. It is the largest hot desert on Earth where the sand can reach a whopping 176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius). It is also a land of mountains, plains – and snow. It is a constantly changing landscape with winds that blast dust halfway around the planet. Here are some interesting facts we have discovered about the Sahara. Do you know: What is the difference between a hot desert and a cold desert? Are there volcanoes in the Sahara? How many countries does the Sahara cover? How does the Sahara Desert help the Amazon rainforest? Does it snow in the Sahara Desert? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. Reading Level: 6.9 Learning Island believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

The Dead Sea is a salt-filled sea which sits on the border between Israel, Jordan and Palestine. It is 31 miles (50 km) long and 9 miles (15 km) wide at its widest point. It is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. At 997 feet (304 metres) deep, it is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. Fed by the Jordan River and rainfall of only 4 inches (10 cm) a year, it is slowly evaporating away. Here are some fun facts about this ancient body of water. Do you know: Why are there no fish in the Dead Sea? Where did the Dead Sea get its salt? Why can only two of the three countries bordering the Dead Sea mine its salt? How long has salt been mined in the Dead Sea? Who built the first health spa at the Dead Sea? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. Reading Level: 6.3 Learning Island believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

Earthquakes can be frightening occurrences. Suddenly the ground begins to shake. Things are thrown around and buildings come crashing to the ground. Scientists have studied earthquakes for years and have discovered many things. How much do you know? Do you know: Why do earthquakes happen? What is a seismograph? How do scientists measure earthquakes? What is liquefaction? What earthquake made the Mississippi River run backwards? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. Reading Level: 6.2 Learning Island believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

Antarctica is a frozen continent at the southernmost point of our planet. Where the land meets the ocean, huge ice shelves and icebergs flow onto the sea. Antarctica is so cold that the snow never melts. It has built up over thousands of years to create ice sheets that are over 2.5 miles (four kilometres) thick, burying an active volcanic land that was once roamed by dinosaurs. Do you know: How many seasons does Antarctica have? What country or countries claim ownership of Antarctica? Does Antarctica get more or less rain than the Sahara Desert? How many ice shelves does Antarctica have? Is Antarctica the coldest place on Earth? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. Reading Level: 7.1 Learning Island believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

You might think that dry, dusty deserts would be empty of plants or animals, but you'd be incorrect. Young readers will learn fascinating facts about Earth's sprawling desert habitats and the creatures that call them home. From the chilly Gobi in Asia to the blazing Sahara in Africa, this book will bust misconceptions about Earth's deserts and show off their unique beauty in full-color photographs. Informative maps show how each of Earth's continents has deserts, and fun details about unique desert creatures will intrigue curious readers.

The Nile River has amazed people for thousands of years. It runs opposite from most river systems. It floods for miles, pushing back the desert and providing farming lands for civilizations to thrive. It fills a massive swamp and has canyons and waterfalls that are as spectacular as anywhere in the world. Most of its course is through the desert, yet it never runs dry. How much do you know about the Nile River? Can you answer these questions: Is the Nile River the longest river in the world? Most rivers grow in size until they reach the sea. When does the Nile River loose 50% of its water before it reaches the ocean? What two colors does the Nile River come in? How much of the water that flows into the Mediterranean Sea comes from the Nile? What happened to many ancient Egyptian temples when the Aswan High Dam was built? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

The Amazon River is the largest river in the world. It winds its way across South America, picking up dirt, leaves, and mostly water from over one third of South America. Then it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Learn about the Amazon River and find out the answers to these questions: Is the Amazon the biggest river in the world? Are there more kinds of fish in the Amazon or in the ocean? The Amazon drains how much of South America? How deep does the Amazon river get? And many more. Find out more about the Amazon and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. All measurements in American and metric. Ages 8 and up. LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

Lightning has terrified people for thousands of years with huge dark storm clouds, rumbling and lighting up. There were flashes of light striking the ground, causing fire and destruction with a roar loud enough to think the heavens were exploding. Today, we know a thunderstorm does not mean the world is about to end. Even so, it is a powerful event of nature. Find out more in this short book. RL:6

How much water can a camel drink at one time? What does a camel store in its hump? Which takes a shorter time to grow up; a female camel or a male camel? How many eyelids does a camel have? Learn the answer to these questions and many more in this 15-Minute Book. Camels are amazing animals with some very strange habits. How much do you know about them? LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.