Most Popular Books by Dawn Cusick

Meet Ham, Minnie, Enos, Roscoe, Tiger, and Rocky. When the United States was scrambling to catch up to the Soviets after their successful launch of Sputnik, they didn''t turn to Mercury Seven astronauts Alan Shepard and John Glenn. Rather, they began bringing chimpanzees to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico for a top-secret program. The goal? To do everything America needed to make space travel safe for humans and beat the Soviets. Based on extensive research and interviews with living members of the team of veterinarians, handlers, and psychologists who worked with the animals, The Astrochimps offers a fresh perspective on animal intelligence and the rise of the space age. Detailed back matter provides resources, space mission stats, and calls to action for young readers to honor the astrochimps'' legacy and advocate for the humane treatment of chimpanzees today. Vividly depicted at work, at play, in and out of spacecrafts, these chimps played an under-appreciated part in helping the United States win the Space Race.

Dazzling full-color photographs show more than 250 animals enjoying their favorite foods in this bright and informative introduction to one of the most fundamental animal behaviors. Iguanas eat cactus, turtles chow down on sea anemones, fish snack on crabs, crabs munch coral, snails relish frog eggs, and dozens of surprise meals make their appearances. Think all birds eat the same food? Think again. Birds eat seeds, nectar, fruit, snakes, fish, small mammals, insects, crabs, carrion, and even other birds. Young zoologists will delight in this collection of gorgeous photographs and fascinating facts.

Looks at the varied types of animal tongues and their different uses in adaption to their environment, from the sticky tongue of a chameleon, to the tongue of the lizardfish lined with teeth, to the tongue of the parrot used to make sounds.

Hey! Look out! Sharp-eyed readers will need to keep their eyes peeled in this engaging look at how animals of all shapes and sizes blend in and survive in their native ecosystems. How do animals deal with danger? From crocodiles standing on their tails to great white sharks with their jaws wide open to well-camouflaged venomous snakes, prospective naturalists and conservationists will have a lot to look out for in this exploration of dynamic ecosystems and the animals that hide and hunt in them. Back matter includes glossary, curated reading list and a scavenger hunt.

That’s so gross! Presented in partnership with Ranger Rick and the National Wildlife Federation, prepare to be grossed out by an engaging and unique look at some of the more disgusting survival techniques from the animal kingdom. From blood-squirting reptiles to blood-sweating mammals to nose-picking primates, learn about some of the ickiest creatures in the animal kingdom and the amazing purposes served by their grotty behaviors. From cleanup to dinnertime to self-defense, each off-putting act is actually an aid to survival! Author Dawn Cusick and the National Wildlife Federation have compiled a volume as attractive as its subject is nasty.

A collection of innovative button handicraft projects.

For more than forty-five years, the National Wildlife Federation has been dazzling families with amazing images and stories. Get ready for some supersonic fun that will make you say OUCH! Discover talon strength in birds of prey, sharp claws in lions and pumas, chewing mouthparts in insects, venom in snakes, and toxins in frogs. More? You want more? How about skunks that eat bees, stinging cells in jellyfish, meerkats that eat scorpions, caterpillars with spines, badgers and bears that bite, and zebras that kick! This book celebrates amazing animal surprises from all over the world with one-of-a-kind photographs from the NWF archives.

Discusses animal droppings and their uses, importance, and meaning.

For more than forty-five years, the National Wildlife Federation has been dazzling families with amazing images and stories. Get ready for some supersonic fun that will make you say WOW! Discover jet propulsion in squid and dragonflies, camouflage in cuttlefish and katydids, photosynthesis in salamanders and sea slugs, vocal sacs in frogs, balance in giraffes and spider monkeys, and antenna fencing in crickets. Want more? How about spiders that use air bubbles like gills, skunks that eat bees, sea slugs that steal stinging cells from jellyfish, bower birds that build sparkling nests, and jawfish that brood eggs in their mouths! This book celebrates amazing animal surprises from all over the world with one-of-a-kind photographs from the NWF archives.

Pictures and descriptions of unusual animals that are named after some aspect of another animal.

Learn about the diverse ways insects use their butt ends to survive and thrive.

