Nature Nonfiction

The icy cold Arctic is home to both the powerful polar bear and intelligent orca, two mighty predators. But which animal is the fiercest of the ecosystem? Does the polar bear’s patience in stalking its prey and strength in attack put it on top? Or does the orca’s ability to work in a pod give it the edge?

Did you know jellyfish aren’t really fish? These invertebrates have been around for millions of years. Listeners will enjoy discovering all the details about these interesting animals.

In 1811, while exploring the cliffs near Lyme Regis, England, 12-year-old Mary Anning made the find of a lifetime. There in the rocks was the skeleton of a strange creature. Mary's find was later named Ichthyosaurus, a reptile that lived more than 250 million years ago. Anning went on to have a long career finding and identifying dinosaur fossils. However, her work often went unrecognized by male scientists of the time, and she received little credit until long after her death. Learn about Mary Anning's perseverance and her important discoveries in paleontology.

You see a fin poke out of the water. It’s a big gray animal with a friendly face. It looks like a dolphin, but is it a porpoise? Dolphins and porpoises are similar, but they have some important differences. Find out how their fins, mouths, teeth, and behaviors can all help you tell these two animal look-alikes apart.

An animal that looks like a turtle munches on some grass. It has scales and a hard shell. But is it a turtle or a tortoise? Turtles and tortoises are similar, but they have some important differences. Find out how their legs, feet, shells, and behaviors can all help you tell these two animal look-alikes apart.

A brownish creature with bumps and lumps sits on rock. Is it a frog or a toad? From the color of their skin to how they move, frogs and toads are not the same. Dive right in to discover how they are alike and how they are different.

Two beady eyes peek out of the water. Is it a crocodile or an alligator? They may look similar, but these two reptiles have many differences, including where they live and the shape of their snout. Let’s find out what fearsome creature is really lurking below the water and explore their differences.

Spend a day and night in the rain forest! Learn about this lush habitat through the diverse animals that call it home. Start the morning suspended high in the canopy with a colorful toucan. Curl around a branch and bask in the afternoon sun with an emerald boa. At sunset, pace the forest floor for prey alongside a sleek jaguar.

Spend a day and night in the prairie! Learn about this grassy habitat through the exciting animals that call it home. Spot prairie dogs popping aboveground as morning sun floods a field. Join giant bison as they graze on grass. Stir up dust on a sunset sprint with antelope. After dark, stake out prey with a coyote in dense grass.

Lions are called “king of beasts.” But a pride is made of mainly females. These mighty beasts hunt and bring back food for the whole pride. The group also depends on the females to care for young. Learn all about African lions and the important roles lionesses play to ensure a pride’s survival.

Spend a day and night in the savanna! Learn about this grassy habitat through the interesting animals that call it home. Nibble a breakfast of sky-high leaves with a giraffe. Then construct towering mounds with termites. At sunset, shriek and prowl for prey with a pack of hyenas. After dark, go on a high-speed hunt with a cheetah.

When a group of wolves live together, it's called a pack. Learn about life inside a pack of wolves and why these animals like to stick together. Find out how living together with others helps wolves hunt for food, communicate with one another, and raise their young.

Gorgeous eyelashes. Flashy feathers. Silky hair. The animals in this book are far from drab and dull.

Hi, there! I'm a great white shark. Don't let my sharp teeth scare you off. I started life much smaller, just like you!

Hi, there! I'm a sea turtle. I spend most of my days surfing in warm waters, but I started life much smaller! Learn more about my life cycle and how I went from a tiny little egg to a hatchling to an adult.

When a group of whales live together, it's called a pod. Learn about life inside a pod of whales and why these animals like to stick together. Find out how living together with others helps whales hunt for food, communicate with one another, and raise their young.

When a group of elephants live together, it's called a herd. Learn about life in a herd of elephants why these animals like to stick together. Find out how living together with others helps elephants stay safe, find food, and raise their young.

When a group of lions live together, it's called a pride. Learn about life in a pride of lions and why these animals like to stick together. Find out how living together with others helps lions hunt food, mark their territory, and raise their young.

When a group of meerkats live together, it's called a mob. Learn about life inside a mob of meerkats and why these animals like to stick together. Find out how living together with others helps meerkats raise their young, stay safe, and find food.

When a group of bees lives together, it's called a colony. Learn about life in a colony of bees and why these animals like to stick together. Find out how living together with others helps bees stay safe, find food, and mate.