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Find our books on IndieBound and support independent bookstores! IndieBound has been supporting independent bookstores since 2008! Visit their website to search your local area for independent bookstores by name or zip code. Use it to find our books in your area and support two small businesses! Here's how it works: Open the website and search for the book you want by title (try: "One Minute Mysteries") or author (try: "Dia Michels" or "Eric Yoder"). After completing the search and opening the product page , you can click "Buy Here" to purchase directly through IndieBound. You also have the option to then type in a zip code under "Buy at Local Store" and the site will pull up local independent bookstores that carry the title in question, so you can choose which independent bookstore you want to support! When you click on one of them, it will take you to the product page for the book on that bookstore's website, and you can complete the purchase there. Shop IndieBound! INDIEBOUND

Can you solve this month's science mystery? Junio Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Matemáticas! Un cuento largo Día de los desafíos era uno de los más esperados en la semana del campamento. A los campistas se les enviaba a hacer toda clase de tareas extrañas, como, por ejemplo, encontrar pelo de animales, ciertos tipos de hojas, nueces, y otros pedacitos de naturaleza. Dominic y Vincent estaban convencidos de que se les había encargado la tarea más difícil de todas: calcular la altura exacta del árbol solitario en el centro del campamento. Por poco sueltan carcajadas cuando les entregaron solo dos herramientas para hacerlo: una regla de una yarda de longitud y una gran bola de hilo. —Es imposible —dijo Dominic, ojeando hasta la punta del árbol con los ojos entrecerrados. Era un día soleado. —No puede ser imposible —dijo Vincent—. El consejero dijo que otros chicos lo han hecho con las mismas cosas que nos dieron a nosotros. Pensaron por un rato. —Bueno, tengo una idea —dijo Dominic—. Pero no será fácil. Uno de nosotros puede sostener la bola de hilo mientras que el otro se amarra un extremo del hilo al cinturón y trepa el árbol. Podríamos llegar lo suficientemente cerca a la punta como para estimar cuánto falta, y después podríamos agregar ese estimado a la longitud del hilo desde el punto al que alcanzamos hasta el suelo. —No creo que nos gustará el resultado de eso —dijo Vincent. —¿Por qué? —preguntó Dominic. REVELAR RESPUERTA

The school student council was putting up decorations for the Valentine's Day party later that day in the multi-purpose room. Elinor came into the room... Febrero Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Ciencias! Helados de frío —No puedo creer que mi madre me hizo usar este abrigo pesado —se quejaba Paige mientras caminaba a la escuela con sus amigas una mañana. —Mi madre es igual —dijo Tyra, chapoteando en un charco con sus botas impermeables. —Oigan, esperen un momento —dijo Lin, recogiendo el sombrero que se le había volado de la cabeza—. ¿Sus madres estaban escuchando esa estación de radio nueva que toca las canciones viejas que le gustan a los padres? —¡Sí! —dijo Paige—. ¡No puedo creer la música que tocan! —¡Algunas de esas canciones deben tener 20 años! —añadió Tyra. —Estaba puesta en nuestra casa también —dijo Lin—. Escuché al locutor decír que se sentiría como -4 grados Celsius esta mañana y fue entonces que mi mamá me entregó estos guantes. —¿Y qué? —preguntó Paige. —Entiendo lo que quiere decir Lin —dijo Tyra, saltando de charco en charco—. A -4 grados Celsius el agua estaría congelada. El agua se congela a 0 grados Celsius o menos. —Creo que nuestros padres debieran empezar a escuchar otra estación de radio —dijo Lin. —No creo que eso ayude —dijo Paige. —¿Por qué no? La gente de esa estación claramente no sabe nada del tiempo ni de la música —dijo Tyra. REVELAR RESPUESTA

Want to gain experience at a small independent press? Come join us for a publishing internship! Internship Opportunities We are always seeking interns to help us out in the off ice and provide opportunities for young people to expand their knowledge of the publishing industry. Through our internship program, students gain invaluable, real-life working experience, new skills, and a passion for educational children's books. Science Naturally's unique Editorial and Marketing Associate Program gives our interns an opportunity to assist in all aspects of a small publishing house, including manuscript evaluation, editorial, marketing, sales, inventory management, and administration. Editorial and Marketing Associate Internship Program Duties may include, but are not limited to: Reading and critiquing manuscript and art submissions Editing manuscripts in production and creating marketing materials Supporting the launch of new titles Assisting with arranging author appearances and events Supporting trade show endeavors Maintaining various media resources, customer records, and other lists Researching new media and sales outlets Customer follow up and sales Packing orders Helping support the work of the office We mentor 2-4 interns in all aspects of the publishing business each semester and during the summer. Interns are expected to work 12-20 hours/week during the semester and 20-30 hours/week during the summer. Our internships are unpaid, but we do reimburse local travel expenses up to $7.00/day. We are located in Washington, DC, near the U.S. Capitol (at the Union Station Metro stop). For summer internships, please apply by April 1. For fall internships, please apply by August 1. For spring internships, please apply by November 1. To apply, send a resume, writing sample, two references, and availability to: Ali Trujillo Ali.Trujillo@ScienceNaturally.com 202-465-4798

Discover the enchantment of the nighttime sky with 'Twinkle Twinkle Nighttime Sky' - a captivating book coming February 2024. Dive into the wonders beyond our stars! How I wonder what you are... Let's explore beyond our star! Everyday, the sun sets and the sky grows dark. Twinkling stars start to shine, and we watch the moon as it changes phases throughout the month. But the sky we see each night is only a small piece of our huge universe. What else is out there in the nighttime sky? Twinkle, Twinkle, Nighttime Sky is the second board book in the Skytime series, following Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star. Based on the familiar nursery rhyme, the Skytime series first introduces kids to the bright star that lights our daytime sky, and now explores the universe beyond our solar system! Readers learn about constellations, how the moon affects the tides, astronauts and the moon landing, our Milky Way galaxy and the billions more galaxies out in space, phenomena such as comets and nebulas, and so much more. Twinkle, Twinkle, Nighttime Sky is a must-have for children who love marveling at the stars and learning about astronauts and planets. With breathtaking illustrations of space and fascinating facts, this book puts our one-of-a-kind planet in perspective! Preorder Preorder Coming October 2024 Press Release Book details Age range 2 - 7 years Grade range Preschool - 2nd grade Board