Books in Eye To Eye With Animals series

The Arctic wolf inches towards you. Like you, he is torn between fear and curiosity. His instinct leads him towards the scent of your leather boots. Your instinct is to reach out to this curious white canine. Suddenly, he snarls, and you’re face to face with a wild animal. For years, photographer Jim Brandenburg has observed lone wolves by moonlight, Arctic wolves leaping onto ice floes, and wolves hunting and foraging for food. Packs of gray wolves surround his house in Minnesota. Let him lead you on an intimate journey through their mysterious world, making a persuasive case for the protection of this threatened species, and showing how wolves and humans can live together.

The ferocious, snarling beast closing in on you fast has a toothache. In the white wastelands of the Arctic, there is nowhere to hide. Where is that helicopter? Despite surviving this nightmare, award-winning photographer Norbert Rosing loves the charming, playful side of the polar bear. Yes, they slashed his tires, but mankind is now ruining their climate and environment. Surely the bears' anger is understandable. Rosing's book connects children with the consequences of global warming, and gives practical advice on how to help save our white-furred friends.

You’re crouched in the African brush, camera at the ready. You’re waiting on one of nature’s loners. It’s dark. It’s scary. Then silently, he appears; the ever-elusive leopard. You have seconds to capture on film this wonder of the wild, with its exotic spotted fur, so prized by hunters. National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert take you closer to the mystery of the magnificent leopard and make a passionate plea to young readers to help secure a future for these feline treasures.

You’re in the Land Rover, observing elephants from a safe, respectful distance. It’s a hot, hot day in the African bush, and the windows are down. But what’s this? Suddenly, you’ve got company! An elephant trunk is nosing around in your luggage for some water. Nothing new to Beverly and Dereck Joubert, the wildlife writers and filmmakers who get up close and personal with elephants of all sizes, experience their complex social structure, and witness first-hand their deepest emotions. Through Beverly’s stunning photographs and Dereck’s engaging narration, readers can follow the plight of a trapped baby elephant, discover the compassion of these gentle giants, and learn of the threats they face. The Jouberts take readers face to face with the elephants as they come under attack from lions...and from mankind. Learn how to help protect these animals and prevent shrinking herds being driven into ever smaller parcels of land.

Fearsome predators lurk in both the depths and the shallow waters of the worlds oceans, waiting to attack their prey with clever precision. Vibrant photographs will provide an up-close look into the world of sharks that will fascinate readers. Clear and informative text explains the extreme advantages this ancient predator has over its prey and engaging facts will keep readers entertained from cover to cover.

You approach with caution, drawn to their equine beauty. The sleek stallion, the magnificent mare, and the gentle foal look like any happy family. But don’t get too close. These are wild horses, untamed by humans. Now photographers Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott take you inside the world of the wild horse. This husband-and-wife team of committed experts makes a case for the conservation of one of America’s favorite wild species.

That look in her eye is so human. She cradles her baby in her arms with such pride and tenderness. She interacts with family and peers in a way that suggests deep kinship, friendship, and trust. Meet the orangutan of Borneo in her natural habitat through the amazing adventures of National Geographic photographer Tim Laman and his wife, Harvard professor Cheryl Knott; and learn clearly the threats that now face this incredible primate.

You slip over the side of your boat, descending deep into the dark realm of the Earth’s largest creature. Then the whale starts to sing, just feet away from you. Photographer Flip Nicklin brings you face to face with whales as they communicate, nurse their young, and surface dramatically for air. Learn of the different kinds of whales, discover how we can aid their recovery from years of overhunting, and how we can protect their environment.

Joel Sartore has been face-to-face with a grizzly bear—and lived to tell this and other great tales in Face to Face with Grizzlies. Through stunning photography and engaging storytelling, this expert challenges young readers to coexist with this fearsome creature. Along with his vast experience and knowledge, Sartore’s contagious passion for the grizzly shines through on every page of this fascinating book.

You’re on the South Georgia Islands, a remote, icy place, with nobody around for miles and miles—except several thousand penguin friends, that is. Stunning photographs by Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott lead you into a mass of birds as they waddle across rock and sand, so clumsy on land, so graceful in the sea. Learn of the nesting habits, diet, family and social lives of these birds that always look dressed to impress. This fun book will also inspire readers to care about penguins’ threatened habitats.