From the springtime frolic of Oscar, Cat-About-Town to the yuletide warmth of The Christmas Day Kitten, these stories-radiantly illustrated by Peter Barrett and Ruth Brown-are perennial favorites, and this new complete edition will make a wonderful gift for all readers, great and small.

    Exceptional Coverage. This authoritative volume starts with a clear introduction to the animal world, examining the reasons for the apparently infinite variety of animal forms and major evolutionary developments. Animal anatomy, life cycles and the principles of classification are also explored. This is followed by a superbly illustrated survey of world habitats, showing how they have adapted to each environment, and the threats that face both wildlife and plants today. The main part of the book, an up-to-date and comprehensive animal catalog, looks in detail at each major group and provides fascinating profiles of over 2,000 individual species. Visually Breathtaking. Spectacular photographic portraits bring a vast array of animals vividly to life, with special features on well-known and important animals such as the Galapagos tortoise. Each species profile is supported by maps and symbols showing distribution and habitat, as well as key information on size, population, and conservation status, forming an invaluable reference database. Outstanding Reference. Clear, comprehensive, and thought provoking, the Smithsonian Animal is essential reading for wildlife enthusiasts of all ages and levels of experience.

    He doesn't even think of asking Mrs. Bear if she's his mother-but then she starts to do just the things a mommy might do. And when she brings him home, he meets her other children-a piglet, a hippo, and an alligator-and learns that families can come in all shapes and sizes and still fit together.Keiko Kasza's twist on the Are you my mother? theme has become one of the most highly recommended stories about adoption for children.

    At last she does, and they all bounce up and down with joy, welcoming her home.

    It's a fan, says another. One by one, the seven blind mice investigate the strange Something by the pond. And one by one, they come back with a different theory. It's only when the seventh mouse goes out-and explores the whole Something-that the mice see the whole truth. Based on a classic Indian tale, Ed Young's beautifully rendered version is a treasure to enjoy again and again.Immensely appealing.(The Horn Book, starred review)

    Could it be a case of mistaken identity? This fast-paced comedy of errors, illustrated with Jez Alborough's quirky artwork, is guaranteed to have children—and bears alike—reaching for their teddies!

    They found it in Zambia, but elephant poachers soon had them fighting for their lives when they tried to stop the slaughter. 16 pages of photos, half in color.

    And the terror begins. For Ted is no longer fully human, and only Thor can detect the Bad Thing lurking within Uncle Ted. Only Thor can sense the horror he is helpless to communicate. And only Thor can defeat that horror.

    series, Tumble Bumble is a fun-filled tale of a tiny bug who goes for a walk and meets all kinds of creatures!When a tiny bug decides to go for a walk, anything can happen! He might meet a cat, a crocodile, a pig, or even a bee to dance and play with, and that means more friends for everyone.

    When a dangerous and hungry shark suddenly appears, Rainbow Fish must decide: Should he risk losing his new friends - maybe even his life - for the little stranger?

    Living in homes built out of tumbleweeds and saguaro ribs (from the fallen giant cacti), the first two javelinas are soon running from the hungry coyote, who had hoped to eat them with red chile sauce. And where do they go for shelter? Why, to their wise sister's house, made strong with adobe bricks. This clever and humorous tale is sure to delight children of all ages, especially those familiar with the Southwest. Dressed in cowboy duds and prepared for life in the rugged desert, these characters are more than any coyote bargained for.

    Illustrated with hundreds of his original photographs, Tracking & the Art of Seeing provides complete information on the behavior and habitat of over 50 animal species and shows you how to identify animals by their tracks, tail patterns, droppings, dens, scratches and other signs.

    in full color. Chock-full of information about the most sensitive, intelligent, and friendly of large aquatic creatures, Dolphins! should fare swimmingly with kids who read about whales and sharks.

    It features over 900 photos, annotations and descriptions highlighting chief characteristics and distinguishing marks which help you to identify different whale, dolphin or porpoise species quickly.

    The author, a popular Dutch artist, presents paintings of Noah's ark and its animals, both on the ark and in their natural settings.

