Caitlind Alexander is the author of over 60 books for children, including the Jamie and Kendall Broderick Mystery series, the Wonderful World of Animals series, the Miss Jones series, and a number of books in the 14 Fun Facts and 101 Fun Facts series.
Caitlind is also an accomplished speaker. She has given numerous talks to children and school classes. She also gives talks and seminars for writers on topics ranging from creating believable characters to publishing ebooks.
She lives in California where she loves to visit historic places and learn about new things. She also loves to travel and has been all over the world.
There are many ways to measure a volcano. You can measure its area, its height, how much lava spewed out, how much destruction it caused or how many people it killed. But these measurements can change. A volcano may get larger. It may blow up, leaving a crater instead of a mountain. Even the number of people killed can change. Here are some of the largest, both in size and in impact. Age 8+ RL 6.9
What is a scorpion? Scorpions are small animals that crawl around on the ground. They have big pinchers and a stinging tail. They can be very scary. The smallest scorpions are very tiny. They are less than a half inch (10 mm) long. That is about the size of your smallest fingernail. The biggest scorpions can grow to be over eight inches (21 cm) long. Find out more about this amazing animal. RL 3.6
The Liberty Bell is the iconic symbol of American freedom, but it was actually made for a different purpose. The original wasn't even made in America! Do you know: Where was the original Liberty Bell made? When did it get the name Liberty Bell? How did it get cracked? When was it last rung? Find out. Amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8+ RL: 6.9
Saturn has more moons than any planet in our solar system. It has huge round moons and tiny odd-shaped moonlets. It has moons that orbit in the ring system, moons that create the rings and moons that keep the rings in place. It has regular moons that formed with the planet and irregular moons that were captured. Find out more! Amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8+. RL: 7.2
Cats are small, furry mammals. They have a round body with four legs. They also have a long, thin tail. The tail of a cat can be as long as its body. This book is a shorter version of our popular “Cats: Our Furry Friends" and is for early readers. With 1405 easy to read words, young children can experience for themselves the joy of learning about the cat. Ages 5-8 RL: 1.6
What is a porcupine? Porcupines are small animals that are part of the rodent family. That is the same family that rats and mice are a part of. Porcupines are brown or black. Some look yellowish or reddish. They can also be white. Many porcupines have quills that have black and white stripes. This can help them be seen in the dark.Learn about porcupines in this 15-minute book. Reading level: 3.8
Mars has two of the oldest objects in the solar system orbiting it. These moons are small, dark and covered in craters. Phobos is the darkest moon in our solar system, and, until recently, Deimos was the smallest known moon in our solar system. While they may have the same origin, they will have vastly different fates.Find out more about the moons of Mars in this fun 15-minute book. RL: 6.9
Named Pacifica (peaceful) by Spanish Explorers, the Pacific Ocean is anything but peaceful. It is home to 75% of the world's volcanoes, numerous dying islands, and the holder of more than 1/10th of the world's carbon dioxide. It is the largest ocean on Earth and contains an area known as "the itch".. Find out more about the Pacific Ocean in this fun, 15-minute book. RL: 6.6
What is a cat? Cats are small, furry mammals. They have a round body with four legs. Most cats weigh between eight and eleven pounds (4 to 5 kg). They are about nine to ten inches (23 to 25 cm) high at the shoulder. They are about 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 cm) from their nose to the tip of their tail. About 12 inches (30 cm) of this is tail. That means their tail is longer than their body. RL: 3.4
The Colosseum of Rome is one of the few ancient wonders that still survives to this day. Historians have learned much about this fantastic structure, and about the lives of Roman citizens through the study of this one building. It quickly became the center of Rome, the ultimate entertainment for the masses, and a tool for politicians. Discover some fun facts about this ancient wonder. RL: 6.8
James Monroe sat on the river bank. He had his knees pulled up close. His arms were held tight against his chest to try and keep the cold out.
The rain came down in drizzles, but the night kept getting colder. It wasn't just the cold that was a problem. Eighteen year old James was tired and hungry. All the men around him were. They had been fighting for days. They were fighting for freedom. RL: 2
The Tiber River begins in the Apennine Mountains in Central Italy. It carries a lot of mud and silt, which constantly blocks its mouth. It floods often, providing fertile land for agriculture and burying cities. It has also been a dumping ground for executed criminals. Learn fun facts about the Tiber River in this 15-minute book. Reading level: 6.9
Antarctica is a frozen continent at the southernmost point of our planet. Where the land meets the ocean, huge ice shelves and icebergs flow onto the sea.
