Melissa Stewart
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Melissa Stewart has always been fascinated by the natural world and enjoys sharing it with readers of all ages. She is the award-winning author of more than 100 books for young readers and has written more than 50 articles for children and adults.

Trained as both a scientist and a journalist, Melissa believes that nothing brings writing to life like firsthand research. While gathering information for her books, Melissa has explored tropical forests in Costa Rica, gone on a hot-air balloon safari in Kenya, swum with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands, and snorkeled along Mexico’s world-renowned coral reefs.

She can’t imagine any job she’d rather have!

Affiliations:

Creative Teaching Partner, Massachusetts Cultural Council

—Board of Advisors, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

—Judge, American Institute of Physics Children’s Science Writing Award

When Rain Falls

When Rain Falls
Peachtree Publishers, 2008
ages 4 to 10, ISBN 978-1561454389

We go inside when the rain comes down, but where do animals go? That depends on the kind of animal and where it lives. Bees hide in hives and ants stay safe in underground nests. Squirrels pull their long bushy tails over their heads like umbrellas. Caterpillars crawl under leaves. This new book for young readers offers a first glimpse at how different animals in different habitats behave during a thunderstorm.

Butterflies

Rabbits
Swans

Animals, Animals series
Benchmark Books / Marshall Cavendish, 2007
grades 3 and up, ISBN 978-0-76142-528-1,
978-0-76142-530-4

This lively series brings young readers exciting information about the habitats, behaviors, and daily routines, and life cycles of common and uncommon creatures from around the world. Beautifully illustrated with full color photos, these books are informative and well written.

Extreme Rocks & Minerals

Extreme Rocks & Minerals
Smithsonian Q&A series
HarperCollins, 2007
ages 5 to 9, ISBN 978-0-06089-981-3

Some minerals are as soft as baby powder. Others are as hard as diamonds. Some rocks started out as sizzling hot lava, and others were created as layers of sand and pebbles were pressed together over millions of years. There’s so much to learn about the amazing rocks and minerals that make up our world.

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs
Publications International, 2007
ages 5 to 8, ISBN 978-1-4127-1591-1

Explore the world of dinosaurs! Some were as tall as a six-story building, some had teeth the size of bananas, and some had trumpets on the tops of their heads. This book features pull tabs, spinning wheels, and other hands-on devices that make the prehistoric world come to life.

New World Monkeys

New World Monkeys
Nature Watch series
Lerner Publications, 2008
grades 3 to 6, ISBN 978-0-8225-6765-3

In the rain forests of Central and South America, small, furry primates flit through the treetops. These New World monkeys live high in the trees and eat fruit, flowers, seeds, leaves, and even insects. But throughout the tropics, rain forests are being destroyed, and many of these intelligent creatures may disappear before scientists can study them.

My Butterfly Book

My Bug Book
My Butterfly Book

Smithsonian Board Books
HarperCollins, 2008
ages 4-8, ISBN 978-0060899806, 978-0060899790

The clear, simple text and big, beautiful photos in these book are the perfect way to introduce very young children to the wonders of nature.

Extreme Coral Reefs

Extreme Coral Reefs
Smithsonian Q&A series
HarperCollins, 2008
ages 5 to 9, ISBN 978-0061115752

A coral is an animal, but it sure doesn't look one. Find out how corals live and grow, and how they create huge underwater structures as their dead bodies slowly accumulate over time. Coral reefs are among the most productive and diverse habitats on Earth, but they are now in danger of disappearing forever. Learn more about these amazing animals and find out how you can help save them.

Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Smithsonian FYI series
HarperCollins, 2008
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-0-06089-950-9

Young readers are fascinated by natural disasters, especially volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Because this book was developed in partnership with scientists working at the Smithsonian Institution, it contains the most fascinating and up-to-date information about how and why these devastating natural disasters occur.

Butterflies

Butterflies
NorthWord Books for Young Readers, 2007
ages 4 to 10, ISBN 978-1559719674

How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? What are antennae for? Why are some butterflies more colorful than others? Author Melissa Stewart reveals the answers to these questions and more. Find out how butterflies live in Our Wide World.

Melissa Stewart has spent many hours observing the behavior of butterflies in Costa Rica, Mexico, Europe, and near her home in eastern Massachusetts.

Baboons

Baboons
Lerner Publications, 2007
grades 3 to 6, ISBN 978-1575058689

Foraging in the open woodlands of Africa, baboon troops work together to gather fruit, seeds, and leaves and to catch fish and small animals. These intelligent primates form close bonds and often groom one another. When threatened, baboons usually climb high in the trees. But on open ground, they join together and attack a predator with their sharp teeth.

Melissa Stewart observed baboons in their natural habitat while on safari in Africa

Cell Biology

Cell Biology
Classification of Life

Great Ideas of Science series
Twenty-First Century Books, 2008
grades 8 to 12, ISBN 978-0822566038, 978-0822566045

Take a look at some of the most important—and often controversial—concepts of science with this in-depth series. Each comprehensive title explains the theories and facts that define a different scientific concept in a clear, concise manner while revealing the history of how each theory was developed. Although often debated, these great theories have become cornerstones of science.

Energy in Motion

Energy in Motion
Will It Sink or Float?
Rookie Read-About Science series
Children’s Press/Scholastic, 2006
grades K to 3; ISBN 978-0516237367, 978-0516249551

These titles explain basic physical principles using real-life situations. Clear, simple language is easy for young readers to understand. Large full-color photos show the physical principles at work.

Eye See You

Eye See You
Storey Books, 2006
ages 8 to 12, ISBN 978-1-58017-848-8

Not all animals see the same way we do. In Eye See You, engaging text and beautiful photographs work together to explain how a wide range of creatures — from spiders and snakes to owls and orangutans — sees the world.

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