    But one day Franklin is playing hide-and-seek with his friends and forgets what his mother has told him. Franklin is frightened when he realizes he's lost, but he knows just what to do -- stay in his shell and wait to be found. A dramatic story with a happy ending.

    Every character - including each of the wonderful animals you will come to know - is real flesh and blood. Because the federal government retains an abiding interest in locking up anyone involved in illegally removing animals from those who legally exploit them, it has convened grand juries to investigate the often daring and successful raids you will read about. Understanding how some quite 'ordinary' people came to break the law may very well change your life.

    The reader may find Professor Dupont's hiding cockatoos in the illustrations of his house, but the professor needs to correct the problem that caused his ten pets to hide in the first place.

    In this tender bedtime story, each of the animals in the barnyard prepares for the night. 29 full-color illustrations.

    A lonely young girl living on a remote farm with her work obsessed-parents cares for an old and battered wooden horse with such devotion that it comes to life.

    Worse still, they overhear the pirates making plans to steal the Queen's gold. Charles is determined to help rescue the treasure. But what can the bravest of mice do? Especially when the Queen's sailors are all cats? For age 4-10

    But this particular canine is a very determined digger. Deeper and deeper he digs--turning up all kinds of extraordinary underground things, and in the process uncovers your funny bone. Full-color illustrations.

    A song of acceptance and bravery that will pierce the heart of anyone who has ever felt close to an animal. Illustrations.

    In addition to illustrations of birds to identify, there are charts explaining the parts of a bird, how a bird grows, how to tell males and females, how to find birds, and how to attract them to your neighborhood. Full-color illustrations.

    is confused about what kind of animal he is until he must use his big rabbit feet and rabbit smarts to outwit Jazzy D., a hungry weasel.

    How the Butterflies Came to Be is one of twenty-four Native American tales included in Native American Animal Stories. The stories, coming from Mohawk, Hopi, Yaqui, Haida and other cultures, demonstrate the power of animals in Native American traditions.Parents, teachers and children will delight in lovingly told stories about "our relations, the animals." The stories come to life through magical illustrations by Mohawk artists John Kahionhes Fadden and David Fadden."The stories in this book present some of the basic perspectives that Native North American parents, aunts and uncles use to teach the young. They are phrased in terms that modern youngsters can understand and appreciate ... They enable us to understand that while birds and animals appear to be similar in thought processes to humans, that is simply the way we represent them in our stories. But other creatures do have thought processes, emotions, personal relationships...We must carefully ccord these other creatures the respect that they deserve and the right to live without unnecessary harm. Wanton killings of different animals by some hunters and sportsmen are completely outside the traditional way that native people have treated other species, and if these stories can help develop in young people a strong sense of the wonder of other forms of life, this sharing of Native North American knowledge will certainly have been worth the effort." —excerpt from the forward by Vine Deloria, Jr.These stories first appeared in Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children by Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac

    A bassett hound's peaceful life with a human couple is changed when a rambunctious and adventurous cat joins the family.

    Two pigs who drive the farmer and his wife crazy with their silliness and pranks decide to move to a new farm, only to be missed by all the other animals when they leave.

    The author describes how his spiritual experiences in the wilderness led him to a concern for healing the environment, and recommends developing a sense of oneness with the planet.

     Beginning with the basics, the text describes what characterizes an insect, including anatomy and the life cycle. It takes an order-by-order look at insects, explaining how each group differs from another and why certain types of insects have been classified together. The book shows you not only what to look for but how and where to look for it -- from capturing and keeping live insects to ways of making a collection and taking photographs. Tips on keeping a field notebook are also included. Packed with more than 200 full-color illustrations, this comprehensive guide is a valuable reference tool for nature enthusiasts.

    Description of each species includes geographic range, maximum size and notes of ecological interest.

