Books in Spies of the world series

The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria gave fame to these graceful horses for their balletic dressage performances. The breed’s noble history is traced, from its origins in the sixteenth century through its protection by the American military in World War II to its growing popularity around the world today. Great photographs of Lipizzans doing everything from performing the famous airs above the ground to getting some well-deserved downtime in their stalls are sure to entrance all readers.

Step inside Sweden, land of contradictions. Discover the secrets of one of the world’s most equitable economies. Meet King Carl XVI Gustaf, Sweden’s head of state. Meet the rugged Nordic race who inhabit this land of ice, snow, and midnight sun. Let Sweden’s starkly beautiful lake and forest landscapes fill you with serenity.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Visit Russia, the world’s largest country, spanning two continents. Review a vast national history, from the Tsars to the Soviet Union to today’s Russian Federation. Explore a richly diverse topography—coniferous forests, semideserts, steppes, tundra—with an array of climates to match. Meet the Russians, Tatars, Ukrainians, Bashkir, Chuvash, Chechens, and Armenians that comprise Russia’s population. Experience the wonders of Russian culture, from the Bolshoi Ballet to Tolstoy and Pushkin.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Dogs have become an integral part of the lives of millions of people around the world - as working animals or simply as domestic pets - but their wild relatives are being pushed ever closer to extinction. The ancestor of the domestic dog, the grey wolf, has been eliminated from most of Europe and, in the USA, the red wolf's plight is such that it is currently the subject of an intensive captive-breeding and reintroduction program.This book examines all members of the Canidae, showing where the existing 34 species are distributed, and how they have been affected by human pressures. David Alderton describes fully the form, function, reproduction, lifestyles and distribution of the wild canids. The text is illustrated throughout by superb color photographs, specially taken for this book. There are also clear distribution maps for every species, and a full checklist of the Canidae.It is the ultimate irony that though we have accepted the domestic dog into our homes, we still generally perceive its ancestor as an evil killer. Such a lack of understanding is probably the greatest barrier to the effective conservation of wolves and other wild canids. Foxes, Wolves and Wild Dogs of the World breaks down these popular misconceptions and shows that positive action is needed to safeguard the future of wild canids.

This latest title in the "Of the World" series - the seventeenth - covers that fascinating group of animals whose evolution into their present forms and life-styles seems almost contradictory. While seals, sea lions and walruses are indeed mammals, their habitat is very much an aquatic one, their limbs now fully adapted for swimming rather than land locomotion.The various families of the order Pinnipedia - fur seals, sea lions, walruses and the phocid seals - are described and illustrated. Evolution, classification, distribution, life-cycles, zoology and their current status and future are all fully discussed. In addition, the complex question of their relationship with humans is examined. As with other marine-dwelling mammals, the issues are controversial. In examining topics such as conflicts between seals and fishing and culling and the fur trade, expert author Nigel Bonner adopts a professional and unemotional approach, based on first-hand knowledge and much experience.Their aquatic life and the remoteness of their habitats make the seals and their kin hard to study. Yet encounters with these species have produced in many people a particularly strong response, sometimes becoming sentimental. This book sensibly places them in context through a clear understanding of their natural history and their interactions with humans. The text is enhanced throughout by some 100 color photographs, detailed diagrams and maps.

Can you hide a spy camera in a pen or behind a shirt button? Spies need hidden cameras for secret missions. Need to pass along a secret message? A spy might use invisible ink. Spies could not do their jobs without the latest gizmos and gadgets. In this book, check out some of the most important tools in the spy world from wiretaps to lipstick pistols.

Welcome to sunny Spain, where rugged coasts lead inland to wild sierra. Discover the proud regional peoples that populate this land of diverse heritages. Visit Madrid, where the works of Spain’s artists grace a wealth of museums. Step into Spain’s storied past, via Roman aqueducts, Gothic cathedrals, and Moorish castles.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Can flashing lights send out a secret message? Did a famous spy use sketches of butterflies to hide messages? Can a digital photo hide a secret code? For centuries, spies have used many different ways to pass secret information. Codes and ciphers keep information safe from the enemy. Author Susan K. Mitchell uncovers the secrets to the amazing world of spy codes and ciphers.