tom velcovsky

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

This engaging book for young adventurers features 40 historical discoveries, from tiny artifacts to entire cities, including the people and circumstances behind their uncovering.

In Famous Finds and Finders, young readers are taken on an adventurous journey back through time as they learn about the field of archeology and its role in uncovering the secrets of our past. Emphasizing the importance of preserving and recording moments in history, it encourages children to consider their own place in the ongoing story of humanity.

Kids will also learn about the tools and techniques (from crude to state-of-the-art) that archeologists and paleontologists use, as well as about the challenges they face in uncovering fragments of the past buried in the ground or under the ocean.

The discoveries are divided into 5 categories:

• People and Animals
• Towns and Cities
• Works of Art
• Under the Sea
• Underground

Sections include:

• Tutankhamun’s Tomb: An Ancient Egyptian burial chamber discovered by archeologist Howard Carter in 1922, famous for its magnificent treasures.

• Lascaux: A complex of caves in France containing some of the most well-preserved prehistoric cave paintings in the world, discovered in 1940 by exploring four teenagers.

• The Titanic: A British luxury passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg, resulting in the loss of many lives.

• Lucy: A partial skeleton of a female Australopithecus afarensis hominin, discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 by a paleoanthropologist from the University of Cleveland.

• Ötzi the Iceman: The mummy of a man who lived around 3,300 BCE, discovered in 1991 in the Alps by hikers who thought he was a deceased modern climber.

• Whydah Gally: A pirate ship discovered by an underwater explorer off the coast of Cape Cod in 1984.

• Terracotta Army: A collection of earthen sculptures depicting the armies of the first Emperor of China, discovered by local farmers in 1974.

• Miss Ardi: The oldest known hominid skeleton, providing insights into human evolution.

• Chinchorro Mummies: The oldest artificially preserved human remains, found along the coast of present-day Chile and Peru.

• Altai Princess: The well-preserved mummy of a young woman who lived over 2,500 years ago in Siberia.

• Sue the Rex: The most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered.

• Angkor Wat: A historic temple complex in Cambodia built in the 12th century – one of the largest religious monuments in the world.

• Pompeii: A Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, preserving it and providing insight into ancient Roman life.

• Troy: An ancient city in Turkey, best known for the Trojan War described in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad.

• Babylon: A city in ancient Mesopotamia, located in present-day Iraq, known for its legendary Hanging Gardens.

• Port Royal: A major center for piracy and commerce in the Caribbean, destroyed by an earthquake in 1692.

• Bust of Nefertiti: A sculpture of the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, created in the 14th century BCE and discovered in 1912 by a German archeologist.

• The Venus de Milo: The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue of Aphrodite, discovered by a poor farmer on the island of Milos in Greece in 1820.

• Lighthouse of Alexandria: One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, constructed in the 3rd century BC on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt.

This book highlights some of the most significant archeological discoveries of all time, introducing young readers to some of the key figures in the field. It provides a fun and engaging way for children to learn about historical discoveries and the people who made them, and will inspire them to continue exploring the world with a sense of wonder and curiosity.

Filled with evocative illustrations and informative content, Famous Finds and Finders is perfect for children aged 9–12 who are curious about history and the world around us. Whether they are a student of history, a budding archeologist, or simply curious about the world around us, this book is the perfect introduction to the fascinating world of archeology.

Explore the fascinating world of architecture, from ancient monuments to modern structures, and decode architectural styles and history in this engaging non-fiction book.

This non-fiction compendium takes readers on a global tour of architectural wonders, from ancient monuments that have withstood the test of time to the new streamlined modern structures that define our contemporary landscape. Explore iconic buildings by uncovering the intricate secrets of architectural styles and the rich histories they represent. From the timeworn exterior of the Great Pyramid of Giza to the smooth sleek lines of the White House, this book offers an immersive exploration of architectural diversity, offering readers a lens through which to decipher the architectural language of the structures that surround us.

Aimed at adolescents ages 10–14, this book transcends age barriers, offering a window into the world of architecture for all. Through vivid content and imagery, it offers an exciting journey through history and design. Young readers seeking a deeper understanding of architecture will gain deep insights into the world's architectural legacy. It's not just a book; it's a key to unlocking architectural secrets, an educational resource, and a visual delight. Whether for personal enrichment or education, this invaluable guide will deepen your appreciation for our shared global architectural heritage.

Realistic illustrations accompany the stories behind various more or less peculiar vehicles that were invented but in the end, they did not make the cut.

We all travel sometimes—by car, by public transport, or by plane. But there are some means of transport that we will never be able to use. Let’s open this book and learn how come we don’t travel in flying cars, why trains don’t ride on a single rail, or why there are no life-size remote control cars.

You’re about to be flooded with infamous ideas, prototypes, and crazy attempts at coming up with something new over the course of the last century. The means of transport presented in this book may have not led to a technological revolution but did help us progress. After all, people learn from their mistakes.

We start our journey on boats and we end up in the space. A history of transport told by terrific illustrations.

Travel back with us as we explore the world‘s most important milestones in the development of travel and transportation. From little-noticed ideas that launched a technological revolution, through expeditions that reached for the stars, to tragedies that ended vast projects once and for all.

As this book will show, every ending stands at the beginning of something new. Take a ride with us on the fastest, greatest, most awesome, most controversial machines that moved humanity forward.

This beautifully illustrated book covers 10 most popular sports and how they developed during the history, including the rules, equipment, and the star players.

From the prehistory until today, this book provides young readers with a comprehensive overview of the most popular sports disciplines. Find out where the idea of a goal came from, and what the origin of the ball is. How did the first tennis racket look like? And did you know that hockey was played in Ancient Egypt? A lot of new information as well as fun facts from the world of sports is awaiting you on these pages.

Learn more about the following sports:

• Athletics
• Skating
• Ice hockey
• Golf
• Football
• Tennis
• Basketball
• Swimming
• Skiing
• Baseball

An encyclopedia of vertebrates that comprises of the most interesting and fascinating facts from the animal world combined with a fresh and modern look.

Vertebrates are one of the largest animal groups and it includes cartilaginous fish, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. What do they have in common? What is typical for their body? Are you shaking your head in confusion, telling yourself that you don't know? Shaking your head is a sign that you are a vertebrate. Because backbone and cranium are typical for them. Did you know that African ostriches run at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour, which is the average speed of a car? Or that kiwi birds stopped flying because they had no natural enemies? Dive into the animal world and find out more.

This book provides readers with information about the vertebrate family in a readable and comprehensible way, while staying scientifically accurate.