book (ISBN 978-1-958629-37-6) $11.95 Paperback Extended (978-1-958629-68-0) $12.95 eBook (ISBN 978-1-958629-38-3) $10.99 Bilingual (English/Spanish) Board book (ISBN 978-1-958629-39-0) $11.95 Bilingual Paperback Extended (978-1-958629-69-7) $12.95 Bilingual (English/Spanish) eBook (ISBN 978--1958629-40-6) $10.99 Reviews "A wonderful primer to get small children excited about learning about space." —Goodreads reviewer Pamela Powell "Beautifully illustrated bilingual board book for little ones and their caregivers to share! Everett’s rhyming couplets have great rhythm and rhyme in their English version and cover interesting facts about space and space travel." —Goodreads reviewer Melanie Dulaney About the Author About the Illustrator Elizabeth Everett spent 16 years as a classroom teacher before venturing into writing. Inspired by her energetic youngster, Jalen, and his love for books, she took her background in education and meshed it with his childhood interests. The result was edu-tainment in the form of children’s books! She currently lives in Colorado with her family where they love spending time outdoors in the Western sun. This is her first children’s book and she is excited to have several more coming out soon. She can be reached at Elizabeth.Everett@ScienceNaturally.com . Beatriz Castro has been drawing and writing fantastic stories since she was a little girl. She studied illustration at the School of Arts in Logroño, Spain. Inspired by the natural world, Beatriz specializes in colorful images and funny character designs. Her fun and beautiful art appears in books published around the world. She likes classic stories and fairy tales and listens to rock and punk music. You can see more of her work at BeatrizCastroIlustracion.com.

Science, Naturally is an independent press committed to increasing bilingual science and math literacy in early childhood education. About Science, Naturally! Science Naturally: Enhancing Literacy in Science and Math Science Naturally, an imprint of Platypus Media, operates as an independent press situated in Washington, D.C. Our mission revolves around fostering a deeper understanding of science and math by demystifying these subjects in entertaining and enlightening ways. Utilizing both fictional and nonfictional forms, diverse characters, and engaging formats, we strive to make intimidating topics intriguing and accessible to scientists, mathematicians, and book enthusiasts of all ages. Diverse Reach and Accessibility Initiatives: To ensure broad accessibility, we've translated our books into over six languages, developed bilingual, eBook, and braille editions, and partnered with literacy programs offering discounted books to under-served students. Refer to our list of partners below. Empowering Educators: Our Professional Development seminars and complimentary educational resources empower educators, enabling them to bridge the gap between the blackboard and the blacktop. Our books have earned recognition as valuable supplemental resources, receiving awards and accolades from literacy, education, and parenting groups. Each book holds the esteemed "Recommends" designation from the National Science Teachers Association. Alignment with Educational Standards: Our content aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards and supports the Common Core State Standards. Visit our website for detailed articulations and additional standards. Distribution and Inquiry: Science Naturally books are distributed by the National Book Network. For more information, publication catalogs, or details on becoming one of our esteemed authors, reach out to us via phone or visit our online platform. Discover, Read, and Stay Curious: You might encounter our books in schools, neighborhood book boxes, or literacy programs. Wherever you find them, we hope they inspire you to read, tackle challenging problems, and nurture your curiosity. Meet the Team Dia L. Michels Owner / Publisher Ali Trujillo Chief Operating Officer Hannah Thelen Editorial and Production Director Meet the Full Team Partners Our Partners We are proud to partner with many organizations that bring important educational books and resources to as many students as possible. Our partners include: Platyus Media Check out PlatypusMedia Want to know more about our parent company? READ MORE

Science, Naturally is an independent press committed to increasing science and math literacy in early childhood education. Check out our latest edition of the popular Mystery of the Month series! MYSTERY OF THE MONTH Mystery of the Month is a monthly email that challenges you with one of the mysteries from the books in our One Minute Mysteries series . These award-winning books feature one-page, literature-based math and science brainteasers. Lee esta pagina en español Each story takes just one minute to read and challenges a kid’s knowledge in a variety of science and math disciplines. The brainteasers can be used as independent reading for kids, a guessing game for families, a springboard for school projects, a bell ringer for teachers, or an assessment tool for math and science knowledge and literacy. Educators embrace the mysteries because they help kids extract the important data needed to solve science, math, and logic problems while strengthening and rewarding reading skills. Parents embrace them because they keep their kids excited about learning. Kids embrace them because they are fun! Check out the most recent Mysteries of the Month by clicking the buttons below: May Mystery June Mystery July Mystery Sign up here to get the Mystery of the Month delivered straight to your inbox:

Can you solve this month's real-life math mystery? "Come on class, to the candy aisle!" Miss Hanson called out. The class groaned at the thought of being in the candy aisle, knowing that they couldn't have any for themselves. They were on a field trip to a grocery store to buy supplies for a project... ¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... October Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! Halloween Hippie “Hey, I have an old picture of my grandma looking just like that, only it wasn’t a costume to her,” Kassandra said as Ingrid walked into the homeroom. “She said they actually thought they looked cool.” Their school normally had a dress code, but it was Halloween and everyone had come in wearing costumes. Ingrid was dressed like a hippie. She had a tie-dyed shirt, beads, sandals, and sunglasses with orange lenses shaped like hearts. Ingrid took off the sunglasses for class, but put them back on in the afternoon when it was time to get ready for the Halloween party. The class was decorating the classroom and painting signs for the school parade. Quan, who thought he was funny, was hanging decorations upside down. Preston was pretending to sword fight in his pirate costume with a paint brush, and Ricky was playing with fake blood after putting some on his zombie costume. When it was almost time for the parade, Kassandra noticed that one of the signs had been decorated with a red, rather than orange, pumpkin. “Okay, who’s the joker here?” Kassandra asked. She looked around the room for a guilty face. REVEAL ANSWER

