Birds and Animals

A howling wolf, a stalking tiger, a playful panda, a dancing bird — pairing the beautiful photography of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore with the delicate poetry of Newbery award-winning author Kwame Alexander, this lush picture book celebrates the beauty, diversity, and fragility of the animal world. Featuring more than 40 unique animal portraits, the pages invite kids to explore each creature's markings, textures, and attributes in amazing detail.

Young children will delight in seeing familiar animals in their natural habitats, portrayed in the distinct styles of various artists. Lively descriptions accompany the illustrations, and endnotes include artist, time period, and owning museums.

Once there was a river flowing through a forest. The river didn't know it was capable of adventures until a big bear came along. But adventures aren't any fun by yourself, and so enters Froggy, Turtles, Beaver, Racoons, and Duck.

Birds communicate by the sounds they make and the way they act. Playful illustrations and text combine to present a range of birds and their behavior not only is a visual treat but is sure to enliven everyday observation of our feathered neighbors.

Sharp eyes are needed to see most of the well-camouflaged creatures in the Costa Rican rainforest presented in stunning, realistic illustrations. A simple, repeated sentence lets emerging readers know what (e.g., bird, snake) to look for in each double page spread. The animals are specifically identified on the final page.

Humans are sure to see themselves in the beach vacation taken by a crab family. From playing in the sand to waterpark slides, energetic, humorous cartoon illustrations continue until "Another crustacean vacation is done,/Filled with marvelous memories of fun in the sun."

Richly hued, lush, realistic illustrations answer the question of what a child might see during the day: a sun-dappled bird, butterfly, or beaver perhaps. At night, there could be a bat or a firefly in moonlight, and a teddy bear as she snuggles into bed.

Most elephant seals live in the ocean but one prefers the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand. Though the townspeople try to relocate Elizabeth, the huge seal finds her way back three times to the delight of many, especially a boy named Michael. Based on a true story, this well-told fictionalized account is expressively illustrated.

Endpages show swimming tadpoles; turn the page and the progression from tadpole to frog appears within brief frog facts. There are over 5,000 kinds of frogs that live all over the world. Turn the page and some of them are introduced in lively but short text and dramatic, colorful illustrations. Alliterative, onomatopoeic frog sounds are effectively incorporated into page designs of this informative and engaging book

A dog with no name and no home meets a boy with a ball but no dog. Boy and dog play in the park every day until one day the little dog — a small fleabag — helps the boy and finds a home. Loose lines and bright colors convey city activities and the affectionate relationship between child and hound and ultimately, a warm family.

As two children take a walk, they observe and listen to the call of familiar birds – a mourning dove, starling, woodpecker and others. But they hear nothing from the nesting bird; that is until its eggs hatch. A gently rhyming text and textured illustrations present recognizable birds, concluding with “A Word from the Bird” to answer questions about the once-silent robin.

Say hello to a dazzling array of animals presented in intriguing groupings. Starting with “Hello Hello/Black and White” all the way to “…Roars,/Peeps, Chirps/and Chants/Hello Song,/and Hello Dance…” the bouncy, rhyming text and animated illustrations is sure to engage. A final note about the animals’ status and a key to who readers have greeted conclude the book.

Henry is a very particular sort of pig. "A place for everything and everything in its place," he always says. But the farm is a mess! So he draws a map showing all the animals exactly where they belong. And Henry embarks on a journey through the farm, his friends tagging along as he creates his map: sheep in the woolshed, chickens in the coop, the horse in the stable. After the map is complete, Henry uses it to bring himself back home, where he is relieved to know that he is exactly where he belongs.

Unlikely animals work together to the benefit of both as do more usual pairings such as dogs and people. How and why these relationships work is detailed in brief text and handsome collage illustration.

Die-cuts let readers 'spy' a portion of an animal while text provides clues as to what it might be. With the turn of the page the entire bird is portrayed. Basic characteristics and attractive illustrations provide an informative glimpse of a variety of fowl while playing a variant of a familiar game.

