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How the Earthquake Bird Got Its Name: And Other Tales of an Unbalanced Nature
by H. H. ShugartAlthough people have been altering earth's landscapes to some extent for tens of thousands of years, humankind today is causing massive changes to the planet. Such widespread environmental change is accompanied by accelerating rates of species extinction. In this book, noted ecologist H. H. Shugart presents important ecological concepts through entertaining animal parables. He tells the stories of particular birds and mammals--the packrat, ivory-billed woodpecker, penguin, dingo, European rabbit, and others--and what their fates reveal about the interactions between environmental change and the extinctions or explosions of species populations. Change is the root of many planetary problems, but it is also an intrinsic feature of our living planet. Shugart explores past environmental change, discusses the non-existence of a "balance of Nature," and documents how human alterations have affected plants, soils, and animals. He looks with hope toward a future in which thoughtful people learn-and use-ecological science to protect the landscapes upon which terrestrial creatures depend.
How the Elephant Got Its Trunk: A Retelling of the Rudyard Kipling Tale
by Jean RichardsThere was one thing the little elephant really wanted to know: What does the crocodile eat for dinner? Here is a story that takes place a long time ago, before elephants had trunks for noses . . . One day a very special young elephant comes along--an unusually curious elephant--and she has an important question she needs answered. Little does she know her question will lead to an amazing discovery!
How the Ladies Stopped the Wind
by Bruce McmillanIceland is a very windy place. Going for a walk can be challenging. The ladies in one village, with the help of the chickens, set out to stop the wind. But the hungry sheep have other plans. Why aren’t there any trees in the Icelandic countryside? This original tale will tell you why and leave you smiling at the determination of the ever singing Icelandic ladies and their steadfast chickens.
How the Leopard Got His Spots: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
by Rudyard KiplingIn this retelling of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale, a leopard finds a way to hide when the Ethiopian covers him with spots. Told in graphic novel format.
How the Leopard got his Claws
by Chinua AchebeIn the beginning, all the animals lived as friends. Their king, the leopard, was strong but gentle and wise. Only Dog had sharp teeth, and only he scoffed at the other animals’ plan to build a common shelter for resting out of the rain. But when Dog is flooded out of his own cave, he attacks the leopard and takes over as king. And it is then, after visiting the blacksmith’s forge and knocking on Thunder’s door, that the angry leopard returns to regain his throne by the menace of his own threatening new claws. In a riveting fable for young readers about the potency and dangers of power taken by force, Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart, evokes themes of liberation and justice that echo his seminal novels about post-colonial Africa.
How the Penguin Became Part of Team Santa
by Lady LousvetHave you ever wondered why the penguin is associated with Christmas? When you look around, penguins are everywhere, but what are they doing in this story based in the North Pole? This story will explain how a bird from the South wound up as part of Santa’s special team of friends.
How the Penguins Saved Veronica
by Hazel PriorA curmudgeonly but charming old woman, her estranged grandson, and a colony of penguins proves it's never too late to be the person you want to be in this rich, heartwarming story from the acclaimed author of Ellie and the Harpmaker. Eighty-five-year-old Veronica McCreedy is estranged from her family and wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she tells the scientists she&’s coming to visit—and won&’t take no for an answer. Shortly after arriving, she convinces the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes part of life at the base, and Veronica's closed heart starts to open. Her grandson, Patrick, comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know his grandmother. Together, Veronica, Patrick, and even the scientists learn what family, love, and connection are all about.
How the Reindeer Saved Santa
by Carolyn HaywoodDeciding that his sleigh is too old to use for delivering presents, Santa Claus gets a helicopter but finds after several mishaps that his sleigh and reindeer are still the most reliable transportation.
How the Sea Came to Be: (And All the Creatures In It)
by Jennifer BerneA lyrical, spectacular history of the ocean—from its dramatic evolutionary past to its marvelously biodiverse present.&“For millions of years these first bits of lifeBecame more, and then more, and then more.&”Long, long ago, when the Earth was young and new, the world was a fiery place. Volcanoes exploded from deep down below, and steamy, hot clouds rose up high. Rain poured down for thousands of years, filling the world&’s very first oceans. There the teeniest stirrings of life began. Earth&’s creatures grew bigger and bigger, evolving into exciting forms like jellyfish, coral, and worms. Millions of years passed. Down in the depths and up on the surface, ocean life grew and spread. Now the sea teems with all kinds of animals—squid, turtles, dolphins, barracudas, even glowing fish, all living in the waters where long, long ago, life itself came to be. Spanning 4.5 billion years of evolution, this extensively researched book is an accessible introduction to geology, oceanography, and marine biology. Entrancing verse, awe-inspiring art, and fascinating back matter capture the mysterious beauty of the ocean and the incredible organisms who call it home.
