New Releases by Darrin Lunde

Being big isn''t everything. It’s sometimes very good to be small. Even for dinosaurs! The perfect addition to any dino-loving prereaders'' shelves. World-class zoologist Darrin Lunde celebrates the power of the small. Small dinosaurs weren''t just cute; their size had evolutionary benefits. And when that giant meteor hit, who do you think survived? Sure, you''ve heard of Triceratops, but do you know Microceratus, one of the smallest horned dinos? Love T. rex? Allow us to introduce Compsognathus, a tiny meat-eater that hunted insects. Little (and big) kids alike will appreciate the SIZE-mic fun to be had with this prehistoric introduction to dinos of all shapes and sizes.

A nonfiction guessing game that explores the connections between an animal, its eggs, and its habitat. Written by a mammalogist at the Smithsonian, this clever preschool page-turner pairs seven eggs with information about the animals'' survival mechanisms, asking kids to guess which animal laid which egg. Whose Egg Is That? reveals the animals--ranging from penguins to platypuses--in their own habitats.

A nonfiction guessing game that explores the connections between an animal, its tracks, and its habitat. Written by a mammalogist at the Smithsonian, this clever preschool page-turner pairs seven tracks with information about the animals'' locomotion, asking kids to guess which animal left which tracks behind. Whose Footprint Is That? reveals the animals--ranging from flamingos to kangaroos--in their own habitats.

Read Along or Enhanced eBook: Poop! Ewwww! No, don’t say “Ewwww.” Ask, “Whose poop is that?” This simple, and yes, charming book asks this question about seven examples of animal poop. By investigating visual clues, young readers can learn to identify the animal through its droppings. For instance, find a sample of poop with bits of bone and tufts of hair. Turn the page to learn it came from a fox! Kelsey Oseid’s illustrations are both accurate and beautiful. Backmatter includes further information about the poop and what scientists can learn from an animal’s droppings. From the Hardcover edition.

Winner of the inaugural Theodore Roosevelt Association Book Prize A captivating account of how Theodore Roosevelt’s lifelong passion for the natural world set the stage for America’s wildlife conservation movement and determined his legacy as a founding father of today’s museum naturalism. No U.S. president is more popularly associated with nature and wildlife than is Theodore Roosevelt—prodigious hunter, tireless adventurer, and ardent conservationist. We think of him as a larger-than-life original, yet in The Naturalist, Darrin Lunde has firmly situated Roosevelt’s indomitable curiosity about the natural world in the tradition of museum naturalism. As a child, Roosevelt actively modeled himself on the men (including John James Audubon and Spencer F. Baird) who pioneered this key branch of biology by developing a taxonomy of the natural world—basing their work on the experiential study of nature. The impact that these scientists and their trailblazing methods had on Roosevelt shaped not only his audacious personality but his entire career, informing his work as a statesman and ultimately affecting generations of Americans’ relationship to this country’s wilderness. Drawing on Roosevelt’s diaries and travel journals as well as Lunde’s own role as a leading figure in museum naturalism today, The Naturalist reads Roosevelt through the lens of his love for nature. From his teenage collections of birds and small mammals to his time at Harvard and political rise, Roosevelt’s fascination with wildlife and exploration culminated in his triumphant expedition to Africa, a trip which he himself considered to be the apex of his varied life. With narrative verve, Lunde brings his singular experience to bear on our twenty-sixth president’s life and constructs a perceptively researched and insightful history that tracks Roosevelt’s maturation from exuberant boyhood hunter to vital champion of serious scientific inquiry.

My name is Bumblebee Bat. I may be small, but I''m a great flyer. I live in a secret cave with my brothers and sisters. Want to know more? Then open this Geisel Honor book and fly with Bumblebee Bat into the night. A series of questions and answers introduce children to the life and habitat of the exotic and endangered Bumblebee Bat. One inch long and the weight of a dime, these tiniest of bats are carefully protected; expert author Darrin Lunde takes us to their home in Thailand and provides a sneak peek into their world. Scientifically accurate illustrations make these exotic animals accessible to young readers. Back matter includes additional child-friendly facts.

Take a trip to the Arctic with Baby Beluga. Pre-readers and beginning readers meet the adorable and playful baby beluga whale. The questions that kids will have for the baby beluga are answered simply and clearly by the baby whale himself. Young learners discover that baby belugas stay close to their mothers and live in large pods, they eat shrimp and fish and other sea creatures, and they can make many sounds like chirps, moos, whistles, and more. HELLO, BABY BELUGA is perfect for reading aloud at story hour and bed time. Patricia Wynne illustrates baby beluga’s icy blue north Atlantic home and lets children get up close to these fascinating and friendly creatures.

Nobody likes a rat. And we''re not talking about a snitch here. We''re talking about those disgusting bald-tailed rodents that scurry around alleys and in the subway. But, hold on . . . are rats really so bad? There are hundreds of rat species all around the world that defy common stereotypes. Rats help predators survive, allow plants to spread their seeds, and even contribute to medical research that helps humans stay healthy. Simple, clear text introduces many of the rats that crawl on the earth today, where they live, what they eat, and how they survive. Next time you see a rat, take a second look.

From the author/illustrator team behind MEET THE MEERKAT; HELLO, BABY BELUGA; and HELLO, BUMBLEBEE BAT, a Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book, comes a simple yet informative introduction to a kangaroo-like animal from Australia, the wallaroo. In question and answer format—perfect for read-alouds or story hours—readers learn basic facts about wallaroos: where they live, what they eat, when they sleep, etc. Patricia J. Wynne observed wallaroos at the Miller Park Zoo in Illinois to create the realistic yet kid-friendly illustrations. Back matter includes a few extra facts not included in the main narrative. The clear, concise language and large font and generous spacing of text will encourage emerging readers to tackle the story on their own.

Displays the different colors of several species of monkeys and explains what they are and where they come from.

Atmospheric illustrations and dramatic, straigh-shooting language describe the food web interactions among predators and scavengers after a zebra is slain by a lioness. Nothing is wasted. Secondary text offers related information about each animal and its predation techniques.

Describes the life of a meerkat in the African desert.