Showing results by narrator "Donna German" in All Categories

Polar bears and penguins may like cold weather, but they live at opposite ends of the Earth. What do these animals have in common, and how are they different? You might see them near each other at a zoo, but they would never be found in the same habitats in the wild. Compare and contrast these polar animals.

Modeled after The Wizard of Oz, this enchanting story describes a young giraffe who suffers from a fear of heights. On his way to the doctor, he befriends a monkey who is afraid of climbing and a hippo who is afraid of water. What causes the three new friends to face and overcome their fears?

Perhaps you’ve seen an otter swimming and playing at a zoo or aquarium, but do you know how do these amazing animals live in the wild? Most are found in freshwater habitats, while others make their home in coastal kelp forests or can be found feeding along rocky shores.

Yes, some of the 18 species of penguins live in cold, polar regions, but most penguins live in warm climates. One species even lives near the equator! These birds “fly” through the water with flippers instead of the air with wings. Most are black and white, but one species is blue and white. Some have red eyes, and some have yellow eyes. Some even have colorful bursts of feathers atop their heads.

I Am Hatzegopteryx, the second book in Arbordale Publishing’s I Am Prehistoric series, gives children a glimpse into the life of the awesome Hatzegopteryx, from tiny chick to majestic winged predator, and how it made its living. Unlike many pterosaurs, this one was a terrestrial carnivore, spending its time hunting prey on land.

Teeth come in all shapes and sizes, just like their animal hosts. Some teeth are sharp to grab prey and tear apart the meat. Other teeth are flat to chew plants, and some animals have both kinds to eat plants and animals. And That’s the Tooth delivers unique and fun facts about animal and human teeth through engaging riddles.

Mummies can’t talk; but with modern scientific tools, we can still discover what a mummy has to tell us. Hear the stories of mummified Egyptian pharaohs and priestesses, baby elephants, pampered pets, and even a prehistoric bison. Uncover clues to centuries-old murder mysteries and human sacrifices, and even find out what a person or animal had for their last meal! Information from real scientists explains how we know what we know about each mummy.

It’s common knowledge that coast redwoods are tall, tall trees. In fact, they are the tallest trees in the world. What most people don’t know is that there is a whole other forest growing high in the canopy of a redwood forest. This adaptation of "The House That Jack Built" climbs into this secret, hidden habitat full of all kinds of plants and animals that call this forest home.

Weather changes daily. Sometimes it can even change from one moment to another - like a sudden storm. Weather affects our daily lives from what we wear to what outdoor activities (or lack thereof) we can do. Learning about weather and how to dress and prepare for it is an important skill to learn. Maybe even more important is the skill of observation. By asking simple questions, children become engaged and can start to observe and make correlations about the weather around them so they will understand how the weather impacts their lives.

Fur, feathers, and scales are all animal coverings or skins. Animals use their skin to stay warm and dry, protect themselves or hide or even to warn other animals to stay away. Following Animal Noses, Animal Tails, Animal Ears, Animal Eyes, Animal Mouths (NSTA/CBC Outstanding Trade Science Award), and Animal Legs, Mary Holland continues her Animal Anatomy and Adaptations series by the many different ways that animals use and rely on their skin covering adaptations to survive in their habitats.

Cheetahs are the most rapidly vanishing cat in Africa. Share the dreams of a bright future for cheetahs while learning a wealth of natural history information. From cleat-like feet to tear-marked faces, these majestic cats are well adapted to life on the African plains. The fierce predators sprint after their prey at high speed, an exhausting dash that leaves them ready for a nap! This rhythmic text will lull listeners into cheetah dreams of their own.

Quick, name the world’s fastest animal! Did you say cheetah? If so, you’re right - sort of. Sure, the cheetah can reach speeds over 70 miles per hour; but did you know that there is a species of bird that can fly faster than a race car? Did you know that that’s not even the fastest animal there is? This “dashing dozen” of nature’s speediest species examines the fastest on land, air, and sea. This story will resonate with children taking standardized tests…one size does not fit all!

What child hasn't wondered what it would be like to be an animal, able to hop, fly, or slither with ease? After a trip to an aquarium, Oliver decides he wants to be a sea otter. Oliver tries to copy sea otter behavior at meals, while playing, during a trip to the store, and at bath time. However, during the course of the day, Oliver discovers that he just doesn't have the same adaptations. Being an otter isn't easy for a human. What's an otter - we mean, a boy - to do?

What creeps while you sleep? Short, lyrical sentences make this a perfect naptime or bedtime story. Young listeners are introduced to nocturnal animals and their behaviors. Older listeners learn more about each animal through paired- listening sidebar information.

How much does an elephant weigh? How do you know? How would you know if you didn't have a modern scale? Six-year-old Cao Chong, the most famous child prodigy in Chinese history, faced just this problem! Chong watches as the prime minister's most trusted and learned advisors debate different methods. The principle of buoyancy and a little bit of creative thinking help this boy come up with a solution.

Join Delfina the dolphin as she imagines that she becomes other sea animals: a fish, a sea turtle, a pelican, an octopus, a shark, even a manatee!

Told in rhyming narrative, Habitat Spy invites children to find plants (or algae), invertebrates, birds, and mammals living in 13 different North American habitats: backyard, beach, bog, cave, desert, forest, meadow, mountain, ocean, plains, pond, river, and swamp. Children will have fun discovering the characteristics of each habitat as they "spy", identify, and count the resident plants and animals and learn about the interactions between living and nonliving things.

Mmm-mm! Forest animals squeak, tweet, slurp, yip, and chomp over the sweet, plump fruit of a wild blackberry bush. But what happens when a bear arrives to take part in the feast? Young children will enjoy following the story by making the animal sounds, and the chaos that strikes upon the bear's arrival will surely bring on the laughter. The cumulative, rhyming audio makes for a great listen.

When summer heats up, animals find ways to stay cool. In A Cool Summer Tail, animals wonder how humans stay cool, too. Do they dig under the dirt, grow special summer hair, or only come out at night? This sequel to the popular A Warm Winter Tail features many of same animals but this time with their summer adaptations, offering an important "compare and contrast" opportunity.

Baby Bat loves his cave home and never wants to leave. While practicing flapping his wings one night, he falls, and Pluribus Packrat rescues him. They then explore the deepest, darkest corners of the cave, where they meet amazing animals - animals that don't need eyes to see or colors to hide from enemies. Baby Bat learns how important bats are to the cave habitat and how other cave-living critters rely on bats for food. Will Baby Bat finally venture out of the cave to help the other animals?