Have you ever wondered why bugs have green blood? Or how vampire bats drink blood for meals? Get The Scoop on Animal Blood gives you all the gory, scientific details on what flows in animals veins. This book is hot blooded! And cold blooded! And green blooded! In fact, when you dive into the world of animals and their blood, things can get pretty gross and weird. But we know you like gross and weird! In this installment of the award-winning Get the Scoop series, you will find out why deep-diving mammals have larger blood cells than other animals and more of them. Have you ever wondered how vampire bats prefer to eat their bloody breakfast? We''ll tell you! How about why stink bugs have green blood, or while horned lizards squirt blood from their eyes? We know that stuff, too! Get the Scoop on Animal Blood comes with more than 250 wild and awesome facts about animal blood, and also has over 200 color photos of animals and, you guessed it, their blood. With this book, you will be neck deep in bloody science fun.

Budding scientists and animal behaviorists: get ready to be grossed out! Following in the footsteps of the bestselling Get the Scoop on Animal Poop!, Get the Scoop on Animal Puke offers hours of learning about the natural world. Animal vomit serves many purposes in the natural world: it can scare and distract predators, feed family and neighbors, protect animals from poisoning (they can’t call 911), aid with digestion, and so much more. Fun facts and cool photos will delight young scientists. Maybe puke isn''t so gross after all!

Learn amazingly icky facts, see the yucky photos, and gross out everyone you can! Welcome to a world filled with snot otters, puss caterpillars, spitting spiders, slime stars, snotties, and more! In Get the Scoop, you''ll learn that snot, spit, and slime may seem gross, but there''s a lot of amazing science in these icky fluids. Animals use them for communication, defense, to find food, to travel fast, and more. Jellyfish and corals produce "mucus nets" to capture prey. Parrotfish burp out a mucus blanket to sleep under every night, while sea stars and sponges release volumes of mucus to distract and discourage predators. Barracudas use mucus in their scales to increase their swimming speeds and protect them from parasites. Poison dart frogs release toxins with mucus. Hagfish secrete slime if another animal tries to eat them. Clams and mussels make "mucus strings" to bring food to their mouths. Hippopotamuses release "blood slime" that works as sunscreen and an antibiotic. Saliva helps animals in hundreds of ways, too. Anteaters and giraffes use sticky saliva to help them eat, while leeches, vampire bats, and ticks use chemicals in their saliva to help them feed on blood. Many mammals use saliva to help them recognize offspring and others spit saliva at predators and prey. The venom in shrews, snakes, and other reptiles comes from adapted salivary glands. Some animal saliva works like glue, helping swifts, termites, and wasps build nests.

Explores the different types of animal eggs, from insects to reptiles, fish, and birds, and describes how different adult animals care for their eggs and the strange places they place them.

Explains the techniques involved in making bead and wire jewelry, discusses tools and materials, and features illustrated instructions for seventy-five projects, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and pins.

Gives techniques and instructions for creating more than 100 decorated baskets.

Contains complete directions for making over ninety wreaths, decorations, and ornaments such as pine needle ornaments, and twig wreath.

120 elegant Christmas projects with step-by-step directions will enrich your holiday season and many can be adapted for use once the holidays are over.

Using leftover pieces of fabric, quickly learn to love making these delightful Christmas decorations. The straight-line sewing technique makes every project quick and easy to make. Make Yuletide whimsies -- miniature stockings and strings of light, culinary celebrations, gift-basket liners in festive fabrics -- plus dozens of other irresistible patchwork treasures, all from leftover materials.

Directions for making over 80 wreaths with information on wreath bases, materials, making bows, and tips for design and display.

Make this Christmas the most beautiful one ever with this collection of craft projects for the holiday season, including sewing crafts, stockings, soft sculptures, dried wreaths and garlands, pinecone crafts, culinary treats, and more. Complete with step-by-step instructions. Full-color photos.

Presents photographs and simple instructions for 100 paper and fabric projects showing the basic methods of working with instant mache products, re-creating traditional recipes, choosing molds, and surface design.