A small inch worm "green as an emerald" avoids being eating by a hungry robin using his wit — and his ability to measure things. He measures other birds as well — until he escapes them all by measuring a nightingale's song. Textured collage illustrations complement the straightforward text in this modern classic.

Join Miles, a young Seal Sitter at the Salish Sea (aka Puget Sound) in Seattle, Washington, as he works to help Leopard until his mother returns from finding food. How the baby seal named Leopard grows with a bit of help (but no interference) from humans is revealed in full-color photographs and crisp text. An author's note provides additional information.

Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live. The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston.But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arive safely at their new home.

Meet a family of howler monkeys (who get their name from the loud calls they make "Woo-hoo-hoo! AH-UH-OH!"). An engaging, rhyming text that introduces their habits and where they live combines with soft-lined, richly colored illustrations. Additional factual material is presented on each double-page in a different typeface. A map and greater detail conclude this informative, appealing book.

Follow two robins as they build a nest with twigs and grass. Then mother robin lays four beautiful blue eggs and will keep the eggs warm in the nest until they hatch into four baby robins. The father robin protects the babies until they can fly on their own. The perils the babies encounter are many, including snakes and storms. The nest is always their safe place.

Whether or not the primates introduced from 1 to 10 are familiar, readers are sure to appreciate meeting them in arresting portraits. A self-portrait of the illustrator and other humans are accompanied by concluding text: "All primates. All one family. All my family … and yours!"

The prairie is home to lush and unique plants and animals. Here they are introduced in the cadence of a familiar rhyme ("Over in the Meadow") which is followed by brief factual information. All is accompanied by eye-catching, textured mixed media illustrations that inform and engage.

Did you know that seagulls sometimes live far from the sea — near a lake or farm, or even in a desert? Poetic text introduces readers to the diversity of seagulls, their curious behaviors and wide-ranging habitats.

How Suryia, a highly photogenic orangutan, learns to swim with other animals in the South Carolina wildlife preserve is presented as a photograph album. Though most orangutans dislike water, Suryia enjoys swimming with the tigers and his best friend Roscoe. Color photographs and simple text are sure to engage a range of readers.

A temple cat in ancient Egypt grows tired of being worshipped and cared for in a reverent fashion and travels to the seaside, where she finds genuine affection with a fisherman and his children.

A year in the life of Vixen, a red fox, reveals how these canine omnivores live, hunt, and reproduce. A muted palette allows Vixen to stand out as she moves throughout her territory. Additional information and resources conclude this attractive, evocative, and informative book.

A classic fable encouraging generosity and individuality. All Tico the wingless bird wants is a pair of golden wings to carry him up over the mountaintops. But when Tico's wish is granted, none of his friends will talk to him. What's so wrong with being different?

Tyrannosaurus Rex wants breakfast. He stomps and he roars and he gnashes his teeth ― and he scares all the other dinosaurs right out of the forest. Only Edna, the very first chicken, is unafraid. She won't let that bully T. rex push her around! But will Edna's mighty beak and terrible flapping wings be a match for T. rex's mighty claws and terrible jaws?

Two people in bright, stylized garb sail to the islands known as the Galapagos. On successive days of the week, they see a variety of the animals that live there with the repeating refrain, “We’re sailing to Galapagos….I wonder who we’ll see.” End notes describe in greater detail the location and inhabitants of the Galapagos as well as a brief piece about Charles Darwin who sailed there.

A clearly illustrated pair of feet is shown with the title question. On the next page, the entire animal is seen with a basic characteristic of the foot, sure to intrigue and inform.

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home? Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying, wordless story of friendship and trust. Winner of the 2018 Caldecott Medal.

This fact-filled, colorful book looks at the amazing world of birds, the ecosystems that support their survival, and how to help protect birds in your communities. Vivid illustrations accurately depict birds and their surroundings.

