Books with author Jim Arnosky

When children learn to recognize and read animal tracks they’re actually mastering an ancient language of shapes and patterns—and gaining knowledge of the natural world. Acclaimed artist and naturalist Jim Arnosky has created a breathtaking and informative reference on the subject, filled with intricately drawn prints from creatures both wild and domestic, as well as large-scale paintings of the animals in their environment. Some of the art, labeled in Arnosky’s own handwriting, even looks as if it came straight out of his personal notebooks. And best of all, many of the tracks are true to size, so kids can compare the trace left by a big-footed polar bear (whose paws act as snowshoes in its icy home) with that of a small bird. Adding to the eye-catching illustrations are four awesome gatefolds that display paintings of a bobcat, wolf, deer, and a variety of hoofed animals right next to their prints. Every spread has plenty of details on how to interpret the footprint, and the featured menagerie includes bighorn sheep and goats, chipmunks and rabbits, grizzlies and brown bears, horses and burros, domestic cats and dogs, and even slithering reptiles! This is the perfect gift for a budding naturalist, animal lover, or artist.Jim Arnosky has been honored for his overall contribution to literature for children by the Eva L. Gordon Award and the Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Award for nonfiction. Many of his books have been chosen as ALA Notable Books, including Drawing from Nature, a Christopher Award-winner. Wild Tracks! is Jim’s 100th book for children.

When a baby raccoon is swept downstream in an abandoned canoe, he feels afraid. But soon he notices all kinds of things he has never seen before, and from the safety of his little boat, he begins to explore the world around him. Paralleling the exciting-and often frightening-experience of a child's first adventure away from home, Raccoon on His Own offers little ones a glimpse of being on their own for the very first time.

This all-new title leads Scholastic Nonfiction's relaunch initiative of Jim Arnosky's beloved All About series. All About Manatees is a thorough and colorful introduction to the world of manatees.All About Manatees is the newest entry in Jim Arnosky's treasured All About series, relaunching in Spring 08 from Scholastic Nonfiction. In All About Manatees, Arnosky shows how manatees grow and live, answering kids' biggest questions about these creatures of the water. Packed with intriguing information and brought to life by Arnosky's vibrant watercolors, this book will fascinate young readers.

With Jim Arnosky as your guide, an ordinary hike becomes an eye-opening experience. He'll help you spot a hawk soaring far overhead and note the details of a dragonfly up close. Study the black-and-white drawings -- based on his own field research -- and you'll discover if those tracks in the brush were made by a deer or a fox.In his celebrated style, this author, artist, and naturalist enthusiastically shares a wealth of tips. Jim Arnosky wants you to enjoy watching wildlife. He carefully explains how field marks, shapes, and location give clues for identifying certain plants and animals wherever you are. He gives hints for sharpening observational skills. And he encourages you to draw and record birds, insects, shells, animal tracks, and other finds from a busy day's watch.

What can you see in the deep blue sea? Dolphins, stingrays, men o' war, and more! In Shimmer & Splash, acclaimed author and artist Jim Arnosky—whose award-winning nature books delight children, parents, and teachers alike—captures the endless variety of spectacular marine species. From the beautiful (starfish, coral reefs) to the scary (sharks, barracudas) to the yucky (jellyfish), these undersea inhabitants will amaze kids…especially in the seven fantastic gatefolds!

Children join the noted naturalist-artist as he spends a day watching a splendid herd of wild ponies on Assateague Island off the mid-Atlantic coast. Youngsters see the ponies romping in the surf, heading for the dunes where they munch on sea grasses, and wading through the mudflats of the nearby bay. A young foal rests with its mother in the shade of a tree, then starts to play hide-and-seek with a baby deer. Jim Arnosky?s beautifully detailed paintings and lyrical text convey his love for these creatures and his sense of wonder at observing their free spirit up close.

Reptiles … close up!Snake fangs, alligator claws, and turtle shells—all life-size! Go belly down on the ground, eye to reptilian eye, with acclaimed naturalist Jim Arnosky. Through large gatefolds and marvelously detailed, realistic art, he takes kids (safely!) up close and personal with these slithery, crawly creatures. Arnosky explains how to identify venomous snakes and their harmless cousins, where to find a 200-pound lizard, how to avoid becoming an alligator's lunch, and much more. It's the perfect gift for a budding naturalist, animal lover, or artist.A 2009 Parents' Choice Recommended Nonfiction Book.

Join the folksy, friendly woodsman, Crinkleroot, and his snake, Sassafrass, on a fascinating journey through a wide variety of animal habitats. Crinkleroot is an expert at finding animals because he knows where to look for them. In his Jeep, Crinkleroot covers a lot of ground spotting over eighty different wildlife species in wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, drylands, and more. Along the way, readers will learn tips for finding wildlife in their own neck of the woods.

Meet Crinkleroot! He was born in a tree and raised by bees. He can whistle in a hundred languages and speak caterpillar, turtle, and salamander, too! He lives in the deepest part of the forest right under its tallest tree. From his doorstep, he can feel the world slowly turning.Crinkleroot is back in Crinkle Cove searching for his friend, a small orange snake called Sassafras. Come along with Crinkleroot as he searches through a soggy shoreland woods to the lake, under lily pads, and on a grassy knoll full of frogs, examining the animals and plants along the way.

A poignant story of a sea turtle mother who lays her eggs late one night, this is also a subtle story about how important it is for mothers to take care of themselves for their children's sake. Dramatic and perfect for beginning readers, this book tells of near misses with sharks, boats, storms and nets-all the things a turtle mother must battle in order to stay alive. The turtle mother will not stay to see her eggs hatch, because that is the turtle way. But by ensuring her own survival, she gives her children the gift of life.