A common comment from adult readers about the topics of Elaine's books is, "I really thought I had no interest in the subject, but once I started reading it was all so fascinating and engaging that I was drawn in."

Many of Elaine's books are available through Recorded Books. Class sets include 10 copies of the book, a recorded book, and teacher guides. Read-along and print copies of some titles are also available through Recorded Books.

Amazon and out-of-print book services like Alibris have new and used copies of Elaine's books available. Close Encounters is also available in Braille through the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

“Scott’s lively reporting is packed with fascinating details; ...certainly has insight into what will appeal to young readers.”—The Horn Book

Click here for links to teacher guides, articles, and other resources to use with Elaine's books

	Secrets of the Cirque Medrano Charlesbridge, 2008. ISBN 978-1-57091-712-7; $15.95 (February 2008 release; historical fiction for grades 5-9) Elaine Scott vividly recreates the drama and excitement that charged the intellectual world of avant-garde artists and writers in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century. "Great art often seems to have a story behind it, and Scott has imagined a suspenseful one about the circus acrobats featured in Picasso’s Family of Saltambiques." -- Booklist "Scott ties the story of the circus (the source of Picasso's Family of Saltimbanques), the growth of the Russian Secret Police in Paris and the change in Montmartre from village to a vibrant part of the city to Brigitte's adjustment to her new life." -- Kirkus "Delightful!" "Both adventure and mystery can be found in "Secrets of the Cirque Medrano".-- Pittsbhurgh Post-Gazette "Young readers will follow Brigitte’s coming of age with great interest as she becomes involved in international espionage, aids her new friends who are mistreated by a corrupt circus owner, and touches the lives of artists who changed the world." --youngadultARCs "...mixes history, mystery, and art into an interesting story of amazing adventures that will keep pages turning." --ParentWise Austin "those who enjoy fiction built up with history and biography will be interested in this window into Picasso's famous painting.--School Library Journal "The story has good dramatic tension as Brigitte comes to understand the political skullduggery of the Russian secret police and the anarchists. The author captures the changing times, as Montmartre becomes the gathering place of the artists. Readers will come to appreciate the struggles of the circus performers who have no standing in society or protection from exploitation." -- ROYAL For a free teacher's guide, click here.

When Is a Planet Not a Planet?: The Story of Pluto Clarion, 2007. ISBN-13 9780618898329; $17.00 Scott is the first to put the answer to the title question into terms simple enough for a very young audience to understand, based upon the new definitions determined by the International Astronomical Union. Check out the article and teacher resources in the March 2008 issue of Library Sparks. The International Reading Association has named When is a Planet Not a Planet? as a 2008 Teacher's Choice book. "Beautifully designed from cover to cover and including numerous captioned color photos and other illustrations from a variety of sources, this book entices browsers to look closely. Serious readers will find plenty of detail and well-chosen references for further research. A great resource." --School Library Journal (starred review) The Dallas Morning News reviewed the book on April 6, 2008. About the book, the DMN said "worth the wait" and "...a terrific introduction to astronomy...." Click the link to read the full review. "Elaine Scott’s “When Is a Planet Not a Planet? The Story of Pluto,” is a remarkable work that adults as well as youngsters will find fascinating and accessible." -- The (Tacoma) News Tribune "She laces her crystal-clear prose with analogies that make it easy for youngsters to grasp how the astronomers decided to boot Pluto from the majors." -- Sacramento Bee "Beautifully designed.... A good choice for updating astronomy collections." --Booklist "But how did this heavenly body [Pluto] get the job in the first place? And why the scientific pink slip? Scott connects these two questions with the certainty that future discussions will change, because scientific knowledge is not static." -- The Horn Book "Elaine Scott brings together ancient and modern astronomy to make that decision understandable." -- Chicago Tribune "This promises to be a gripping read for curious Middle School and Upper Elementary minds wanting to know as much as they can about astronomy, planets, and the world beyond our stratosphere. It's very attractive and very readable. The pages are loaded with solid facts and terrific trivia." -- Brooklyn Heights Montessori School's Library Blog "Through easy-to-understand text and often breathtaking photographs, we learn what makes a planet a planet". -- ParentWise Austin Also now available in audio format from Listening Library or it's trade division, Random Audio.

Poles Apart: Why Penguins and Polar Bears Will Never Be Neighbors (Viking, October 2004) Poles Apart was named to the CBC-NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People list for 2005. It has also been named to Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best list! The Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin also named it to their CCBC Choices 2005 list. Recommended by Columbus (OH) Metropolitan Library and the Pennsylvania Library Association.

The perfect book to supplement the blockbuster films, The March of the Penguins or Happy Feet!

Reviews of Poles Apart

Chicago Tribune: ...what Elaine Scott does so well is convey the basic differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic themselves. -- January 23, 2005

Kirkus: Mid-level readers still a bit hazy on what our planet's poles, both geographic and magnetic, are all about will benefit from Scott's painstaking review of their nature, origins, differences, and human discovery. Along with explanations of rotation, orbits, seasons, magnetism, auroras, continental drift, and a plethora of related topics, she contrasts the climates and wildlife of the Arctic and Antarctic, chronicles the arrival of Inuit and Norse settlers, as well as the exploits of explorers from Captain Cook to Roald Amundsen. She closes with a glimpse of modern research and a discussion of the likely effects of global warming.