Antarctica is so cold that the snow never melts. It has built up over thousands of years to create ice sheets that are over 2.5 miles (four kilometres) thick, burying an active volcanic land that was once roamed by dinosaurs.
The Volga River is the longest river in Europe. It is entirely in Russia and has no natural access to any open seas. It starts in a swamp in a small ridge, flowing through prehistoric lake beds on a course that separates the mountains of the Russian Uplands from the flat European Plain before dropping below sea level to enter the inland Caspian Sea. Find out some fun facts in this 15-minute book.
Theodore Roosevelt lived a full and adventurous life. He was encouraged by his parents in all his interests and encouraged his own children in theirs. The world – and the White House – would certainly have been a different place without them. From strange animals in the White House to a wife that was never mentioned, amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Reading Level: 7.2 Ages 8+
You may have heard about the Pilgrims from the time you were a small child. You may have heard how they sailed to America on a ship called the Mayflower. But how much do you really know about the Mayflower? Here are some fun facts you may not know. Do you know: How long was the Mayflower? Where on the ship did the Pilgrims sleep? Find out more in this fun book. Reading Level: 6.3
Theodore Roosevelt was a writer, soldier, hunter, naturalist and politician. He loved nature and the environment, and wanted to improve the lives of Americans.
After the assassination of President McKinley, he became the 26th and youngest President of the United States. Find out more about this legendary president in this 15-minute children's biography. Ages 9 and up. Reading Level: 7.2
In 1812 the British and American armies went to war. They fought over the rights of ships at sea. The war had been going on for two long years when this story takes place. It was September of 1814 in Scituate (say skit-you-ate) Massachusetts. The town was small. Most of the people in the town made their living by fishing. Find out how two girls stop the British Army in this 15-minute book. RL: 2.6
Giant squid are strange looking animals. They are a long tube with a head and arms sticking out the front. They are also big. A giant squid can be 60 feet (18.3 metres) long from its tail to the tip of its longest arms. It can weigh more than 1,000 pounds (454 kg). That is a HUGE animal! Learn what a giant squid looks like, where it lives, what it eats, who are its enemies, and more. RL: 3.4
Joe Oman was railroad tower man at the tiny station in Arcadia, CA. His job was boring. All he did was pull levers to signal the trains and there were only a few trains a day. Then one day in October, 1911 Joe's job became very exciting. A freight train lost its brakes and headed down the hill. At the same time, the Santa Fe passenger train was headed for the same track! What could Joe do? RL: 2.7
Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst was an intelligent and ambitious girl. She first met her cousin Karl Peter Ulrich when she was ten. She didn’t like him. The scheming of others saw her life turned around. A new name and country and an unhappy marriage lead to Karl "Peter" on the Russian throne. Catherine soon overthrew him. Ruling Russia for 34 years, she became known as Catherine the Great. RL: 6.9
Life in the early 1800s was very different than it is today. If you had been born in America 200 years ago, you would have had much more work to do, much less free time, fewer toys and clothes, and no internet or even computers! Life was much simpler then, but it was also a lot harder. How much do you know about what life was like back then? Here are some fun facts. Reading Level: 6.3
A monarch butterfly is one of the biggest butterflies in North America. It can be as big as a five-year-old child's hand. It has orange wings with black stripes. There are also tiny white dots around the edge of the wings. This book is a shortened version of our popular “Monarch Butterflies: Magnificent Fliers" and is intended for beginning readers. 1033 easy to read words, Reading Level: 2.2
George Washington was our first president and the father of our country. Many books and articles have been written about him, and his life has been studied thoroughly. We are also aided in knowing him by the many records he kept about his life, his farms, and his purchases. With all that information, some facts get lost in the shuffle. Here are a few fun facts you may not know. RL: 6.9
Wu Zetian was an intelligent and ambitious woman. She married Emperor Gaizong of the Tang Dynasty and became Empress. But Wu wasn’t satisfied. She wanted to rule in her own right. She was determined to become Emperor of China and killed anyone who stood in her way – even her own children. Find out more about this legendary ruler in this 15-minute children's biography. Ages 10+. Reading Level: 6.8
Johnny Appleseed is one of the most loved characters in American folk history and the official folk hero of Massachusetts. He is often shown wandering barefoot, wearing a shirt and pants, and with a tin hat on his head. A kind, nature-loving man who wandered across the frontier scattering apple seeds wherever he went.
