Covers everything from earth sciences to astronomy; from climate and habitats to human arts and cultures; from ancient history to cutting-edge technology; and descriptions, flags, and statistics of all the countries in the world.

Covers everything from earth sciences to astronomy; from climate and habitats to human arts and cultures; from ancient history to cutting-edge technology; and descriptions, flags, and statistics of all the countries in the world.

Shares the answers to over one thousand questions on such topics as animals, natural resources, technology, and history.

This far-reaching reference is designed with many entry points and a visually engaging format to satisfy the curious browser, the student researcher, and the earnest knowledge seeker alike.

With the Commonwealth of Virginia's Public Park Condemnation Act of 1928, the state surveyed for and acquired three thousand tracts of land that would become Shenandoah National Park. The Commonwealth condemned the homes of five hundred families so that their land could be "donated" to the federal government and placed under the auspices of the National Park Service. Prompted by the condemnation of their land, the residents began writing letters to National Park and other government officials to negotiate their rights and to request various services, property, and harvests. Typically represented in the popular media as lawless, illiterate, and incompetent, these mountaineers prove themselves otherwise in this poignant collection of letters. The history told by the residents themselves both adds to and counters the story that is generally accepted about them. These letters are housed in the Shenandoah National Park archives in Luray, Virginia, which was opened briefly to the public from 2000 to 2002, but then closed due to lack of funding. This selection of roughly 150 of these letters, in their entirety, makes these documents available again not only to the public but also to scholars, researchers, and others interested in the region's history, in the politics of the park, and in the genealogy of the families. Supplementing the letters are introductory text, photographs, annotation, and oral histories that further document the lives of these individuals.

Some have enormous teeth, others the deadly skill to catch their prey without making a sound! National Geographic Kidsbrings readers some of their favorite deadly and carnivorous animals in one convenient package with National Geographic Readers: Predators Collection. Howling wolves, chomping sharks, sneaky spiders, and toothy tigers all have the need to feed, and have developed amazing ways to catch their prey. Fascinating animal information is accompanied by wonderful photographs to ensure that kids' natural curiosity is both satisfied AND inspired.

"Fascinating.... Lays a foundation for understanding human history."—Bill Gates In this "artful, informative, and delightful" (William H. McNeill, New York Review of Books) book, Jared Diamond convincingly argues that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world. Societies that had had a head start in food production advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage, and then developed religion --as well as nasty germs and potent weapons of war --and adventured on sea and land to conquer and decimate preliterate cultures. A major advance in our understanding of human societies, Guns, Germs, and Steel chronicles the way that the modern world came to be and stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, the Rhone-Poulenc Prize, and the Commonwealth club of California's Gold Medal.

Examines the places and activities around the world that captivate their residents--from regional festivals, undiscovered local restaurants, and lesser-known art galleries, to quiet places to sit and watch another world stroll by.

School Library Journal Best Books of 2011 Eureka! Silver Honor Books—California Reading Association Capitol Choices 2012 list of Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens 2012 Notable Children's Books—ALSC The new National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology offers timeless stories of Greek myths in a beautiful new volume. Brought to life with lyrical text by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage children’s imaginations. National Geographic completes the book with embellishments of each story: sidebars for each god, goddess, hero, and monster link the myths to constellations, geography, history, and culture to help young readers connect the stories to real life events, people, and places. A family tree and a “cast of characters” profile page help make relationships between the characters clear, and a mapping feature adds to the fun and fascination. Resource notes and ample back matter directing readers to more information round out this luminous book. Sure to dazzle all those intrigued with the fantastic tales of Greek mythology and enchant new readers, this vibrant book will soon become a family keepsake. National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

A collection of the best poems and short stories written about various, sometimes risky wilderness experiences and adventures around the world, written for The Banff Centre's Mountain and Wilderness Writing program.