    If he had two hands, he could tear the sky . . .So unfolds a Yoruba poem celebrating the largest, most powerful, and one of the smartest creatures to walk the planet: the elephant. In this richly detailed exploration of the natural history and troubled fate of both the African and Asian species of elephant, noted wildlife biologist and author Douglas Chadwick travels the world to acquaint us with these awesome giants.Through visits to India, Siberia, Botswana, Thailand, Malaysia, Kenya, and even an American zoo, Chadwick illustrates the pivotal role the elephant plays in shaping and balancing not only the ecosystems it calls home, but also the livelihoods of a wide array of people. We travel to East Africa and join elephant families on the savannas of Amboseli Reserve in the shadow of Kilimanjaro. In the thick jungles of the Congo Basin, Chadwick leads us down pygmy footpaths on the trail of the elusive forest elephant. In Asia we experience a day in the life of a working elephant at an Indian timber camp, and take a raft trip to transplant problem elephants to remote areas of the Malaysian rainforest. At the zoo, we watch a four-ton artist take brush in trunk and paint a canvas with delicate strokes. In each place we visit, Chadwick reveals the elephant as a playful, intelligent being, full of surprises and ready to smash the narrow confines from which we traditionally view animals.As he shows us how similar elephants are to humans - they travel in closely knit families, learn from each other, look after their ill and elderly, mourn their dead, and communicate through a vocabulary of audible and subsonic sounds that addup to a surprisingly nuanced and expressive language - he leads us to rethink our definition of and approach to conservation.Chadwick also introduces us to the people whose lives are intimately connected with the elephant's - mahouts, researchers, loggers, royal white elephant metaphysicians, veterinarians, poachers, and some of the world's most talented ivory carvers. He illustrates how the elephant is integral to the history and mythology of the peoples with whom it has lived, and shows us why, despite that bond, elephants and humans have come into inevitable conflict as they vie for the same crucial tracts of land. Discussing the combination of factors that have pushed the elephant to the brink of extinction - the drastic loss of habitat, the ruthless pursuit of ivory, the unstable societies in crowded nations - Chadwick shows us why the fate of the elephant is a potent metaphor for our own fate, and makes a compelling case for acting immediately to save the elephant from oblivion, lest we destroy a creature we are only beginning to understand.

    Until one day he and several of his fellows are trapped in a net and transported south, for hare coursing.

    These gentle, lovable dogs have special physical and emotional needs, and no other guide is more authoritative or complete in preparing potential Greyhound owners for the responsibilities involved than Adopting the Racing Greyhound.This fully updated edition features veterinary information not available elsewhere, backed up by painstaking research by some of the country's leading authorities. Respected Greyhound authority Cynthia Branigan--who has helped place more than 4,000 ex-racers through her organization--provides updated statistics on the costs of adoption as well as new health information, such as safe new flea, tick and heartworm preventives, anesthesia protocols for Greyhounds and suggestions on purchasing veterinary insurance.Branigan carefully explains how potential adopters can decide whether a Greyhound is the right dog for them--a critical issue in successful adoptions--and covers everything from feeding and grooming to training to extending the dog's life span. She helps readers prepare a Greyhound for the arrival of a new baby; decide whether or not to add a Greyhound to an existing pack of dogs; determine when to return an adopted dog; and locate adoption agencies throughout the world. Branigan also offers a wealth of updated information on medical conditions in Greyhounds and the latest in tests and treatments.

    Featuring more than 500 full-color illustrations and photographs, along with detailed annotations, Smithsonian Handbooks make identification easy and accurate.

    

    He has also written mystery novels, short stories, stage plays -- under several pen names. The Woodlander Series are classic children's stories written in the 1940s and 1950s about the inhabitants of Deep Wood -- Old Stripe the Badger, Potter-the-Otter, Woo Owl and Digger Mole. Meet, for the first time, the inhabitants of DEEP WOOD.

    Nobody has lived there for a long time, but the house is home to lots of others – sheep, sparrows, rabbits, mice and a stray cat. What will happen to them when a human wants to live there too?

    

    In addition to examining all aspects of bat biology, the volume helps dispel many myths about bats.

    Perfect for any child facing that first trip away from home.

