New Releases by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

Prairie dogs are dubbed a keystone species for good reason. The burrows they dig for shelter and raising their families are used by dozens of other animals, from insects and spiders to rattlesnakes, salamanders, owls and more. The highly endangered black-footed ferret depends almost completely on prairie dogs for food, and may also live in their abandoned burrows. In addition, prairie dog activity makes the grass areas around their burrows especially nourishing for grazing animals like bison and pronghorn. With up to 150 species associated with prairie dogs, this keystone species plays a pivotal role in keeping the prairie healthy and thriving.

Did you know that beaver ponds provide habitat for hundreds if not thousands of life forms? Using their extremely strong teeth, beavers chop down trees to build a dam. The dam creates a pond that is habitat for everything from algae to giant moose. After creating the pond, the beavers build a lodge. The lodge is sometimes used by other animals besides beavers. Muskrats may live inside the lodge either with or without the beavers, or geese may build their nest atop the lodge. The dam itself is used as a bridge to cross the water by deer, ducks or any other number of creatures. The pond is home to numerous life forms. Lily pads grow in the pond and frogs sit on lily pads to catch flies. Learn about the pivotal role beavers play in making all of this life possible. Gorgeous photos and inviting text make AT HOME WITH THE BEAVER: THE STORY OF A KEYSTONE SPECIES a must have for young naturalists hoping to learn more about the interconnectedness of life. Other Books in the Series: AT HOME WITH THE GOPHER TORTOISE: THE STORY OF A KEYSTONE SPECIES.

In this groundbreaking, exceptionally researched installment of the award-winning Scientists in the Field series, discover how lizards rapidly adapt to life in the Caribbean islands, allowing scientists to study Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection in real time. Award-winning author Dorothy Hinshaw Patent joins forces with scientists/filmmakers Neil Losin and Nate Dappen, whose work is detailed in the Smithsonian Channel documentary “Laws of the Lizard,” to explore how the small but mighty lizards we call “anoles” are used by scientists to study basic principles of evolution and ecology. Travel with the team to Florida and the Caribbean as they research how anoles followed similar but independent evolutionary paths on the four major islands of the Greater Antilles (Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Cuba). So while anoles on different islands may look like close relatives, they often are not! This is Darwin''s principle of natural selection at work. And it makes anoles the perfect subjects for experiments that study how animals adapt to new challenges—such as climate change—in this exciting and timely addition to a celebrated series.

Gorgeous photographs, and clear text introduce readers to the effects of climate change on the pika and on other life-forms in the high mountains.

In this addition to the critically acclaimed Scientist in the Field series, Dorothy Patent follows the scientists trying to put a stop to a gruesome disease before it''s too late. Tasmanian devils are dying at an alarming rate from a type of tumor that appears to be contagious. What scientists are learning while researching the Tasmanian devil has potential to affect all animals, and even humans, as they learn more about how to prevent and hopefully eradicate certain genetic diseases. In 1995, a deadly disease began sweeping across the Australian island state of Tasmania, killing every infected Tasmanian devil. The disease moved so fast that some scientists feared the species would be wiped out in the wild within a few decades. Where did this disease, named Devil Facial Tumor Disease, come from? What caused it--a virus, bacteria, or something else? How did it pass from one devil to another? What could be done to fight it? When author Dorothy Hinshaw Patent learned of the race to save the devil from her friend, Australian geneticist Jenny Graves, she felt compelled to travel to Australia to learn firsthand from scientists what they were finding out about these iconic Tasmanian animals and what they were doing to help it from disappearing in the wild. Follow Dorothy as she takes readers on a fascinating journey into the Australian mainland and Tasmania, visiting parks and wildlife refuges and joining geneticist, ecologists, and other researchers as they work tirelessly to save Tasmania''s unique icon.

