Most Popular Books by John Himmelman

At a time when night-singing insects have slipped beyond our notice—indeed, are more likely to be heard as NatureSounds than in a backyard—John Himmelman seeks to reconnect us to creatures whose songs form a part of our own natural history. On warm summer evenings, night-singing insects produce a whirring, chirping soundscape—a calming aural tapestry celebrated by poets and naturalists for millennia. But “cricket radio” is not broadcast for the easy-listening pleasure of humans. The nocturnal songs of insects are lures and warnings, full of risks and rewards for these tiny competitive performers. What moves crickets and katydids to sing, how they produce their distinctive sounds, how they hear the songs of others, and how they vary cadence, volume, and pitch to attract potential mates, warn off competitors, and evade predators is part of the engaging story Cricket Radio tells. Himmelman’s narrative weaves together his personal experiences as an amateur naturalist in search of crickets and katydids with the stories of scientists who study these insects professionally. He also offers instructions for bringing a few of the little singers into our homes and gardens. We can, Himmelman suggests, be reawakened to these night songs that have meant so much to the human psyche. The online insect calls that accompany this colorfully illustrated narrative provide a bridge of sound to our past and to our vital connection with other species.

Six days a week the chickens help the Greenstalk family and their animals recover from mishaps that occur on the farm, but they need one day to rest.

Examines the life cycle of a Nature Upclose: A Luna Moth''s Life

This is the charming story of a box turtle whose life begins in a New England forest in 1890, and who lives over 100 years and witnesses changes to the landscape that threaten her habitat until the spirit of conservation transforms her remaining woodlot. A charming story that teaches, conservation, wildlife biology, and history.

An interactive experience for readers to move the bugs around their book while learning important characteristics about these creatures. Learning becomes fun as children form a deep appreciation for the world around us! Do you know any 3 or 4 year olds who love bugs? Young or old, you will love this book! Beetles fly, frogs hop, and slugs slide over the pages of this cute bug book, made to be read by a child while lying on the grass. Children interact with the book, with a tip, tap, and turn of the book, moving the critters along. The critters even interact with each other in surprising ways. John Himmelman brings together his expertise as both a naturalist and an artist to encourage children to explore nature in their own backyard. Backmatter Includes: Explore More for Kids: photos and information about what it means to think like a scientist and more about the bugs in the book. Explore More for Teachers & Parents: STEM activities, read aloud suggestions, and a quick summary of Science and Engineering Practices. Perfect for anyone looking for books: for homeschool materials. for outdoor learning activities. to provide an interactive experience. that make learning fun!

An introduction to the animal and plant life found in a typical North American meadow.

On a drizzly day, a cow hears a cat meowing to be let into the house, and gets an idea that spirals out of control.

"Up" meets "The Adventures of Beekle" in this sweet story of friendship about a grouchy old man who finds a floating dog on his doorstep. A heartwarming, hilarious tale about embracing the unexpected. Full color.

Who do you call when a squirrel is trapped in a mud puddle or a baby opossum is stuck in a drainpipe ? Meet Jeffrey, Beaner, Raymond, and Mike--the Animal Resuce club! Adventures wait around every corner as this intrepid band of kids, working with a Wildlife Rehabilitator, helps the wild animals in our neighborhood. John Himmelman''s action-packed story and lively art is based on his firsthand experience with wild-animal rescue groups. This inside look at kids saving animals is certain to fascinate young nature lovers.

While helping them, Tudley the turtle adopts his fellow animals'' behaviors--flying like a hummingbird, calling like a katydid, and flashing like a firefly--but learns about his own special talent when they help him out of his own trouble.

From Australia''s outback to the neighborhood lawn, animals great and small fill the pages of the 13 Sylvan Dell books in this Wildlife Set. The picture books in this set are each fictional stories with nature & science themes designed for reading fun but, at the same time, to pique a child''s interest and tee-up science, math, and geography learning. Titles include: Tudley Didn''t Know**, Habitat Spy, In My Backyard, Little Skink''s Tail**, Kersplatypus**, Animals are Sleeping, Blackberry Banquet, One Wolf Howls**, Moose and Magpie**, Felina''s New Home, Baby Owl''s Rescue**, Fur and Feathers, River Beds: Sleeping in the World''s Rivers**, and Little Red Bat. (**Award Winners) 4-6 pg For Creative Minds educational section in the back 40-60 pg cross-curricular Teaching Activities and 3 Interactive Quizzes available free on the book''s homepage eBooks with Auto-Flip, Auto-Read and selectable English and Spanish text and audio.

Jat is a boy who wants more from life than collecting coal from the Fire Sea. Newton is a misfit giant, cast out of his homeland for his love of science and reading. Brought together by chance, the two become the best of friends. But when enemy giants threaten to ruin everything, it''s up to Jat and Newton to defend Jat’s village, leading to the journey of a lifetime.

In lively, accessible prose, John Himmelman explains the intricacy of moths'' life cycle, their importance in nature, and how just a tiny handful of the many moth species are truly pests to humans. He tells how to attract moths with lights and bait, when and where to observe them, and how best to photograph these tiny subjects. Entertaining personal anecdotes and short profiles of some of the country''s foremost moth-ers add human interest. This new edition updates photos and information while focusing on states east of the Mississippi.