How the Snake Lost its Legs: Curious Tales from the Frontier of Evo-Devo
by Lewis I. Held Jr.How did the zebra really get its stripes, and the giraffe its long neck? What is the science behind camel humps, leopard spots, and other animal oddities? Such questions have fascinated us for centuries, but the expanding field of evo-devo (evolutionary developmental biology) is now providing, for the first time, a wealth of insights and answers. Taking inspiration from Kipling's 'Just So Stories', this book weaves emerging insights from evo-devo into a narrative that provides startling explanations for the origin and evolution of traits across the animal kingdom. Held's unique and engaging style makes this narrative both enlightening and entertaining, guiding students and researchers through even complex concepts and encouraging a fuller understanding of the latest developments in the field. The first five chapters cover the first bilaterally symmetric animals, flies, butterflies, snakes, and cheetahs. A final chapter surveys recent results about a menagerie of other animals.
How the Sparrow Learned Its Song (Inheritance and Traits)
by Ashley Chase Ari Krakowski Channon JacksonNIMAC-sourced textbook
How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend
by Lisa Desimini Jerrie OughtonThis retelling of a Navajo folktale explains how First Woman tried to write the laws of the land using stars in the sky, only to be thwarted by the trickster Coyote.
How the Turtle Cracked Its Shell
by Bill Greenhead Alison Adams Sera Y. ReycraftDid you ever wonder why a turtle's shell isn't one smooth piece? Read this pourquoi tale to find out!
How the Zebra Got Its Stripes (Little Golden Book)
by Ron Fontes Golden BooksAs a group of African animals hang out at the local watering hole, they share funny stories about how the zebra got its stripes. At the end of the book, fun facts explain why zebras really have stripes. For any child intrigued by zebras, this colorful, informative book is a must!
How the Zebra Got Its Stripes: Darwinian Stories Told Through Evolutionary Biology
by Barbara Mellor Léo GrassetFrance’s brightest young scientist lucidly explains the intricacies of the animal kingdom through the lens of evolutionary biology. Why do giraffes have such long necks? Why are zebras striped? And why does the clitoris of the female hyena exactly resemble and in most respects function like the male's penis? Deploying the latest scientific research and his own extensive observations in Africa, Léo Grasset offers answers to these questions and many more in a book of post-Darwinian. Complex natural phenomena are explained in simple and at times comic terms, as Grasset turns evolutionary biology to the burning questions of the animal kingdom, from why elephants prefer dictators and buffaloes democracies, to whether the lion really is king. The human is, of course, just another animal, and the author's exploration of two million years of human evolution shows how it not only informs our current habits and behavior, but also reveals that we are hybrids of several different species. Prepare to be fascinated, shocked, and delighted, as well as reliably advised—by the end, you will know to never hug the beautiful, cuddly honey badger, and what explains its almost psychotic nastiness. This is serious science at its entertaining best.
How to Argue with a Cat: A Human's Guide to the Art of Persuasion
by Jay Heinrichs Natalie Palmer-SuttonLearn how to persuade cats—the world’s most skeptical and cautious negotiators—with this primer on rhetoric and argument from the New York Times bestselling author of Thank You for Arguing!Cats are skilled manipulators who can talk you into just about anything without a single word (or maybe a meow or two). They can get you to drop whatever you’re doing and play with them. They can make you serve their dinner way ahead of schedule. They can get you to sit down in an instant to provide a lap. On the other hand, try getting a cat to do what you want....While it’s hard, persuading a cat is possible. And after that, persuading humans becomes a breeze, and that is what you will learn in this book. How to Argue with a Cat will teach you how to:· Hold an intelligent conversation—one of the few things easier to do with a cat than a human.· Argue logically, even if your opponent is furry and irrational.· Hack up a fallacy (the hairball of logic).· Make your body do the talking (cats are very good at this).· Master decorum: the art of fitting in with cats, venture capitalists, or humans.· Learn the wisdom of predator timing to pounce at the right moment.· Get someone to do something or stop doing it.· Earn any creature’s respect and loyalty.
