Showing results by author "Tracy Vonder Brink" in All Categories

How did forgetting to wash a jar make cars safer? A scientist named Édouard Bénédictus accidentally dropped a plastic-coated flask that did not break. This invention was tested and engineered to help today's windshields protect drivers better.

Did you know that New Jersey has more diners than any other state? Or that more Revolutionary War battles were fought there than anywhere else? Are you aware that Cape May is the oldest beach resort in the United States? Including information on the region's Indigenous groups, this book explores New Jersey's rich history and culture, from industrial cities like Trenton to preserved ecosystems like the Pine Barrens.

Are you aware that Washington produces more apples than any other state in the nation? Did you know the rovers that first explored the moon were built in Washington state? Or that the city of Seattle is named after Chief Si'ahl, a leader of the Duwamish people and a six-tribe confederation in the Khwulch (Puget Sound)? This book explores Washington's rich history and culture, from the endangered Southern Resident orca whales to the majesty of North Cascades National Park.

Did you know that Blackbeard the pirate crashed his ship off of North Carolina in 1718? Are you aware that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America? Or that the Wright brothers' first flight in a powered aircraft took place in North Carolina, lasting only twelve seconds? Including information on the region's Indigenous groups, this book explores North Carolina's rich history and culture, from the incredible archaeological finds at the Hardaway Site to the legacy of Appalachian music.

Travel through Rumpke’s recycling center to find a plastic jug? Trash that can be recycled takes a ride on the conveyor belt to become something new! Try to find the milk jug on the conveyor belt! Trash at the factory goes through many machines to make sure it can be recycled. Can you guess what the milk jug will help make once it leaves the factory? What other types of trash go on the conveyor belt?

Take a ride on a rover with NASA as they explore the planet Mars. Learn how NASA explores Mars for evidence of life especially the existence of water. Scientists believe that life depends on water. Is it possible that Mars had life and why is it so different from Earth? Discover the tools, equipment and methods scientists use to uncover rock, water, and fossils to test as evidence of life.

Hop to it! Do you know how or why a kangaroo hops and leaps? Learn how their legs, feet, and tail help a kangaroo move which starts with bouncing! Like humans, kangaroos' legs are made for how they move! While we walk upright, they jump and leap! Kangaroos use their tail to slow down. Find out why they are the largest and most powerful marsupials!

Did you know Illinois was the first state to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment? Are you aware that the Chicago River flows backwards? Or that the state is home to President Barack Obama? Including information on the Cahokia region and early French settlers, this book on Illinois history and culture will engage all readers, from the story of why the northern border of Illinois was altered twice to the deadly Great Chicago Fire.

Did you know that seven US presidents have been born in Ohio? Are you aware that the Ohio state flag is not a rectangle? Or that more than half of the state is made up of farmland? Including information on the region’s many Indigenous groups, this book explores how Ohio is truly at the heart of it all, from its roots as the new American frontier to its legacy as the home of rock and roll.

Have you ever been sick with strep throat? It's an illness caused by bacteria that gives you a painful sore throat! Learn how doctors can diagnose it by your symptoms and a test, and how medicine can cure strep throat so you can get better. Be sure to take all of the medicine until its gone if you have strep. You might even impress your doctor on your next visit with your new knowledge!

This story shows how prosthetics have changed over time in the way they have been created and allowed mobility. You will also learn how technology has allowed prosthetics to help even more people in ways than they ever have before. Prosthetics help people to walk and run, hear, eat, and to even help them stay alive!

Learn about the roles of Marines and their training, as well as the advanced equipment, aircraft, and weapons the Marines use to complete their tough missions.

Learn about the roles of Coast Guard members and their training, as well as the different types of ships, aircraft, and equipment this branch uses to complete its important missions around the world.

Learn about the roles of airmen and their training, as well as the advanced equipment, aircraft, and weapons the Air Force uses.

Learn about the roles of soldiers and their training, as well as the advanced equipment, vehicles, and weapons the Army uses. When duty calls, the Army is always ready to defend.

The U.S. Navy traces its roots back to the American Revolutionary War. Then, its small fleet was outnumbered. Today, it is the largest navy in the world. Learn about the roles of sailors and their training, as well as the different types of ships, aircraft, equipment, and weapons the U.S. Navy uses to complete missions around the world.

On a chilly day in 1947, a Japanese inventor named Momofuku Ando observed people waiting out in the cold for a hot meal. He dreamed of bringing fast-cooking noodles to the whole world. And he did—with ramen noodles! Sometimes the simplest inventions are the best!

Aluminum was once more valuable than gold. A breakthrough in refining aluminum from rock transformed it from rare matter to sandwich wrapper. In this science story, you'll learn how two chemists, Charles Hall and Paul Héroult, solved the problem.

Injured by a cannonball, James Edward Hanger was the first amputee of the Civil War. Determined to find a better solution than a peg leg, he worked to develop his own artificial limb company. He even continued working past retirement, providing Hanger Limbs for victims of World War I.

Microwaves heat our food. They carry messages from phone to phone. They help detect the weather. Microwaves are all around us, even if we don't see them. Listeners will learn about microwaves and how we use them every day.