Important Teen Guides

Enslow's new series, Life–A How-to Guide is a 7-book series for teens about a variety of issues that they face in their everyday lives. Whether you have a teen who is getting ready to driving or driving already, our Getting Read to Drive: A How-to Guide is great for research or personal use. Driving can play a pivotal role in a young person's life. It represents freedom but it also requires responsibility. From deciding if you're ready to drive, to the rules and safety, this book is a comprehensive guide for young drivers and their parents.

Technology has become so integrated into the life of today’s teenager that it is changing the way the American family communicates.  That's why we felt that Using Technology: A How-to Guide was an important book to include in this series. From cell phone etiquette, to texting, playing games, and listening to music, this title explores different forms of technology and how it affects our lives, and most importantly, how kids can stay safe using it.

Idol Janis Joplin

Since the Season Finale of American Idol airs tonight, we thought we would highlight our title, Janis Joplin: "Take Another Little Piece of My Heart"  from our American Rebels series. For grades 9–12, author Edward Willett gives a comprehensive biography of legendary singer Janis Joplin, from her childhood singing in the church choir to her adolescent rebellions with the local beatniks through her drug and alcohol use and her amazing musical success. With a powerful and soulful voice, Janis blazed a trail for other female rockers during her short and eventful life.

Book Giveaway!

I was cleaning off my desk today and I uncovered one our of new titles, Plant and Animal Science Fair Projects, Revised and Expanded Using the Scientific Method by Kenneth G. Rainis from our Biology Science Projects Using the Scientific Method series. All of the books in this series provide exciting science fair project ideas and tips for science fair presentations using easy-to-obtain materials. For Grades 5–up, they are 160 pages and contain a list of suppliers, a further reading list, Internet addresses, and an index. The books in this series cost $25.95 each for schools and libraries, but today I'm giving my copy away for free! Help me clear my desk. Who wants it? Science fair season is just around the corner!

Make Discussing Breast Cancer Easier!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so when I think of October I think of PINK and my mom!

This October I'm celebrating my mother's one year anniversary as a breast cancer survivor. I'm sure you can think of at least one person who you know that has battled this disease.While I was able to meet with my mother's surgeon, to learn more about the type of breast cancer she had and discuss her treatment options, there are many people who are not so fortunate.

     Enslow's The Breast Cancer Update title is a great way for teenagers to learn about the disease that perhaps someone they know is battling. Complete with a summary of the disease, how cancer develops, different stages of cancer, and diagnostic and treatment methods are presented in a way that even teenagers can understand.

Discussing breast cancer as an adult was difficult, I can only imagine what it would be like for a teenager who probably has little knowledge of the disease and LOTS of questions. Books are a great way to get accurate information into teenage hands and hopefully make discussing topics, like breast cancer, a little easier for everyone.

Back to School Night

I attended my 11th grade daughter's Back to School Night recently and I have to say I was pretty impressed with all of her teachers. I was especially anxious to meet her physics teacher since science isn't one of her best subjects.

If you take physics at our high school you know that at the end of the school year you are expected to build a bridge out of toothpicks. At Back to School Night the teacher had several impressive toothpick bridges displayed on his desk. I raised my hand and asked how much it cost to buy a bridge. He immediately responded that they weren't for sale. I think he thought I wanted to display one in my home. What I really wanted was to purchase a bridge so my daughter wouldn't have to build one because I know building one is somehow going to involve me. I don't see how it can't.

Enslow's Physics Science Prjojects Using the Scientific Method might not help her with building the next Brooklyn Bridge but it does have lots of great projects and ideas that I'm sure will come in handy for the Science Fair in December that will hopefully not involve any more than me bringing home this book and perhaps buying some of the easy materials these projects use.

My favorite class of the evening...Trigonometry. That teacher was handing was handing out chocolates!