15-Minute Books

People sweat to stay cool. The water comes out of our skin. As it dries, it takes the heat from our body with it. This helps us to stay cool. If the water is not drying fast enough, we can sit in front of a fan. This takes the water off our bodies faster. If that is not enough, we can add more water to our skin by running through a sprinkler or going swimming. But how do animals stay cool? RL: 3.4

Meet Miss Jones, the time traveling second grade teacher. Whenever she finds something “not quite right” in history, she goes back and fixes it! In these 5 adventures, Miss Jones discovers the stone for Michelangelo's David is about to be cut in half; something wrong with the Wright Brother's plane; Harriet Tubman and her group of runaway slaves are in danger, and more! RL: 2.6 Has CCS exercises

Match wits with Kendall and Jamie Broderick and see if you can solve these seven 15-minute mysteries: The Case of the Cats Claws, The Case of the Snoring Sleeper, The Case of the Pilgrim's Paper, The Case of the Sheep Stew, The Case of the Missing Miner, The Case of the Cowering Cat, The Case of the Cheater's Chili. Ages 8 and up Reading Level: 4.7 Includes Common Core exercises.

There are many amazing animals in the world. Some are funny and some are strange. This book will tell about 7 animals. Each book covers: What is it, where does it live, what does it eat, who are its enemies, how are babies born and raised, and fun facts. This is a set of 7 of our popular 15-Minute Books. It contains elephants, hippos, polar bears, beavers, spiders, raccoons, bighorn sheep. RL: 3.7

There are many amazing animals in the world. Some are funny and some are strange. This book will tell about 7 animals. Each covers: What is it, where does it live, what does it eat, who are its enemies, how are babies born and raised, and some fun facts. This is a compilation of seven of our popular 15-Minute Books. It contains tigers, giraffes, wolves, cougars, badgers, reindeer, and rabbits.

There are many amazing animals in the world. Some are funny and some are strange. This book will tell you about 7 amazing animals. Each book covers: What is it, where does it live, what does it eat, who are its enemies, how are babies born and raised, and some fun facts. This book covers giant pandas, gorillas, zebras, bats, horses, manatees, and armadillos. RL: 3.8 Includes Common Core Exercises

A bison is a wild cow. It looks like a cow, but it is bigger. It can be a lot bigger. In fact, a bison is the biggest land animal in North America! A bison can be up to six feet (1.75 metres) at the shoulder. It can be over 12 feet (3.5 metres) long! That means they are as tall as a man, and as long as two men laying head to toe! They also weigh much more than a man. RL: 3.7 Has CCS exercises.

Lions are big cats. They have tawny fur. Tawny means yellowish brown in color. Some lions have white fur on their stomachs and some lions have tawny fur on their stomachs. There are also a few lions that are all white. Lions also have a long tail. Their tail ends in a ball of fur. Scientists call the ball a tuft. The tuft on most lions is black. RL: 3.8 Includes Common Core exercises.

A yak is a hairy animal that lives in Asia. It looks like a big, hairy cow. Yaks are members of the cow family. Like cows, they have four skinny legs and big, round bodies. They also have long noses and horns on top of their head. But a yak is much bigger than a cow. They are between five feet (1.6 metres) and seven feet (2.2 metres) tall when they are grown. That is taller than a man! RL: 3.2

Abraham Lincoln came from humble beginnings, but he learned from an early age the power of education. He wanted to help Americans and bring equality for all. During the Civil War, he put his skills to work. He made two famous speeches: The Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. They changed the nation of America forever. Find out more in this 15-minute bio. Includes CCS exercises.

Saint Francis is one of the most loved saints in the world. He lived a simple life, dedicated to Jesus. He loved animals and nature, and believed we have a responsibility to look after them. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy, sometime between December 1181 and September 1182. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant. His mother was a French noblewoman. 15-minute bio. Has Common Core exercises.

Joseph II of Austria was a complicated man. He loved his subjects and was willing to do anything for them. Unfortunately for them, in his mind that meant telling them how to do everything! Joseph had been raised to believe that, as royalty, he was smarter and better than anyone else. He believed that being kind to them meant treating them like children. 15-minute bio. Has CCS exercises.