How to Attract Birds to Your Garden: Foods they like, plants they love, shelter they need
by Dan RouseHelp your local wild birds by providing them with a safe garden environmentMake a difference to your local birdlife. Help reverse the decline in bird numbers by creating a haven in which they will thrive. It's a win-win. Provide the best shelter, feeding, and nesting opportunities for them and then you can reap the rewards as they sing and entertain.No need to be an expert gardener already, or to break the bank - many of the most beneficial features can be installed easily and cheaply, and many you can build yourself or upcycle to be eco-friendly.
How to Attract Wildlife to Your Garden: Foods They Like, Plants They Love, Shelter They Need
by Dan RouseTransform your garden into a haven for all kinds of wildlife.In a world with too much concrete and not enough greenery, every wildlife-friendly garden can make a huge difference. But what if we told you that you can make a difference to your local wildlife from the comfort of your own home? You can help to reverse the decline in bird numbers and much more by creating a haven in which they will thrive! Let author, presenter, and wildlife conservationist Dan Rouse show you how you can make your outdoor space more welcoming for a wide variety of visitors, from planting pollinator-friendly perennials to digging a pond. Learn the best ways to provide shelter, food, and water, discover the best planting choices and how they can help, then sit back and watch as your garden becomes a much-needed refuge for a huge range of species.Dive straight in to discover:- A beautiful mixture of full-color illustrations and photos of different species.- Practical advice on supporting local wildlife, with ideas suitable for all budgets and abilities.- Suggestions for beneficial plant choices for a range of climate and soil types.- Step-by-step projects tailored to both attracting wildlife and to observe the wildlife that visits the garden.- Ideas for small gardens and outdoor spaces, as well as practical considerations such as pets and children sharing a garden with wildlife.- Final chapter on &‘Observing garden wildlife&’ that showcases low- and high-tech methods of watching for wildlife, and how to connect with the wider wildlife community. The book features plenty of projects to help you attract and observe your new garden visitors, as well as galleries of common species you can expect to see. Following in the footsteps of its sister title How to Attract Birds to Your Garden, everything in the book is clear, accessible, and engaging, with plenty of budget-friendly tips and ideas suitable for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Packed with equal parts expertise and passion, How to Attract Wildlife to Your Garden proves that, by giving nature opportunities to thrive, we all benefit: ourselves, our planet, and the wildlife that may call our garden home.
How to Be Animal: A New History of What It Means to Be Human
by Melanie Challenger&“A brilliant, thought-provoking book.&” —Matt Haig, New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library A wide-ranging take on why humans have a troubled relationship with being an animal, and why we need a better oneHuman are the most inquisitive, emotional, imaginative, aggressive, and baffling animals on the planet. But we are also an animal that does not think it is an animal. How well do we really know ourselves?How to Be Animal tells a remarkable story of what it means to be human and argues that at the heart of our existence is a profound struggle with being animal. We possess a psychology that seeks separation between humanity and the rest of nature, and we have invented grand ideologies to magnify this. As well as piecing together the mystery of how this mindset evolved, Challenger's book examines the wide-reaching ways in which it affects our lives, from our politics to the way we distance ourselves from other species. We travel from the origin of homo sapiens through the agrarian and industrial revolutions, the age of the internet, and on to the futures of AI and human-machine interface. Challenger examines how technology influences our sense of our own animal nature and our relationship with other species with whom we share this fragile planet.That we are separated from our own animality is a delusion, according to Challenger. Blending nature writing, history, and moral philosophy, How to Be Animal is both a fascinating reappraisal of what it means to be human, and a robust defense of what it means to be an animal.
How to Be Animal: A New History of What It Means to Be Human
by Melanie ChallengerWhat makes us human, and why are we so sure we're different from other animals?Humans are the most inquisitive, emotional, imaginative, aggressive, and baffling animals on the planet. But how well do we really know ourselves? How to Be Animal rewrites the remarkable human story and argues that at the heart of our psychology is a profound struggle with being animal.Most of our effects on the planet are the consequences of technological improvements and advances in our understanding of natural mechanisms. But why did this cognitive and technological edge come about in the first place and what kind of being has it made us? In How to Be Animal, Challenger brilliantly argues that this dizzying trajectory is the result of a singular characteristic of our species: the struggle with being an animal. Using a combination of memoir, historical texts, interweaving interviews and cultural and environmental history, How to Be Animal is lively and thought-provoking, bursting with ideas. This is a book for anyone who has ever contemplated what humans are and what makes our species so simultaneously brilliant and awful. Even more so, it is a book that asks tantalizing philosophical questions, such as whether and how human life matters. How to Be Animal is a tough-minded but ultimately sympathetic portrait of humanity. It exposes human beings as extraordinary animals defined by a profound struggle. In the third millennium, the way humans respond to being an animal among animals is the greatest and most inspiring challenge we face.
