Blastoff! Readers Level 3

Despite their tough reputation and huge claws, grizzly bears would rather eat roots and berries than hunt for food. But that doesn’t mean they won’t attack when an animal’s in their… More →

Whether they are outsprinting a predator or completing the longest land-animal migration in North America, pronghorn show they were born to run. They can reach speeds of about 55 miles per… More →

White-tailed deer spend their days grazing in prairies and woodlands. When startled, they flash their distinctive white tails as they run from their predators. They can even jump 30 feet in… More →

Much of our understanding of ancient plants and animals comes from the fossil record. Big or small, fossils offer images of life on Earth from billions of years ago! Young paleontologists… More →

The ground beneath our feet is made up of a constantly changing mixture of soils. Soils purify water, recycle nutrients, and even change what we breathe in the atmosphere! Young scientists… More →

Minerals are everywhere and are essential to living organisms. There are thousands of recognized minerals in existence! Discover the properties of quartz, sulfur, and other minerals and learn More →

Scientists categorize rocks into three different groups depending on how the rock was formed. Humans have used rocks from all groups as tools and in construction for thousands of years.… More →

Underwater, a large, lively community of unique animals thrives. Many of these animals belong to the fish class. There are colorful clownfish, lurking sharks, and silly sea horses. There are… More →

Members of the insect class often get a bad rap. People swat at them, stomp on them, and go to great lengths to repel them. Though some insects are pests that spread disease, many are… More →

Some animals lead a double life. First, they pose as aquatic creatures, breathing through gills and using tails to maneuver underwater. Then they exchange these features for legs and lungs to More →

The largest animal alive is a mammal. It's the 150-ton blue whale. This whale is not only large but also loud—louder than a jet engine! Turn the pages of this book to learn about the… More →

Compare a hummingbird and an ostrich; the differences are striking! One is tiny and hovers in the air like a helicopter. The other is massive and stays grounded, sprinting rather than flying. More →