Of all the miracles of life, it is life’s persistence that astounds the most. In the endless black of the deepest caves, blind fish find their way. In a frozen forest, snow monkeys find a cozy hot spring to keep warm. Even in the salt desert’s barren cold, flamingoes bloom like vivid flowers. The 14 animals in this book defy the odds and make their homes in the unlikeliest of places—under the weight of seas, in the belly of tar pits, in the sandstorm’s mouth.

Some fly, others only walk but regardless of where they live or what they eat, the parrots presented are fascinating. They are pictured in handsome, realistic illustrations and a brief text. Further information about each parrot appears at the end, along with a glossary and additional resources, making this a book that can be enjoyed by many.

Travel with Canadian naturalist Brian Keating on a journey around the world to meet some of the animal inhabitants of the different continents. From kookaburras and kangaroos in Australia to the Arctic's wolf population, this book's informal, diary-like approach creates an exciting armchair expedition with photographs, facts, and more.

How many species are there across the globe? How much do all of the insects in the world collectively weigh? How far can animals travel? Find answers to these questions and many more with numbers, images, innovation, and authoritative science. Cut-paper illustrations alongside computer graphics and a text that is teeming with fresh, unexpected, and accurate zoological information.

How can a toucan fly with such a large, cumbersome beak? A toucan's beak is actually light as a feather due to its honeycomb construction. And not only is it beautiful, but it's an extremely useful tool in foraging for food. Find out more fascinating facts in this remarkably illustrated study of bird beaks. Learn about several different birds, their habitats, and how their beaks are uniquely styled to help them survive.

While children cavort through a sprinkler on a suburban lawn, animals thrive or survive in other habitats (desert, field, wetland, and seaside). The same sun has a different effect in different places on all living creatures presented in a clear text and handsome, realistic, detailed illustrations.

Stunning, full color, close-up photographs of birds combined with evocative poems in different forms present memorable portraits of birds. Factual material about each feathered creature is inserted on every double-page spread to complete the picture.

Factual and funny and featuring a lively mix of photographs and cartoon illustrations, learn about birds and discover the unexpected ways humans and birds are simila.

Chicken Frank wants to prove he’s related to a T.rex ― because of evolution! ― but none of the other farm animals believe him, until he gets his DNA test results. This comic-book style picture book combines information with humor to explore the concept of evolution and the connection between birds and dinosaurs.

The travels of an independent black cat parallel that of a family of four. Both start and end in Rome but intersect as they visit landmarks in other European cities. Lyrical text and delicate, detailed illustrations evoke the wonder of travel. The trip concludes with brief information about the places visited; end pages include a rough map of the travel.

Noted naturalist, Arnosky, trekked through Florida's Everglades to count crocodiles, the once endangered reptiles. Through informal narration and arresting, large paintings, these toothy creatures come alive. A DVD with highlights of the author's trek is included.

Splendid photographs are used along with a crisp, easier to read narrative to introduce dolphins, water-dwelling mammals. A glossary, index and access to additional online material complete this appealing and edifying title

Birds live all over the world, but their nests come in many sizes, shapes, and some even borrow (or snitch) homes in which to lay and hatch their young. This lively introduction to various birds and their habits will likely absorb, inform, and inspire.

Underwater photographers, Hayes & Doubilet, provide basic information about their work as photographers as well as about sharks, their habitats, and the challenges faced by sharks in lucid text and stunning photographs, the latest in this captivating series.

Short poems about animals appear in English and Spanish accompanied by textured illustrations reminiscent of folk art. An author’s note reveals that she is neither a poet nor native Spanish speaking but was launched into both Spanish and poetry when she discovered the work of Pablo Neruda.

To help baby loggerhead turtles find their way back to the sea, a group of children involve the entire town as they launch their Lights Out for Loggerheads campaign. By showing the multiple channels that the students work through to raise awareness (posters, fliers, bake sales, a town meeting, the local newspaper, and the Internet), kids can learn about accessible, affordable ways to raise issue awareness in communities. 