How to Be Brave
by Daisy May JohnsonDaisy May Johnson's How to Be Brave is a delightfully zany yet heartwarming middle-grade novel about a young girl who bands together with her boarding school friends to find her missing mother.Calla North and her mother Elizabeth live a quiet but happy life together. Elizabeth happens to be the world's leading expert on ducks—but unfortunately, being an expert on ducks doesn't always pay the bills (no pun intended).When Elizabeth is offered a well-paid research trip to the Amazon, it's an opportunity too good to miss. But while her mother’s off exploring, Calla winds up at boarding school. No adventures are likely to find her there—or so she thinks. Then Calla receives the terrible news that her mother's plane has gone missing. Can Calla, her friends, and a motley crew of nuns defeat an evil new headmistress and find Elizabeth before it’s too late?
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend: A Training Manual for Dog Owners
by The Monks of New SketeA guide for raising and training your dog.
How to Be a Better Birder
by Derek LovitchThe essential tools you need to become a better birderThis unique illustrated handbook provides all the essential tools you need to become a better birder. Here Derek Lovitch offers a more effective way to go about identification—he calls it the "Whole Bird and More" approach—that will enable you to identify more birds, more quickly, more of the time. He demonstrates how to use geography and an understanding of habitats, ecology, and even the weather to enrich your birding experience and help you find something out of the ordinary. Lovitch shows how to track nocturnal migrants using radar, collect data for bird conservation, discover exciting rarities, develop patch lists—and much more.This is the ideal resource for intermediate and advanced birders. Whether you want to build a bigger list or simply learn more about birds, How to Be a Better Birder will take your birding skills to the next level.Explains the "Whole Bird and More" approach to bird identificationDemonstrates how to use geography, habitats, ecology, and the weather to be a better birderShows how to bird at night using radar, collect conservation data, develop patch lists—and moreOffers essential tools for intermediate and advanced birders
How to Be a Cat
by Ralph Lazar Lisa Swerling“Hilarious . . . If you’ve ever woken up with a cat staring right at you, or been joined on bathroom breaks by your feline friend, then you’ll understand.” —Awesome InventionsFrom the creative duo behind the bestselling Me Without You and Happiness Is . . . comes How to Be a Cat, a lighthearted illustrated guide to living life as a feline. Distinctive artwork and quirky captions confirm what we already know: cats actually rule the household. Ranging from simple truisms (“Look cute enough to attract cuddles”) to perceptive observations (“Consider life a never-ending belly rub”), this charming book is a must-have gift for anyone who shares their life with a feline friend (or vice versa).“It lists many of the intricate behaviors that distinguish a real cat from what I assume are cheap cat knock-offs (like ‘kat’ or ‘cot’). Do you lick your humans at 3am? Do you ask for attention, then wriggle away once they pick you up? Then you’re well on the way of being a real, certified cat.” —deMilked“An easy to follow ‘how to guide’ available for anyone dreaming of being a kitty cat instead of a real-world adult, or kid.” —Earth Porm
How to Be a Cat
by Nikki McClure“The simplicity and flow of page design are beautifully done as viewers follow a kitten and his mother as she teaches him basic feline behavior.” —School Library Journal (starred review)In cut-paper artist Nikki McClure’s latest picture book, a kitten practices the basics of feline behavior over the course of a day. A single word of text per spread teaches readers “how to be a cat”—how to stretch, clean, pounce, feast—while the striking paper cuts illustrate the kitten’s attempts to imitate an adult cat’s mastery of each skill. At times the kitten triumphantly succeeds, and at other times the kitten struggles, in vignettes that range from whimsical to profound.A celebration of all things feline, How to Be a Cat also tells a universal story of mastering life skills, and of the sometimes tender, sometimes stern relationship between parent and child, teacher and pupil. Cat lovers of all ages will connect to this loving portrayal of a mentor-student relationship.“Purrrrfect for beginning readers and little artists with an eye for fine cut-paper compositions and craftsmanship.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“The lively verbs and pictures will inspire young readers to imitate the kitten’s actions, all the way to the last page, when the two cats curl up to ‘Dream.’ Part concept book of actions, part a day in the life of a cat, the pages provide two kinds of narratives, no small feat for such a simple-looking story.” —New York Journal of Books“McClure’s cut-paper spreads can be mesmerizing.” —Publishers Weekly“McClure wonderfully captures the shape and movement of the feline form.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books