Showing results by narrator "Book Buddy Digital Media" in All Categories

Did you know that Pluto has mountains, glaciers, and even blue skies? In July 2015, a spacecraft called New Horizons finally reached Pluto - almost 10 years after it had launched! The spacecraft flew by Pluto to take the first close-up photos of the dwarf planet. When it began sending those photos back to Earth, scientists were amazed by what they saw. Pluto was more fascinating than scientists ever imagined!

Have you ever dreamed of walking on Mars? Or maybe even living there? Ever since Mars was discovered, people have wondered if there could be life on this mysterious red planet. For years, astronomers at NASA and other space agencies have been exploring Mars. They've sent rovers to study the planet and search for water and signs of life. One day, NASA plans to send astronauts there, too. But first, they need to learn many things about Mars and how people might travel that deep into space.

Did you know that companies and governments send more than 100 satellites into space every year? And that most of those satellites continue to orbit Earth - even after they have stopped working? More than 500,000 old satellites, pieces of metal, and other bits of junk currently pollute Earth's orbit. And that number is growing. Astronomers, engineers, and politicians all agree that the future of space exploration is in danger if this debris isn't taken care of. But the problem of garbage in space is difficult and expensive to solve.

Did you know that astronauts work on Earth and in space to study places beyond our planet's atmosphere? But there's a lot more to space travel than just research. With no gravity, a wild schedule that includes 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every 24 hours, and no fresh food, it can be a challenge to stay healthy in orbit. Public and private space agencies are working to solve these problems as humans travel farther and more frequently into the depths of space. Learn more about the daily lives of astronauts and how they live, work, and prepare for the future in space.

You probably know Shailene Woodley as the fearless, black-clad heroine Tris from Divergent. But did you know that she was diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, as a freshman in high school; cofounded the nonprofit All It Takes, an organization dedicated to giving young people tools to make a difference and change the world; and would someday like to run an organic farm and produce affordable food for low-income families?

You probably know Lorde as a Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter. But did you know that she sang in a band named Extreme at the age of 12, turned down a chance to perform as an opening act on Katy Perry's world tour, and won second place in a worldwide literature competition?

You probably know Justin Timberlake as the successful boy-band singer turned solo artist whose voice dominates the airwaves. But did you know that he sang - and lost! - on the competitive TV show Star Search at the age of 11, opened a barbecue restaurant in New York City, and wrote a song for his wife, Jessica Biel, and sang it for her on their wedding day?

You probably know Idina Menzel as the amazing singer of "Let It Go" and the voice of Elsa in the movie Frozen. But did you know that she dreamed of playing the title character in the musical Annie, sang at weddings and bar mitzvahs before making it big on Broadway, and started a summer camp for kids?

You probably know Adele as the powerful, Grammy Award-winning soul singer of hits like "Rolling in the Deep" and "Set Fire to the Rain." But did you know that she was almost expelled from the BRIT School for Performing Arts, wrote her first single, "Hometown Glory," in just ten minutes, and has an alter ego named Sasha Carter?

Get ready to bow down - if you don't want to lose your head! Some of history's most ruthless leaders are headed your way. Some of these rulers schemed their way to the top. Others just conquered everything around them. Are you fearless enough to keep listening?

Did you know that ski slopestyle athletes fly off jumps to do incredible tricks in midair? They can grab their skis and spin around two times before landing smoothly on the snow. Some skiers also glide down rails before jumping off and racing to the next jump. They soar as high as they can to wow fans and judges. Enter the Extreme Winter Sports Zone to learn about the history, gear, moves, competitions, and top athletes connected to ski slopestyle. Are you into sports? Then get in the zone!

Did you know that top motocross freestyle pros race around a course doing as many awesome moves as they can before time's up? Some perform an amazing trick called a cliffhanger, where they touch their toes to their bikes' handlebars while airborne.

Did you know that street skateboarders perform incredible tricks by creating obstacles out of structures you might find along a city sidewalk? Street skateboarders jump their boards onto curbs and stairs. They grind down railings. They flip their boards around with their toes.

Did you know that pro vert skateboarders speed up half-pipe ramps to catch incredible air? They do awesome tricks such as backside kick turns, grabs, and airwalks. Some vert skaters do eye-popping aerial spins, rotating one, two, even three times while airborne!

Could a monster whose very look turns men to stone be a challenge too perilous even for the son of Zeus? King Polydectes has designs on Perseus' mother, Danaë. But first the king must get rid of young Perseus once and for all. So Polydectes hatches a plan to trick the young hero into performing an impossible task - slay the snake-haired Gorgon monster Medusa, whose very look turns men to stone. Yet, as the son of Zeus, king of the gods, Perseus has many powerful allies. Will Perseus' strength and courage - and the favor of the gods - allow him to do the impossible?

Did you know that the top motocross best trick riders can fly off jumps without holding on to their bikes? At the X Games best trick competition, you might see stunts like no-handers, can cans, and no-footers. Some pro best trick riders can even pull off a double backflip!

Have you ever used your imagination to solve a problem? When Albert Einstein was young, he was fascinated by the way magnetism made a compass work. As an adult, he used thought experiments to solve some of the universe's greatest mysteries. Einstein loved to think about math and science. He worked for a while at a patent office, but his mind wasn't focused on inventions. Instead, he thought about the universe. In 1905, Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity solved questions that scientists had grappled with for hundreds of years.

The world is changing for two girls in China in the 1970s. Da Qin - Big Piano - and her younger sister, Xiao Qin - Little Piano - live in the city of Wuhan with their parents. For decades, China's government had kept the country separated from the rest of the world. When their country's leader, Chairman Mao, dies, new opportunities begin to emerge. Da Qin and Xiao Qin soon learn their childhood will be much different than the upbringing their parents experienced.

Maddy's detective mother vanishes while investigating a mysterious disappearance near Pike's Cave. Legend has it that the cave is inhabited by an evil spirit with the power to possess people. Are both disappearances tied to the cave? According to The Atlas of Cursed Places, Maddy and her boyfriend are running out of time to save her mother from the dark power that lurks there.

Tension between African Americans and Somalis at Rodney's high school erupts into a food fight that turns into a riot. In the midst of the violence, Rodney helps a Somali classmate to safety. Soon Rodney and Jawahir fall for each other. Against the pleas of their families and friends, they can't help but follow their hearts. As groups on both sides of the fight harbor lingering resentment, Rodney and Jawahir are caught in the middle.