Stunning, realistic illustrations of frogs and onomatopoeic language combine to present frogs and their songs from around the world. A brief warning about threats to frogs' environments and additional information conclude this engaging book just right to read aloud.

Follows a year in the life of a willow ptarmigan, giving young children a delightful introduction to the animal inhabitants of the far northern wilderness of Alaska and the Arctic.

Mr. Mutt responds to canine concerns, writing practical advice letters. He shares his Dogwood home with The Queen, a tiara-wearing cat who adds her distinctly feline advice on her own embossed stationery. The result is wildly different perspectives, lots of laughs, and action suggested by the correspondences and extended by realistic, outrageous, and very funny illustrations.

With lyrical rhymes, readers explore a dazzling underwater menagerie. Each rhyming couplet gives a factoid about one of the 23 marine creatures. End pages dive into more detail about each of the sea creatures and discuss different ocean habitats, oceans around the world, how the ocean is impacted by climate change and pollution, and some things that everyone can do to support ocean conservation.

Birding is a joyful, wonder-filled activity that anyone can do. Featuring the skyline and natural spaces of New York City, How to Bird invites children to explore birdwatching, with each page featuring a new birding strategy. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that seeing and hearing birds makes us happier, and this book shows how everyone, wherever they live, can be a birder.

An eclectic collection of factoids about animals is presented in an eye-catching, brightly colored format that uses graphic art or "infographics." The result is a fetching book sure to engage sophisticated readers as they dip in and out.

Lali finds a little feather in the field. Is it lost? Lali sets out to find feather a home, but one bird after another rejects it. The feather is too small for Rooster, too slow for Crow, and too plain for Peacock. Once Lali decides to keep the little feather and discovers all the things she can do with it, the other birds begin to recognize its value. The circular narrative reveals the importance of looking beyond first impressions.

Known for his close-up, full-color photographs of animals in the wild, Bishop turns his lens to a variety of lizards from around the globe. The informative, striking book demonstrates that "lizards lead lives that are full of surprises."

Dog lovers — and those who aren't — are sure to be touched by twelve short stories about shelter dogs that find just the right home. Written by various authors, each story is different but each will resonate with sophisticated readers (or listeners) in this varied short story collection.

Author/illustrator and self-taught naturalist Jim Arnosky introduces mysteries that surround unknown animals: "cryptozoology." Dramatic illustrations combine with an informative, engaging text to present a range of land and water creatures, starting with ocean giants, sharks, and squids.

Iditarod racers often run in families of humans and the dogs that run. The grueling, exciting race is introduced in clearly labeled photographs and crisp text just right for dipping in and out of for a glimpse at the brave animals and people who run it.

Dramatic photographs, attention-grabbing facts, and clear maps introduce a world of animals and their habitats. A glossary, where to go for more information, and an index make this an ideal book for both browsing and research.

Nature does it best…and did it first! Explore the ways we have looked to nature for brilliant new designs and innovations to solve our own conundrums. Each example in nature is paired with a fun, rhyming description, an example of how it has been used by us, and a question to the reader―“what other problems can be solved?”

Most kids like something chocolate-y, right? But there wouldn't be chocolate without cocoa beans that come from cocoa pods that rely on insects and other creatures in rainforests — even monkeys! A brief but engaging look at this interconnected habitat is realistically illustrated with informative but humorous asides by bookworms to encourage each page turn.

Animals from the Ecuadorian Andes cloud forest are introduced in stunning illustrations and lyrical text. All material is presented in English and Spanish including author’s notes and background information.

Head to the river, where a frolicsome bunch of otters plays all year round. Follow the baby river otters through the seasons as they chase one another, slide down a mudbank, jump in a pile of leaves, and learn to swim. Even while catching fish for their dinner or grooming themselves in the snow, otters love to play.

