"White makes an intense emotional connection between subject and reader. . . . The great apes have found their John Singer Sargent." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) A Book Sense Children’s Pick A Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year A New York Public Library: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection An ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award Winner Swing with a hairy orangutan and her baby as they lunge for a smelly, spiky durian fruit. Roam and play with a gang of chimps, then poke out some tasty termites with a blade of grass. Chatter and feast on figs with a bonobo, or chomp on bamboo with a gorilla as he readies for sleep. What could be better than spending time with these rare and wonderful creatures — after all, the fifth great ape on this planet is you! Back matter includes an index and a map.

Explore an informative, playfully illustrated story about one of the world’s most dangerous animals: the crocodile. You probably know a little about crocodiles already. They’re reptiles, they have an awful lot of teeth, and they’re pretty scary — at least, the big ones are! They’re not very fussy about what they eat, and when it comes to hunting down dinner, crocodiles are very determined . . . and very cunning. But there’s more to crocodiles than just their appetites. They love to nap on warm sandbanks and cool off in calm waters, and crocodile mothers are very gentle with their babies. This fascinating look at one of Earth’s most infamous creatures is full of information for amateur scientists, with back matter that includes an index, notes on species, and suggestions for further reading.

A gentle, sweetly illustrated concept book takes on physical forces as young children learn about pushing and pulling. It’s time for Bird to build her nest! Follow her as she pulls a worm out of the ground, lifts some twigs that are just the right size, and pushes the twigs into place. Uh-oh! One of the twigs falls to the ground! But after a day of hard work, Bird’s nest is ready and waiting. Can you guess what it’s waiting for? Using simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations, this engaging story is the perfect introduction to physical forces for very young readers. A final spread with some simple questions promotes discussion with parents, teachers, or caregivers and encourages readers to think about the concepts introduced.

A gentle, sweetly illustrated concept book takes on physical forces as young children learn about pushing and pulling. It's time for Bird to build her nest! Follow her as she pulls a worm out of the ground, lifts some twigs that are just the right size, and pushes the twigs into place. Uh-oh! One of the twigs falls to the ground! But after a day of hard work, Bird's nest is ready and waiting. Can you guess what it's waiting for? Using simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations, this engaging story is the perfect introduction to physical forces for very young readers. A final spread with some simple questions promotes discussion with parents, teachers, or caregivers and encourages readers to think about the concepts introduced.

Observe the ways plants and insects interact in a gentle introduction to growing for budding scientists. What’s that wedged in a crack in the ground, small and hard and wrinkly and brown? A bean seed! Soon it develops roots and leaves. And what’s that on the leaf? An egg! The egg hatches a caterpillar, and the caterpillar eats the leaves, getting bigger and bigger until it forms a chrysalis. Meanwhile, the plant is growing, too: it develops flowers, then bean pods, as it reaches up toward the sun. Side by side, plant and insect grow . . . and grow . . . and grow throughout the year, until they come full circle. This fourth book in the First Science Storybook series uses simple, clear language and colorful illustrations to inspire very young readers as they learn about life cycles.

"Students who are wild about penguins and classrooms doing units on them will find The Emperor's Egg an action-packed read." — School Library Journal Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything at all to eat? That’s just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming in the ocean and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch. This charming, oversize picture book is full of fabulous facts about nature’s most devoted dad. Back matter includes an index.

Launch into a truly out-of-this-world examination of the past, present, and future of humans in space. For centuries, humans have looked up at the night sky and wondered what it’s like deep in space, far from Earth — and now we’ve begun to find out. We’ve landed on the moon, put robots on Mars, and sent space probes billions of miles to explore the far reaches of our solar system. Told in richly detailed cutaway illustrations by Stephen Biesty and friendly, engaging writing by Martin Jenkins, here is the enthralling story of how we made the great leap into space and what we’ve discovered there. Find out what life is like on the International Space Station, what the chances are that we will ever settle on Mars, where in the solar system we might find alien life, and why visiting other stars will almost certainly remain a dream. Budding astronomers, junior astronauts, and anyone who has ever gazed up at the stars in fascination will pore over this beautifully intricate yet accessible glimpse of the infinite wonders of space.

There are so many kinds of frogs in the world — more than 5,000! — and all of them are fabulous. Huge frogs, tiny frogs, hairy frogs, and flying frogs hop through the pages of this colorful nonfiction book. Discover the Goliath frog, biggest in the world, and the Darwin’s frog, which has a pointy nose and holds its tadpoles in its mouth until they are big enough to care for themselves. Learn why some frogs are brightly colored, and which one can bury itself in the desert until rain comes. Curious minds will jump at the chance to explore all kinds of frogs, from the most exotic to the greenish-brown specimens in their own backyards.

