Most Popular Books by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

Discusses the habits and life cycle of prairie dogs and examines their place in the ecology of the prairie. "Useful and consistently interesting." -- Kirkus Reviews

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.

Driven from their packs, two wolves meet, become companions, and form a new pack with their pups.

Provides a global perspective on environmental issues while demonstrating the concept which encompasses the many forms of life on earth and their interdependence on one another for survival.

Text and accompanying photographs discuss the diversity and adaptability of deer and elk as well as recent conservation efforts.

Ever since Earth was formed more than 4.5 billion years ago, the planet has been continuously shaped by dynamic forces. The most significant impact was made by the introduction of life. From the smallest single-cell organism to the most populous cities, living things--especially human beings--have had a profound effect on the planet. As a new millennium begins, conservation efforts are more important than ever for Earth's survival. Authoritative text and dramatic photographs show how our role in shaping the Earth can be just as significant as the massive eruptions of volcanoes or the shifting of huge tectonic plates. GLOSSARY, INDEX.

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

In times of war, these brave dogs serve their country proudly

Discusses recent research on levels of intelligence in both wild and domestic animals.

Discusses forest fires and the effect that they have on both people and the natural world.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A fascinating, fact-filled book on endangered gray and red wolves. "Amply illustrated with handsome photographs . . . It may never be possible to reconcile human greed with a harmonious natural ecology, but the respectful account of endangered wolves suggests that the effort is eminently worthwhile".--The Horn Book. Full-color photos.

"A vivid description--in text and photographs--of the annual gathering of bald eagles in Glacier National Park and of a wildlife research project to study the life cycle of our national bird".--ALA, Booklist. 47 black-and-white photographs.

Discusses hunting techniques of predators and survival techniques of their prey and relates this interaction among animals to the food chain and the balance of nature.

Describes the physical characteristics, habitat, behavior, and life cycle of wild turkeys.

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

Describes the destruction of Pompeii by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. and how its rediscovery nearly 1700 years later provided information about life in the Roman Empire.

Describes, in text and illustrations, the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of the Grizzly bear and discusses the threats that humans pose to their survival.

Describes the physical, mental, and social development that babies achieve in their first two years of life.

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.

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.

Describes methods used by scientists to study how the brains of birds and other animals work and to determine whether animals can truly communicate verbally.

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.

“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

Discusses the history and habits of the American alligator, including efforts to preserve the habitat of this ancient reptile.

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

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

"A fascinating account of the research, ingenuity and concern of scientists and conservationists. Distinguished by a fine subtlety of hue, the full-color photographs, in particular, sensitively document the beauty and dignity of these birds. An unusual look at an endangered species . . ".--ALA Booklist. Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies; Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children.

Describes the physical characteristics, diet, natural habitat, and life cycle of polar bears.

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

Examines some of the popular wildlife refuges, in such states as Texas, North Dakota, and California, and focuses on the different methods used to help maintain a natural balance there.

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

What is more exciting than somehow catching a glimpse of how things were long ago? This series, written by award-winning children's book author Dorothy Patent, focuses on landmark discoveries and their significance.

What is more exciting than somehow catching a glimpse of how things were long ago? This series, written by award-winning children's book author Dorothy Patent, focuses on landmark discoveries and their significance.

Discusses the paintings on the walls of Lascaux Cave in France including the cave's discovery, its significance, and the efforts to preserve the paintings themselves.