Books in Smithsonian Backyard series

A unique guide to the extraordinary world of plants, from the smallest seeds to the tallest trees.Packed with more than 1,000 incredible images and full of fascinating facts, this beautiful children's book takes you on an exciting adventure through the wonders of the plant kingdom.Explore the incredible world of plants, from the smallest seeds to the tallest trees. Find out about the weirdest, smelliest, and deadliest flowers. Which plants eat insects? How do cacti store water? What flower looks like a bee? Where is the tallest tree in the world? Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds explores the mysterious world of plants to find the answers to these and many more questions.Each type of plant - such as a flowering plant, a tree, a grass, or cactus - is examined close-up, with examples shown from all angles and in cross-section. Picture-filled galleries also show the wonderful variety of plants on different themes, from the habitats they grow in to the plants that supply us with our staple foods. But Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds also takes a fun, more sideways look at some truly strange plants, such as trees with fruit like gigantic fingers, orchids that look like a monkey's face, seeds that spin like helicopters, and trees that drip poison.So open this amazing book and find out more about the world of trees, leaves, flowers, and seeds.

Turn your eyes to the skies for this starry-eyed spectacular!Take this practical page-turner on your out-of-this-world adventure to experience cosmic wonders, key constellations, and intergalactic information. Packed with crystal-clear visuals, easy-to-read maps, and top tips, you’ll have no problems navigating the starry night with this indispensable guide. Discover the most important constellations visible in the Northern Hemisphere, read the amazing stories behind each constellation, recognize the constellations of the zodiac, and experience the Milky Way as never before. Learn how to spot planets, galaxies, and nebulas in our Universe, as mind-blowing patterns in the sky are revealed in unprecedented detail.Star Finder! is the complete guide for aspiring astronomers and rising stars everywhere.

Winter is near, and Chipmunk is scampering around gathering as many nuts and seeds as possible to take back to her burrow for the long hibernation. Follow Chipmunk as she fends off competitors and prepares for the long, cold winter. Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations. Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!Book Features:- An informative storyline and colorful illustrations- Appropriate for ages 3-9- Hardcover dimensions: 12 x 8 3/4 inches

Dig into this photo-packed Penguin-Smithsonian book about fossils—and find out what was going on in our world.Aren't you curious about what Earth was like long ago? What creatures lived before us? What happened to the dinosaurs?Curious about Fossils explains why and where fossils form and looks at the colorful lives and important discoveries of some of the great early fossil hunters and collectors, including Mary Anning who unearthed the first ichthyosaur skeleton; Richard Owen who coined the word dinosaur; and Barnum Brown, who discovered the first remains of a T-rex. Then the adventure continues into modern times, where scientists on fossil hunts in places like North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation use computers and other technology to dig up the fossilized bones, teeth, and even poop that provide clues to the past. A must read for every kid who's ever collected a shark tooth or trilobite!

A landmark in reference publishing and overseen and authenticated by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, Natural History presents an unrivaled visual survey of Earth's natural history. Giving a clear overview of the classification of our natural world-over 6,000 species-Natural History looks at every kingdom of life, from bacteria, minerals, and rocks to fossils to plants and animals. Featuring a remarkable array of specially commissioned photographs, Natural History looks at thousands of specimens and species displayed in visual galleries that take the reader on an incredible journey from the most fundamental building blocks of the world's landscapes, through the simplest of life forms, to plants, fungi, and animals.

This sea monster is real. It lurks in the freezing black depths of underwater canyons. Nearly 50 feet long, it hunts with its long arms and tentacles. Its powerful suckers leave giant round scars on those that live through a battle with it. But this enormous beast, with its huge, strange eyes, remains hidden from humans. We rarely see it and know little of its ways. What is this monster? The giant squid. This famed member of the cephalopod group has a history of frightening fishermen, starring in fictional adventure tales, and keeping scientists guessing. What is the story of this mythic creature? Why is it so hard to study? What secrets does it keep? Clyde Roper, ocean scientist and squid expert, has been seeking this secretive creature for decades. Come along as he and other researchers unravel its mysteries.

Journey back in time and find out where the dinosaurs roamed. This unique children's atlas explores each continent, revealing fossil sites and stories on every map.Part of the best-selling What's Where on Earth series, this atlas is packed with maps of early Earth and more than 50 profiles of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Stare down a T. Rex in North America. Watch out for the Velociraptors' slashing claws in the Gobi Desert. Trek across the Siberian tundra and discover a woolly mammoth. This stunning book makes every animal come to life using breathtaking computer-generated imagery. Using specially commissioned maps, this dinosaur atlas shows you what the world looked like millions of years ago. A modern 3D globe next to each map helps you understand the arrangement of the continents over time and why we find fossils where we do. You can see what paleontologists (dinosaur experts) have dug up over the centuries in each continent and learn how they put together a picture of the past from a puzzle of ancient clues. Where on Earth? Dinosaurs reveals the prehistoric world as never before, and is an essential addition to the library of every young dinosaur expert.

Bullfrog is ready to find a spot of his own where he will use his deep, croaking song to attract a mate. On his search Bullfrog is alert for danger but still faces many challenges along the way. Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations. Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard! This book includes downloadable ebook and read-along audiobook with realistic sound effects for added fun.Other titles in this series include "Black Bear Cub at Sweet Berry Trail", "Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane", "River Otter at Autumn Lane", "Garter Snake at Willow Creek Lane", and many more fun and educational Smithsonian Backyard Books!Book Features:- An informative storyline and colorful illustrations- 32 pages- Appropriate for ages 3-9- Paperback dimensions: 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Children follow Box Turtle as she stirs from her cozy bed of leaves and soil to find the perfect spot to lay her eggs. Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Box Turtle at Silver Pond Lane is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations. Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!Book Features:- An informative storyline and colorful illustrations- Appropriate for ages 3-9- Paperback dimensions: 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Groundhog has a busy day ahead of him. He leaves his mother's den to dig his own burrow. Groundhog is moving out, but little does he know, there are predators who are after him. Watch as he tries to escape from a dog and a red hawk. Will he get away? Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Groundhog at Evergreen Road is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations. Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!Book Features:- An informative storyline and colorful illustrations- Appropriate for ages 3-9- Paperback dimensions: 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

In a backyard in southern New England, Bumblebee emerges from her winter hibernation and soon her nest is a flurry of activity. Follow Bumblebee and her young as they collect nectar while buzzing around a New England backyard. Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Bumblebee at Apple Tree Lane is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations.Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!Book Features:- An informative storyline and colorful illustrations- Appropriate for ages 3-9- Paperback dimensions: 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches