New Releases by Laurence Pringle

This highly engaging exploration of the concept of evolution lays out the history of life on earth—what we know and how we know it. Ever since Charles Darwin revealed his landmark ideas about evolution in 1859, new findings have confirmed, expanded, and refined his concepts. This ALSC Notable children''s book brings together the pillars of evidence that support our understanding of evolution. In addition to stunning illustrations, more than fifty photographs capture natural marvels, including awe-inspiring fossils, life forms, and geological wonders. The result is a full and clear account of the monumental evidence supporting the modern view of evolution.

Follow a year in the life of Volans, a flying squirrel, as she glides in the night air to hunt for food, deftly avoids danger from a raccoon, and gives birth to three tiny pups before preparing once again for the coming winter. Emerging at night from a cozy nest high in a tree, Volans the flying squirrel glides down. Although called a “flying” squirrel, she actually doesn’t fly—she glides using fur-covered flaps. Her instincts lead her to her hidden cache of food. She is also looking for a roomier hiding place because she is ready to give birth. When her pups are born she stays close to home, giving them milk and keeping them safe from predators until they can venture out on their own. Filled with intriguing facts and gorgeous illustrations, readers will be fascinated by the story of these remarkable rodents. This latest title in the Secret Life series has been vetted by a flying squirrel expert and includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.

Learn all about wolves with this newest title in the acclaimed Strange and Wonderful series featuring careful research and exquisite illustrations. This nonfiction book takes young readers on a journey into the lives of wolves, the largest of all wild mammals who have lived in the Northern Hemisphere for millions of years. Kids will learn how wolves use their powerful jaw muscles and sharp teeth to hunt their prey, how a wolf pack forms, and the meaning of different wolf howls. This book explores every aspect of these fascinating canines and even corrects erroneous myths and lore about them.

Follow a year in the life of an adorable sea otter as she creatively hunts for food, deftly avoids danger from a great white shark, and gives birth to a pup. Living off the coast of California in the Northern Pacific Ocean, Lutris the sea otter shares her life in a giant kelp forest habitat with many other otters and animals. Lutris is resourceful and relies on her keen sense of sight and smell to find food and survive. When her pup is born, Lutris lovingly tends to and teaches her daughter until she is ready to head out into the world on her own. Filled with important facts and gorgeous illustrations, readers will be fascinated by the story of these remarkable mammals. This latest title in the Secret Life series has been vetted by a sea otter expert and includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.

This gorgeous and lyrical picture book follows a year in the life of a red fox named Vixen. Kids will learn about a common backyard neighbor as they read how Vixen finds food, hunts, escapes threats, finds a mate, and raises her kits—all the way to the day that she and her mate watch their kits head off to lead their own secret lives. Stunning, realistic illustrations celebrate the beauty of these mysterious creatures as readers learn important facts through an engaging and fascinating story. The book also includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.

Are kids going to love this book? Is a frog waterproof? The latest title in the popular Strange and Wonderful series delivers the awe-inspiring variety of frogs, the world''s hoppiest amphibians. Did you know that the Goliath frog is more than a foot long? Or that the tiny gold frog could sit on a dime? Some frogs have camouflage. Others wear bold colors warning their enemies that they are poisonous. Some frogs leap, others hop, one is a runner, and a few glide from tree to tree with their big, webbed hands and feet! Surprising facts and beautiful, realistic nature illustrations come together in this celebration of one of nature''s most fascinating marvels.

Learn all about the elephant in this nonfiction picture book that explores every aspect of these giant mammals. This latest title in the Strange and Wonderful series allows young readers to journey into the lives of elephants in various habitats throughout the world. Kids will learn how elephants use their trunk, how they communicate, what they eat, and about their family groupings. The book also shows how we can ensure that elephants continue to live and thrive. Combining careful research and beautiful illustrations, this book is perfect for those who have an interest in animals and conservation.

A year in the life of a sloth is revealed in this stunningly illustrated nonfiction picture book, the latest in the popular The Secret Life series. Meet Perezoso, a brown-throated three-fingered sloth who lives in a rainforest habitat. Young readers will be fascinated as they learn all about her life -- how she searches for food, keeps herself safe from prey, and gives birth to a baby. Gorgeous realistic illustrations celebrate these intriguing creatures, and the story is filled with important facts and terms. The back matter at the conclusion of the book provides more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.

Discover the secret behaviors of a notoriously stinky mammal--the skunk--by following a family as the kits grow from infancy to adulthood. The celebrated Secret Life series continues with a determined mother skunk and her five kits. Young readers will learn about their hidden lives as the skunk kits grow and explore their world, escape predators, and hunt for food. Here is a story of family and survival packed with science terminology, depictions of skunk behavior, and information about skunks'' habitats, diets, and sounds. And stunning illustrations invite readers to get closer than they ever could in reality to these skunks'' secret lives.