    Indeed, it is now attracting greater attention among research workers and being taught increasingly to students of zoology and veterinary science. This book presents a readable overview of the behavior of the domestic cat, adopting both a mechanistic and functional approach, but making full reference to the scientific literature. The first half of the book is concerned mainly with physiological, developmental and psychological aspects, while the second half looks at social behavior, relationships with humans and welfare. The final chapter, written by well-known behavior therapist Peter Neville, considers problem behaviors. This book will appeal both to students and research workers, but will also interest members of the general public seeking a scientific but jargon-free approach to this fascinating subject.

    Like all stories in the oral tradition, the Rabbit stories amuse, entertain, and educate. Full color.

    

    There he finds a tiny white kitten, and as the two become unlikely friends, they share both the joys and perils of the changing seasons. The picture book debut of the internationally known author of the classic Karen, this is a story of loyalty, strength, and survival. Full color.

    As always, Helen Lester's wonderfully offbeat humor and Lynn Munsinger's whimsical illustrations result in a hilarious lesson about piggishness. The picture book duo of Lester and Munsinger has created six previous books, including the award-winning TACKY THE PENGUIN.

    Gilly worries about not having a present for Granny's birthday, until she discovers that the best present is her love.

    Paula Simmons and Darrell Salsbury cover everything you need to know, from choosing and buying the right sheep to feeding, heath care, shearing, showing, breeding, and lambing.

    Cute children's tale about 'Pepperoni the Pizza Cat'

    H . Lawrence, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle & Tolstoy, as well as fro m more modern masters of the genre such as Monica Dickens & Michael Morpurgo. '

    Here are such delicately beautiful creatures as the black, salmon-orange, white and blue painted lady, the rapid-flying dogface butterfly, with wing markings that look like a poodle's profile, and a host of others: pipevine swallowtail, monarch, buckeye, white admiral, olive hairstreak, Milbert's tortoiseshell, great spangled fritillary, ruddy daggerwing, fiery skipper, mourning cloak, tiger swallowtail, red admiral, and many more, all of them found in the United States or Canada. Fact-filled captions provide information about each species' coloration, range, habitat, special characteristics, and more. All are shown in full color on the covers. An excellent source of nature illustrations for artists and craftspeople, this delightful coloring book can also be used as an accurate, inexpensive nature identification guide.

    With the help of some unusual characters in a small California town, Danny struggles to live on his own while his father, a Vietnam veteran, is in the VA hospital.

    

    TV tie-in. 35,000 first printing.

    Judy Taylor, biographer of Beatrix Potter, has put together this complete collection of the letters. All the picture letters are shown in facsimile, and the book is beautifully illustrated with full-color paintings and photographs.

    But the only horse Leslie wants is Battlecry, a racer everyone else has given up on as wild and untrainable. Leslie knows Battlecry is something more. Beneath his unpredictable behavior is a spirited horse who would give his all to win races again—for her. Finally Leslie's parents give Battlecry a chance to prove his worth. Leslie doesn't know that by entering Battlecry in a race, she'll risk losing him forever...

    With additional fact lists and an index, children are sure to find these books both appealing and accessible.

    The average American consumes the meat of seven 1,100-pound steers in a lifetime. But how many hamburger-lovers realize that a single boneless beefsteak requires up to 1,200 gallons of precious water to produce, that livestock now consume nearly one third of the world's grain, or that cattle play a central role in species extinction?

    The 1991 national winner of the Kids Are Authors contest, sponsored by PAGES Book Fairs, Inc. This fanciful, fun story is a great example of the best kind of picture book: one written and illustrated by children. The bright mixed-media illustrations are beautiful and the story is delightful.

    Kids can follow the hilarious antics that ensue as old Mister Johnson attempts to get rid of a cat "that just won't stay away." Musical notation is included for children who want to sing along with this funny adaptation of Fred Penner's theme song.

    But when you do, don't count him, too. (It's all right, he won't mind.)