Book Customization Does your organization want customized books? We can do that! We accommodate a number of requests for special editions of our books, including: Languages & trim size View the book Haitian Creole for the Heart of Jesus Orphanage View the book Bengali View the book Washoe for the Alpine County Child Abuse Prevention Council ? Your Project! Branding Front & Back matter & more! We also offer bulk pricing and competitive wholesale discounts . Please contact us for more information on our customization rates. You can reach us at: Info@ScienceNaturally.com 202-465-4798

¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... December Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! Getting a Lift Jada and Michelle’s school was closed for a winter teacher training day, so their parents decided to take a day off from work to take the family skiing. They were glad to see when they got there that there were no lines at the chair lifts. The two girls were good skiers, so they headed to the part of the mountain with the black diamond trails, the hardest ones. Three lifts started next to each other and ran up the mountain to a spot on the top leading to many different trails. “Let’s try to get in as many runs as we can,” Jada said. They looked at a sign to decide which lift to use. The Sheer Drop lift was a four-seat lift, and its capacity was 1,200 skiers an hour. The Hang onto Your Hat lift was a two-seat lift with a capacity of 800 skiers an hour. The White Cliffs lift was a three-seat lift that could move 900 skiers an hour. The sign said each lift had the same number of chairs. “Where do you think we should go?” Michelle asked. REVEAL ANSWER

Science, Naturally is an independent press committed to increasing bilingual science and math literacy in early childhood education. We know that every classroom in the country needs more STEM materials, but we also know that schools in the US are chronically underfunded. We are here to solve both problems! Our award-winning trade books are the perfect way to expand and enhance your classroom and ELO curricula. We've helped numerous schools apply for grants to get these STEM resources in their classrooms and libraries. Let us help you! This page contains: Foundation Grant Resource Document Freelance Grant Writers Grant Resources gRANT wRITERS Need a grant writer? Hiring a grant writer can be an effective way of bringing resources into your institution. A number of individuals who have worked as grant writers and may be able to work with you on grant requests either as a writer or as a consultant is listed below. ** Science, Naturally! has no financial connection to any of these individuals. ** Successful Foundation Grant Recipients Schools, camps and other educational programs have used grant money to buy large quantities of Science, Naturally books at discount prices. Here are some of the recipients: Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science, Mississippi State, MS ATOMS2XP, or Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science, is a program with the goal of increasing the number of highly qualified 4th - 8th grade science teachers across Mississippi. Using funds from a U.S. Department of Education Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant, they were able to purchase Science, Naturally! math and science books to distribute to the teachers attending their 2013 Spring Training Workshop. Prince George’s County Public Schools, Prince George’s County, MD Prince George’s County Public Schools used STEM grant funds to purchase 1,000 copies of Science, Naturally! titles. For two consecutive years, these books were given as gifts to students who qualified to participate in the annual Kids for Science STEM Fair. Each participant received a book the morning of the Fair to read while the judging was taking place. The kids, whether they placed in the Fair or not, all took home a quality STEM item to enjoy and help form a STEM home library of their own. Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan, Washington, DC Capitol Hill Montessori educates over 300 children in grades preK-6, and they have no library budget. They received a community grant to purchase hundreds of new books from Science, Naturally!, greatly expanding their school library and allowing them to send books home with students as gifts. In a city where a full third of the adult population lacks basic reading skills, not only do these books enhance students’ math and science education, but they provide encouragement to students to read at home. Watauga Middle School, Watauga, TX Watauga Middle School is a Title I school that serves a high population of at-risk and economically disadvantaged students. They had Title I funds that were not earmarked for specific disciplines, but since science and math were their lowest performing areas, grant requests in those areas were given priority consideration. According to the school, the textbooks they use for math and science are not engaging and are often above the reading level of their students, so having something fun for the students to read in math and science was a huge benefit. They will incorporate Science, Naturally! books into their science classes’ interactive journaling campus-wide. Palomar College, GFSPS, San Marcos, CA This summer camp for underprivileged kids in San Diego bought 1,100 Science, Naturally! titles using state and federal GEAR UP funding. The books were used to inspire the kids about math and science and to stimulate camp activities. Participants were given the books to keep at the end of the program. Robert Brent Elementary School, Washington, DC Robert Brent Elementary is a Washington, D.C. public school. They serve 330 students, pre-K-5. Their diversity drops dramatically as students advance to upper grades. Almost the entire 4th and 5th grade classes qualify for free or reduced lunch. Their students scored in the 56th percentile in both math and reading on the DC-CAS, and the school believes that the number of word-problems on the math test contributed to the low scores. They submitted a successful grant request to a community foundation to purchase Science, Naturally! books for instructional resources nd as additions to their very limited school library. The Need for STEM Education A recent survey from Wired Magazine found that parents are more comfortable talking with their kids about drugs than about science and math. It’s not that parents don’t recognize that math and science are critical to their child’s future success, but when it comes down to actually doing something — that’s where they’re lacking. If parents need help connecting what they learned in school to the real world, is it any surprise that their children struggle with this, too? Scientists, educators and government experts agree there is a general lack of public understanding of science. Educators and employers are worried that too few Americans have functional literacy in math, science, technology and engineering. In a recent poll, just 26% of Americans believe they have a good understanding of science; 44% couldn't identify a single scientist, living or dead, whom they'd consider a role model for the nation's children. On a recent round of international