When a tsunami orphans a young hippopotamus, a group of concerned Malidi (on the east coast of Kenya) villagers figure out how to capture the 600 pound baby thus beginning his new life in an animal sanctuary with a new and unlikely companion — a 130 year old tortoise named Mzee. Full color photographs and straightforward text are used in this inspiring, appealing and true story told first by a young girl and her father.

Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer.

Stunning watercolors evoke the height and breadth of New York City while a dramatic text relates the true story of a now-famous feathered resident, a hawk named Pale Male. The tension between the lifestyle of Pale Male and human residents as well as the fate of Pale Male's mates and offspring create riveting reading.

Planning a visit to the mountains of the American West this summer? If you're sharp-eyed, you may see a well-camouflaged pika. These 6-8 inch animals are related to hares and rabbits (although in the crisp, expressive pictures they resemble large hamsters!). Color photographs and snappy text provide a fascinating look into pikas' habitat, behaviors, and predators.

The White House has hosted U.S. Presidents and their families which have often included First Pets. These have ranged from alligators to dogs with lots of other species in-between, all revealed here in lively language and humorous illustrations.

The mystery of why a Pacific seabird nests inland has only recently been solved. Lyrical language and evocative illustrations with additional information inset on each page brings the modern scientific thriller to light. Additional resources conclude this handsome volume.

Did you know that snails build “roads of slimy mucus”, other snails can follow those trails, often to eat together? That snails live everywhere on earth in all types of environments? Find out much more about these amazing -- albeit slimy -- creatures in this comically illustrated but fascinating glimpse at snails.

In the spring in Pakistan's Hindu Kush Mountains, two hungry snow leopard cubs wait for their mother. As they grown, they must learn to survive on their own in a harsh environment. Stunning illustrations and dramatic narration provide a glimpse of the animals' lives.

Young readers will discover the amazing adaptations that keep certain species of bird alive and soaring! Some birds construct nests with their own saliva and learn the gross-but-useful reason for a vulture’s bald head.

Examine each double page spread in this oversized book. See the realistically pictured animals and where they live. Make up or find a story about them. If you’re curious, you can look in the back for the names of the real animals. Handsome scenes from different natural environments make this a book to examine again and again.

A poetic tribute to the common barn owl, who doze "in the scent of wheat" and leave "the barn through a bale of light." Follow the daily life of the barn owl, from nest to hunting and back again to the nest to feed his hungry family.

Filled with exuberant, colorful illustrations, this is a fun introduction to some of the most colorful, magnificent, silly, and surprising feathered creatures from around the world.

The story opens with 18-year-old French naturalist John James Audubon roaming Pennsylvania countryside in search of birds. He observes them as they grow through the summer, leave for the winter, and return the following year. Audubon was the first person in North America to band a bird and became the greatest painter of birds of all time.

When a fog rolls into Icyland, it prevents Warble, a small yellow warbler, from enjoying his favorite pastime: human watching. No one else he talks with seems concerned about the growing fog until he meets the Red-hooded Spectacled Female, a young girl who has also noticed the growing fog. Warble and the girl take this weather seriously and team up to draw attention to the situation, taking the first and important step of raising awareness with others. Sharing this touching, funny title is sure to lead discussion about observing changes in our climate and the environment.

When a couple complains about pigeons in the park, two children in pigeon costumes come to give them the real story about pigeons. Done in an open comic book format, this easier to read book is sure to entertain as well as inform.

Hippos are denser than water and so sink in water. Plus, they can’t actually swim but push off to “sail through the water like otters.” Interesting factoids about these huge land animals are presented in cartoon illustrations complete with funny asides in conversation bubbles. Further resources are included at the end.

This inviting book is truly the cat's pajamas! Familiar adages are organized by animal and explained through text and lively illustrations that jump around and over each large page.

