Nature Nonfiction

Simple science text gives a close-up account of the fascinating world of the dung beetle. When an animal lightens its load, dung beetles race to the scene. They battle over, devour, hoard, and lay their eggs in the precious poop. Dung is food, drink, and fuel for new life - as crucial to these beetles as the beetles are to many habitats, including our own.

With their shiny scales and bright colors, pet fish put on a show! Some are wide and others are thin. Some have fantails and some have stripes. Young listeners will learn about the appearance and behavior of pet fish, and discover why these silent swimmers make great pets.

Shine the science spotlight on flounders, sharks, eels, and an ocean full of other fish! Organized by reference topics such as habitat, anatomy, and life cycle, Fish introduces young listeners to these aquatic animals.

Cats are fascinating creatures! They have different traits that make the way they see, hear, smell, and even move very different from humans. Some might say that they can do all these things better than you can! Do you know the differences between cat and human senses?

Chincoteague islanders tell a story of beautiful ponies inhabiting a neighboring island for over 300 years–nestled between Maryland and a Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, wild ponies of Assateague Island run free! The legend of Chincoteague ponies has been told for centuries through books and tourist visits of the island. Learn how the ponies adapted and came to inhabit an island of their very own.

Do you know what a baby koala, or a joey, looks like? Learn about how a joey spends its first year—from staying exclusively inside its mother's pouch, to venturing out into the world, and finally to moving into its own tree.

Did you know a baby porcupine is called a porcupette? Learn about porcupines as Porcupette goes on an adventure to look for a snack! She explores the forest and shows how her quills work to help defend her. Find out different facts about porcupines and what makes them unique!

Who could resist living for a year with a raccoon who is just about your best friend?

In this delightful memoir, Sterling North recalls his year with Rascal - a very mischievous and resourceful raccoon. Virtually everywhere Sterling goes, Rascal is there, and life is filled with one adventure after another.

The story of a dog so brave he saved lives and won hearts. This is the true heart-warming story of Stubby, a small, stump-tailed terrier who fought alongside Allied forces on the Western Front during World War I. This brave and clever dog could detect enemy soldiers, impending gas attacks, and even salute higher-ranking officers! But even more, this is the story of the remarkable friendship between an American soldier named Robert Conroy and the stray who adopted him and his unit.

The world is full of colorful birds. But why are flamingos bright pink? You have questions and this book has answers. Find out about flamingos, including what they eat and their behavior.

Whinny and neigh. Gallop and trot. Horses are at home on the farm.

Learn about animals, both domestic and wild, who have become heroes when they came to the rescue of humans.

It’s good to be a queen bee! The queen bee lets the other bees in the hive feed and care for her. What does she do? She lays eggs! A queen bee can lay more than 1,000 eggs a day! Learn all about the social structure inside a bee hive and the important role the queen and the female worker bees play.

When Jennifer Doudna was a sixth grader in Hilo, Hawaii, she came home from school one afternoon and found a book on her bed. It was The Double Helix, James Watson’s account of how he and Francis Crick had discovered the structure of DNA, the spiral-staircase molecule that carries the genetic instruction code for all forms of life. This book guided Jennifer Doudna to focus her studies not on DNA, but on what seemed to take a backseat in biochemistry: figuring out the structure of RNA, a closely related molecule that enables the genetic instructions coded in DNA to express themselves.

In middle school, Gabrielle "Gabe" Ford developed a degenerative muscle disease, and was harassed by bullies as a result. She did her best to keep her head high, but it wasn't easy. Then Gabe got a dog, Izzy, who developed an uncannily similar disorder. They were invited to appear on Animal Planet to talk about their bond, which in turn led to an invitation to speak at a school. And so began Gabe's career as an anti-bullying advocate.

Sometimes a therapy dog can lift a person's spirits just by being in the same room. Other times, the dogs take more active roles, acting as companions. Therapy dogs help people who are ill or sad feel better. Learn more about these amazing animals, including how they are chosen, the training they go through, and the work they do.

Squeal! Guinea pigs make fun pets. Some have long hair and some have almost no hair at all. Some have crests on their heads and others have droopy ears. Young listeners will learn about the appearance and behavior of guinea pigs, and discover why these playful rodents make great pets.

Have you ever gone birdwatching before? Learn about all the different birds that migrate to the Magee Marsh every spring! See all the kinds of birds that make their way to the same spot every year, like warblers, owls, and even ducks!

From mucking out stables, grooming, feeding, and even visits to the dentist, a lot goes into taking care of a horse.

Do you suffer from “Pony Fever”? Have you been waiting a long time to add a horse to your family? Have you carefully considered a match between you and your new equine buddy? Have you decided exactly where he’s going to live and how you’re going to keep him happy? Do you have moments when the idea of bringing a horse into your life is scary? Horses are unlike any other animal companion. They’re too big to live in your house, so they have to live in specialized homes of their own.