Animals Nonfiction

Sea monsters have a long history in lore and literature. Homer first wrote of them in 700 BCE. What Do We Know About the Kraken? lets curious young listeners explore what we actually know about this mysterious sea monster's long history. Dive into the facts behind this massive squid-like creature that was first described using the word "Kraken" in the beginning of the eighteenth century.

A life in the wild! Jane Goodall, born in London, England, always loved animals and wanted to study them in their natural habitats. So at age 26, off she went to Africa! Goodall's up-close observations of chimpanzees changed what we know about them and paved the way for many female scientists who came after her. Now her story comes to life in this biography.

What is the longest venomous snake in the world? The king cobra! It can grow longer than a limousine. Its deadly bite can even take down an elephant. Young listeners will enjoy learning more about these fascinating reptiles.

Journey into forests around the world to follow the lives of these furry creatures as they play, hunt, and fight their way through their day. Biologist and black bear expert Don Hardeman Jr. tells the story of the world’s most amazing bears in the style of a nature documentary, including gentle science explanations of topics such as hibernation that are perfect for future biologists.

What’s that red-haired animal swinging through the rain forest’s trees seemingly without a care in the world? It’s an orangutan! Aside from all that red hair, these beautiful beasts look almost human, but they’re a lot stronger. Learn more about these colorful animals, including how they live, how clever they are, how they’re dealing with a shrinking habitat, and what you can do to help.

Everybody has a favorite bug. Some like shiny, colorful beetles or busy ants or soft pale moths best. Others prefer spindly walking sticks or fuzzy caterpillars that turn into bright butterflies. With charming personal stories, 15 children's book artists share their favorite bugs and why they love them.

How did some birds come to have brightly colored feathers to match the flowers and fruits of the tropical forest, but others stayed in muted colors? According to this Arawak folktale, they got their colors from a snake! What happens when there aren’t enough colors to go around?

Allosaurus and its relatives were fierce and dangerous predators. Dinosaurs in this group had deadly claws and razor-sharp teeth.

Beavers build dams that benefit an entire ecosystem.

Ostriches can't fly, but they can run! Learn about how these birds survive in their desert home.

Have you ever seen a bird nest? Birds make all kinds of different nests! Nests are made from lots of different kinds of materials and are shaped differently. Learn about the different kinds of nests that are made by different species of birds!

Few people get to meet their dogs on the dog’s actual first birthday. Most of us missed the day our puppy opened her eyes, the first sweet sounds she made, or watching her learn to walk, bark, and play with her siblings. But the dog scientist Alexandra Horowitz got to. She met a litter of newborn pups, and traces their journey through their first year of life.

Reluctant listeners will love their front-row seats to action with this series! This volume includes Ostrich vs. Cheetah and Tiger Shark vs. Leopard Seal.

Biomes are home to unique animals and plants. Introduce beginning listeners to the African savanna biome! Listeners will learn about the characteristics of the land and weather and how zebras, lions, giraffes, and other animals have adapted to life in this amazing biome.

Peek! A baby prairie dog looks out of its underground burrow. Beginning listeners will discover why burrows make good homes for growing baby rabbits, meerkats, and other adorable animals.

With three hearts and blue blood, its gelatinous body unconstrained by jointed limbs or gravity, the octopus seems to be an alien, an inhabitant of another world. It’s baggy, boneless body sprouts eight arms covered with thousands of suckers—suckers that can taste as well as feel. The octopus also has the powers of a superhero: it can shape-shift, change color, squirt ink, pour itself through the tiniest of openings, or jet away through the sea faster than a swimmer can follow.

You have eyelashes. Your dog has eyelashes. But fish don’t! Why? You have questions, and this book has the answers. Find out about fish, including their body parts and behavior.

Orangutans swing through rain forest trees. Learn all about these clever apes and their habitats in Orangutans.

Dive under the waves with some of the ocean's most fascinating fish. From teeth to tail, learn what makes sharks so incredible. The engaging STEM topic makes this set perfect for budding marine biologists and adventure-seekers alike. You're about to get shark shocked! This volume includes Basking Shark, Bull Shark, and Goblin Shark.

If you think dinosaurs are cool, wait till you learn what covered Earth 430 million years ago. That’s long before dinos even existed. There wasn’t much on land - some really tiny plants and even smaller animals like millipedes and mites. But offshore life was another story. Six-foot-long relatives of modern scorpions roamed the open water, gobbling up smaller creatures. Fish were out there, too. There just weren’t many of them, and they were much different than today’s fish.