More space objects have been found beyond Pluto, in a region known as the Kuiper Belt. In 2003, Eris was discovered. Its existence was confirmed in January 2005. It was found to be larger than Pluto and was put forward as a tenth planet in our solar system. This caused much debate among astronomers. Are there more, larger objects in our solar system? How many? Are they all to be considered planets? If not, then what does this mean for Pluto? On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) came up with a scientific definition of the word “planet”. Pluto did not fit these new rules. It was downgraded to “dwarf planet”. The IAU is reluctant to consider any more than eight planets in our solar system. All other planet-like bodies are to be known as “dwarf planets”. How much do you know about these dwarf planets? Do you know: What is a plutoid? How many official dwarf planets are there in our solar system? Are all the dwarf planets out beyond Pluto? How big does an object need to be to qualify as a dwarf planet? What other rules must an object meet to be classified as a dwarf planet? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

More space objects have been found beyond Pluto, in a region known as the Kuiper Belt. In 2003, Eris was discovered. Its existence was confirmed in January 2005. It was found to be larger than Pluto and was put forward as a tenth planet in our solar system. This caused much debate among astronomers. Are there more, larger objects in our solar system? How many? Are they all to be considered planets? If not, then what does this mean for Pluto? On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) came up with a scientific definition of the word “planet”. Pluto did not fit these new rules. It was downgraded to “dwarf planet”. The IAU is reluctant to consider any more than eight planets in our solar system. All other planet-like bodies are to be known as “dwarf planets”. How much do you know about these dwarf planets? Do you know: What is a plutoid? How many official dwarf planets are there in our solar system? Are all the dwarf planets out beyond Pluto? How big does an object need to be to qualify as a dwarf planet? What other rules must an object meet to be classified as a dwarf planet? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards. LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

It was once thought that our solar system ended at Saturn. Then the first telescopes revealed Uranus and Neptune. Differences in the calculations of the gravity of these giants set off another search and Pluto was discovered. Pluto was then thought to be the last planet of our solar system. Beyond it was empty space – until astronomers started looking at comets. Huge balls of ice, zipping through the solar system, past the planets, around the sun and back out again. Where did they come from? Where did they go? And what made them come back? That’s when scientists discovered the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. Reed this book and find out: How many types of comets are there? What formed the Kuiper Belt? How big is the Kuiper Belt? What is the Oort Cloud? How big is the Oort Cloud? How long does it take sunlight to reach the Oort Cloud? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

Lightning has terrified people for thousands of years with huge dark storm clouds, rumbling and lighting up. There were flashes of light striking the ground, causing fire and destruction with a roar loud enough to think the heavens were exploding. Today, we know a thunderstorm does not mean the world is about to end. Even so, it is a powerful event of nature. Find out more in this short book. RL:6

The Yangtze River is known by many names. From its headwaters in the glaciers of Tibet, it drops nearly 16,000 feet (5000 metres) on its journey to the East China Sea. For millions of years it has cut its path through the land. It flows through mountains and deep gorges and along broad, flat valley plains, taking water from thousands of rivers and lakes. It is shrouded in mists and mountains, stories and legend. Its basin is home to nearly one third of the population. To the Chinese, the Yangtze is more than a river; she is a living, breathing part of their very lives. How much do you know about the Yangtze River? Can you answer these questions: Where does the Yangtze start? How many rivers and streams empty into the Yangtze? What is the “Ghost City” of the Yangtze? What happened to the City of Fengdu? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

The Sahara is a land of extremes. It is the largest hot desert on Earth where the sand can reach a whopping 176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius). It is also a land of mountains, plains – and snow. It is a constantly changing landscape with winds that blast dust halfway around the planet. Here are some interesting facts we have discovered about the Sahara. Do you know: What is the difference between a hot desert and a cold desert? Are there volcanoes in the Sahara? How many countries does the Sahara cover? How does the Sahara Desert help the Amazon rainforest? Does it snow in the Sahara Desert? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. Reading Level: 6.9 Learning Island believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

When we look at clouds in our sky, we can sometimes make out shapes. This is called pareidolia, where the human brain finds shapes or patterns hidden in random images. This can also happen with nebulas – clouds of dust and gas in space. There are two main types of nebulas; bright and dark. There are four types of bright nebulas; emission, reflection, planetary and supernova remnants. This book covers 14 strange and interesting nebulas in our galaxy. Find out more about these fun nebulas in this short 15-minute book. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. Reading level: 6.9 LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.