Books in Animal Science series

"Davies’s chatty, funny text and Layton’s colorful illustrations will pull kids into this fascinating book about survival. . . . Exciting biology for the classroom." — Booklist (starred review)From the persevering emperor penguins of the South Pole to the brave bacteria inside bubbling volcanoes, from the hardy reptiles of the driest deserts to the squash-proof creatures of the deepest seabeds, animals have adapted to survive in conditions that would kill a human faster than you can say "coffin." Discover how they do it in this amazing natural history book from a celebrated team — and find out who wins the title of the toughest animal of them all.Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

"Playful, but filled with information, this book takes poop out of the sewers and into the scientific community where it belongs." —The Horn BookHippos navigate by it, sloths keep in touch through it, dung beetles eat it . . . and most grown-ups would rather not mention it. But scientists who study animal feces find out all sorts of things, such as the number of insects a bat eats or just how a T. rex devoured a triceratops 70 million years ago. Poop is an excellent prototype for recycling and perhaps the most useful stuff on Earth. Take a peek at Poop and find out what it’s for, where it goes, and how much we can learn from it.Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

"The subject is inherently fascinating to kids, who will find a good deal of information. . . .The artwork adds a welcome comic veneer." — BooklistMites and lice, fleas, ticks, and tapeworms — most living creatures that have a habitat also are a habitat, including you (are you itchy yet?). Unwelcome guests — parasites — are everywhere, from the barnacles hitching a ride on a humpback whale’s head to the tiny flies that control a bee’s brain and make it literally dig its own grave. Now an expert team returns for an in-depth look at how these insidious critters do it, whether it’s leaping aboard moving targets or morphing their body shapes, and what their unwitting hosts have learned to do to fight back and reclaim their space.Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

“Jam-packed with fascinating information with plenty of the ick factor to keep kids (and adults) turning the pages.” — San Francisco Book ReviewSometimes nature can be nasty: snakes that spit poison, insects with exploding bottoms, and tigers that have you for dinner. Throughout the animal kingdom, creatures are equipped with lethal weapons, from finger-length fangs to toxic tentacles, and have ingenious ways of killing one another, from poisoning to dive-bombing to strangling and even electrocuting! Discover the murderous methods of attack and defense that make animals armed, dangerous, and deadly. Kids will sink their teeth into this fascinating look at nature’s fiercest creatures. Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

"Nicola Davies is the best thing to happen to biology classes since the invention of the filmstrip." —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)Did you ever wonder why there are no high-flying superheroes in real life? Find out what keeps big animals (like us) from performing amazing feats of strength and agility, yet why being tiny and powerful might have a downside. What if you could lift fifty times your weight (hello, ant), but getting wet could kill you? Or you could soar like a bird, but a cold breeze would do you in? From an award-winning duo, an intriguing look at what it means to be just the right size. Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

Lions and scorpions and lethal little jellyfish, oh my! Kids will sink their teeth into this fascinating look at nature’s fiercest creatures.Sometimes nature can be nasty: snakes that spit poison, insects with exploding bottoms, and tigers that have you for dinner. Throughout the animal kingdom, creatures are equipped with lethal weapons, from finger-length fangs to toxic tentacles, and have ingenious ways of killing one another — poisoning, dive-bombing, strangling, and even electrocuting! Discover the murderous methods of attack and defense that make animals armed, dangerous, and deadly.Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

What’s better than POOP? Mini POOP!Hippos navigate by it, sloths keep in touch through it, dung beetles eat it . . . and most grown-ups would rather not to mention it. Meanwhile, scientists who study animal feces find out all sorts of things, such as how many insects a bat eats or just what method a T. rex used to devour a triceratops 70 million years ago. However you look at it, poop is the quintessential prototype for recycling and practically the most useful stuff on earth. Take a peek at POOP, the mini edition, and find out all you need to know — what it’s for, where it goes, and how much we can learn from it.Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

“This creative team adds to its cheeky series with this volume devoted to animal communication. . . . Entertaining and worthwhile.” —School Library JournalHow does a stinkbug flirt, a bee give orders, or a panda say “back off"? Animals find all sorts of ways to keep in touch without saying a word. They use colors, patterns, smells, movements, vibrations, sounds, and even electricity to communicate. From the chatter of dolphins to the click of a moth, from the stripes of a reef fish to the rumbling of elephants, this funny, fascinating book unlocks the mysteries of how animals talk and squawk to one another—and how humans try to talk back. Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

How does a stinkbug flirt, a bee give orders, or a panda say “back off"? A celebrated duo is back with a guide to messaging, animal-style.Humans aren't the only creatures who are constantly talking and transmitting messages: animals find all sorts of ways to keep in touch without saying a word. They use colors, patterns, smells, movements, vibrations, sounds, and even electricity to help them identify their own family or “team” — not to mention find food and shelter, defend their territory, woo the proper mate, and care for their young. From the chatter of dolphins to the click of a moth, from the stripes of a reef fish to the rumbling of elephants, this funny, fascinating book unlocks the mysteries of how animals talk and squawk to one another— and how humans try to talk back.Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

The creators of POOP are back with an entertaining look at the most incredible survivors on Earth.Are you ready for the competition? From the persevering emperor penguins of the South Pole to the brave bacteria inside bubbling volcanoes, from the hardy reptiles of the driest deserts to the squash-proof creatures of the deepest seabeds, animals have adapted to survive in conditions that would kill a human faster than you can say "coffin." Discover how they do it in this amazing natural history book from a celebrated team — and find out who wins the title of the toughtest animal of them all!

From a celebrated team comes a fascinating look at why we don’t have super powers (alas) — and why size matters, for creatures big and small.Did you ever wonder why there are no high-fl ying, wall-climbing, tall-building-leaping superheroes in real life? Find out what keeps big animals (like us) from engaging in astonishing feats of strength and agility, and yet why being tiny and all-powerful might have a downside. What if you could lift fi fty times your weight (hello, ant), but getting wet could kill you? Or you could soar like a bird, but a cold breeze would do you in? Whether big or small, our size defi nes more about us than we could ever imagine. Join the duo that brought us POOP, EXTREME ANIMALS, and WHAT'S EATING YOU? for a fun and intriguing exploration of what it means to be just the right size.