Like most legends, there is a mixture of myth and truth. This is the true story.
Courtney and her class are visiting the museum to view the exhibit on Ancient Egypt. A quick trip to the bathroom leads to a mystery when they come out to find the museum empty. Where has everyone gone? What is happening? When their tour guide steps away to find out, she doesn't return! Can Courtney figure out what is going on? Read this tenth book in the exciting Courtney Case Mystery Series.
You may have eaten a turkey. But what do you know about them? Turkeys might surprise you. Let me tell you about them.
There are wild turkeys and tame turkeys. They are very different from each other. Wild turkeys look different from tame turkeys. Tame turkeys are brown or white.
Let your early reader find out about both wild and tame turkeys in this short 15-minute book. Reading level: 2.1
The Dead Sea is a salt-filled sea which sits on the border between Israel, Jordan and Palestine. It is 31 miles (50 km) long and 9 miles (15 km) wide at its widest point. It is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. At 997 feet (304 metres) deep, it is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. Find out more about the Dead Sea and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. RL: 6.3
"Dem Bones, dem bones, dem dry bones." You've heard the song, but what are bones? Are they living things? Or are they just stuff that got hard?
The quick easy answers are: Things in your body, yes, and yes. Bones are the levers in your body. They attach to your muscles so you can move. They also give your body shape. Find out more about your bones, how they are built, and how they work. RL: 4.3
The Sahara is a land of extremes. It is the largest hot desert on Earth where the sand can reach a whopping 176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius). It is also a land of mountains, plains – and snow. It is a constantly changing landscape with winds that blast dust halfway around the planet. amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. Reading Level: 6.9
Earthquakes can be frightening occurrences. Suddenly the ground begins to shake. Things are thrown around and buildings come crashing to the ground.
Scientists have studied earthquakes for years and have discovered many things. How much do you know?
Amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8+. RL: 6.2
A platypus is one of the strangest animals on Earth. There is no other animal like it. It looks like a beaver with a big duck bill on its face. It also has big fat paws. It is covered in soft fur. The fur keeps its skin from getting wet when it swims. With only 1135 easy to read words, young children can experience for themselves the joy of learning about the platypus. RL: 2.1
Roman gladiators have captured the interest of many modern people. We look at the practice of fighting to the death for a crowd's amusement as horrifying. But who were the actual gladiators and what do we really know about them? Do you know: How did gladiator fights start? Were all gladiators slaves or criminals? Were there women gladiators? Learn this and more in this fun 15-minute book. RL: 6.5
Courtney is doing an experiment when a knock sounds at her door. It is Nick and Andie. Someone has stolen the money their grandmother sent them in a Christmas Card! Can Courtney find the thief? What will happen when her own Christmas card arrives in the post? Will her money be gone too?
Read this 9th book in the exciting Courtney Case Mystery Series to see if Courtney can solve the case. RL: 3.8
Icebergs can be fascinating. They are fresh water, floating islands of ice. Some of them are big enough to hold 100 football stadiums, or more. They can be a danger to passing ships and wildlife that gets trapped on them. They drift along with the currents, melting as they make their way toward warmer waters, and their slow death. Find out more about icebergs in this fun 15-minute book. RL: 6.4
Do you know the story of the Pilgrims? You may think the pilgrims came to America for religious freedom. While they were seeking religious freedom, that was only half the story. Here are some fun facts you may not know about the Pilgrim story. Do you know: Did the Pilgrims practice religious freedom? How did they pay for their passage to America? What does the word Pilgrim mean? And more. RL: 5.6
Chicago, Illinois sits at the southernmost end of Lake Michigan. In the early days of the United States, it was a great place to build a city. The lake supplied the fresh water they needed to live. Trees were everywhere, providing wood for buildings. The lake supplied the settlers with food. The farm land was good. People moved in. Too many people. Find out why and how they raised the city. RL:6.5
It was July, 1739. Sixteen-year-old Eliza Lucas sat by the fire. Eliza tried to work on her sewing, but it was hard. It was stormy outside. The wind was blowing hard and the rain slapped at the window. Eliza kept thinking about her plants. She was trying to grow indigo plants. If she could succeed, it would change South Carolina forever. Find out how in this 15-minute book. Reading level: 2.8
Suddenly Courtney has another case, but this time the thief strikes closer to home. Courtney's mother left her garden gloves on the front porch and now they are gone.
