Wendy Pfeffer

We Gather Together

Sounds are all around us. Clap your hands, snap your fingers: You're making sounds. Read and find out how people and animals use different kinds of sounds to communicate.

Sounds All Around

This volume offers a new critical edition with facing English translation and a detailed study of the medieval manual of dietetics Occitan Health Advice dating from the 13th century and probably compiled in the milieu of Montpellier’s university. This Advice on health and well-being is a unique example of medical writing: composed in Occitan (formerly called Old Provençal), the vernacular language of southern France; it provided a wealth of medical information and guidance for a literate nonspecialist reader interested in a healthful life. This Advice will interest medical historians, literary scholars, and linguists, as well as readers curious about the Middle Ages, for all of whom it provides invaluable information on medieval daily life, dietary regimen, and healthy habits.

›Occitan Health Advice for the Layperson‹

Medieval Diet and Medicine

The Change of Philomel is a study of the image of the nightingale in various genres of medieval literature. The major emphasis of the work is on French literature; there is a thorough treatment of the nightingale image in Provençal and Northern French lyrics and narrative works. Reference is made also to Middle English and Middle High German literary works. The nightingale proves to be a pervasive image, especially in the twelfth century. As a metaphor, the bird can represent the poet or the object of his affections; it can provide solace or competition for medieval poets; and the nightingale is also an inherently sexual symbol, a factor which is significant both for the use of the image and for its fall in popularity in the thirteenth century.

The Nightingale in Medieval Literature

The Change of Philomel

"First published in the United States of America by Dutton Children's Books ... 2008"--Title page verso.

Celebrating the Spring Equinox

A New Beginning

In the fall, pumpkins are everywhere: in the garden, in the supermarkets, and on doorsteps. But do you know how they grow from a tiny yellow seed to a pumpkin? In this classic Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out picture book, Wendy Pfeffer's lively text combines with James Graham Hale's beautiful watercolors to bring readers into the pumpkin patch to show them how little seeds transform into big pumpkins. Now rebranded with a new cover look, this book includes a find out more section with activities such as an experiment to show how plants use roots to drink water from the ground and a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds. Both text and artwork were vetted for accuracy by Barbara J. Bromley, Mercer County Horticulturist. This is a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades and supports the Common Core Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Let's-Read-and-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

From Seed to Pumpkin

Describes how and why daylight grows shorter as winter approaches, the effect of shorter days on animals and people, and how the winter solstice has been celebrated throughout history. Includes activities.

Celebrating the Winter Solstice

The Shortest Day

Wendy Pfeffer describes the amazing metamorphosis from tiny, jellylike egg, to little fishy tadpole, to great big bullfrog. Holly Keller has created the archetypal frog pond and we see it through the seasons as the tadpoles grow legs and lungs and eventually hop onto land: bullfrogs at last. "Well-designed ink drawings washed with soft-toned watercolors stretch across the double-page spreads, showing the action above and below water level. . . .an attractive, general introduction."—BL. 1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA) Best Children's Science Books, 1994 (Science Books and Films)

From Tadpole to Frog

Introduces the history of agriculture and the festivals that arose around the harvest, including information on the seasons and activities that celebrate autumn.

Celebrating the Harvest Season

Looking at both the science of weather and the history of how the fall equinox has been celebrated by various cultures throughout the world, this book will inspire a new understanding of autumn and the harvest season.

In this fourth and final book in the series about seasons, Wendy Pfeffer turns her attention to summer, when butterflies emerge from silky cocoons and daylight hours stretch longer and longer. With lyrical prose and vibrant illustrations, The Longest Day takes us on a journey through the history and science behind the summer solstice, with a focus on summer celebrations from various cultures around the world. Teachers and students alike will treasure the varied and accessible knowledge, and activities in the back let everyone in on the festivities.

The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice

Just stop and take a look--light is all around you! Light from the sun brightens the day, firelight flickers in the night, and electric light fills our homes. Do you know the speed of light or how to measure its brightness? And how does light help you see? Read and find out about the many ways that light brightens our world!

Light Is All Around Us

Joan Tasker Grimbert

Elizabeth Aubrey

Eglal Doss-Quinby

This groundbreaking anthology brings together for the first time the works of women poet-composers, or trouveres, in northern France in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Refuting the long-held notion that there are no extant Old French lyrics by women from this period, the editors of the volume present songs attributed to eight named female trouveres along with a varied selection of anonymous compositions in the feminine voice that may have been composed by women. The book includes the Old French texts of seventy-five compositions, extant music for eighteen monophonic songs and nineteen polyphonic motets, English translations, and a substantial introduction.

Songs of the Women Trouvères

Robin Brickman

Presents a tale about a fallen oak tree in the forest, teaching young readers about its life cycle and the various purposes that it serves in the ecosystem during every step of its life cycle.

A Log's Life

Coral reefs are beautiful underwater cities that bustle with excitement and activity. From clown fish to spiny lobsters, hundreds of plants and animals live on coral reefs, making them one of nature's greatest treasures. What happens during a typical day in these marine metropolises? Read and find out!

Life in a Coral Reef

Light is all around you! It comes in many forms: Light from the sun brightens our day, firelight flickers in the night, electric lights fill our homes—and some animals even make the sea glow! With lively illustrations and fun diagrams from Paul Meisel, Light Is All Around Us by Wendy Pfeffer is a fascinating look into the many ways that light brightens our world. This is a Stage 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades and supports the Common Core Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Let's-Read-And-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

Sounds are all around us. Clap your hands, snap your fingers: You’re making sounds. Read and find out how people and animals use different kinds of sounds to communicate. With colorful illustrations from Anna Chernyshova and engaging text from Wendy Pfeffer, Sounds All Around is a fascinating look into how sound works! This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Featuring rich vocabulary bolded throughout the text, this brand-new edition of a 1999 title includes brand-new illustrations by Anna Chernyshova. This book also includes a Find Out More section with additional and updated experiments, such as finding out how sound travels through water. Both the text and the artwork were vetted by Dr. Agnieszka Roginska, Professor of Music Technology at NYU. This is a Level 1 Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades and supports the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards. Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

During the winter, the arctic fox begins an incredible journey. She heads north through the tundra, toward the top of the world. No larger than a house cat, she faces treacherous obstacles, frightening predators, and bitter cold along the way. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. It seems impossible that she could persist against the elements on her almost 2,000-mile journey—but she does. Read and find out about the arctic fox’s quest for survival. The Arctic Fox’s Journey is filled with gorgeous, accurate art and includes ton of visual aids like charts, sidebars, an infographic, and a hands-on activity all about camouflage. This is a Level 1 Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades and supports the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards. Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series. This picture book about the arctic fox’s dangerous winter journey is another strong entry in the award-winning Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out series!

The Arctic Fox's Journey

The fall equinox signals the time of year when we gather our harvests and give thanks for their bounty. With accessible, lyrical prose and vibrant illustrations, this nonfiction picture book explains the science behind autumn and the social history of harvest-time celebrations. We Gather Together presents a remarkable range of cultural traditions throughout the ages and the world, many of which have influenced our contemporary Thanksgiving holiday. Simple science activities, ideas for celebrating in school and at home, and a further reading list are included in the back of the book.

Wendy Pfeffer

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