    There are more than 200 species of carnivore in existence which are more diverse than any other living group of vertebrates. The one feature which distinguishes carnivores from all other mammals is the carnassial tooth, designed for shearing meat, although, ironically, their survival has often depended on their ability to survive on diets other than meat. Nearly 40 million years ago the ancestors of two great dynasties of modern predators became divided. In a world dominated by forests the ancestors of the cat remained in the trees, and animals like the sabre-toothed tiger evolved into refined killers. The ancestors of the dog descended to the ground to feed in the clearings and later, with the opening up of the grassy plains and the prey available on these, the dog established its hunting terrain. The book helps to explain the extraordinary myths surrounding the hyena and its peculiar sexuality. It explores how bears, racoons and pandas as a group of carnivores have a truly omnivorous existence, addressing the question - can the vegetarian panda still be classified as a carnivore? The author also looks at the smaller carnivores of the mustella family with their incredible variation in size and lifestyle. They have developed to become both predators and prey and some, such as the skunk, have evolved elaborate defence mechanisms to deter predators. The various species of carnivore depend on each other for their survival, and it is an ironical fact that many skilled and powerful carnivores are more vulnerable than the prey they hunt - resulting in the establishment of intricate carnivore societies, like that of the meerkat.

    Describes the experiences of five fox pups during the month of June in the farmland of Pennsylvania.

    Describes the activities of a mother red squirrel during the month of April as she nurtures her newborn babies in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.

    25,000 first printing.

    This comprehensive guide presents everything a potential packer needs to know."I would highly recommend the book to anyone, whether or not they are interested in goat packing; it is simply fun to read."

    Biological anthropologist Dean Falk now brings the discussion into the 21st century. In this revised edition with a new preface and updated information through 2003, she reexamines her groundbreaking research of how the human brain evolved and reveals how this process continues to impact our species. Around two million years ago, our earliest hominin ancestors experienced an explosive brain expansion, at least one million years after they began to walk upright. Rather than linking bipedalism alone with brain expansion, as previously theorized, Falk’s explanation involves climate. She contends that bipedalism allowed our ancestors to wander farther afield in savannah-like regions, where their brains were subjected to solar heating. Falk and her colleagues discovered that one hominin line developed a complicated brain-cooling system to combat the destructive effects of excessive heat. This ability and expanding brain size evolved together, thus producing hominins with a brain capacity three times greater than their ancestors. Falk further discusses the evolution of visual skills, right-handedness, language ability, right-brain/left-brain and male/female differences—and the uniquely human ability to dance. The specifics of how we tapped, toed, and twisted through the prehistoric "brain dance" form the story line of this book. And what did two million years of bigger brains produce? The last chapter summarizes Falk’s ideas on human cognitive and conscious capacities for the future.

    During a cold spell in December, a song sparrow that has not migrated south must adapt to the changes that winter brings.

    A woman who has lost her beloved small dog to death succeeds in finding him again when he is reborn into the body of a new puppy.

    Determined to capture a beautiful moth for his collection, Old Brown Bear finds himself following the elusive creature into the clouds.

    too many green iguanas in captivity surviving to adult size. This compact manual offers a thorough coverage of housing, feeding, medical problems behavior problems and captive breeding. Includes many color photos and illustrations. It remains one of the best-selling herp books of all time!

    Then count them and you'll fall asleep." But instead of sheep, the child sees a variety of barnyard and wild animals in funny poses like an itchy cow and a smiling, fat hippo. The sheep finally appear and the child falls asleep counting up to ten and wishing for a big kangaroo.

    From Aardvark to Zoorille this is the ideal family guide to the animal kingdom.

    The soft paintings combine with the simple text to bring a vanishing breed vividly to life. A wonderful book for reading aloud or for sharing, the story subtly parallels the growth of all creatures and underscores the strong bonds that exist between parent and child.

    This essential handbook covers where to find butterflies; how to observe and photograph them; their behavior, biology, ecology, and life histories; butterfly gardening; butterfly rearing; identification; and conservation.

