Another Extraordinary Animal

Survival! The oldest bird in the world had survived plastic pollution, longline fishing, and lead poisoning. But in 2011, she faced one of her hardest challenges: the Japanese tsunami. On March 11, 2011, an earthquake struck off the shore of Japan sending a tsunami wave west to overrun Tōhoku, Japan. It killed thousands and destroyed a nuclear plant. But it also sent a tsunami wave east toward Midway Island. Scientists knew the tsunami was coming, so they sheltered on the third story of an old army barracks building. The tsunami hit the island about midnight. The scientists said the scariest thing was that they could hear the water crashing ashore, but they couldn't see anything. Would the wildlife survive this natural disaster? These aren't generic birds, but one particular individual in detail. Pattison's careful research, vetted by scientists in the field, brings to life this true story of an infant cub that must face a complicated world alone - and find a way to survive. ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL Biographies of individual animals, including a bird, mammal, spider, amphibian, and reptile. • Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years, Starred Publisher's Weekly review • Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub, BOOK 2, 2015 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book • Nefertiti, the Spidernaut: The Spider who Learned to Hunt in Space, Book 3, 2017 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book • Rosie, the Ribeter: The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Book 4 • Diego, the Galápagos Giant Tortoise: Saving a Species from Extinction, Book 5

The amazing voyage of Nefertiti, the Spidernaut Most spiders spin a web and passively wait for prey to come to them. Jumping spiders, by contrast, actively hunt by jumping to catch their food. What if a jumping spider was sent to the International Space Station? When it jumped, it would simply float. No one knew if the spider could hunt in a weightless environment. This nonfiction book for elementary kids chronicles the amazing voyage of Nefertiti, the Spidernaut to the International Space Station and back. She’s a Phiddipus johnsonii, or Johnson jumping spider, native to Western United States. Her colorful anatomy - red, black, and teal - made for stunning photography and video. In 2012, Nefertitti clocked a record-breaking 100 days in space, during which time she circled Earth about 1584 times, traveling about 41,580,000 miles. Astronaut Sunita Williams, Captain US Navy said, “It was a suspense story for me as it happened. I didn’t know if she would survive when I unpacked her for the first time, or when I packed her up and sent her back home to Earth.” This is an astonishing story of change: through the dark and cold, in spite of being weightless and isolated, this incredible spider adapted and learned to hunt. Against all odds, she survived to return to Earth, where she had to readapt to Earth’s gravity. Nefertiti’s story of survival brings hope that we, too, can adapt to a changing world. Join Nefertiti in this inspiring journey into space.

ABAYOMI, THE BRAZILIAN PUMA: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub by Darcy Pattison, illustrated by Kitty Harvill ***NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book 2015*** When a mother puma, an attempt to steal a chicken, she is caught in a trap and dies. The search is on for orphaned cubs. Will the scientists be able to find the cubs before their time runs out? Harvill uses original photos from the USGF as references to create accurate wildlife illustrations. These aren't generic cats, but one particular individual in detail. Pattison's careful research, vetted by scientists in the field, brings to life this this true story of an infant cub that must face a complicated world alone-and find a way to survive. Cutting Edge Environmental Science Today, scientists are working to create corridors, places for wildlife to safely travel from one wild place to another. The survival of this puma may depend on how fast scientists can develop corridors in the midst of a heavily populated area. This story shows the results of spreading population and loss of habitat on wild animals. OTHER BOOKS BY PATTISON/HARVILL Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years Starred Publisher's Weekly Review . . .Pattison writes crisply and evocatively. . ." Harvill contributes carefully detailed and naturalistic illustrations. . ."

A worthwhile addition to Pattison's Another Extraordinary Animal series." Booklist Can humans save a species from extinction? Yes! With patience, persistence, and a full dose of hope. This is the heartbreaking tale of a Galápagos giant tortoise species that was almost extinct, the herculean task of conservation work by scientists and volunteers, and a heartwarming tale of hope for our planet. In 1959, Ecuador established a national park to protect the Galápagos Islands. When they did a census, scientists found only 14 individual Española Island tortoises. The species was almost extinct. Then, they found one more Española tortoise-in the San Diego Zoo! They named him Diego and brought him back to the Galápagos for a breeding program. Ecuador established one of the most successful breeding programs in scientific history. For sixty years, scientists and hundreds of volunteers have fought valiantly to save this amazing giant tortoise species. Would it be enough? Would they be able to save the species? Read the amazing story of Diego, the giant Galápagos tortoise. This is the fifth book in a picture book series, Another Extraordinary Animal, which includes a bird, mammal, spider, amphibian, and reptile. Back matter for this book contains information about Diego, his species, the Galápagos Islands, and more.