It's a nuisance when it rains on a picnic. It's a tragedy when a tornado destroys a neighbourhood. But our planet would be very different place if it didn't have extremes of weather. Weather has shaped the world we live in, and humans have learned to live in almost every climate that can be found on Earth.

We could not live without water. Almost two-thirds of our body weight is water. We rely on it to keep ourselves clean, to keep our bodies nourished, and to get rid of waste. But water can also carry deadly germs and poisons. One of the greatest challenges for scientists and governments today is to make sure that everyone has access to the clean, safe water that they need. You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Clean Water! is part of a brand-new science and technology strand within the internationally acclaimed You Wouldn’t Want to Be series. The clear, engaging text and humorous illustrations bring the subject to life and stimulate young readers' curiosity about the world around them. Specially commissioned cartoon-style illustrations in full colour make these books attractive and accessible even to reluctant readers. Information is conveyed through captions, labels and humorous speech bubbles in addition to the main text. Illustrated sidebars headed ‘How It Works’, ‘Top Tip’ or ‘You Can Do It’ supply more facts, describe simple, safe experiments, or steps that readers can take to help make the world a better place. Each volume includes a timeline and a list of ‘Did You Know?’ facts.

Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this “fascinating exploration of the importance of the outdoors to childhood development” (Kirkus Reviews) from a Swedish-American mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children. Could the Scandinavian philosophy of “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” hold the key to happier, healthier lives for American children? When Swedish-born Linda Åkeson McGurk moved to Indiana, she quickly learned that the nature-centric parenting philosophies of her native Scandinavia were not the norm. In Sweden, children play outdoors year-round, regardless of the weather, and letting babies nap outside in freezing temperatures is common and recommended by physicians. Preschoolers spend their days climbing trees, catching frogs, and learning to compost, and environmental education is a key part of the public-school curriculum. In the US, McGurk found the playgrounds deserted, and preschoolers were getting drilled on academics with little time for free play in nature. And when a swimming outing at a nearby creek ended with a fine from a park officer, McGurk realized that the parenting philosophies of her native country and her adopted homeland were worlds apart. Struggling to decide what was best for her family, McGurk embarked on a six-month journey to Sweden with her two daughters to see how their lives would change in a place where spending time in nature is considered essential to a good childhood. Insightful and lively, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather is a fascinating personal narrative that illustrates how Scandinavian culture could hold the key to raising healthy, resilient, and confident children in America.

Narrative nonfiction account of the record-setting Delaware River flood of August 18-20, 1955, reads like a thriller. This devastation was caused by rain from hurricanes Connie and Diane, hitting within five days of each other. The flood killed nearly 100 people in PA, NJ & NY, with the highest flood crest recorded on river to date. This is an extremely readable narrative woven from interviews with 100+ survivors & eyewitnesses. With 105 historic photos bringing these events to chilling life, this is the first comprehensive account of a tragic event that changed life in the Delaware Valley forever.

Uses humor in both text and illustrations to describe what it would be like to live without extreme weather and describes how people deal with extreme weather and the importance of being prepared in case of extreme temperatures or storms.

Nelson’s got a tough choice to make, if he wants to become a true superhero. Nelson and his best friend Simon have escaped the DCA prison and become members of the resistance, which is dedicated to bringing down the Superhero Bureau. But the resistance wants Nelson to do something that goes against everything he believes in. They want him to kill anyone that gets in the way of their mission… Now Nelson will be tested as never before by both the resistance and the Superhero Bureau. And he’s going to have decide what’s more important: The superhero code or his friendship with Simon. But when Nelson learns that the source of every superhero and villains’ powers is another living being that’s been wrongfully imprisoned, he’s got another tough choice to make. Nelson has to go back to the place that almost broke him. He has to go back to the DCA and discover the truth behind his powers and his identity as a superhero.

Framed by the violence and chaos of a global conflict is my parents’ love story, touchingly told in a series of letters from Max to Rosaleen from the day after they met in 1941 to my mother’s disembarkation in Halifax from the Queen Mary as a war bride in 1946. Max Stiebel, one of five sons of German immigrants to Canada, was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec becoming one of the thousands of young men who enlisted in defense of Britain at the start of the Second World War. Trained as a pilot, he was deployed to England in March 1941 and spent the next five years transporting supplies, weaponry, troops and VIPs to all corners of Europe and the Middle East. Rosaleen Hill, daughter of a World War I war hero and the repatriated great-great-grand-daughter of British emigrants to India grew to adulthood in the south of England, studied music and literature and had ambitions to be a teacher. The onset of war changed all that, as it did with an entire generation of young women like her, and she went to work in support of her country’s efforts to preserve its sovereignty against an aggressive and implacable foe. Their unique family histories and the wartime backdrop, interspersed with vintage and family photographs, provide warmth and illumination, while their passion for each other in a time of strife still inspires.

The Learning How to be a Hero series follows the adventures of Nelson as he learns what it takes to be a hero. Book 1: Learning How to Fly is now available! Nelson is a superhero with an embarrassing problem… He can't fly very well and he's been ordered to attend remedial flying school. If he doesn't pass the class he'll lost his superhero license and have to work at the weather bureau. But a class in remedial flying is just the beginning of his problems. His girlfriend thinks he's self-obsessed, and his mom won't get off his case about not living up to the family legacy. When Nelson is framed for a crime and sent to the Defining Center of Adjustments, the sinister warden Pretty Boy will challenge everything he thought he knew about being a hero. If Nelson can't get his act together and realize that what makes a superhero isn't the costume, but the actions the superhero takes, he might lose more than his career. He might lose his life and everyone important to him.

Introduces various kinds of bad weather and the effect it has on people.

What are the consequences of being able to predict with relative certainty a day's weather? This text explores why we care so much about weather and what we can do with our growing knowledge.