tests, U.S. students rated below average in math and science literacy. Not only do a small fraction of our students understand the intricacies of science and math, but very few of America’s youth are preparing for careers in math and science. In 2009, the reading achievement gap between 8th grade students in low-poverty versus high-poverty schools was 34 points (out of 500). The mathematics achievement gap was 38 points. Here are some excerpts from a Washington Post article (Nov. 18, 2010) “Nation's public schools are improving, but still have a long way to go”: “The nation's high school seniors are performing slightly better in math and reading than they did in the middle of the last decade, new test results show, but a large majority continue to fall short of the federal standard for proficiency. But analysts said the federal test results (from the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress) offer plenty of reason for concern. The scores mean that 38 percent of seniors demonstrated proficiency in reading and 26 percent reached that level in math. In addition, reading scores remain lower than they were in 1992. And the report found essentially no progress in closing achievement gaps that separate white students from black and Hispanic peers. “Those results suggest that public schools must make quantum leaps to approach President Obama's goal of college and career readiness for all graduates…. ‘We've got a huge mountain to climb if we're serious about college readiness for everyone,’ said Chester E. Finn Jr., president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education think tank…Finn said the federal test results have implications for the nation's ability to compete globally. ‘We're not getting worse,’ he said, ‘but we're not getting better. And the rest of the world is getting better faster.’” How do we get our children interested in these subjects? How do we show kids that in real life, beyond the classroom, math and science are all around us? How do we explain the mysteries of math and science in ways that are exciting and easy to understand? President Obama is putting his money where his mouth is. With his increasing commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, groups promoting STEM are now in the national spotlight. His “Educate to Innovate” campaign is further proof of his commitment to math and science literacy in today’s youth. The new Museum of Math, the World Science Festival in New York City and the upcoming USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., with satellite events all over the country, are evidence of a national awareness that science and math are priorities—and that we need to inspire our kids about these subjects at a young age. The Importance of Trade Books "Why? This book helps kids answer that important question. Filled with kid-centric mini-mysteries and clear and concise solutions, One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Mysteries You Solve With Science encourages kids to think critically about real-life situations. With Next Generation Science Standards on the horizon, this book will be a sure hit in the classroom. An entertaining and educationally-engaging tool for science teachers everywhere!" —Gail O. Schulte, Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, Instructional Facilitator, Rutherford County Schools, TN “These books are some of the most engaging nonfiction books I have ever read! They correlate so well with our science curriculum and the Common Core State Standards. The reason we love them is because they have real-world applications. With Mississippi adopting the new Common Core State Standards, using nonfiction texts is very important. Science, Naturally!’s books are an excellent asset to our teachers' resource libraries!” —Sonya Smith, Science Field Coordinator, ATOMS2XP (Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science) and IMPACT2 (In-depth Mathematical Practices and Content Teacher Training), Mississippi State, MS Too many students today are filled with "book knowledge" they don't know how to use. They have memorized facts and filled in bubbles on standardized tests until their #2 pencils are worn down to nubs. Parents and educators are saying education should be more than that; it should place emphasis on problem solving, deep thinking, and critical analysis. When was the last time your biology textbook led to a stimulating discussion? Studies show that in contrast to textbooks, trade books can be a powerful tool to promote critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity. Instead of defining knowledge as memorized, disconnected facts, trade books promote real-world problem solving skills. Students who understand there are many “correct” ways to solve problems have a great advantage over those who believe there’s a single answer for every question. The Common Core State Standards, which are being implemented in 46 states and the District of Columbia, require well-researched informational text, well-crafted narrative text and readings that engage critical analysis and reward re-reading. Nonfiction texts will account for a full 70% of all reading assigned in the classroom. Textbooks will be de-emphasized and trade book use will be increased. Trade books can be used in math and science education in several ways: To read aloud to a class To introduce a math and science topic and related facts To answer student questions and generate further student questions To further explore a topic combined with hand-on experiences The most immediate benefit of using trade books is an increase in student engagement. Math and science is real and part of everyday life: it is alive in books that children, teachers and parents enjoy reading. Kids learn how to extract the important data needed to solve science and math problems while strengthening and rewarding reading skills. Sparking delight in a good book makes math and science more enjoyable to read and not as scary. References: Cox, Carol. “What the Research Says About Literature-Based Teaching and Science.” Reading Rockets. 25 Oct. 2012. Web. Price, Ruth, and Colleen Lennon. “Using Children’s Literature to Teach Mathematics.” Quantile. 25 Oct 2012. Web.< http://www.quantiles.com/resources/literaturemathematics.pdf> Ways to Use Our Supplemental STEM Books The main goal of providing these titles to your students is to increase their excitement about math and science by engaging them in fun, new ways. Some of them will go on to pursue STEM careers, others will not. The bottom line is that not being a scientist or a mathematician does not excuse them from understanding these subjects. Understanding these subjects will give them the tools to succeed in any field. Here are some suggestions of ways to incorporate the books into your program: Curricula Enrichment: Combining literature with science and mathematics blends fact and fiction to improve students’ language and communication skills, as well as adding dimension and understanding to these subjects. When they come together, literature, math and science become more interesting, engaging and applicable to real-life situations. Research has shown that students are more comfortable talking about math and science when it is incorporated in literature, and teachers can more easily identify misunderstandings students may have. When adults regularly discuss math and science concepts, children discover new connections around them on a daily basis. Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs): Many of the kids attending America’s public schools struggle with reading and have experienced limited success in math and science. They lack motivation to reach higher in these subjects because they do not understand how the material connects to daily life. You may propose to use grant money to create a demonstration project for implementing math and science enrichment that dovetails and extends existing curriculum. ELOs could be before-school programs, after-school programs, science and math clubs, Saturday extra learning time, and even summer programs (creating summer programs also aids in the reduction of Summer Learning Loss). You might propose using grant funds to create a detailed curriculum showing how these books can be used in ELOs to help children connect to and extend their classroom curriculum. Incentives for Success: Many organizations use our books as incentive rewards. Rewarding students can lead to academic and behavioral improvements, while sustaining their interest. You may propose grant funding to provide you with the ability to offer products to your students that are both relevant and useful. These incentives can be used for successful completion of the annual Science Fair, excellent class participation and/or satisfactory class grades. The affordability of these books means that schools can acquire them for not much more than they spend now on ribbons and trinkets. Giving students a high-quality book sends the message that they are worthy of a quality product. These motivational prizes will not only help them in the classroom, but will also help them establish and/or expand their home library. Classroom and School Library Expansion: You might state a goal for grant funding of using the money to enhance classroom libraries for the 3rd to 8th grade math and science rooms, as well as the school library. These books help build skills in reading, problem-solving, science and math, with supporting content correlated to your school’s math and science standards. Having these books at their disposal will get your kids excited about math and science through creative extensions of existing curricula with real life applications. In taking these steps to provide resources that can help students succeed in school, you are working to ensure the future of our nation by raising a generation of children who will feel confident in the crucial fields of math and science and will carry that knowledge into adulthood. Optimizing Downtime: The beginning of class can often be downtime as students take their seats and the teacher takes attendance. These books can be used to get students on task the moment they enter the classroom. Teachers around the country have embraced these books as perfect bell-ringers, helping students get focused and getting their brains warmed up. Similarly, they can help fill a five or ten minute gap at the end of class when the lesson is over but learning should not stop. Additionally, students are often inspired to write their own mysteries or science/math and questions, using the books as models. Content for Non-STEM Educators: These books add instant energy to the classroom. After all, a mystery (or a question) a day keeps boredom away! The books can be great resources for non-STEM educators who are taking over a STEM class temporarily or are tasked with incorporating STEM content into their classes, such as in a Literacy and Numeracy period, which many schools are adding to their school day. Book Fair and Other Fundraiser Resources: If your school holds book fairs, consider adding Science, Naturally! books to the selection. Book fairs promote an excitement for reading while providing a place where kids can easily preview and purchase affordable books to develop their home libraries. You might purchase the books at the bulk discount rate of up to 50% off (contact us for 500+ quantities) and use the fairs to raise funds to support your school library budget. Incredible Discounts and Sample Budget Small, but powerful. That’s the adage by which Science, Naturally! operates. Without the ties of a large, bureaucratic publisher, we can offer discounts up to 35% (contact us for 500+ quantities). Our award-winning products speak to our credibility. Our prices demonstrate our commitment to the great thinkers of tomorrow. 10-24 books................15% discount 25-49 books................20% discount 50-99 books................25% discount 100-499 books............35% discount 500+ books.................Please contact us All prices are in U.S. dollars Bulk discounts apply to quantity of the same item purchased. All orders are non-returnable. All orders must include company check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) or PayPal information. Purchase orders accepted from recognized government/institutional accounts. Shipping and Handling Rates USA USPS Media Mail 9% of order total ($5.95) USPS First Class/Priority, FedEx Ground or UPS Ground 5% of order total ($5.95 minimum) + actual cost of shipping Prepaid & Collect Shipments 5% of order total ($5.95 minimum) CANADA & INTERNATIONAL Please contact us Sample Grant Budget: FOUNDATION GRANT RESOURCE DOCUMENT We have helped many schools locate foundations that support STEM education and successfully apply for funding. Click the links below for our guide: Successful Foundation Grant Recipients Schools, camps and other educational programs have used grant money to buy large quantities of Science, Naturally books at discount prices. Here are some of the recipients: Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science, Mississippi State, MS ATOMS2XP, or Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science, is a program with the goal of increasing the number of highly qualified 4th - 8th grade science teachers across Mississippi. Using funds from a U.S. Department of Education Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant, they were able to purchase Science, Naturally! math and science books to distribute to the teachers attending their 2013 Spring Training Workshop. Prince George’s County Public Schools, Prince George’s County, MD Prince George’s County Public Schools used STEM grant funds to purchase 1,000 copies of Science, Naturally! titles. For two consecutive years, these books were given as gifts to students who qualified to participate in the annual Kids for Science STEM Fair. Each participant received a book the morning of the Fair to read while the judging was taking place. The kids, whether they placed in the Fair or not, all took home a quality STEM item to enjoy and help form a STEM home library of their own. Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan, Washington, DC Capitol Hill Montessori educates over 300 children in grades preK-6, and they have no library budget. They received a community grant to purchase hundreds of new books from Science, Naturally!, greatly expanding their school library and allowing them to send books home with students as gifts. In a city where a full third of the adult population lacks basic reading skills, not only do these books enhance students’ math and science education, but they provide encouragement to students to read at home. Watauga Middle School, Watauga, TX Watauga Middle School is a Title I school that serves a high population of at-risk and economically disadvantaged students. They had Title I funds that were not earmarked for specific disciplines, but since science and math were their lowest performing areas, grant requests in those areas were given priority consideration. According to the school, the textbooks they use for math and science are not engaging and are often above the reading level of their students, so having something fun for the students to read in math and science was a huge benefit. They will incorporate Science, Naturally! books into their science classes’ interactive journaling campus-wide. Palomar College, GFSPS, San Marcos, CA This summer camp for underprivileged kids in San Diego bought 1,100 Science, Naturally! titles using state and federal GEAR UP funding. The books were used to inspire the kids about math and science and to stimulate camp activities. Participants were given the books to keep at the end of the program. Robert Brent Elementary School, Washington, DC Robert Brent Elementary is a Washington, D.C. public school. They serve 330 students, pre-K-5. Their diversity drops dramatically as students advance to upper grades. Almost the entire 4th and 5th grade classes qualify for free or reduced lunch. Their students scored in the 56th percentile in both math and reading on the DC-CAS, and the school believes that the number of word-problems on the math test contributed to the low scores. They submitted a successful grant request to a community foundation to purchase Science, Naturally! books for instructional resources nd as additions to their very limited school library. The Need for STEM Education A recent survey from Wired Magazine found that parents are more comfortable talking with their kids about drugs than about science and math. It’s not that parents don’t recognize that math and science are critical to their child’s future success, but when it comes down to actually doing something — that’s where they’re lacking. If parents need help connecting what they learned in school to the real world, is it any surprise that their children struggle with this, too? Scientists, educators and government experts agree there is a general lack of public understanding of science. Educators and employers are worried that too few Americans have functional literacy in math, science, technology and engineering. In a recent poll, just 26% of Americans believe they have a good understanding of science; 44% couldn't identify a single scientist, living or dead, whom they'd consider a role model for the nation's children. On a recent round of international tests, U.S. students rated below average in math and science literacy. Not only do a small fraction of our students understand the intricacies of science and math, but very few of America’s youth are preparing for careers in math and science. In 2009, the reading achievement gap between 8th grade students in low-poverty versus high-poverty schools was 34 points (out of 500). The mathematics achievement gap was 38 points. Here are some excerpts from a Washington Post article (Nov. 18, 2010) “Nation's public schools are improving, but still have a long way to go”: “The nation's high school seniors are performing slightly better in math and reading than they did in the middle of the last decade, new test results show, but a large majority continue to fall short of the federal standard for proficiency. But analysts said the federal test results (from the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress) offer plenty of reason for concern. The scores mean that 38 percent of seniors demonstrated proficiency in reading and 26 percent reached that level in math. In addition, reading scores remain lower than they were in 1992. And the report found essentially no progress in closing achievement gaps that separate white students from black and Hispanic peers. “Those results suggest that public schools must make quantum leaps to approach President Obama's goal of college and career readiness for all graduates…. ‘We've got a huge mountain to climb if we're serious about college readiness for everyone,’ said Chester E. Finn Jr., president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education think tank…Finn said the federal test results have implications for the nation's ability to compete globally. ‘We're not getting worse,’ he said, ‘but we're not getting better. And the rest of the world is getting better faster.’” How do we get our children interested in these subjects? How do we show kids that in real life, beyond the classroom, math and science are all around us? How do we explain the mysteries of math and science in ways that are exciting and easy to understand? President Obama is putting his money where his mouth is. With his increasing commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, groups promoting STEM are now in the national spotlight. His “Educate to Innovate” campaign is further proof of his commitment to math and science literacy in today’s youth. The new Museum of Math, the World Science Festival in New York City and the upcoming USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., with satellite events all over the country, are evidence of a national awareness that science and math are priorities—and that we need to inspire our kids about these subjects at a young age. The Importance of Trade Books "Why? This book helps kids answer that important question. Filled with kid-centric mini-mysteries and clear and concise solutions, One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Mysteries You Solve With Science encourages kids to think critically about real-life situations. With Next Generation Science Standards on the horizon, this book will be a sure hit in the classroom. An entertaining and educationally-engaging tool for science teachers everywhere!" —Gail O. Schulte, Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, Instructional Facilitator, Rutherford County Schools, TN “These books are some of the most engaging nonfiction books I have ever read! They correlate so well with our science curriculum and the Common Core State Standards. The reason we love them is because they have real-world applications. With Mississippi adopting the new Common Core State Standards, using nonfiction texts is very important. Science, Naturally!’s books are an excellent asset to our teachers' resource libraries!” —Sonya Smith, Science Field Coordinator, ATOMS2XP (Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science) and IMPACT2 (In-depth Mathematical Practices and Content Teacher Training), Mississippi State, MS Too many students today are filled with "book knowledge" they don't know how to use. They have memorized facts and filled in bubbles on standardized tests until their #2 pencils are worn down to nubs. Parents and educators are saying education should be more than that; it