Dog lovers everywhere will enjoy this insightful, adorable, and fact-filled photographic picture-book exploration of why dogs really are a man''s best friend. It''s no secret that people and pups are best friends. But did you know that this special bond dates back tens of thousands of years? During that time, we have only grown closer. Now cutting-edge science is helping us learn why we''re so perfect together. Brain-imaging machines show how simply seeing you makes your dog''s brain light up in its reward center. And blood samples reveal how just a touch or a gaze between two devoted friends releases helpful hormones that de-stress both pooch and person. In fact, we really speak each other''s language--using pointing, barking, touch, and body movement. Dogs make our lives better in so many ways. They keep us safe, rescue us in disasters, and guide us when we can''t see. But a dog''s most important job is to be its person''s best friend. And as we learn more about the similarities of people and our four-legged friends, it''s clear we are truly made for each other. "By the time you finish this book, you''re ready to add a dog to your family." --Huffington Post

Have you ever met a dog who could ride the bus all by herself? Eclipse can, and her story went viral, catapulting her to national stardom. Now see the world through her eyes in this delightful photographic picture book! All I wanted to do was go to the dog park. I never thought my buddy Jeff would miss the bus. And I certainly never thought I’d become a pup with paparazzi! The story of this online sensation is so compelling you’ll want to share it—like the millions who already have on TV, online, and in newspapers around the world. "Eclipse’s story is perfect for the picture book set, and doggie lovers will get right on board." —Booklist

“Patent’s lucid prose and Muñoz’s clear color photos work together to document the efforts of the Montana Osprey Project . . . a stellar series.”—School Library Journal This meticulously researched and photographed account follows three University of Montana scientists and their interdisciplinary work with osprey: fish-catching birds with gigantic nests and a family that functions with teamwork and cooperation. Today the osprey is studied to monitor the effects of mercury on living things. The osprey hunts in a very small area around its large nest and so scientists can pinpoint where mercury is coming from. In Missoula, Montana, the scientists have been following ospreys for six years, collecting data on the amount of contaminants found on their feathers and in their blood. The rivers and streams in Western Montana are still suffering effects from inappropriate mining activities performed more than a hundred years ago. This man-made pollution is still dangerous to people and to wildlife. “Demonstrates how studying these birds may help address some knottier scientific problems. More science than adventure, this is a challenging addition to the Science in the Field series.”—Kirkus Reviews “Readers who prefer to shortcut straight to the birds themselves will be particularly pleased not only with the myriad photographs but also with inserts on the nesting pairs.”—Bulletin

This nonfiction picture book about horses has a fresh focus: how people over the ages have decorated horses in special ways. Organized into three categories—warfare and hunting, performance and competition, performance, and ceremony—the book introduces horses such as the chariot-pulling war horse of the Persians to the rose-decorated winner of the Kentucky Derby.

Kids are invited to explore and discover the northern plains through the eyes and ears of a bison calf.

A dog''s nose is 300 times more powerful than a human nose, so it''s no wonder that dogs use their incredibly advanced sense of smell to do some very important jobs. Dorothy Hinshaw Patent explores the various ways specific dogs have put their super sniffing ability to use: from bedbug sniffers to explosive detectors to life-saving allergy detectors . . . and more. This dynamic photo-essay includes first-hand accounts from the people who work closely with these amazing dogs.

Follows a survivor of the Michael Vick dog-fighting ring, the black pit bull terrier pup eventually named after World War II hero Audie Murphy, as he get socialized, undergoes surgery, trains in agility, and becomes a coach for other dogs.

Homesteading: Settling America�s Heartland describes the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of the brave pioneer families who set out into the unknown to create a home on the vast, desolate grasslands of the Great Plains. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered, practically free, a 160-acre plot to anyone willing to develop it. Hundreds of men, women, and children took advantage of the opportunity to build a home, a farm, and a while new life on the western prairie. The homesteader�s life could be harsh. The Great Plains had few resources, unpredictable weather, and numerous dangers. Nevertheless, many stalwart Americans and immigrants took up the challenge. Many failed, but others survived and eventually thrived, opening the way for generations of Westerners to come. Kids and adults alike will delight in this engaging short history, beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs by William Mu�

Tells of the transformative period in the early 16th century when the Spaniards introduced horses to the Great Plains, and how horses became, and remain, a key part of the Plains Indians'' culture.

Yellowstone National Park''s majestic geologic wonders and remarkable wildlife draw millions of visitors each year. But there was a time when these natural treasures were in great danger, all because after years of unrestricted hunting, one key piece of the puzzle had been eliminated-the wolf. Now, more than a decade after scientists realized the wolves'' essential role and returned them to Yellowstone, the park''s natural balance is gradually being restored. The informative dual-level text and spectacular full-color photographs show the wolves in the natural habitat that was almost lost without them. Readers of all ages will be inspired by the delicate natural system that is Yellowstone.

