Animal Explorers

While small in size, insects and minibeasts are large in number. Beetles, which have four hundred thousand different species, make up a quarter of all animals on earth. As students study spiders, leeches, scorpions, and more, they will learn about the foundation that insects provide for all other animals. They will learn just how important they are for the environment, too. Through lively images and easy-to-follow text, readers will encounter the world's strongest animal, an insect that can jump three feet, and other surprising creatures.

Dinosaurs may be extinct, but their closest relatives are still around...and they're everywhere. With eleven thousand different species, birds are some of nature's finest creatures. This book introduces students to all kinds of birds, each full of unique characteristics and capabilities. As readers fly through the pages, they'll learn about the California condor, which is North America's largest bird with a wingspan of eleven feet. They'll get a look at the beautiful peacock, whose tail accounts for more than 60 percent of its body weight. Full of bright colored photographs and remarkable facts, this book guides students as they navigate the interesting world of ornithology.

Some of the animal kingdom's smartest and most deadly hunters are mammals. This attractive book introduces readers to many fascinating mammals that either hunt for their food or are related to animals that do. This carnivorous clan includes wolves, otters, and lions. Readers will survey plant-eating pandas and fruit bats alongside fierce hunters like polar bears and vampire bats. Featuring fun facts and incredible photographs, readers will uncover the mongoose's closest relative, the reason bats hang upside down, and the function of a cat's whiskers.

Reptiles and amphibians are both cold-blooded vertebrates. This fun book introduces readers to a mix of both animal types. They'll learn how amphibians transform their gills into lungs through metamorphosis and discover salamanders, the only vertebrates that can regrow a lost leg or tail. Along with fun facts, students will read about snakes that can swallow their prey whole, turtles that hibernate by burying themselves in mud, and color-changing chameleons. Supplemented with colorful photographs, this age-appropriate book provides a comprehensive overview of reptiles and amphibians and their defining characteristics.

Treat readers to details about the diets that include meat and plants, and the diets that include only plants. Giraffes use their long necks to reach leaves they munch on all day, a key advantage for their herbivore diet. Pigs have such a strong sense of smell that they're able to detect animals that live underground, making them skilled omnivores. Through intriguing fun facts, vibrant photographs, and age-appropriate text, students will learn about the role food plays in the animal kingdom and understand why different animals have different feeding habits.

It is not uncommon to spot fish while swimming in the ocean. After all, there's an entire world of creatures that inhabit the diverse seas. While the water can be a dangerous place to live, these creatures have developed clever defense mechanisms to distract predators, like the sea star, which can shed arms and then regrow them. Home to the only species where males gives birth, the ocean is full of seahorses and other interesting animals. Full of captivating photographs and engaging text, this book encourages readers to dive right in and learn about the complexity and beauty that is marine life.