should place emphasis on problem solving, deep thinking, and critical analysis. When was the last time your biology textbook led to a stimulating discussion? Studies show that in contrast to textbooks, trade books can be a powerful tool to promote critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity. Instead of defining knowledge as memorized, disconnected facts, trade books promote real-world problem solving skills. Students who understand there are many “correct” ways to solve problems have a great advantage over those who believe there’s a single answer for every question. The Common Core State Standards, which are being implemented in 46 states and the District of Columbia, require well-researched informational text, well-crafted narrative text and readings that engage critical analysis and reward re-reading. Nonfiction texts will account for a full 70% of all reading assigned in the classroom. Textbooks will be de-emphasized and trade book use will be increased. Trade books can be used in math and science education in several ways: To read aloud to a class To introduce a math and science topic and related facts To answer student questions and generate further student questions To further explore a topic combined with hand-on experiences The most immediate benefit of using trade books is an increase in student engagement. Math and science is real and part of everyday life: it is alive in books that children, teachers and parents enjoy reading. Kids learn how to extract the important data needed to solve science and math problems while strengthening and rewarding reading skills. Sparking delight in a good book makes math and science more enjoyable to read and not as scary. References: Cox, Carol. “What the Research Says About Literature-Based Teaching and Science.” Reading Rockets. 25 Oct. 2012. Web. Price, Ruth, and Colleen Lennon. “Using Children’s Literature to Teach Mathematics.” Quantile. 25 Oct 2012. Web.< http://www.quantiles.com/resources/literaturemathematics.pdf> Ways to Use Our Supplemental STEM Books The main goal of providing these titles to your students is to increase their excitement about math and science by engaging them in fun, new ways. Some of them will go on to pursue STEM careers, others will not. The bottom line is that not being a scientist or a mathematician does not excuse them from understanding these subjects. Understanding these subjects will give them the tools to succeed in any field. Here are some suggestions of ways to incorporate the books into your program: Curricula Enrichment: Combining literature with science and mathematics blends fact and fiction to improve students’ language and communication skills, as well as adding dimension and understanding to these subjects. When they come together, literature, math and science become more interesting, engaging and applicable to real-life situations. Research has shown that students are more comfortable talking about math and science when it is incorporated in literature, and teachers can more easily identify misunderstandings students may have. When adults regularly discuss math and science concepts, children discover new connections around them on a daily basis. Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs): Many of the kids attending America’s public schools struggle with reading and have experienced limited success in math and science. They lack motivation to reach higher in these subjects because they do not understand how the material connects to daily life. You may propose to use grant money to create a demonstration project for implementing math and science enrichment that dovetails and extends existing curriculum. ELOs could be before-school programs, after-school programs, science and math clubs, Saturday extra learning time, and even summer programs (creating summer programs also aids in the reduction of Summer Learning Loss). You might propose using grant funds to create a detailed curriculum showing how these books can be used in ELOs to help children connect to and extend their classroom curriculum. Incentives for Success: Many organizations use our books as incentive rewards. Rewarding students can lead to academic and behavioral improvements, while sustaining their interest. You may propose grant funding to provide you with the ability to offer products to your students that are both relevant and useful. These incentives can be used for successful completion of the annual Science Fair, excellent class participation and/or satisfactory class grades. The affordability of these books means that schools can acquire them for not much more than they spend now on ribbons and trinkets. Giving students a high-quality book sends the message that they are worthy of a quality product. These motivational prizes will not only help them in the classroom, but will also help them establish and/or expand their home library. Classroom and School Library Expansion: You might state a goal for grant funding of using the money to enhance classroom libraries for the 3rd to 8th grade math and science rooms, as well as the school library. These books help build skills in reading, problem-solving, science and math, with supporting content correlated to your school’s math and science standards. Having these books at their disposal will get your kids excited about math and science through creative extensions of existing curricula with real life applications. In taking these steps to provide resources that can help students succeed in school, you are working to ensure the future of our nation by raising a generation of children who will feel confident in the crucial fields of math and science and will carry that knowledge into adulthood. Optimizing Downtime: The beginning of class can often be downtime as students take their seats and the teacher takes attendance. These books can be used to get students on task the moment they enter the classroom. Teachers around the country have embraced these books as perfect bell-ringers, helping students get focused and getting their brains warmed up. Similarly, they can help fill a five or ten minute gap at the end of class when the lesson is over but learning should not stop. Additionally, students are often inspired to write their own mysteries or science/math and questions, using the books as models. Content for Non-STEM Educators: These books add instant energy to the classroom. After all, a mystery (or a question) a day keeps boredom away! The books can be great resources for non-STEM educators who are taking over a STEM class temporarily or are tasked with incorporating STEM content into their classes, such as in a Literacy and Numeracy period, which many schools are adding to their school day. Book Fair and Other Fundraiser Resources: If your school holds book fairs, consider adding Science, Naturally! books to the selection. Book fairs promote an excitement for reading while providing a place where kids can easily preview and purchase affordable books to develop their home libraries. You might purchase the books at the bulk discount rate of up to 50% off (contact us for 500+ quantities) and use the fairs to raise funds to support your school library budget. Incredible Discounts and Sample Budget Small, but powerful. That’s the adage by which Science, Naturally! operates. Without the ties of a large, bureaucratic publisher, we can offer discounts up to 35% (contact us for 500+ quantities). Our award-winning products speak to our credibility. Our prices demonstrate our commitment to the great thinkers of tomorrow. 