For many people, the soothing sound of water trickling through a fountain has the same effect as taking a deep breath: it''s instantly calming and relaxing. Now, thanks to this first-of-its-kind book, you can bring the rhythmic music of flowing water into your home with decorative tabletop fountains that you create yourself. The techniques are simple and the materials inexpensive. You begin with an attractive bowl or basin to which you add a submersible pump, along with plastic tubing to direct the water flow. Then comes the fun part--finding a way to disguise these elements. Marbles, stones, and rocks work well. In minutes, your fountain will be up and running. More elaborate fountains with layers of cascading water are also easy to build--they just take a little more time. Book jacket.

Wreaths, swags, garlands, straw hat, pot pourri, bouquets.

"Crafters will find a wealth of inspiration and instruction on constructing unique lamp shades...Cusick begins with instructions on how to put together a basic lamp shade, then proceeds with more creative examples such as fabric-covered shades, glass shades, and crocheted shades....ends with a portfolio of designers who use their talents to create unique lamp shades....Experienced crafters will find lots of creative ideas..."--"Library Journal."

Captioned color photographs with instructions for creating various wreaths.

A 2018 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students: K-12 (National Science Teachers Association and the Children''s Book Council) Fungus is more than just mushrooms. It''s a Fungus Among Us shows off big and small fungi that do everything from consume jet fuel to creating actual zombies! In It''s a Fungus Among Us, you''ll meet the wild group of organisms that can turn ants into zombies and eat trillions of pounds of feces every day. They''re not all gross though, these are the same types of organisms that make cheese stretchy, add sour tastes to candy, and make bread rise! We''re talking about fungus! Different kinds of fungi do incredible things; did you know that in future they may even help save the environment because they can eat plastics in landfills, and jet fuel from ocean crash sites. When you read It''s a Fungus Among Us, you''ll learn about outdoor adventures, kitchen experiments, and get an introduction to Humungous Fungus, a 38-acre fungus with an ice cream named after it that holds the record for the world''s largest organism. Feast your eyes on hundreds of full-color photos, check out activities and experiments, and learn all kinds of wild and wacky information from these unique organisms.

Michaels, the most trusted name in crafts and a leading retailer of needles, wools, yarns, and patterns, presents a needlecraft volume so big, so definitive that it couldn''t come from anywhere else. Start stitching! Whether you knit, crochet, or embroider--or want to learn how--these fresh, contemporary projects and gorgeous pictures will entice you to pick up the needles and yarn. On these large and colorful pages, crafters will find the guidance they need to plunge into every possible type of stitchery. Each technique has a thorough how-to section, with detailed instructions and line drawings to give even a beginner confidence. The materials include the most interesting cotton and wool fibers on the market, as well as silk ribbon, novelty yarns and loads of fantastic beading. And every stylish item--from the poncho to the pillows, from the sweet tank tops to the embroidered jeans for teens--is just made to appeal to the new, younger generation of needleworkers.

"It makes a great deal of sense to fast-dry materials that otherwise would consume a lot of preparation time. Drawing on the talents and projects of 10 designers who work with herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and Mother Earth''s other produce, Cusick offers crafters more than 60 patterns to copy. Wearable walnuts and seed jewelry, bath powder, and herbal lip balms are only a few of the final results."--Booklist. ..".concentrates exclusively on handcrafted items made from natural materials....Most are easily completed and suitable for young people working under adult supervision....Recommended."--LJ. 128 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.

Brains are awesome, and a little gross, making them a perfect topic for kids! Featuring 251 animal brain facts, Get the Scoop on Animal Brains digs deep and scoops out tons of fun facts about how animals use their brains to eat, find shelter, avoid predators, and survive. Did you know octopuses are multi-taskers? Since two-thirds of their neurons can be found in their arms, these marvelous creatures can crack open shellfish with one arm while doing something completely different with their others! Did you know crows have remarkable memory and can recall the faces of humans that pose a threat to them? Or that bees can communicate with other bees through a series of waggle dances? These are just three of the hundreds of amazing things you will learn about animals and their brains in this fascinating, fully illustrated book.

Contains 100 projects to make for your home during the Christmas season. Includes garlands, swags, centerpieces, ornaments, and wreaths.