More space objects have been found beyond Pluto, in a region known as the Kuiper Belt. In 2003, Eris was discovered. Its existence was confirmed in January 2005. It was found to be larger than Pluto and was put forward as a tenth planet in our solar system. This caused much debate among astronomers. Are there more, larger objects in our solar system? How many? Are they all to be considered planets? If not, then what does this mean for Pluto? On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) came up with a scientific definition of the word “planet”. Pluto did not fit these new rules. It was downgraded to “dwarf planet”. The IAU is reluctant to consider any more than eight planets in our solar system. All other planet-like bodies are to be known as “dwarf planets”. How much do you know about these dwarf planets? Do you know: What is a plutoid? How many official dwarf planets are there in our solar system? Are all the dwarf planets out beyond Pluto? How big does an object need to be to qualify as a dwarf planet? What other rules must an object meet to be classified as a dwarf planet? 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. The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards. 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.

More space objects have been found beyond Pluto, in a region known as the Kuiper Belt. In 2003, Eris was discovered. Its existence was confirmed in January 2005. It was found to be larger than Pluto and was put forward as a tenth planet in our solar system. This caused much debate among astronomers. Are there more, larger objects in our solar system? How many? Are they all to be considered planets? If not, then what does this mean for Pluto? On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) came up with a scientific definition of the word “planet”. Pluto did not fit these new rules. It was downgraded to “dwarf planet”. The IAU is reluctant to consider any more than eight planets in our solar system. All other planet-like bodies are to be known as “dwarf planets”. How much do you know about these dwarf planets? Do you know: What is a plutoid? How many official dwarf planets are there in our solar system? Are all the dwarf planets out beyond Pluto? How big does an object need to be to qualify as a dwarf planet? What other rules must an object meet to be classified as a dwarf planet? 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 Yangtze River is known by many names. From its headwaters in the glaciers of Tibet, it drops nearly 16,000 feet (5000 metres) on its journey to the East China Sea. For millions of years it has cut its path through the land. It flows through mountains and deep gorges and along broad, flat valley plains, taking water from thousands of rivers and lakes. It is shrouded in mists and mountains, stories and legend. Its basin is home to nearly one third of the population. To the Chinese, the Yangtze is more than a river; she is a living, breathing part of their very lives. How much do you know about the Yangtze River? Can you answer these questions: Where does the Yangtze start? How many rivers and streams empty into the Yangtze? What is the “Ghost City” of the Yangtze? What happened to the City of Fengdu? 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. The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards. 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.

How much of America’s rainfall ends up in the Mississippi River? Which mountain range grew around the Danube River? Are there more kinds of fish in the Amazon or in the ocean? The Thames was once a tributary of what European river? What is the “Ghost City” of the Yangtze? Learn the answer to these questions and many more fun facts in this group of seven 15-Minute Books. Rivers can have many fascinating facts. Surprise your friends, and even your parents with these fun facts. This compilation includes the following 15-minute books: 14 Fun Facts About the Amazon 14 Fun Facts About the Nile 14 Fun Facts About the Danube 14 Fun Facts About the Yangtze River 14 Fun Facts About the Mississippi River 14 Fun Facts About the River Thames 14 Fun Facts About Australia's Murray River Reading Level: 6.9 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. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

Comets often streak across the night sky. They are fascinating flashes of light, but how much do we really know about them? Here are some things that scientists do know. Find out: What the name comet means. How comets are named. When the earliest comets were recorded. How scientists predict when a comet will return. What a comet’s tail is made of. The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards. 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.

Eclipses have amazed and terrified people for thousands of years. The sky grows dark. Daytime animals go to sleep and nocturnal animals wake up. Roosters crow and cows come in for milking. The sun is slowly covered by some mysterious celestial object. Sometimes it is blocked out completely. What had the people done wrong? Would the sun ever come back? Was it the end of the world? Today we know that eclipses are caused by the movements of the sun, the moon and the Earth. They still amaze us and they can still terrify us. How much do you know about eclipses? How many kinds of eclipses are there? What is an annular eclipse? (Hint: it's not an eclipse that occurs once a year.) True or false: A solar eclipse can only occur on a new moon? How many different shadows does a solar eclipse have? What are Baily's Beads? Find out more about eclipses and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. All measurements in American and metric. Ages 8 and up. The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards. 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.

You may think the Solar System consists of the sun and the eight planets that orbit around it. However, there are other things out there. There are comets, moons, asteroids, meteors, dust, ice, rock and much more. Plus there is a whole lot of man made junk. How much do you know about the solar system? Which planet had the potential to become a star? How many asteroids are there in the asteroid belt? How average is our sun? How far does the sun’s gravity extend? How old is our solar system? The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards. 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.

Shah Jahan of the Mughal Empire in India had several wives. His favorite was Mumtaz Mahal. She was always with him, traveling all over the Mughal Empire. When she died, Jahan was devastated. He designed and built a mausoleum to house her body. He called it the Taj Mahal. Do you know: How many buildings are in the Taj Mahal complex? How many people did it take to build the Taj Mahal? Is there a false tomb in the Taj Mahal? What is the legend of the Black Taj? 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 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.

Eclipses have amazed and terrified people for thousands of years. The sky grows dark. Daytime animals go to sleep and nocturnal animals wake up. Roosters crow and cows come in for milking. The sun is slowly covered by some mysterious celestial object. Sometimes it is blocked out completely. What had the people done wrong? Would the sun ever come back? Was it the end of the world? Today we know that eclipses are caused by the movements of the sun, the moon and the Earth. They still amaze us and they can still terrify us. How much do you know about eclipses? How many kinds of eclipses are there? What is an annular eclipse? (Hint: it's not an eclipse that occurs once a year.) True or false: A solar eclipse can only occur on a new moon? How many different shadows does a solar eclipse have? What are Baily's Beads? Find out more about eclipses 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