    Every painting, 300 in all, from Peterson's Field Guide to the Birds and Field Guide to Western Birds is reproduced at full size in these stunning books. Each book is signed by the author.

    vi 390, color illustrations, ep maps, text maps. Heavy book additional postage will apply.

    This book evaluates criticisms of animal rights that have appeared in philosophical literature and explains the consequences of animal liberation for our diet, science, and treatment of the environment.

    Beautiful, detailed paintings of human beings and fourteen other animals--including chimpanzees, giraffes, and whales--turn into glowing skeletons when youngsters read this fact-packed work in the dark.

    Drawing on firsthand observation, Brown here portrays 21 engaging and intriguing species in meticulous text and beautifully detailed paintings. Wings Along the Waterway makes clear how precious each bird is and why it is critical to care about their preservation.

    Ten-year-old Anni takes readers along on her family's trip to India in this fascinating "diary." Young readers learn many interesting facts about India, from the Taj Mahal to rickshaws to Indian cuisine.

    The author also wrote Old Bear, Jolly Snow, Jolly Tall, Little Bear's Trousers and Little Bear's Storytime.

    Come meet Bob and Ozzie, two mice who are bored with their posts. They are so bored that they will even listen to a cat. July is a big house cat who loves to talk and is always trying to coax Bob and Ozzie out of their mouse hole. And let’s not forget about Maximilian, the Chihuahua. He’s a puppy out to have a great adventure.Together, you get a wonderfully spun tale of four friends who love and depend on each other more than they realize.

    A look at plants offers a definition of plants and answers such questions as where do raisins grow? what is a rainforest? how do water plants float? and others.

    

    But 18 years later, when she died in his arms, Martin knew their relationship was and always would be the most significant of his life. This wonderfully moving chronicle of Martin's and Maya's ever-deepening bond touches a chord in anyone who has ever known grief at the loss of a treasured animal friend. Illustrations.

    These storybooks contain magnificent full-color illustrations both toddlers and beginning readers will love.

    Lummis's profound understanding of Indian and Spanish culture in the American Southwest is reflected in this collection of thirty-two myths centering around the Pueblo of Isleta on the Rio Grande. In adapting these traditional oral tales, Lummis drew on his experience of living at Isleta and his familiarity with the native language. originally published in 1894, Pueblo Indian Folk-Stories is as enchanting as ever. Seven elders seated around a campfire take turns telling about Antelope Boy. the fabled coyote, the man who married the moon, the snake-girls, the sobbing pine, the feathered barbers, the hero twins, the revengeful fawns, and other natural and supernatural entities. Beautifully wrought, these wisdom and initiation stories speak to all who have not lost their sense of wonder.

    The well-traveled kittens explore some of the most colorful and exotic sights in Japan, bringing their own special charm to beautiful portraits of all that is most welcoming to travelers in this fascinating country. Full-color photographs throughout.

    Each pair of illustrations appears identical, yet closer inspection reveals 12 essential differences. An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. Newsday Kidsday Recommended Book List. Full-color illustrations.

    Long Spikes, a deer who is orphaned as a yearling, grows to maturity and displaces the old one-eyed buck from his dominant position.

    Outdoor Life Book Club Selection and Nature Book Society Selection.

    Find out what to feed your puppy, and when, and how to keep your puppy happy and healthy. Puppy is one of an exciting new series of pet care books designed to help young animal owners learn about and care for their pets. Illustrated on every page with full-color photography, Puppy is packed with practical information on every aspect of canine care. Published in association with the ASPCA, this series will engage and inform readers ages seven and up.

    Stunning full-color paintings expressing the myriad facets of the cat's personality are complemented by quotations and verses which celebrate the natural wonder and beauty of the feline.

    A biography of the woman whose methods of studying chimpanzees became a model for wildlife observation.

    On the one hand, a fully engaging novel and on the other hand, a strong statement against animal maltreatment. Anna Sewell's classic novel has enthralled readers since it was first published in 1877.

    After capturing a hawk in order to join a secret club, Jim rejects club membership and arranges a new life for the hawk.

    A compelling conclusion teaches young readers about efforts being taken to protect these animals.