Oliver wants the stegosaurus to be named the state fossil of Colorado, but getting a new law passed is going to take a lot of work and a little bit of luck Oliver Dibbs already had his moment in the spotlight when he saved the local prairie dog habitat from destruction. When he convinces his class to try to get the stegosaurus declared the state fossil of Colorado, Ollie is ready to be famous again. He can just imagine his name splashed across the front page of the newspaper. But it turns out that convincing the government to name a new state symbol takes a little more work than he thought. Especially when the class bully, Lester Philpott, will do anything to sabotage Ollie’s plans. Ollie is determined to accomplish his goal. The stegosaurus deserves its day in the sun, and Ollie and his friends are going to help it get there—no matter what setbacks they encounter along the way!

Everything you need to create exciting thematic science units can be found in these handy guides. Developed for educators who want to take an integrated approach, these teaching kits contain resource lists, reading selections, and activities that can be easily pulled together for units on virtually any science topic. Arranged by subject, each book lists key scientific concepts for primary, intermediate, and upper level learners and links them to specific chapters where resources for teaching those concepts appear. Chapters identify and describe comprehensive teaching resources (nonfiction) and related fiction reading selections, then detail hands-on science and extension activities that help students learn the scientific method and build learning across the curriculum. A final section helps you locate helpful experiment books and appropriate journals, Web sites, agencies, and related organizations.

Oliver just wants to spread the word about wildlife conservation, but his plans go awry when the local prairie dog habitat is threatened Oliver Dibbs is passionate about animals, and he’s willing to do anything to help a good cause. The only problem is, Ollie doesn’t always think his plans through before acting on them, and this has gotten him into a lot of trouble. No matter what cause Ollie is fighting for—whether it’s tigers, wolves, or whales—something always goes wrong. It doesn’t help that his little brother, Bo, always wants to tag along. It’s hard to look out for a seven-year-old and save the world at the same time. But when Ollie finds out a local businessman is planning to build a shopping mall right over the town’s prairie dog habitat, he knows that he can’t fail. If he doesn’t step in and protect the prairie dogs’ home, they’ll all die. This time, Ollie has to make sure nothing stands in his way!

Journals offer young people a safe place to reflect, reminisce, dream, explore feelings and relationships, set goals, solve problems, celebrate themselves, and yes, even practice writing. In this book the authors detail myriad fascinating possibilities for journal keeping as a tool for transformation and for building skills. Techniques range from writing about a first memory to designing a dream house to creating a main character for a novel. Guidelines, tips, and lists of additional resources abound. Chapters cover reasons to keep a journal, techniques and definitions, recording the present, remembering the past, exploring the future, the celebration journal, reflection, problem solving and decision making, catharsis, fantasy, people, practicing fiction, reviewing the journal, and sharing the journal. Grades 4-9 (adaptable to any age).

Series covers individuals ranging from established award winners to authors and illustrators who are just beginning their careers. Entries cover: personal life, career, writings and works in progress, adaptations, additional sources, and photographs.

Foghorn Flattery and his sister C.C. join their journalist father on a trip to Kenya. Immediately after their arrival, Foghorn learns that five rhinos have been killed in a wildlife preserve, and he suspects an inside job.

Foghorn Flattery puts himself on the case of the stolen horse from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.