Less than two decades ago, four Island Fox subspecies faced extinction. Human activities, including pollution and the introduction of invasive species, threw the Channel Islands’ ecosystem out of balance. Thanks to the concerted efforts of wildlife biologists, government officials, and others, the island fox has made the fastest recovery of any mammal in the history of the Endangered Species Act. This fascinating book traces the events that nearly caused the island fox’s demise, and the collaborative efforts that led to recovery of this “comeback kit.”
The California Condor is one of North America’s largest birds. These mighty scavengers were nearly wiped out by habitat loss, poaching, and lead poisoning. In 1982, only 22 California Condors remained in the wild! In this engaging book, readers will learn about the captive breeding programs, public education, and other conservation efforts that have led to a small but increasing population of California Condors in the wild.
The Grand Cayman blue iguana is named after the small island in the Caribbean Sea on which it lives. The largest reptile on the island, it had few predators until people arrived. Habitat loss and invasive species quickly diminished the blue iguana population to fewer than 25 by 2005. This captivating book traces the iguana’s remarkable journey back from the brink of extinction and highlights the continued efforts to protect the species.
Our thoughts have a habit of wandering when we should be focusing on what we are doing. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to what is happening around you right now in the present. This helpful book offers mindfulness techniques to help young readers train themselves to be aware of their thoughts with an attitude of kindness and curiosity, not stress. With an emphasis on being more positive and less negative, children will be better able to handle difficult emotions. Activities in this book include breathing with awareness to feelings within the body, meditating, self-compassion talk, positive thinking, acts of kindness, keeping journals, art activities, observing nature, and ways to show gratitude.
Would you be surprised to see a coyote wandering down a suburban street? Once considered a native of open grasslands and plains, coyotes have become “adaptors” to the human territory of paved streets and houses. An examination reveals the ways in which animals such as coywolves, white-tailed deer, red foxes, red-tailed hawks, and alligators live on the periphery of developed areas. Special sections address encroachment and how humans can learn to adapt to wild animals in their backyards.
Paris, France has a population of 2.2 million people and 3.8 million rats. Toronto, Canada is the raccoon capital of the world. This intriguing book focuses on urban animals called “exploiters.” These are animals such as squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opposums, rats, and crows who have turned living near humans to their advantage. An examination reveals the ways in which these animals have adapted to living alongside humans. Special feature boxes address city-specific animal control and rehabilitation programs.
When you live in bear or cougar territory, you learn to lock your garbage cans indoors, keep your pets safe, and not feed wild animals. This exciting and highly illustrated book focuses on the “human avoiders,” animals that are sometimes found on the fringes of urban developments, where humans are the new kids on the block. Readers will gain an understanding of human-wildlife conflict, as well as key concepts in wildlife conservation of animals such as gray wolves, mountain lions, and gray foxes.
An estimated 70 million feral cats live in the United States alone—decimating bird populations and threatening public health. This informative book investigates the growing populations of "obligates"—abandoned pets, now wild and producing feral offspring, and introduced animals that live in urban and urban fringe areas. An examination reveals the impact these animals are having on resources, space, and native species. Additional content focuses on the charities and organizations that help care for and limit the numbers of feral animals.
As people expand settlement into wilder areas, the impact of wildfires, both naturally occurring and human-set, becomes more destructive. This timely book examines what scientists know about wildfires, whether we can predict them, and how we learn from each event. By studying the destruction they cause, scientists and engineers continue to come up with new and improved technologies to predict and control wildfires and better protect cities, buildings, and people. Case studies and brief bios of key scientists and organizations highlight the information.
We cannot prevent tsunamis, but we can try to minimize their impact on humans. This interesting book examines what scientists know about tsunamis, how we can predict them, and how we learn from each event. By studying the destruction they cause, scientists and engineers continue to come up with new and improved technologies to predict catastrophic waves and better protect cities, buildings, and people. Case studies and brief bios of key scientists and organizations highlight the information.
We cannot prevent tornadoes, but we can try to minimize their impact on humans. This important book examines what scientists know about tornadoes, how we can predict them, and how we learn from each event. By studying the destruction they cause, scientists and engineers continue to come up with new and improved technologies to predict severe weather and better protect cities, buildings, and people. Case studies and brief bios of key scientists and organizations highlight the information.
Flooding from torrential rain and melting snows can devastate areas where people live. This informative book examines what scientists know about flooding, whether we can predict floods, and how we learn from each event. By studying the destruction they cause, scientists and engineers continue to come up with new and improved technologies to predict severe weather and better protect cities, buildings, and people. Case studies and brief bios of key scientists and organizations highlight the information.
We cannot prevent earthquakes, but we can try to minimize their impact on humans. This important book examines what scientists know about earthquakes, whether we can predict them, and how we learn from each event. By studying the destruction they cause, scientists and engineers continue to come up with new and improved technologies to predict earthquakes and make cities, buildings, and people safer. Case studies and brief bios of key scientists and organizations highlight the information.
Did you know that a problem can have many different solutions? Read about how an engineer finds the best solution to solve a problem or meet a need.
Engineers build models to help them test how well their solutions will work. Read about how testing small-sized models helps them spot mistakes, make improvements, and create the best solution possible!
Computer scientists know how to follow steps, spot patterns, and fix problems to reach a goal. Read about how anyone can learn to think like a computer scientist!
Robots are machines that can do work on their own. Read about all of the different and exciting jobs robots do in our communities.
Did you know that an object can only move if a force is placed on it? Read about pushing and pulling—the forces that make objects move—and what happens when you change the strength or direction of a force.
Some objects must be made of certain kinds of materials to make them work the way they should. Read about how the properties of different materials, such as their hardness or weight, help make an object fit the job it is made for.
Read about unusual animal journeys around the world, from wandering saltwater crocodiles to invasive insect species and outbreaks of Australian plague locust. Interesting facts, unexpected outcomes, and human impacts on the journeys are highlighted.
Read about extraordinary animal migrations by water, from tremendous upstream journeys by Pacific salmon to the extreme long-distance migration of the humpback whale. Interesting facts and obstacles are highlighted, and a sidebar details how humans impact each migration.
Read about extraordinary animal migrations by land, from the millions of red crabs that migrate at the exact same time on Christmas Island to the grueling journey of the pronghorn in North America. Interesting facts and obstacles are highlighted, and a sidebar details how humans impact each migration.
Read about extraordinary animal migrations by air, from the incredible migration of the godwit between Alaska and New Zealand to the long-lasting journey of the monarch butterfly across North America. Interesting facts and obstacles are highlighted, and a sidebar details how humans impact each migration.
In twelve dioramic scenes, discover how warships have changed from the sail and oar power of ancient Greek triremes and 19th century ships of the line to iron warships of the early 20th century and today’s modern aircraft carriers and stealth missile destroyers.
From the Mark I to the powerful turreted tanks of World War Two and the modern missile-firing, troop-carrying light tanks of today’s armies, twelve dioramic scenes reveal how the invention of the tank during World War One changed the face of warfare forever.
