Books in Read and Wonder series

Hippos may make you laugh, but watch out! An acclaimed naturalist takes an exuberant look at these massive, swift, and super dangerous animals.What’s the deadliest animal in Africa? It’s not the lion or the crocodile—it’s the hippopotamus! Hippos have razor-sharp tusks, weigh as much as fifty men, and can run twenty-five miles per hour! Follow these hefty hulks as they glide underwater, play tug-of-war, swat balls of dung at one another, and nuzzle their young in the mud. Just don’t get too close—they could chomp you in two!

“Cheerfully informal. . . . Lighthearted and affectionate.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s BooksAn entertaining, educational look at the everyday life of a family of elephants —who never forget who’s in charge. Grandma! In lively prose interspersed with fun facts, Martin Jenkins spins a striking story about this no-nonsense matriarch and her remarkable brood, while Ivan Bates brings the great beasts to rumbling, tumbling, lumbering life.

"A wonderful immersion into the baby dolphin’s world." — BooklistPop! Tail first, head last, Dolphin is born into the blue. Readers are invited to join the baby calf as he follows his mother and discovers all there is to know about life under the sea, from catching his first fish to learning how to say his name with his very own whistle. Nicola Davies’s lyrical narrative and intriguing facts are accompanied by Brita Granström’s colorful illustrations, pulsing with the energy and movement of dolphins in their natural habitat.Back matter includes a note about dolphins and an index.

An entertaining, educational look at the everyday life of a family of elephants - who never forget who’s in charge.Elephants are the biggest animals on land, and they live in big families, too. So who can possibly keep them in line? Grandma! After all, she’s been around long enough to know where all the best watering holes are, how to gather the tastiest food, and how to sniff out danger. In lively prose interspersed with fun facts (did you know that an adult elephant eats 1,000 pounds of food a day?), Martin Jenkins spins a striking story about this no-nonsense matriarch and her remarkable brood, while Ivan Bates brings the great beasts to rumbling, tumbling, lumbering life.

They’re slithery and scaly, and they have icky, flicking tongues and creepy, unblinking eyes. What’s to like about a snake? You’d be surprised!This little girl has a problem. Her family doesn’t have dogs, or cats, or birds—they have snakes! And she really, really, really really doesn’t like snakes. Her family can’t understand her dislike, but they can help her understand why snakes do the things they do and look the way they look. And maybe once she knows more, she will start to like snakes a little . . . or even a lot. Packed with snake trivia, this clever story includes realistic illustrations and simple explanations of snake behavior sure to make even slither-phobic readers shed their misconceptions about these fascinating reptiles. Back matter includes a note about snakes, a bibliography, and an index.

"The text does an excellent job of describing the metamorphosis of a swallowtail butterfly, and the closeup, vibrant drawings of each developmental stage are outstanding." — School Library JournalThe best way to learn about a caterpillar is to watch one close up. With love and care, a grandfather shows his granddaughter the tiny dome-shaped eggs, explains how caterpillars shed their skins as they grow bigger and bigger, and watches with her as one special caterpillar emerges from its pupa transformed into a beautiful butterfly.

Ka-splash! Head to the river, where a frolicsome bunch of otters plays all year round in a nonfiction story sprinkled with facts — and loaded with fun.It’s spring, and a litter of baby river otters emerges from a den . . . to play! Follow the otters through the seasons as they chase one another, slide down a mudbank, jump in a pile of leaves, and learn to swim. Even while catching fish for their dinner or grooming themselves in the snow, otters love to play — and Jonathan London’s lively text and Meilo So’s fluid watercolors invite you to share in the joy.

A giant panda and her baby set off on a search for a safe, sustaining home in this informative tale about an enchanting creature.High on a mist-wrapped mountain, a mother panda cradles her newborn, pink and impossibly small. The bamboo patch they need for food is dying, and as soon as her baby is old enough, they must seek a new home, sleeping in trees and swimming across icy streams along the way. Nick Dowson’s lyrical text, interspersed with intriguing facts, follows one of nature’s most magnificent — and endangered — species on its search for a safe habitat, while Yu Rong’s expressive, delicate brushwork brings these legendary creatures to life.Back matter includes an index, and a note about pandas.

“This attractive and readable book is an excellent introduction to informational literature and to a fascinating creature.” — School Library JournalPython stirs and slithers out from her shelter, smelling the air with her forked tongue. It’s time to molt her dull scales and reveal the glistening snake underneath. Gliding along a tree, the hungry python stalks her prey. Combining informative facts, expressive illustrations, and a lyrical, mesmerizing narrative, this book will captivate anyone fascinated by this iconic creature.