Books in Close-ups series

Furry or spiny, thick and rough or smooth and slick: sometimes it's necessary to look just skin-deep! That's because skin itself is one of the most important parts of our and animals' bodies. In fact, creatures of the wild have an amazing selection of "natural coverings." Go up close as never before and see just how unusual skin can be. Each elephant has wrinkles in its lower leg as unique as a human's fingerprints. The grooves in the Australian thorny devil's flesh actually help it drink. Hippo's dense skin weighs one-fifth its entire weight--so it keeps this big animal safe from the sun. The bat's rubbery flesh allows it to swoop and fly, while the African armadillo lizard (and the porcupine too) has prickly scales that protect it. Skin that's armored, slimy, alarming, tasty, scary, and perfect for a disguise: you'll find out about it all!

Teeth that gnaw, teeth that groom, teeth that bite into delicious food and grind it down--imagine what life would be without teeth! Though there are some animals, such as birds and turtles, that don't need any, most others depend on teeth for eating, protection, and more. Horses nibble each other's necks to get rid of loose hair and pesky insects. The monkey-like lemur uses its front teeth as a comb to remove tangles. Beavers depend on them to cut down trees for the dams and lodges they build-and to munch bark, twigs, buds, and leaves. Full-color photographs show animals around the world using their hard-working pearly whites to chew, crunch, and chomp, while black-and-white drawings add some extra fun!

Did you know that a sailfish's tail helps it zoom through water faster than most cars on a highway? Or that cows and horses swish their tails to flick away pesky bugs? Tails can really be terrific--animals use them to swim, fly, attract a mate, and even communicate! In this tale of tails, five to seven year olds will find out how creatures ranging from salmon to turkeys depend on their tales for survival, and how we humans once had them too. Every kid will love the full-color photos of animals in all sizes and shapes. The author lives in Victoria, British Columbia. 32 pages (all in color), 8 x 10. NEW IN PAPERBACK

Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor turned Republican politician known for his sunny optimism and gifted salesmanship. He entered the White House in 1981, a time when many Americans were wondering if their country's best days were behind them. But things had changed by the time he left office-the economy was thriving and the Cold War was coming to a close. The child of an alcoholic, he was an intensely private man, yet he was so charming that he routinely befriended even his enemies. Reagan was both a complex man and political figure, and his legacy strongly influences politics today.