At first Courtney doesn't think she has a case, but then other things turn up missing. There doesn't seem to be a pattern. Who is stealing them, and why? Read this eighth book in the exciting Courtney Case Mystery Series. RL: 3.1
Buzz Aldrin is an American superstar. He gained fame as a former astronaut and the second man to walk on the moon. His military accomplishments are many. However, he was more than an astronaut. Buzz was also a husband and father, a book author, and a spokesperson for the space program. Find out more about this space hero in this 15-minute children's biography. Ages 10 and up. Reading Level: 6.9
A hummingbird is a bird. It is a very small bird. Most of them are smaller than your hand. These birds are called hummingbirds because of the sound they make. Their wings beat so fast that it makes a humming sound. Many people like these birds. Let us learn more about them. Many hummingbirds have very bright feathers on their head and neck. These feathers shine in the light. Ages 5-8 Read. Lev:2.1
When 12-year-old Susan Pyle breaks her leg during the New Madrid earthquake, the doctor tells her parents that she cannot be moved. But the whole town is moving. Aftershocks are shaking down buildings, the earth is turning to quicksand, and the waters of the Mississippi River are rising. Her parents make the agonizing decision to leave her behind as they flee. Based on a true story. RL: 2.7
Often considered one of the greatest speeches given by a president, the Gettysburg Address is one of Abraham Lincoln's most well known speeches. Delivered on November 19, 1863, the speech was given at the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg. Learn more about this iconic speech in this 15-minute book. Reading level: 6.5
Many people remember Neil Armstrong as the first man to walk on the moon. But he was much more than that. He was a Naval Officer, an aerospace engineer, a test pilot, and even a university professor. He tested and flew over 200 different models of aircraft. These included planes, jets, gliders, helicopters, and rockets. His best known rocket flight was to the moon in Apollo 11. Reading level: 6.8
How does an elephant hatch an egg? They don't sit on them! But without the help of elephants, there would be a lot fewer birds in Africa.
Find out how elephants impact their environment, and help birds to hatch eggs. This book is appropriate for early readers, or as a read-aloud book.
Ages Pre-K to 8.
Reading level: 1.9
Volcanoes have frightened man for thousands of years. Mountains spewing hot fire and ash have rained down destruction on cities, burning buildings and taking lives.
But volcanoes are not just a destructive force. They are also a constructive force. They help to form the Earth's crust and create new lands. Named for Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, volcanoes have interested scientists for many years.
Owls are birds. They have a round, bird-shaped body with many feathers. They also have two wings. Their wings are very big. Most owls are brown, tan and white. Some are all white or all brown. These colors help the owl blend into nature. This book is a shortened version of our popular “Owls: Silent Hunters of the Night" for beginning readers. Only 1360 easy words teach kids about the owl. RL:1.8
William McKinley was a religious man who wanted to be a Methodist minister. He fought in the Civil War as a teenager, then became a lawyer and politician. He won the 1896 election and was the 25th President of the U. S. Six months into his second Presidency, he was shot and killed. Find out more about this man and why he always wore a carnation in this 15-minute children's biography. RL:6.9
The United States flag is the emblem of our country, symbolizing the beginning of our country. Through the years the flag has changed many times, but its meaning has not. It stands for liberty, justice, freedom and honor. Do you know: Who designed the first flag (It wasn't Betsy Ross)?
How many stars and stripes were on the Star Spangled Banner? Where does the name "Old Glory" come from? RL:6.8
Our Heroes in History series introduces early readers to heroes in American history. Some are well known, such as Ben Franklin. Others are much less known, such as Rebecca Motte. This series is aimed at second graders (ages 6-8).
Let's talk about blood! Blood is more than the red stuff that comes out when you cut yourself. It is what carries nutrients and other things through your body. Without blood you would shrivel up and die! So let's find out more about this stuff. In a grown man or woman there are about five or six quarts (litres) of blood. That's a lot. But what is blood? Find out more in this 15-minute book. RL:4.0
Incidents Related By James Mcgough. Women Forced Into The Life-Boats—Why Some Men Were Saved Before Women--Asked To Man Life- Boats. Surrounded by his wife and members of his family, James McGough, of Philadelphia, recited a most thrilling and graphic picture of the disaster. Read how James McGough survived the sinking of the Titanic in this 15-Minute book. Includes Common Core Exercises.
