Books with author Dianne Swanson

Do you ever play tag or run for a ball? Animals love to run, too. They might chase after food or leap away from trouble. A bald eagle can sweep through the air, scanning the ground from far above. A sea lion can plunge towards the seafloor then ride the ocean waves to shore. From charging cheetahs to zooming dragonflies, Animals Can Be So Speedy is one fast read!

Why are people afraid of sharks? Most sharks are not interested in harming us, and there are only a few species that have ever attacked humans. This book looks at why sharks have this effect on us, and explains why we should protect and care for all sharks. The beautiful full-color illustrations showcase many fascinating sharks, from the spectacular whale shark (the biggest shark in the world) to the tiny pygmy shark, and the colorful and odd-looking woebegone to the mighty mouthed megamouth and the scary-looking great white shark. You'll find out about shark relatives such as stingrays and chimaeras and see the amazing things found in sharks' stomachs. And, as if this wasn't enough, this book gives you handy hints on how to keep a great white shark as a pet!

Ten riveting true stories of dramatic events in tunnels around the world! Did you know that tunnels were instrumental in the dramatic rescue of 72 hostages held for over four months in the Japanese Embassy in Lima, Peru? During the Vietnam War, guerrilla fighters known as the Viet Cong created a sophisticated system of tunnels complete with four levels, trap doors, and strategic ditches, slopes, and zigzags that rendered grenades and tear gas ineffective. And in Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War, 109 Union prisoners-of-war made a daring escape from Libby Prison after successfully tunneling from the prison cellar, beneath a vacant lot, under a fence, and into a small carriage shed nearby. In this book young readers will find 10 spectacular tunnel stories from around the world. There are stories of surviving a mining disaster, uncovering treasure in the tomb of an ancient Egyptian king, smuggling people to freedom, and building transport tunnels deep beneath the sea. Some of the stories are about crooks who robbed banks or smuggled drugs. Others are of the heroes who worked selflessly to save the lives of those trapped in a burning mountain inferno. There are gripping, true accounts of human drama beneath the ground. Each fast-paced story propels the reader to the next one. Key Features award-winning and established author fascinating true stories of ingenuity, drama, tragedy, and heroics black and white diagrams of each tunnel

The author of Nibbling on Einstein's Brain brings her animated style to the story of water. With this richly illustrated book, young readers can dive into The Wonder in Water and discover just what's in the wet stuff, from the tiniest raindrop to the largest ocean. There's enough water on this planet to fill 325 million trillion large milk jugs. Start with our own salty sweat. It not only keeps us cool but also feeds the masses of microbes that live on our skin, repelling germs and keeping us healthy. From sprinkles of sweat, readers can journey on to: Falling Raindrops -- Water from the sky can contain life as small as an amoeba and as large as a turtle; Patchy Puddles -- Nurseries for toads, bistros for bugs, or bait for the meat-eating pitcher plant; Freshwater Marshes -- Where fish and frogs frolic, muskrats and moose mingle; Quiet Lakes -- Roads for water-walking lizards; winter homes for microscopic life in ice; Fast-flowing Rivers -- Only for the strong (salmon) or the clingy (black fly larvae); Salty Seas -- Home to more life than anywhere else on Earth. Young children will thrill to this watery expedition with Diane Swanson as their guide. There is microscopic photography to amaze, along with images that enhance the engrossing facts in the text and sidebars. The Wonder in Water is exciting adventure in one of nature's most fascinating habitats.

Did you know there are approximately 340 different kinds of hummingbirds, some as light as a penny? These champion acrobats of the sky can beat their wings more than 40 times a second, fly backward and even hover in midair, like helicopters. Since it's much easier to hear hummingbird wings than see them, just follow the hum to find the birds. Includes a table of contents, index, sidebars, and full of extraordinary photography throughout.

The author of Nibbling on Einstein's Brain brings her animated style to the story of water. With this richly illustrated book, young readers can dive into The Wonder in Water and discover just what's in the wet stuff, from the tiniest raindrop to the largest ocean. There's enough water on this planet to fill 325 million trillion large milk jugs. Start with our own salty sweat. It not only keeps us cool but also feeds the masses of microbes that live on our skin, repelling germs and keeping us healthy. From sprinkles of sweat, readers can journey on to: Falling Raindrops -- Water from the sky can contain life as small as an amoeba and as large as a turtle; Patchy Puddles -- Nurseries for toads, bistros for bugs, or bait for the meat-eating pitcher plant; Freshwater Marshes -- Where fish and frogs frolic, muskrats and moose mingle; Quiet Lakes -- Roads for water-walking lizards; winter homes for microscopic life in ice; Fast-flowing Rivers -- Only for the strong (salmon) or the clingy (black fly larvae); Salty Seas -- Home to more life than anywhere else on Earth. Young children will thrill to this watery expedition with Diane Swanson as their guide. There is microscopic photography to amaze, along with images that enhance the engrossing facts in the text and sidebars. The Wonder in Water is exciting adventure in one of nature's most fascinating habitats.

The Doctor and You is a book for any young child who will experience a trip to a doctor's office, hospital, or health clinic. The photographs familiarize children with many of the medical instruments and machines they are likely to encounter during their visit, allowing them to become more comfortable with doctors and hospitals. By showing how specific instruments are used to examine or treat them, children become comfortable with how they work and what they accomplish. Some of the tools examined include: a scale, a reflex hammer, a tongue depressor, an electronic thermometer, an ophthalmoscope, an otoscope, a stethoscope, blood pressure equipment, blood sampling equipment, a syringe, an X-ray machine, and casts for setting broken bones.Control over their own bodies is very important to young children. Their role with each medical tool is emphasized through a special feature called "Your Job" that briefly explains what children can do to help with the procedure, providing a positive and active role in their own health care. All information is presented in a positive manner. For instance, the book does not include "taking temperatures" because research has shown that many young children think this means that something is actually being removed from them. Potential fears associated with medical procedures, such as the belief that X-rays reveal secrets, are also addressed in a comforting and honest manner. A special page has been included for parents that offers pointers for discussions. Follow-up play activities geared towards helping children feel more comfortable about visiting a doctor are suggested. The Doctor and You is illustrated with 23 color photographs taken at a children's hospital and several line drawings.