Lighting Up the Sky

The aurora borealis or northern lights are an atmospheric display that occurs in the Northern Hemisphere. For centuries, people have watched auroras with wonder. Today, we know that auroras form because of charged particles from the sun. Your young explorers will learn how auroras form and why auroras are different colors. Stunning photographs, fun fact boxes, and helpful diagrams assist readers' comprehension of this fascinating atmospheric phenomenon.

Rainbows are colored arcs that form when light from the sun passes through drops of water in the form of rain, fog, and the spray from a waterfall. Your readers will learn about prisms and refraction and how these concepts apply to rainbows. Fact boxes, a graphic organizer, and diagrams help readers understand the complex science concepts that explain how these beautiful atmospheric phenomena occur.

Enchanted readers will learn that when a meteoroid or space rock enters Earth's atmosphere, it creates the streak of light called a meteor. This book explains how meteors form, what meteor showers are, and what meteorites are. Fact boxes provide readers with additional fun information, while detailed diagrams and a graphic organizer depict the information presented in the narrative in a concise and easy-to-understand way.

An eclipse occurs when one celestial body such as a moon or planet moves into the shadow of another celestial body, or when one celestial body passes between two celestial bodies. This book explains the different types of eclipses, why eclipses are important astronomical phenomena to study, and the scientific history of studying eclipses. A graphic organizer presents information and helps readers understand complex topics, while primary sources in the form of historic images grab readers' attention.

Comets are celestial objects that orbit the sun. They're comprised of frozen gases, rock, and dust. When a comet hurtles near the sun, its dusts and gases heat up and form a halo and a tail. Your intrepid explorers will learn the scientific history of discovering and identifying comets and the difference between comets and other space objects. Photographs and artist renderings of comets and their paths help readers understand these amazing astronomical phenomena.

Lightning occurs when a cloud visibly discharges electricity. We see this as a flash of light, often during a thunderstorm. However, lightning also happens during snowstorms and dust storms. It also occurs in the dust and gases that volcanoes give off when they erupt. Your curious readers will learn how lightning forms and why thunder accompanies lightning. Fun fact boxes provide supplemental information to the fascinating narrative and bright photographs captivate readers.