The Seventeen-Year-Old Son of a Pennsylvania Railroad Official Tells the Moving Story of His Rescue
ONE of the calmest of the passengers was young Jack Thayer, the seventeen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Thayer. When his mother was put into the lifeboat he kissed her and told her to be brave, saying that he and his father would be all right.
Educational versions have CCSS activities.
My name is James Williams. I was born in 1825 in Elkton, Maryland. My mother was a slave, so I was a slave. I was born in the house of William Hollingsworth, my master. Read this true story of how James Williams escaped from slavery alone, when he was just a boy of thirteen. Educational Versions have activities added to meet Common Core Curriculum Standards.
Learn about the letter A in this new coloring book. With the help of this book you can learn:
To see the letter A in a word,
To write the letter A, and
To hear the sounds the letter A makes.
This book is a PRINTABLE pdf format book. Print the odd pages, turn them over and place them back in your printer, then print the even pages. Fold the book in half and staple it along the spine.
Ice Scream
on April 29, 2014
WOW! This is definitely a scary tale of horror...the kind that sends goose bumps up and down your spine. You can't put it down, even though some of the mental images it conjures up makes you want to. Well worth the read!
The Little Hedgehog
on July 10, 2018
(no rating)
This was a cute little story about a hedgehog who goes looking for food and shelter after the park he lives in is mowed. The author has a good command of the English language (though she is from Germany). However, it may be too good. Many of the words are too advanced for a child to read or even understand (sated, perennials, etc.). A parent will need to stop and explain a number of words, or choose to insert words that are easier for a child to understand as they are reading the book. There are also no pictures for the kids to look at. All in all it is a cute book, but not written on a child's level.
Farting Sandwich Thieves
on Feb. 03, 2019
The pictures are great and the story line is quite funny. However, there are quite a few grammatical errors. With a good edit, this could be a great book.
Midlife Crisis
on Jan. 05, 2022
This is a great story...one that every menopausal woman can relate to. With humor and a very easy to read style, the author lets you in on the private life of a woman going through "the change" while coping with an uncaring, penny-pinching husband. Definitely a great read.
The Bridge of Dead Things
on Jan. 05, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well formed and believable. Lizzie has the spunk needed to get herself through some trying times in Victorian England, even on her own. When she finds out her special talent of communicating with the dead, she finds herself as unbelieving about it as some of the others around her. Slowly she begins to take stock of her circumstances and come to terms with her life and her talents.
Deadly Dancing
on Jan. 14, 2022
Definitely more a romance than a mystery. None of the characters were well formed enough to think of anything but sex, including all the main character's family and friends. While there were a few dead bodies, none of the characters did anything toward solving the mystery. The killer was caught because she attacked the main character and they fought, with the main character winning. Sorry, it just wasn't my taste, though I loved the character of Mrs. Janowski.
Death by Chocolate
on Jan. 14, 2022
Loved this book. Characters are well written and believable and the plot line is well constructed. You can definitely get into the swing of someone whose life has gone totally out of control, while danger threatens. It has just the right amount of mystery, suspense and humor. Very well written.
Patent Pending and Death
on May 15, 2022
GREAT BOOK! I love Fionna Fleming and the people around her. These mysteries are fun and well written. Fionna's thoughts are written in with a great sense of humor That really let you get to know her and her quirks. The characters are well formed, likable and realistic. Get to know Fionna. You'll like her!
The Case of the Flashing Fashion Queen - A Dix Dodd Mystery
on May 23, 2022
This was a great book. The characters were fun and well-rounded and the plot kept me guessing to the very end. Definitely a great read. My only consideration was that Dix should have busted Detective Head's chops about not recusing himself from the case once she became a suspect. With their past history, he should certainly not have been continuing with the case, though he could have lived up to his name by refusing or staying active while not being "official".
Learning Curves
on March 15, 2023
It started out interesting, then began to drag horribly! The lead character is changed from a man to a woman. Unfortunately what happens in less than an hour in reality takes over 50 PAGES in the book! It just drags and drags. The premise sounds OK, but it could definitely use a LOT of tightening up. I got so tired of waiting for something to happen that I quit reading toward the end of the sex change.