Nature Nonfiction

Few activities grip our attention more than animal watching. Dolphins and seals bring us much joy, and sharks and alligators hold us in awe. But animals can also prompt a variety of fascinating questions. Why do dolphins sometimes surf? How well can birds of prey actually see? Why do giant pandas eat bamboo fast food? Why are cavities essential to one reptile's survival? What effect can a slight temperature change have on alligator hatchlings? How can some seals stay underwater so long and dive so deeply without harm?

Some desert creatures are masters of disguise! They use camouflage and cover to outsmart predators or sneak up on prey. Some desert animals blend in with rocks, sand, and more. Others burrow beneath the ground or hide in shrubs. Learn more about creatures that hide in the desert!

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.

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.

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?

The world is crawling with all sorts of bugs and other little critters. But don’t be fooled by their small size, many of these creatures are quite dangerous. Some are armed with powerful poison that can kill a person. Others carry and spread deadly diseases. Brace yourself to discover some of the world’s tiniest killers.

An experienced Iditarod racer, Gary Paulsen brings his love of the sport to readers on a personal level in this intimate essay about the life of a litter of pups born to pull sleds across the snowy frontier - and the marvel he experiences as he watches them grow and learn.

Charlotte Runcie has always felt pulled to the sea, lured by its soothing, calming qualities but also enlivened and inspired by its salty wildness. When she loses her beloved grandmother and becomes pregnant with her first child, she feels its pull even more intensely. In Salt on Your Tongue Charlotte explores what the sea means to us and particularly what it has meant to women through the ages.

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 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.

Snowy owls call the bitterly cold Arctic their home. Learn how they live in this harsh environment. Snowy Owls Are Awesome tells listeners how these birds find their prey, what dangers they have to watch out for, and more.

Polar bears roam the Arctic tundra searching for food. Find out how these cold weather bears stay warm and survive in their frigid environment. Learn what polar bears eat, how they care for their young, and more in Polar Bears Are Awesome.

Penguins waddle slowly across the ice. But in the frigid waters, they zoom after prey. Learn how these birds stay warm in their polar habitat, how they raise their young, and how they find food while avoiding predators.

From sun up to sundown, this nonfiction book takes young nature explorers and zoologists through a day in the life of the emperor penguin. Discover their Antarctic home, eating habits, and fascinating behaviors. Plus, kids can continue exploring after the penguins go to sleep!

Buzz! Buzz! Was that a honeybee or wasp zipping past your ear? While both yellow-and-black striped insects can cause a painful sting, they have many differences.

There’s a new baby joining the colony. It’s a sea lion pup! Learn all about baby sea lions, including what they eat, what they weigh, how they’re raised, and how big they grow.

There’s a new baby joining the pod. It’s a dolphin calf! Learn all about baby dolphins, including what they eat, what they weigh, how they’re raised, and how big they grow.

Did you know that horses can sleep standing up? Or that horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal? Find out all about horses’ senses, life cycle, behavior, and more in this fact-filled book.