Countless herds of majestic buffalo once roamed across the plains and prairies of North America. For at least 10,000 years, the native people hunted the buffalo and depended upon its meat and hide for their survival. But to the Indians, the buffalo was also considered sacred. They saw this abundant, powerful animal as another tribe, one that was closely related to them, and they treated it with great respect and admiration. Here, an award-winning nonfiction team traces the history of this relationship, from its beginnings in prehistory to the present. Deftly weaving social history and science, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent discusses how European settlers slaughtered the buffalo almost to extinction, breaking the back of Indian cultures. And she shows how today, as Indians are reviving their cultures, they are also restoring buffalo herds to the land. Featuring William Munoz’s stunning full-color photographs, supplemented with paintings by well-known artists, this book is an inspiring tale of a successful conservation effort. Author’s note, suggestions for further reading, index.

Describes the physical characteristics, habitats, hunting behaviors, and endangered status of a variety of wild cats around the world.

Describes the anatomy, life cycle, and behavior of the white-tailed deer.

Tells how a golden retriever is trained as a service dog, to help someone who has trouble moving their arms or legs, and later as a guide dog for a man who cannot see.

Far to the north along the Pacific coast of Canada lies an area where abundant rainfall nourishes everything from bright green grasses and colorful wildflowers to ancient, towering cedar, spruce, and sitka trees. This rainforest is the perfect habitat for salmon and a wide variety of birds, insects, and animals, most notably a unique type of black bear called the spirit bear, which is sometimes clothed in creamy white fur and has become legendary among the First Nation people who live in the region. Noted naturalist Dorothy Hinshaw Patent describes the elusive spirit bear and its home, which is in danger of being destroyed by loggers and settlers as they clear-cut the ancient forests for lumber. Every part of the delicate ecosystem is threatened. But steps are now being taken to set aside a protected spirit bear sanctuary--a living museum where people could come and see the spirit bear''s realm. The beautiful, detailed watercolors by Deborah Milton will transport readers to this magnificent yet vanishing region.

Provides an overview of coral reefs as ecosystems, describing different types of corals and how they reproduce and discussing the variety of fishes and other animals that depend on coral reefs to sustain them.

Describes the physical characteristics and behavior of various kinds of tropical butterflies.

Examines the physical features, processes, and many different species of plants and animals that make up the ecosystem of the American tallgrass prairie.

Go on a journey that begins with a few drops of rain on the dry desert floor. Using the Sonoran Desert as an example, Life in a Desert examines the physical features, processes, and many different species of plants and animals that make up a unique desert ecosystem. Find out about the impact of humans on this delicate ecosystem and what is being done to save it. Book jacket.

Describes the black-footed ferret, an endangered mammal from Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota, and discusses efforts to preserve it.

Retraces the Lewis and Clark journey and blends their observations of previously unknown animals with modern information about those same animals.

Just in time for the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark''s expedition, the award-winning author of more than 100 nonfiction books for children, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, joins photographer William Munoz to capture the contrast between the American West "then and now, " aided by old prints, photos, and paintings. Full color.

Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and behavior of llamas.

Did you know that some snakes lie in ambush for weeks waiting for their prey to come within striking distance? You''d think it would be hard to survive in the wild without legs. But look at snakes! More than 2,500 different kinds of snakes slither and creep throughout the world. They live almost everywhere on Earth, except for the North and South Poles, and some isolated islands. Snakes come in only one shape, but they come in many patterns and sizes -- from the two-inch long thread snakes that are as skinny as the lead in your pencil to the thirty-two foot reticulated python that is big enough to eat a pig or small child. Kendahl Jan Jubb''s lush and scientifically accurate illustrations capture these scaly predators as they hunt, hide, and reproduce. As far back as the Garden of Eden snakes have had the power to both fascinate and repel us. Their deadly simplicity is always compelling.

Provides brief descriptions of a variety of animals living in the rain forest, including piranhas, jaguars, and macaws.