School Library Journal: Gr 5-7-This slender, handsome book presents the literal ends of the Earth (if a globular mass can be said to have ends). From the peregrinations of Antarctica as it drifted away from Gondwanaland to descriptions of the magnetic poles, from penguins to polar bears, Scott provides an attractive window on the disparities of two cold places. (December 2004)

Booklist: Gr. 4-8. This handsome, informative book introduces the North and South Poles: their origins, seasons, composition, magnetism, people, animals, exploration, and recent changes. Scott vividly describes the difficulties faced by early explorers and explains matters such as why polar bears would probably not survive in Antarctica. Scott writes well, never talking down to her audience but making scientific and historical information understandable. (December 1, 2004)

Friends (Atheneum, 2000) Photographs by Margaret Miller

"This well-executed concept book ... explores the joys and dilemmas of friendship and encourages children to think about what they do in similar situations." School Library Journal

"A component of friendship introduces each section--what friends do together or how they treat each other--followed by a question to the readers about their own experiences with their friends." Booklist

Close Encounters: Exploring the Universe with the Hubble Space Telescope (Hyperion Books for Children, 1998)

This title is available from Recorded Books, Inc.

Winner 1999 Science Writing Award from the American Institute of Physics

1999 Outstanding Trade Book for Children National Science Teachers Association

"Scott follows up her Adventure in Space: The Flight to Fix the Hubble with this equally outstanding explanation of why the effort to repair the orbiting telescope's faulty components was worthwhile....a meaty, cogent report." School Library Journal (starred review.)

"With stunning photos and clear text, Scott demonstrates the importance of the information provided by the repaired Hubble Space Telescope in this companion to Adventure in Space: The Flight to Fix the Hubble." ALA Booklist

"Scott provides a view of the universe that is now unfolding before the eyes of scientists and the rest of us through fascinating developments in photography....The informative explanations of cosmic collisions and other occurrences extend a marvelous invitation to readers to further contemplate the "creative force at work in the universe." The Horn Book

Twins! (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1998)

Photographs by Margaret Miller

"Clear, colorful photographs of twins in action will draw children to this appealing photo-essay...With the increasing frequency of multiple births, many children know or see twins in their schools and communities, so this well-designed book is an excellent resource for parents and teachers to have on hand." ALA Booklist

"A warm look at the lives of fraternal and identical siblings, Twins! by Elaine Scott, photos by Margaret Miller, encompasses potential difficulties as well as joys." Publisher's Weekly

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Adventure in Space: The Flight to Fix the Hubble (Hyperion Books for Children, 1995)

Photographs by NASA and Margaret Miller *

*Adventure in Space has been made a part of McGraw-Hills SRA program. Classroom sets may be purchased by calling 614-430-6618.

Teachers and librarians may also order Adventure in Space in paperback through Houghton Mifflin. Call 800-733-2828 (ISBN 1-618-06289-0). Houghton Mifflin has made this book part of their Theme Paperback series, Theme 6: Oceans and Space.

This title is available from Recorded Books, Inc.

"A rare look behind the scenes at NASA.... The exceptionally clear, full-color photographs, some from NASA, and others taken by Margaret Miller, work seamlessly with the text. An excellent presentation. Booklist (starred review) *

"This book lives up to its title. The flight is viewed as an adventure rather than as a repair house call. The mission is described in exciting detail, and the book effectively captures the participants' spirit, skill, and dedication." School Library Journal (starred review.)

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year for 1995

Booklist Editor's Choice for 1995

VOYA Nonfiction Honor List for 1995

Nominee, The Beehive Award, 1996.

This title is available from Recorded Books, Inc.

"Runger loves children. He has narrated several books for kids including the fascinating "Adventures in Space: The Flight to Fix the Hubble" by Elaine Scott, which will keep the little ones and their parents on the edge of their seats." -- Excerpt from audiobookstoday.com, December 2, 2002.

A teacher's curriculum guide for Adventure in Space is available by clicking here. A research project for use with Adventure in Space is available online by clicking here.

Movie Magic: Behind the Scenes with Special Effects (Morrow Junior Books, 1995)

"From the imploding house in Poltergeist to the ultrarealistic T. Rex in Jurassic Park, the fascinating world of special effects comes to life in this ... addition to Elaine Scott's popular behind-the-scenes series."

This title is available from Recorded Books, Inc.

Look for these out-of-print books at your local library or through Amazon.com's out-of-print search service. Some titles are also available through Recorded Books, Inc.

Adoption (1980)

Banking Book (1981)

Choices (1989)

Doodlebugging, The Treasure Hunt For Oil (1982)

Funny Papers: Behind the Scenes of the Comics (1993)--This title is available from Recorded Books, Inc.

Kidnapped!: Could It Happen To You? (1989)

Look Alive: Behind the Scenes of an Animated Film (1992)

Oil!: Getting It, Shipping It, Selling It (1984)

Ramona: Behind the Scenes of a Television Show (1988) A Reading Rainbow Book (Bionic Bunny Episode)

Safe in the Spotlight: The Dawn Animal Agency and the Sanctuary for Animals (1991)--This title is available from Recorded Books, Inc.

Stocks And Bonds, Profits and Losses (1985)

This page updated April 10, 2008.

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