This book takes readers outside to see and hear all the sights and sounds of frogs. The illustrations are fun and use the sounds of the frogs to direct the readers eye to all the cool sounds they make. Accurate scientific information accompanies all of the fun of heading out to go exploring for frogs! When frogs get together, they love to sing! They fill their big, bulgy throat pouch with air and sing out loud. Some peep, some trill, some growl, some creek, and some go WAAH, WAAH, WAAH! It''s a chorus that happens near almost every pond and stream. Learn more about these delightful creatures-and sing along with them! A perfect book for: parents and teachers needing homeschool supplies for kindergarten (or any grade!) anyone looking for bug books and singalong books for toddlers! anyone looking for children''s books to help instill an appreciation of our planet!

Graham''s new invention combines with a big snowfall to force his busy beaver family to take a day off from their chores.

Up and down describe not only lovable Simpson Snail''s spirits but where his travels take him--whether it is up a tree, or up in the air and down again. Full-color illustrations.

Katie is surprised when Ruby, the new puppy next door, comes for a visit. Ruby runs right into Katie''s house and starts playing—with Katie''s favorite things! She even eats Katie''s food! Katie thinks this is terrible, and she chases Ruby away. But Sara Ann is disappointed. She wants Katie to share. She says sharing is fun. But Katie has her doubts about that!

By seeming to be in two places at once, J.J. thoroughly frustrates his babysitter; however, when Stephanie realizes that she is taking care of twins, she outwits them.

Relates the amusing adventures of a family of inventors.

Describes, in simple text and illustrations, the daily activities and life cycle of the earthworm.

Relates the adventures of a humpback whale calf that gets tangled in a fishing net and is later freed by a team of helpful whale watchers.

Chaos prevails when the barnyard animals decide to live in the house with Farmer Beanbuckets and his family.

Depicts a house spider going about its daily life and through its entire life cycle.

Although she can throw farther, kick higher, and hit harder than anyone else at school, Isabel, aka Bunjitsu Bunny, never hurts another creature, unless she has to.

The acclaimed author and illustrator of Chickens to the Rescue has created a sweet, funny, and entirely irresistible new character—a little dog just bursting with good intentions. Katie is so excited when Sara Ann brings home three little kittens that she can''t stop herself from howling "AROOOOO!" and trying to run after them. She loves them so much! But Katie''s enthusiasm frightens the kitties, and she''s sad when they run away from her. Don''t they know that she just wants to play? Katie Loves the Kittens is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children''s Book of the Year.

A young girl, who loves to draw, befriends a goldfish and uses her drawings to help him escape from the fishermen.

Take a peek into an environment loaded with frogs, bugs, birds, and more. Budding naturalists can find bogs all over--maybe even in their own neighborhoods. A handy field guide in the back helps young readers identify the plants and animals illustrated throughout the book.

Crickets, katydids, shieldbacks, coneheads, trigs, and angle-wings across the northeastern United States Full-color illustrations depict each insect in extraordinary detail Enclosed audio CD features songs and calls The mysteries behind the musical chirps, buzzes, and songs of the night are revealed in this guide to night-singing insects. Includes in-depth information on the three main families of these insects-the katydids, mole crickets, and true crickets-as well as full-color illustrations showing the unique features of each species. Readers will learn where to find each species, what colors and physical attributes are important, how species compare with one another, and how various sounds can help identify a particular insect. Complete with an audio guide and CD, this package is the only resource readers will need to study these small yet amazing insects of the night.

The Wright family takes an exciting camping trip when Dad turns their truck into a super camper.

A friendly witch named Amanda gives a toad three wishes, but her good intentions backfire when he uses one of the wishes to become a witch.

As author Himmelman can attest, people of all ages are actively learning more about frogs, toads, and salamanders. This book covers everything from amphibians'' physiology to their place in folklore and literature to possible explanations of why many populations have declined. Along the way we learn where to find them and how to identify them, how to handle them safely, how to create vernal pools and year-round pond habitats for them, and more.

The members of the Wright family compete in growing carrots for the big Clover County contest.

Amanda''s garden, grown from magic seeds, is a great success until its vegetables cause the animals who eat them to grow to giant size.

All week long the pigs help out around the farm in unexpected ways.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! In John Himmelman''s early chapter book series, Albert Hopper is a frog—and a science hero! He seeks to explore the world and beyond, generating laughs and imparting STEM wisdom as he goes. Science Hero Albert Hopper and trusty Junior Science Heroes Polly and Tad are ready for their next adventure. This time, they''re blasting through the solar system! As the heroes float through the sulphuric acid clouds of Venus, dodge the solar flares of the sun, and weather the space storms of Jupiter, their science smarts are put to the test. Anything can happen on this hilarious ride in Albert Hopper, Science Hero: Blasting Through the Solar System.

A surefire hit with young backyard diggers and bug-watchers, Basic Illustrated Guide to Frogs, Snakes, Bugs, and Slugs combines detailed illustrations of bugs, slugs, snakes, toads, and other creepy crawlies with clear and kid-friendly information to help the young bug-lover identify what’s crawling up the tree, buzzing in his ear, or hiding under a log.

A fictionalized, anthropomorphic account of a young whale ensnared in a gill net, tended by a companion whale, and eventually freed by humans.