10-24 books................15% discount 25-49 books................20% discount 50-99 books................25% discount 100-499 books............35% discount 500+ books.................Please contact us All prices are in U.S. dollars Bulk discounts apply to quantity of the same item purchased. All orders are non-returnable. All orders must include company check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) or PayPal information. Purchase orders accepted from recognized government/institutional accounts. Shipping and Handling Rates USA USPS Media Mail 9% of order total ($5.95) USPS First Class/Priority, FedEx Ground or UPS Ground 5% of order total ($5.95 minimum) + actual cost of shipping Prepaid & Collect Shipments 5% of order total ($5.95 minimum) CANADA & INTERNATIONAL Please contact us Sample Grant Budget:

Meet the Team Dia L. Michels Founder and Publisher Dia L. Michels founded Science Naturally in 2006. With Platypus Media focusing on attachment parenting, she wanted a vehicle to promote entertaining and accurate ways to engage children in STEM topics. She loves working with the authors and selecting illustrators, and really enjoys developing and licensing world language editions of the books Science Naturally publishes. In addition to editing and publishing manuscripts, she has written or coauthored over a dozen books for children and adults. Her books have been translated into Spanish, Dutch, Bengali, Hebrew, Haitian Creole, and Washoe. A popular speaker, Dia presents at healthcare, parenting, and education conferences across the country. She is the mother of three grown children, who still keep her busy with their crazy lives, and has several cats. Favorite Children's Books: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by Jon Agee Tommy at the Grocery Store by Bill Grossman Ali Trujillo Chief Operating Officer Ali keeps Science Naturally running by managing day-to-day operations and logistics. He works with the publisher to implement systems to streamline operations and finances. Ali also works on production coordination, proofreading, and translating Spanish titles. Prior to joining Science Naturally, Ali worked at World Wildlife Fund as senior assistant for the food waste program where he managed contract processes for private sector consultants. At WWF Ali also collaborated in admin meetings with clients and colleagues on conservation efforts. He also worked at R Street Institute, a DC-based think tank as a finance and operations associate. Previously he was a production coordinator at Asia Pacific Offset, an international print management company. Ali lives in Washington, DC. Favorite Children's Book: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Charlotte's Web by E.B. White Hannah Thelen Editorial and Production Director Hannah just likes to be included, whether it's in the concept development, editing, design, and printing of books, the translation of manuscripts, or the creation of sweet, sweet workflow spreadsheets. She received her BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, where she also minored in print design and technology (and dance). Hannah recently moved to Fort Myers, FL, and is trying out this new remote work thing that everyone talks about. Favorite Children's Books: The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp by Carol Diggory Shields Violet Antonick Senior Editor and Outreach Coordinator Violet traveled extensively in search of metamorphosis, stories, and inspiration, culminating in an honors degree in English from the University of Vermont. Shaping her path, she transitioned from roles as an indie bookseller and digital marketer to elevating her expertise at the Columbia Publishing Course in Oxford. At present, she expertly intertwines her deep passion for literature and editorial work with strategic outreach initiatives for Platypus Media. Her commitment to transforming the literary landscape is evident in her multifaceted dedication to writing, reading, and promoting literacy. Violet's narrative is not merely a personal odyssey but a testament to her unwavering commitment to enriching the literary world. Favorite Children's Books: The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey by Jason Chin Paradise Sands: A Story of Enchantment by Levi Pinfold Skyler Kaczmarczyk Associate Editor and Marketing Coordinator Skyler, originally from Chicago, Illinois, now calls Washington, DC, home, where her passion for illustrating and teaching kids' art in after-school programs seamlessly merged into a budding career in children's publishing. Inspired by her studies in Kinetic Imaging at VCUarts, Skyler discovered that her true storytelling calling mirrored the enchanting narratives of her childhood—books! Her dedication to children's literature is fueled by a profound belief in instilling positive messages in young minds. Skyler is particularly drawn to stories that explore the wonders of nature and emphasize the importance of understanding the world around us. At Platypus Media, she feels like she's back in school again, joyfully diving into research for each book, this time in the best way possible. Favorite Children's Books: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt Sofía Ramiréz Administrative Assistant / Order Fulfillment Specialist Sofía, a graduate in Political Science and Economics from FAU, effortlessly combines their academic expertise with a strong dedication to children's education at Platypus Media. Not limited to traditional classrooms, they actively nurture curiosity and a love for reading in young minds. This commitment extends to Sofía's home, a cozy apartment brimming with books and stationary. Their passion for knowledge goes beyond academia, involving engagement with various art forms, creating an environment where every interaction becomes a chance for personal growth. Believing in continuous learning, Sofía encourages adults to approach education with the same enthusiasm as children, recognizing that the journey of learning is ongoing. Sofía's journey is characterized by the intersection of academic excellence, a sincere connection to fostering young minds, and an enduring love for education. Favorite Children's Books: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery La Edad de Oro by José Martí Der Prinz und die Blume by Ingrid Mylo Darwin Castillo Information and Technology Coordinator Darwin has many talents that keep the company afloat, like building and repairing computers, troubleshooting technical difficulties, designing and building storage solutions, and generally fixing everyone's problems. He also has experience in graphic design and home renovation. In his free time, Darwin enjoys mountaineering across the US. Favorite Book: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Interested in joining our team? Learn more about our Editorial and Marketing Internship Program here.