Books in Life-Size Series series

Gargantuan creatures deserve a truly mammoth book. With amazingly huge, life-size pictures, plus 7 gigantic gatefolds, this spectacular guide will practically transport readers back to the time of the dinosaurs.It’s astounding: for the first time, pictures convey the actual, awesome bulk and bigness of the large dinosaurs and present intricately detailed views of the smaller species, too. Just open up the three 8-page-long gatefolds and the four 6-page ones to see what these vanished creatures looked like close-up. Life-size illustrations virtually take you into the Tyrannosaurus Rex’s drooling mouth, with its sharp teeth ready to rip up prey. Kids will love looking at the immense and thick skull of the bone-headed Pachycephalosaurus, with its bumps, ridges, and horns. The knife-like claws of the Therizinosaurus are so realistic you just might step back in fear. In addition to the breathtaking illustrations, there’s plenty of fascinating background about the different dinosaur types, their shared world, their way of chatting and battling, and their fight for survival. And as an extra treat: take off the jacket, flip it over, and there’s a big poster of a giant dinosaur on the reverse side.

Starting with the mega-hit Life-Size Dinosaurs (more than 300,000 copies sold), this awesomely illustrated and informative series has proven a consistent success. Kids can now embark on another fantastic visual exploration, this time to discover one of the most ancient of animal families on Earth: reptiles. This eye-catching volume answers all of a child’s questions: What is a reptile? How did these creatures evolve? Where are their habitats? What do they eat? How do they get their food? Amazing images of snakes and lizards, alligators and crocodiles, turtles and tortoises fill the pages, including the four 3-page gatefolds, three 4-page gatefolds, and a poster on the reverse of the jacket. A life-size stamp indicates which illustrations are actual size—and many are. Emerging in full body plans and close-ups are snakes coiling themselves around prey, lime-green veiled chameleons, snapping alligators, plus thorny devils, frilled lizards, and komodo dragons. Of course, you’ll find dinosaurs here too, with an explanation of what characteristics these prehistoric beasts share with their present-day descendants.

Dive into these colossal pages and swim among huge slithery creatures with big, open jaws. Just like last season's sales sensation Life-Size Dinosaurs, this undersea adventure, with its 10 awe-inspiring, pull-out flaps, takes you on a fantastic voyage. What lives beneath the waves? Find out, in an exciting and unique exploration of oceans, rivers, and lakes. Life-size, fold-out pictures bring you face to face with such extraordinary beasts as the deadly, black banded sea krait and carry you into a great white shark's "jaws of death." Examine the sawfish's saw--shown in actual size--which slices and dices its prey. Enter the ocean's "twilight zone" that lies deep, deep below the surface. Visit the thriving coral reefs where bright and beautiful fish swim amid lush plants. From giant squids and barracuda to Portuguese man-of-war fish and eels who cross the Atlantic just to give birth, each one has an incredible story to tell. And as an added bonus, the reverse of the jacket is a poster of a great white shark!

These fascinating creatures live everywhere, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, from the hot desert to the icy tundra and they’re the world’s deadliest killers. Thanks to the fantastic visual display that unfolds on these pages, children can get up-close and personal with the fiercest animals on Earth and find out just why they’re so lethal. And what amazing images! There are four three-page gatefolds that open wide, three even bigger four-page gatefolds, and a poster on the reverse of the jacket. The wide variety of predators includes reptiles, insects, mammals, and birds, and they range from massive sperm whales, hippos, and buffalo to the tiny fleas and mosquitoes that actually cause the most destruction of all. Intrigued youngsters will find out why animals kill other animals, what they do to locate their prey, and how they slay—including claws, tusks, powerful jaws and teeth, and venom. (Or, in the case of the mantis shrimp, by punching its victim to death!) And kids will especially enjoy looking at such details as a polar bear’s dangerous paw and the glow-in-the-dark eyes of a leopard readying for a nighttime attack. Throughout, a “life-size stamp” points out all pictures that capture a creature’s true size.

The pictures are life-size, and the sales are larger than life:Life-Size Dinosaurs has already sold almost 400,000 copies! And now, the bestselling series features its first fantastic creatures and a children’s favorite. Continuing the success of this humongous, eye-popping series, Life-Size Dragons ventures into the realm of the imagination. We know that dragons are popular—both Dragonhenge and The Book of the Dragon became big hits with a devoted fan base. And here they are breathing fire in ten pullout flaps by digital art pioneer Fred Gambino and bigger than ever before. There’s even a close-up look into the dragon’s deathly jaws and its red-hot flaming mouth. But that’s not all: the text—written by Hugo Award-winner John Grant—delves into mythology to reveal the natural history, evolution, anatomy, behavior, and every other aspect of a variety of dragon species. How clever are they, really? Do any still live in the modern world? Dragon-obsessed youngsters (and which one isn’t?) will want to look and learn. John Grant is the pseudonym of Paul Barnett, a former editor and editorial consultant. He has written both fiction and nonfiction, specializing in sci-fi and fantasy. Among his many honors are: two Hugo Awards, the World Fantasy Award, and the rare British Science Fiction Association Special Award. Fred Gambino has done groundbreaking work in the world of digital art, and is a prolific illustrator of book covers—especially for science fiction and fantasy stories. He produced backgrounds and concept drawings for the film Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.

Not content to stay on dry land, the Life-Size phenomenon leaves the zoo for a visit to the aquarium. From the clownfish to the killer whale, sea otter to walrus, young readers will see some of their favorite animals from a perspective than they've ever had before. With informative, fun facts accompanying the stellar photographs of each animal, Life-Size Aquarium brings readers eye-to-eye with 19 different animals, including a leafy sea dragon, a luna lionfish, a humphead wrasse, two different varieties of penguins, a sea turtle, a jellyfish, a spider crab, a sea otter, and more. As in previous volumes, three of the animals in this book — a walrus, a killer whale, and a dolphin — spring out of the book in oversized gatefolds.

"The Zoo Life series offers a fascinating look at the captivating world of animals and zoos. With content supplied and verified by experienced zoo staff, each book explores the life of an animal born in an American zoo and compares it to life in the wild. Brain boosters, folktales, and links to conservation organizations provide additional insights into each species."

Young Elva loves her summer days―once her daily milking, household, and gardening chores are done. In book two of the Farm Life Series, author Elva Hurst spins a simple tale of a summer spent splashing in the creek on hot afternoons and singing hymns with the other youth at the hymn sing. When news of a wedding surfaces, the neighboring Amish and Mennonite families all pitch in to make the day special for the young couple.This delightful story is a beautiful picture of a young girl discovering joy in a simple life centered on a loving family, a tightly knit community, and an active faith in God…and just a little bit of mischief along the way.