Paul Revere lived when America was not yet a country. It was a colony of England. The people were British subjects and lived under British laws. British soldiers enforced the laws in Boston and other colonial cities. Paul was a patriot. He believed America should be free. Read about the life of this American patriot and learn the truth about his midnight ride. 15-minute bio Has CCS exercises.

Wilbur and Orville Wright dreamed of flying. They designed, built and tested gliders. They studied wings and propellers. They designed and built an engine. After years of testing and a few crashes, they flew the first powered aircraft. This is the story of their life. Find out more about these brave men and how they came to create the World's first powered airplane. 15-minute bio has CCS exercises

Thomas Edison was an inventor. He invented electric lighting, the phonograph and alkaline batteries. He invented a camera to record moving pictures and a device for watching them. He added sound to create a motion picture. He improved many of the machines we use today. He even created a battery powered car. Edison created more inventions than any other inventor. 15-minute bio. Has CCS exercises.

St Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, is one of the best known saints of the World. Legends claim he converted the country of Ireland to Christianity and drove all the snakes into the sea. Most of what we know about Patrick comes from his own writings. Patrick wrote about his thoughts, dreams and visions and his life and teachings. Find out more in this 15-minute biography. RL: 6.6 Has CCS exercises.

The Komodo dragon is the biggest lizard in the world. If a full-grown man laid down next to a dragon, the dragon would be a lot bigger than the man! The dragon can weigh as much as two men! Like all lizards, a dragon has four short legs and a long body. It also has a long tail. Their skin is brown with tan or black marks on it. Read more about the Komodo dragon. RL: 2.2 Includes CCS exercises.

The giraffe is the tallest animal alive today. A male giraffe can be taller than a two-story house! Giraffes have very long legs. Their front legs are longer than their back legs. That is why their back slopes down toward their rump. They also have very thin, long tails. There is a bunch of black fur at the end of their tail. This bunch of fur is called a tuft. RL: 2.1 Includes CCS exercises.

An alligator looks a lot like a huge lizard. They have thick, hard skin across the top of their body. This skin is greenish brown in color. It is covered with bony plates. These plates help keep the gator safe. They are just like a turtle's shell. The skin on their belly is much softer and thinner. It is also much lighter in color. Some have a belly that is almost white. RL 2.2. Has CCS exercises.

Your heart is the most important organ in your body. It pushes your blood throughout your body, bringing oxygen and nutrients to your cells. Your blood also takes away dead cells, poison, and excess water. Without the heart doing its job, you would die. In fact, if your heart stops beating, you die in about four minutes! Find out more about this amazing organ. RL: 4.8. Includes CCS exercises

The Amazon River is the largest river in the world. It winds its way across South America, picking up dirt, leaves, and mostly water from over one third of South America. Then it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Learn about the Amazon River in this short 15-minute book. Reading level: 6.8

In our galaxy, there are stars and solar systems. There are also great clouds of gas and dust. They can range in size from a few light years to many thousands of light years across. Some of them glow. Some are so dark that we cannot see through them. These massive clouds of gas and dust are called nebulas. How much do you know about nebulas? Find out more in this short book. Reading Level: 6.7

The Seine River is a slow moving river. Once a major trade route, it is navigable by ocean going ships as far as Rouen. The Seine has been subject to monster tides, and great feats of architecture. Its source is a place of worship and its basin was one of the earliest areas settled by ancient man. Find out more about this fascinating river in this short book. Reading Level: 6.9

Machu Picchu is one of the few surviving ruins of the Inca Empire. It is situated in tropical forests on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains. It stretches five miles across a ridge and sits on top of two earthquake fault lines. The Spanish invaded South America looking for gold. They killed the Inca people. They destroyed their cities, but they never found Machu Picchu. Discover more. RL: 6.7

A bison is a wild cow. It looks a lot like a cow, but it is bigger. It can be a lot bigger. In fact, a bison is the biggest land animal in North America! A bison can be up to six feet (1.75 metres) at the shoulder. It can be over 12 feet (3.5 metres) long! That means they are as tall as a man, and as long as two men laying head to toe! Learn about bison in this 15-minute book. Reading level: 3.7