Nature Nonfiction

The height of Mount Everest was first measured in 1850, but the closest any Westerner got to Everest during the next 71 years, until 1921, was 40 miles. The Hunt for Mount Everest tells the story of the 71-year quest to find the world's highest mountain. It's a tale of high drama, of larger-than-life characters - George Everest, Francis Younghusband, George Mallory, Lord Curzon, Edward Whymper - and a few quiet heroes: Alexander Kellas, the 13th Dalai Lama, Charles Bell.

Air travel is one of the safest methods of transportation, but when a disaster happens, it captures the public's imagination. Learn about how airplanes are built, how researchers investigate a crash, how engineers are making planes safer, and more.

Is your child always asking questions about the world and wanting to learn more about it? Isn’t it amazing how quickly children learn when they’re younger? Their brains are like little sponges, absorbing all the information around them. Your heart swells with pride when they tell you something new and exciting that they’ve learned. Perhaps it’s the ability to recite the names of all the planets in our solar system, or maybe it’s being able to solve a complex math problem. Wherever their passions lie, our Trivia for Smart Kids will keep their curiosity growing.

When a group of bees lives together, it's called a colony. Learn about life in a colony of bees and why these animals like to stick together. Find out how living together with others helps bees stay safe, find food, and mate.

With their keen senses, dogs can sniff out bombs and hear artillery shells being fired long before people can. Military dogs are trained to use their senses to save soldiers' lives and make the soldiers' jobs easier. Learn more about these amazing animals, including how they are chosen, the training they go through, and the missions they complete.

Gray squirrels leap from high heights to move from tree to tree. Discover these delightful rodents' life cycle and lifestyle in the woods.

In Anima, Kapka Kassabova introduces us to the "pastiri" people—the shepherds struggling to hold on to an ancient way of life in which humans and animals exist in profound interdependence. Following her three previous books set in the Balkans, and with an increasing interest in the degraded state of our planet and culture, Kassabova reaches further into the spirit of place than she ever has before. In this extraordinary portrayal of pastoral life, she investigates the heroic efforts to sustain the oldest surviving breeds of our domesticated animals,.

Capybaras are at home on land and in the water. Learn about these round-bodied rodents and their habitats in Capybaras.

Percy and his animal friends have delighted readers around the word for more than 30 years! Here you can listen to six fantastic park adventures, performed by Jim Broadbent. Percy the park keeper works hard looking after the park and his animal friends who live there. But Percy still likes to find time for some fun and games. And of course in Percy’s Park there’s always time for a story....

It’s a cat’s world! In the United States and Europe, there are even more cats kept as pets than dogs. All of these cats mean there are also millions of owners who need to care for them! Young listeners will learn the ins and outs of daily cat care, symptoms of some common illnesses, and countless tips for how to keep cats in tip-top shape.

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.

Los tiburones y los delfines tienen cuerpos en forma de torpedos con aletas en sus espaldas. Ellos se deslizan a través del agua para atrapar a sus presas con sus dientes filosos. Pero a pesar de sus similitudes los tiburones y los delfines pertenecen a diferentes especies de animales: uno es un pez y obtiene el oxígeno del agua y el otro es un mamífero y obtiene el oxígeno del aire.

Learn about the great rivers of the World with the iMindsJNR audio-learning series for younger minds. Can you guess which is the world's longest river? According to most scientists, it is the Nile, which passes through several African countries, and is 6,695 kilometers long. Some scientists have recently argued that the Amazon in South America is in fact longer. It all depends on where you start your measurements!

Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. Warrior Dog the story of Cairo and his handler, Will Chesney, a member of SEAL Team Six whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo's, specially adapted for young listeners from Chesney and Joe Layden's No Ordinary Dog.

Sometimes a therapy dog can lift a person's spirits just by being in the same room. Other times, the dogs take more active roles, acting as companions. Therapy dogs help people who are ill or sad feel better. Learn more about these amazing animals, including how they are chosen, the training they go through, and the work they do.

Bearded dragons may not breathe fire or fly, but they are still impressive animals! These large lizards are found in Australia. They use venom to kill prey. Learn more details about these fascinating reptiles.

Relive the exciting tales from Highlights, now on audio! Stories include: A Crab’s Clever Costume by Sudipta Bardhan, A Sea Turtle’s Quiet Miracle by Lorraine A. Jay, A Whale of a Baby by Kim Valice, Alligators Are Really Shy by Pringle Pipkin, Baby Dolphins in Shark Bay by Sharon T. Pochron, Ph.D., Bowhead Whales with Talent! by Laura Lane, Can Dolphins Do Math? by Sherry North, Dr. Octopus by Dana Church, Flying Jellyfish by Andy Boyles, High-Tech Fish by Jack Myers, and more!

Two beady eyes peek out of the water. Is it a crocodile or an alligator? They may look similar, but these two reptiles have many differences, including where they live and the shape of their snout. Let’s find out what fearsome creature is really lurking below the water and explore their differences.

You're swimming in the ocean when you see a fin cutting through the water toward you. Shark! Although they have the upperhand in their watery home, some people have encountered shark attacks and have lived to show their scars. These true stories detail the amazing events of people who endured a shark attack and survived.

Snort and grunt. Roll in mud. Pigs are at home on the farm.