[Explorers]

Explorers is a collection of stories about men and women who were willing to risk their lives for the thing they truly loved... adventure.

Read about the thrilling adventures of Marco Polo as he grew from a boy to a man on his travels along the Silk Road. Join James Cook on his captivating journey through the Pacific in search of the Great Southern Continent - a place many doubted even existed. Be amazed by the bravery of Robert Scott as he and his team battle freezing conditions in an attempt to reach the South Pole.

Marvel at the courage and ingenuity of Lewis and Clark as they travel through uncharted territory to reach the west coast of America. Wonder at the bizarre experiences of Alexandra
David-Neel, the Lady Lama, as she explored the mysterious mountains and mythical mystics of Tibet. Finally, join Viking 1 on a different type of adventure, as the probe travels into the far reaches of space to send us data on the Red Planet, Mars.

[Pioneers]

It could be a moment of inspiration, or a lifetime of work. It could be the drive to succeed, or the need to save lives. The need to innovate is what keeps the world turning. The spirit of the pioneer moves us forward through the ages.

In this collection of short stories about great Pioneers, you will read about William Morton, the brave dentist who perfected anesthesia by practicing on himself; and Marie Curie, who dedicated her entire life to the advance of scientific knowledge. You will also learn about Frederick Douglass, who went from being a slave to advising Abraham Lincoln; and Ada Lovelace, one of the first people to realize the power of computers. We also recount the stories of how the Lumière brothers invented what we now know as the cinema; and how Nikola Tesla proved that alternating current was safe... by electrocuting himself live on stage.

Explorers and Pioneers are published by Hippo Books, a publisher dedicated to producing interesting, readable and fun books. These books are suitable for English students with intermediate English or higher. Be sure to check out our other Hippo Graded Readers.


About the Authors:

Patrick Kennedy is the chief editor at Hippo Books. He is also one of Hippo's principal writers. He is a DELTA qualified English teacher with over ten years' experience teaching in Europe and Asia. Patrick has also written three English language textbook series. He is the author of the Mahoney Green mysteries and has contributed to many of Hippo's short story collections. To find out more about this author, click his name under the book title above.

Cooper Baltis is one of the writers and founders of Hippo Books. He is a former Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at the National University of Mongolia and is TESOL certified. He has taught English in Asia for five years and has published stories in several literary magazines in America. His Hippo books include Hassan and Lulu and My Brother the Giant, as well as many short story collections. To find out more about this author, click his name under the book title above.