South Central

Suzanna and her father, Peter, head to Andros Island, a diving paradise in the Caribbean. There, she learns the basics of scuba diving and eventually swims with fifteen reef sharks in this lively true underwater adventure.

As far as everyone in the squad room knows, Ben Halloran is completely fresh to the streets of the 77th Division - just a soft kid from the West Side who's decided to become a cop and happened to draw the hardest neighborhood in LA. But demons from Ben's complicated past catch up with him and his tough, oddly principled Daryl Gates-era partner, Miguel Marquez, all too quickly. From the moment Ben and Marquez hit the streets together, they're pulled into a web of ultra-violent corruption and retribution.

Welcome to Peru! Hike through the clouds to ancient cities of the Andes Mountains. Hear the calls of birds in the Amazon rain forest. Learn about the people, places, and traditions of this beautiful South American country.

In an immersive, exciting narrative nonfiction format, this powerful book follows a selection of people who experienced the 2010 Haiti Earthquake.

Serafina has a secret dream. She wants to go to school and become a doctor with her best friend, Julie Marie. But in their rural village outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti, many obstacles stand in Serafina's way - little money, never-ending chores, and Manman's worries. More powerful even than all of these are the heavy rains and the shaking earth that test Serafina's resolve in ways she never dreamed. At once heartbreaking and hopeful, this exquisitely crafted story will leave a lasting impression on your heart.

Howler monkeys spend most of their lives in the trees. Learn about these noisy monkeys and their habitats in Howler Monkeys.

Belize has always been somewhat of an anomaly in Central America. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. The lack of a language barrier makes Belize easy for North Americans to adapt, live in, and do business successfully. Belize was originally a British colony, has no history of internal strife or war, is rarely affected by hurricanes, and offers a warm tropical climate.

The second-largest country in South America, Argentina is known for its fertile plains, the rugged Andes Mountains, and the beautiful land of the Argentine Patagonia. The people of Argentina work on the land and in cities, enjoying music, dancing, and sports in their free time. Learn all about Argentine food, culture, and daily life in this informative title!

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest and most populated country in the world. The Amazon Rainforest in Brazil has the greatest biological diversity of any ecosystem on the planet. Students will learn all about Brazilian culture and get a glimpse into what kids do for fun in Brazil, especially discovering the country’s love for soccer.

Chile is a long, narrow country that stretches along the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of South America. It has many different landscapes, including the Atacama, the driest desert in the world! Young listeners will explore Chile’s landscapes, discovering the famous Easter Island statues, the diverse wildlife, and the people that call the country home.

Cuba is a group of several islands. Long ago, one of the islands was called Treasure Island because it was a home base for many Caribbean pirates. Young listeners will learn about life in modern Cuba—the school system, the delicious food, and the vibrancy of Cuban culture.

Costa Rica, which means “Rich Coast,” is aptly named. Its long coastlines, bordering the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, have some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Young listeners will learn about Costa Rica’s booming ecotourism, the daily life and cuisine, and the peaceful, laid-back nature of its people.

Many different civilizations have lived on the land that is now Peru. Today, tourists travel to this South American country to see Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca site. Learn more about Peru, its people, the Amazon Rain Forest, and much more in this exciting title!

Haiti is a country that has experienced many hardships—most recently, a devastating earthquake in January of 2010. It is also a country with a rich history and a culture that is famous for its unique, colorful painting and sculpture styles. Listeners will learn about Haiti’s landscape, its vibrant culture, and the work being done to rebuild Haiti today.

Venezuela is a land of striking beauty. Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, plunges more than 3,000 feet in the Guiana Highlands. Lake Maracaibo, the largest lake in South America, sits in northwestern Venezuela. Eager listeners will get their feet wet in this title that explores Venezuela's landscape, people, and heritage.

Steve Hely, writer for The Office and American Dad!, and recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, presents a travel book about his journey through Central and South America. Part travel book, part pop history, part comic memoir, Hely's writing will make listeners want to reach for their backpacks and hiking boots.

Central and South America were full of great civilizations. This book discusses five of the most famous: the Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, Incas, and Maya. These civilizations first showed up in Central and South America over 1,000 years ago, and some descendants of these tribes are still living in these regions today!

With travel tips and culture in our guidebooks written by a local, it is never too late to visit Puerto Vallarta. Greater than a Tourist: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, by author Lucia Julieta Palomera Leyva, offers first-hand and personal insight into the best ways to visit the friendliest city in the world, Puerto Vallarta. Most travel books tell you how to travel like a tourist. Although there is nothing wrong with that, as part of the Greater Than a Tourist series, this book will give you candid travel tips from someone who has lived at your next travel destination.

"I did not go to Nicaragua intending to write a book, or, indeed, to write at all: but my encounter with the place affected me so deeply that in the end I had no choice." So notes Salman Rushdie in his first work of nonfiction, a book as imaginative and meaningful as his acclaimed novels. In The Jaguar Smile, Rushdie paints a brilliantly sharp and haunting portrait of the people, the politics, the terrain, and the poetry of "a country in which the ancient, opposing forces of creation and destruction were in violent collision".

From the Canadian Rockies to the Panamanian jungle, Motorcycle Therapy rumbles with comic adventure as two men, fleeing failed relationships, test the limits of their motorcycles and their friendship. Join the horn-honking, signal-flashing, wheelie-popping pair as they endure painful bee stings, painful snake bites, and (when they talk to girls) painful humiliation.