Explore Books for Middle Grades


Dig into high-concept topics with Lindsey’s middle grade science books. These titles take confident readers on journeys of discovery and delight.


Cover of Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth

Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth

The Arctic and Antarctica, at opposite ends of the Earth, have much in common: bitter cold, ferocious winds and darkness lasting six months. Despite these harsh conditions, many animals have adapted to stay alive in the polar regions. This evocative and beautifully illustrated book from the award-winning team of author L. E. Carmichael and illustrator Byron Eggenschwiler explores how animals at opposite ends of the Earth survive using similar adaptations. There’s the arctic fox who is protected from the ice by the fur on the soles of her feet, the emperor penguins huddling in groups around their chicks to keep everyone warm, and the narwhal using echolocation to find a crack in the surface ice to breathe. It’s a fascinating journey through a year in the polar regions, where animals don’t just survive – they thrive!
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cover of The Boreal Forest by L. E. Carmichael

The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World’s Largest Land Biome

Grade 3-6
Released in 2020

The vast boreal forest spans a dozen countries in the northern regions like "a scarf around the neck of the world," making it the planet's largest land biome. Besides providing homes for a diversity of species, this spectacular forest is also vitally important to the planet: its trees clean our air, its wetlands clean our water and its existence plays an important role in slowing global climate change. In this beautifully written book, award-winning author L. E. Carmichael explores this special wilderness on a tour of the forest throughout the four seasons, from one country to another. Evocative watercolour and collage artwork by award-winning illustrator Josée Bisaillon provides a rare glimpse of one of the world's most magnificent places.
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Forensics in the Real World by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

Forensics in the Real World

Grade 4-6
Released in 2017

First, learn what forensics is and how it came to be. Then, peek inside the daily lives of the real crime scene investigators, forensic specialists, and research scientists that help solve crimes every day. Includes insight into real cases and plenty of info on what it takes to do these important jobs.
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Innovations in Entertainment by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

Innovations in Entertainment

Grade 3-6
Released in 2016

Imagine a time when video games did not exist! You might not realize that there was once a world without your favorite entertainment forms. From games and music to electronic television and downloadable movies, this title looks at major innovations in entertainment over the years, and the ingenious inventors, scientists, and engineers who made them. With a little inventive thinking, what might you create to help us learn new things, enjoy our free time, and connect with each other?
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Innovations in Health by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

Innovations in Health

Grade 3-6
Released in 2016

You might be shocked to discover how some illnesses and diseases were treated years before medical innovations were made. This book will make you feel lucky that you were born after many safe and successful ways were developed to treat illnesses and save lives. Learn about important innovations made in health care that we now take for granted, and the amazing scientists, inventors, and engineers who developed them. With a little inventive thinking, how could you come up with a way to keep you and your family healthy?
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The Science Behind Gymnastics by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

The Science Behind Gymnastics

Grade 3-4
Released in 2016
Subject Areas: , ,

Behind every jump, spin, and flip of Olympic gymnastics, science is at work. Centrifugal force is at work in a midair spin, and centre of gravity is involved in balance beam routines. Newton’s Third Law of Motion springs into action as a gymnast flies into the air in the vaulting event. Find out how science is involved in all your favourite gymnastics events and how gymnasts take science into account as they chase the gold medal.
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How Can We Reduce Agricultural Pollution? by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

How Can We Reduce Agricultural Pollution?

Grade 3-5
Released in 2016
Subject Areas: ,

Everyone needs to eat, yet farming is a major cause of pollution around the world. But did you know that certain types of farming create less pollution than others? Or that some types of waste can be made into energy? Investigate what we can do to reduce agricultural pollution.
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Discover Forensic Science by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

Discover Forensic Science

Grade 3-5
Released in 2016
Subject Areas: , ,

Forensic scientists study evidence to figure out who committed a crime. But how do they determine the cause of death? And how do they use trained dogs and devices to track scents? Learn about the latest tools and techniques in use by forensic scientists, and discover how their work helps bring criminals to justice.
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Fox Talk: How Some Very Special Animals Helped Scientists Understand Communication by LE Carmichael Book Cover

Fox Talk: How Some Very Special Animals Helped Scientists Understand Communication

Grade 4+
Released in 2015

When you talk to a dog, does the dog talk back? Many people think so. But for a long time, scientists didn't know how our furry friends learned to communicate with people. Packed with eye-popping photos and first-hand research, Fox Talk reveals the story of these amazing animals... and everything they've taught us about wolves, dogs, and communication.
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The Scientific Method in the Real World by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

The Scientific Method in the Real World

Grade 4+
Released in 2013

Examines the history of the scientific method and describes each of its components, which include making observations, asking questions, creating hypotheses, running experiments, and looking for patterns in the results.
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