A Siberian tiger cub born at the Denver Zoo is orphaned when he is just a few weeks old. Through photographs, narrative, and graphs, young readers follow the cub, named T.J., as he grows from a tiny newborn into a five-hundred-pound adult. This story about one tiger’s fight for survival that also introduces basic math skills.

How are dogs, alligators, sheep, cats, and a host of other animals similar? They've all been residents of the president's house as presidential pets! Comical illustrations combine with the often laugh out loud funny tales of pets in the White House.

Poetic text tells the story of a wood thrush that makes the long migration between New England and Central America. At each end of the journey is a boy who watches and waits, protecting the bird's nesting place until it returns. Neither boy knows that his love of the thrush's sweet song links him to another boy across the world, a boy who doesn't even speak the same language.

Stunning photographs combine with a clear text to show how early use of Yellowstone, changed it completely. The elimination of a predator altered wildlife and vegetation and had other unforeseen consequences until the process started to be reversed in the 20th century. "Returning the wolf is helping to make Yellowstone whole again."

A conversational tone and flaps to lift on each double page look at different biomes are sure to inspire further examination. Freshwater, desert, rainforest, and other ecological communities of plants and animals are handsomely illustrated and presented on sturdy pages.

Enter woodpecker world and get a bird's eye view of everyday life: hiding from hawks, feeding hungry chicks, and drilling holes to build homes. Woodpeckers are nature's home builders, creating holes that many other animals live in when the woodpeckers move on.

Explore animal empathy, communication, tool use, and social societies through interviews and historical anecdotes.

This comprehensive visual encyclopedia includes stunning photography of many bird species, pointing out their vibrant plumage and distinctive characteristics. Alongside these pictures are amazing facts about their anatomy and behavior.

Scientists are working to save the endangered California Condor. In rich narrative, the author provides information on the condor as well as the history and efforts of scientists to bring them back from the brink. Accompanying photographs add drama and personality for both feathered and human subjects.

Crows have problem-solving skills that will make you you rethink what it means to be a bird brain! Did you know that crows make their own tools, lead complex social lives, and never forget a human face? Scientists are just beginning to unlock the secrets of the crow's brain to discover how these avian Einsteins can be as smart as some primates, and even perform some of the same cognitive feats as human children!

Why be afraid of the dark when there is so much to see? Whether it’s used to hunt, hide, find a friend, or escape an enemy, bioluminescence—the ability to glow—is a unique adaptation in nature. In this fun and fascinating nonfiction picture book, join world-renowned photographers and biologists on their close encounters with the curious creatures that make their own light.

Short poems (haiku) were written in response to but also evoke creatures shown in crisp close-up photographs of small animals and insects in their natural surroundings. This collection and others by Yolen/Stemple introduce information about nature, and could be used as part of the science curriculum.

Meet up with scientists studying geysers, grizzlies, salamanders, cacti, and fireflies in some of America's most treasured places: Yellowstone, Sagaro, and Great Smoky Mountain National Parks.

A poem about the well-known Great White begins this handsomely illustrated collection of poems each about a different sea-dwelling shark. Readers will meet the Wobbegong, a nurse shark, the goblin shark, and more. Different poetic forms combine with splendid illustrations that evoke the depths of the creatures' habitats.

Created for beginning or experienced birders, this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide features 545 North American bird species of the eastern region and more than 2,000 beautiful color photographs. And yet it's portable enough to fit in your pocket!

The author and photographer Nic Bishop join biologist Lisa Dabek and other scientists and volunteers including people from Papua New Guinea as they endure an inhospitable environment to study the reclusive Matschie's tree kangaroo. The wonder of this 10,000 foot high forest and its inhabitants is presented in enthralling text and amazing photos.

The Great Auk was a northern penguin that lived and thrived in the cold waters of the Atlantic. Learn how the extinction of the Great Auk led to the birth of the conservation movement. Laws were eventually passed to prevent the killing of birds during the nesting season, and similar laws were later extended to other wildlife species.