Most Popular Books by Darrin Lunde

Introduces the common wallaroo, describing its appearance, where it lives, what it eats, and how it cares for its young.

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.

Describes the life of a meerkat in the African desert.

Simple text and illustrations introduce the endangered bumblebee bat of Thailand.

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.

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.

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

Hey! What''s that rap-tap-tapping? Too-OOT! Is that a trumpet? Yak-yak-yammer! Who''s making all that NOISE?! A rowdy, nonfiction animal guessing game picture book for 3-7-year-olds that will cause a ruckus of a read-aloud! Animals make all sorts of sounds for all sorts of reasons! Can you guess the noisemaker from the noise? Featured animals include: Woodpecker Dolphin Quacking frog And more From world-class zoologist Darrin Lunde, author of Whose Poop Is That?, find out which animals hammer, click, and roar (and why) in this guessing game perfect for fun and rowdy read-alouds.

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.

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.

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. "A primer on poop and a guessing game, especially for those just beyond toilet training" — Kirkus Reviews "Gross-out details will provoke glee...but kids will learn plenty about the variety and importance of animal waste, too" —Publisher''s Weekly "As accessible to newly independent readers as it is to younger listeners" — Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books "Sure to appeal to curious youngsters. Recommended for collections that can''t get enough titles on poop" — School Library Journal "The kid-friendly illustrations and matter-of-fact tone make this title an informative, rather than a gross-out, pick, though is certainly what will get kids reaching for the shelves" — Booklist "Friendly and inviting to novice naturalists" — Horn Book "What are you waiting for? Come get the “scoop on poop”!" — NSTA Recommends

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.