Books in My First Discoveries Torchlight series

“A good addition to science collections, this is one that young dolphin fans will enjoy.” —Booklist Meet a baby dolphin and see how he spends his first day in the ocean! Developed in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History, this nonfiction picture book follows a dolphin from birth as he swims with his mom; learns to eat, jump, and play with his pod; and even escapes a shark. With its beautiful ocean photography and fun dolphin facts, this sweet story will make a splash with any young reader.

In the mountains of China a baby panda is born. Find out how the tiny cub grows! With stunning photography, this nonfiction picture book from the American Museum of Natural History follows a baby panda from birth through adulthood. Though he starts out blind and helpless, cradled against mom in the den, the adorable cub soon changes. His fur fills in, and he learns to swim and climb—and tastes bamboo for the first time! Fun to read and look at, Baby Panda Chews Bamboo will enchant young animal lovers. This book is a continuation of our AMNH series, which includes Baby Penguin’s First Waddles, Wolf Pups Join the Pack, and Baby Dolphin’s First Swim.

Each double spread explores a different ecosystem: the kitchen garden, woodland, seashore, savannah, jungle, polar, and marine systems. On the left-hand page, color-coded diagrams and arrows show the different food chains that exist within each ecosystem. On the right-hand page captivating full-page lifelike illustrations show the ecosystems in all their detail. Readers use a “magic flashlight” (in the form of a piece of card) to “light up” and explore these darkened transparent pages, enabling them to focus on one detail at a time.

Follow the construction of an immense pyramid, ordered by the Egyptian pharaoh for his burial tomb. Illustrations showing detailed aerial views allow us to marvel at the ancient construction site where thousands of workers are employed and huge stone blocks are carved and transported by hand. Share the wonder of the archeologists who discover the pharoah’s tomb where the pharoah’s mummified remains lie in a sarcophagus. Uncover the mystery of the Sphinx. Find out about other pyramids and other wonders of the ancient world.

Who were our earliest human ancestors? Where did they come from? What tools did they invent? How did they evolve over time? What traces did they leave behind? The reader will learn answers to these and many more questions. Children will step inside the cave of a prehistoric family by turning the page, learn about hunting mammoth and reindeer, making clothes and tools, and painting on cave walls with their hands.