Transdisciplinary Themes

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are special times of year for Muslims. The holy month of Ramadan is filled with fasting, prayer, and good deeds. Eid al-Fitr is a celebration at the end of Ramadan! Families and friends come together to pray and feast during this...

Passover is about celebrating the story of the Israelites escaping from Egypt and returning home. It is a Jewish holiday. People take extra care in preparing their homes. They also gather with family and friends for a big meal and activities that...

Holi is about celebrating the triumph over good and evil. It is also a celebration of love. It is a Hindu holiday. People have a bonfire to represent the story of Prahlad and Holika. They also gather in the streets to throw colored paint on one another...

Hanukkah is about celebrating! Often called the Festival of Lights, the eight-day celebration honors a miracle that happened long ago. During Hanukkah, people light the menorah. They sing songs. They gather with family and friends to eat special food and...

Halloween is a holiday that features all things creepy and scary! Also known as All Hallows' Eve, people enjoy decorating their homes with jack-o-lanterns, spider webs, skeletons, and other creepy items. Many kids love to dress up in costumes and go...

Eid al-Adha is about celebrating! It is a Muslim festival remembering the sacrifice Ibrahim was willing to make. People mark the festival with prayer, visiting family, and gifts. Some people sacrifice an animal and share the meat with their community...

Easter is about celebrating Jesus Christ dying and coming back to life. It is a Christian holiday. People attend church. They also gather for a big meal and activities like egg hunts. Readers will discover how a shared holiday can have multiple...

Diwali is about celebrating! It honors the Hindu story of Rama. Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains also celebrate Diwali. To celebrate this Festival of Lights, people light lamps, watch fireworks, and dance. Others might exchange cards and presents. Readers...

Christmas is about celebrating! It is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. Some people mark the holiday with Christmas trees and other decorations. People gather with family and friends to eat meals and give gifts. Readers will discover...

Chinese New Year is a time for new beginnings. Some people clean their homes from top to bottom or share meals with friends. Others pray, light fireworks, or give each other gifts. Readers will discover how a shared holiday can have multiple traditions...

The human body is amazing. Your blood makes up about 8% of your body weight. On average, your heart will beat more than 3 billion times in your lifetime! Doctors and scientists make choices every day about how to keep our bodies going. But what would you...

Lance Cottonwood is the best and brightest of the leaves, but even the top students on the tree have worries. Can Lance conquer his fear of falling and just let go when the time comes for his final exam, or will he let his worries take over? In this...

When Tania was six years old, she and her parents fled Ukraine during World War II. For years they were refugees in Europe, displaced and without permanent residence. Finally, they found safe housing in a refugee camp, but what about home? Day by day,...

Vikings were fierce warriors who sailed the seas looking for new lands. They were expert sailors and shipbuilders. Find out the science behind their explorations, shipbuilding, and daily life. Discover how modern technology is being used to discover more...

Summer birthdays can be lonely, but not when you have great friends like Beavers! This year Tortoise, Bird, Rabbit, and Squirrel insist on baking Beaver's birthday cake, but Beaver isn't so sure. He is the ultimate perfectionist and would rather do it...

When Mya wakes up to a gloomy day, her grandpa asks her how she could make the day brighter. His simple question puts Mya into motion, and together with her little brother, Oliver, and neighbor Addie, she opens the Kindness Booth. Their plan is to spread...

While the other Vikings love to holler and howl and battle and brawl, Leif prefers spending time by himself atop the beautiful fjord. But when it's time for the Viking Games, everyone must participate. Will Leif let down his clan . . . or surprise them?...

How to make it through life and accomplish everything you want? A bucket list, of course! Learn how to speak up and be heard, balance money, spread your wings, and more in this easy-to-follow guide guaranteed to help you tackle all the items on your life...

What does it take to be a great friend? Find out with the help of a bucket list. Learn how meet new friends, maintain relationships with old ones, be a good listener, and more in this easy-to-follow guide guaranteed to help you tackle all the items on...

Think you know a lot about ancient civilizations? Prepare to learn even more about the people of the ancient world and the surprising details of their cities, people, and daily lives. You'll be surprised by how much you'll discover in this totally...

Think you know a lot about ancient civilizations? Prepare to learn even more about the people of the ancient world and the surprising details of their cities, people, and daily lives. You'll be surprised by how much you'll discover in this totally...

Joy and Chip wake early for a full day of play. Inside, outside. Riding bikes, reading books. Taking turns, sharing treats. And no day is complete without creating an adventure with their imaginations. Chip is Blind. Joy has sight. Their day is filled...

From mending fences to seedlings and combines, life on the farm changes from season to season. Discover what farmers do in winter. Learn how crops are harvested in fall. Real-life photographs follow the seasons and capture the beauty of a year on the...

Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang are globe-trotting! From Paris to Sydney to New York City, they are doing some big city sight-seeing. The gang explores the landmarks, weather, and geography in each location. Young readers will delight in using the...