A conservation biologist looks at some of the many kinds of animal babies--and the many ways their parents take care of them--in a gentle introduction for young children. Some animals have big babies (did you know a newborn whale weighs three tons?). And some animals have babies that are small (a new kangaroo, less than an inch long, climbs into its mother's pouch to stay safe and warm). All animals have babies, but not all animal babies are the same, and not all animal parents are the same, either. From parents whose babies look just like them to those with no resemblance at all, from parents who raise their young in a crowd to those who do it all on their own, the range of family setups depicted here shows just how much the lives of animal babies can vary from the time they're born. Melding a simple narration with more detailed facts on a variety of creatures from leopards to lizards, elephants to sea turtles, butterflies to chimpanzees, fish to flamingos, this fascinating picture book also offers a brief note on animal parents and babies in the back matter.

Discover some of the many types of animal homes in this engaging introduction for young children from a conservation biologist. Some animals make houses out of sticks (storks will return to their large twiggy nests year after year). Others build them out of stones (young caddis flies carry their pebbly homes wherever they go). And some--like edible-nest swiftlets--craft houses out of spit! Many animals have homes, but not all animal homes are the same. From honeybees with neat, precise hives to pack rats with messy nests, from prairie dogs whose underground towns last for decades to orangutans who make a new home every day, the range of dwellings depicted here shows how much animals' behavior can vary, even in their own homes. Melding a simple narration with more detailed facts on such animals as beavers, spiders, polar bears, termites, and reindeer, this appealing picture book also offers a brief note on animals and their homes in the back matter.

Young readers are invited to join a determined fox as she sets out to find her dinner in this simple, stylish introduction to light and dark. Fox is hungry. She waits until dark, then emerges from her den to hunt for food. Follow her as she pads through the city streets and learns about sunlight, moonlight, and electric light. Shadows grow along alleys and reflections bounce off store windows as Fox moves through patches of light and dark. Using simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations, this gentle story is the perfect introduction to light and dark for budding scientists.

With clarity and humor, Martin Jenkins and Satoshi Kitamura take readers on a fascinating tour of the history of money. What can take the form of a stone with a hole in the middle, a string of shells, a piece of paper, or a plastic card? The answer is money, of course. But when did we start using it? And why? What does money have to do with writing? And how do taxes and interest work? From the Stone Age to modern banking, this lighthearted and engaging account traces the history of the stuff that makes the world go round.

Take a first look at this appealing northern bird--and follow one diligent pair as they nurture their new chick. Everyone recognizes the puffin, with its black and white feathers and brightly colored bill. But how does the puffin live? What happens down in its burrow? And how do the male and female share the task of feeding and caring for their young? Discover the intriguing world of this charming bird in a collaboration that pairs Martin Jenkins's engaging, informative text with the warm energy of Jenni Desmond's illustrations. Filled with interesting facts, this delightful introduction to the puffin offers young ornithologists more details in the back matter.

Budding scientists will enjoy a gentle introduction to the seasons as squirrels scamper through the winter, spring, summer, and fall. It’s winter. It’s cold! The squirrels are digging up acorns to eat. But what will they eat in the spring, when the acorns are gone? As the bushy-tailed creatures weather snowstorms, thunderstorms, and hot summer days, this gentle story uses simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations to introduce very young readers to the seasons and the changing weather they bring. Basic questions at the end help children remember and expand on what they’ve learned, and back matter includes an index.

The award-winning team behind Can We Save the Tiger? and Ape invites young readers to explore the breathtaking biodiversity of a Malaysian tropical rain forest. Conservation biologist Martin Jenkins and acclaimed fine artist Vicky White expertly guide readers into the complex ecosystem of Malaysia's Taman Negara. Conversational prose and photorealistic black-and-white artwork--punctuated by four jaw-dropping full-color spreads--evoke the whir of cicadas and the low call of a pheasant. Pages fill with ants and elephants, leopards and hornbills, gibbons and bats, as animals spread and fertilize seeds to help maintain a magnificent old-growth forest. Every living thing in the rain forest is interconnected, and a dazzling full-color index guide at the end of the book challenges readers to circle back and marvel at animals they may have missed in the dense foliage. Meticulously researched and visually arresting, this creative tour de force is a young conservationist's dream: the ecotour of a lifetime.