About the Author

Now a full-time author, Diane has made a career of writing fun and informative factual books for kids. She credits the astonishing natural world as the inspiration behind her writing. Children have always influenced her approaches to writing: the child she once was, her own two children, and all the children she knows. One tip that Diane would give to young writers is: ìWrite what really excites you. No matter what your subject is, if you let your excitement shine through your words, youíll grab your readersí interest.

About the Book
A Crash of Rhinos, A Party of Jays: The Wacky Ways We Name Animal Groups

They say that birds of a feather flock together. But who knew that bears in a group are called a sleuth? Eagle-eyed author Diane Swanson knew. In a book that's both funny and fascinating, Swanson explores 11 animals and the collective nouns that describe them.

Each playful profile reveals a term's origins and describes the behavior and characteristics of the animal. Meanwhile, delightful illustrations capture the literal connection to each intriguing name.

Nibbling on Einsteinís Brain: The Good, the Bad and the Bogus in Science

Science affects every part of our lives. But there's lots of phony research and it's difficult to distinguish between science that is good and science that is false or misleading. How can we equip kids to judge the difference? The first step is to examine how good science works -- and there is plenty of it out there.

Nibbling on Einsteinís Brain demystifies science by leading children through the steps necessary to arrive at a sound scientific conclusion. They learn about winning strategies and fun ways to determine whether the information they receive is reliable or not. There are sidebars with facts, experiments, and quotes from scientists and philosophers, plus a glossary of terms, an index, and a bibliography. Distinguished by a kid-friendly text, amusing illustrations, and a strong undercurrent of humor, this book offers readers a fun approach to becoming enthusiastic science watchdogs.