Here is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to dolphin species from all over the world; this title is the latest installment in the popular Strange and Wonderful series and a terrific STEM choice. With fascinating facts and detailed, illuminating artwork, DOLPHINS! Strange and Wonderful introduces readers to dolphin species -- from the well-known bottlenose dolphin to several species of "blackfish" (including orcas) that most people believe are whales. Author Laurence Pringle''s clear, informative text describes dolphins'' habitats, physiology, communication, intelligence, parenting, what and how they eat, and much more. The book also discusses conservation and how dolphins can be protected from hunting, pollution, and other threats. Accompanied by Meryl Henderson''s beautiful and illuminating paintings, this book is a great STEM title that perfectly hits the mark for children interested in marine life. Includes a glossary, index, and further resources.

Learn about a year in the life of a little brown bat named Otis. This gorgeous and lyrical picture book follows a year in the life of a little brown bat named Otis as he learns to be a hunter, escape predators, and find a mate. Stunning, realistic illustrations celebrate the beauty of these mysterious creatures as readers learn important facts through an engaging and fascinating story. The book also includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.

This latest installment in the popular Strange and Wonderful series introduces readers to spider species from all over the world—from the common garden spider to the elusive black widow. Pringle’s comprehensive, lively, and informative text includes an overview of the many thousands of species in the world and describes spiders’ habitats, physiology, mating habits, web-making, what and how they eat, and how they protect themselves from predators. It also explores why people are so frightened by spiders and shows that those fears are largely unfounded. Accompanied by Meryl Henderson’s beautiful and illuminating paintings, this book perfectly hits the mark for budding entomologists. Includes a glossary, index, and further resources.

This latest installment in the popular Strange and Wonderful series by Laurence Pringle is an easy-to-read and comprehensive introduction to owl species from all over the world. Stuffed with scintillating science facts and large, colored illustrations from Meryl Henderson, this great educational book is sure to resonate with young animal lovers seeking to learn more about these elusive ghost birds. From the tiny elf owl that weighs less than two ounces to the Eurasian eagle owl that can have a wing span of over five feet, each individual species is described and masterfully pictured in vivid detail through clear, informative text with accompanying artwork. Various facets of the owls'' lives are discussed, including their habitats, diet, mating habits, vision, physiology, digestion, and parenting. This miniature encyclopedia, complete with a glossary, index, and further resources, offers a wealth of knowledge to aspiring avian enthusiasts and contains enough factoids to allow even fledgling readers to soar to new heights.

Did you know that octopuses can eject ink in the shape of a ghostly octopus or detach a wiggling arm while jetting away to safety? Or that their skin can change color for camouflage? Octopuses are the subject of this latest installment of the successful Strange and Wonderful series. Covering the entire life cycle of these mysterious ocean dwellers and their anatomical details and behavioral quirks, Laurence Pringle''s investigation of octopuses is both a comprehensive and accessible introduction and resource.

A beautifully illustrated story of the life cycle of the Green Darner Dragonfly from American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Lifetime Achievement winner Laurence Pringle.

We have been taught to fear scorpions in any form. But scorpions usually sting either to subdue their prey or to protect themselves. In fact, Earth has two thousand scorpion species, but only a few dozen are deadly to humans. With vivid descriptions of scorpions'' life cycle, body structure, habits, and habitat and beautiful, realistic illustrations, this new entry in the popular Strange and Wonderful series explores one of nature''s feared and misunderstood creatures.

Laurence Pringle''s fascinating and informative book, with stunning illustrations by Meryl Henderson, introduces young readers to the life and behavior of one of nature''s most remarkable—and most popular—birds. The seventeen species of penguin come in all sizes and live in a surprising range of habitats. Readers familiar with the emperor penguin that stands almost four feet tall and lives in the Antarctic may be surprised to encounter the little blue penguin that''s only about sixteen inches high and hops ashore into the green forests of southern Australia and southern New Zealand. This book is packed with such a wealth of information, even penguin enthusiasts are bound to learn something new.

Think of a world without cold drinks, ice cream, and frozen foods. Believe it or not, such a world DID exist! Learn all about this fascinating history in this nonfiction book. In the early 1800s, people began to harvest ice, store it in ways that limited melting, and transport it to homes and businesses. Eventually, almost everyone had an icebox, and a huge, vital ice business grew. In this riveting book, acclaimed writer Laurence Pringle describes the key inventions and ideas that helped the ice business flourish. He points to the many sources of ice throughout the East and Midwest and spotlights Rockland Lake, "the icebox of New York City," to offer a close-up look at the ice business in action. Pringle worked closely with experts and relied on primary documents, including archival photographs, postcards, prints, and drawings, to capture the times when everyone waited for the ice man and his wagon to deliver those precious blocks of ice.

"Definitely the best cicada book for kids. Adults will appreciate it as well, as it is well written, factually accurate, and beautifully illustrated." —Cicadamania.com Discover why cicadas are all the buzz in the most complete, comprehensive book for kids about these noisy but harmless insects. Every year, annual cicadas emerge and pierce the air with their buzzing calls. Also every year, at least one brood of 13 or 17 year cicadas emerges in some part of the eastern or central United States. In Spring 2024, both groups will make their appearance in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Author Laurence Pringle and illustrator Meryl Henderson have created the story of this fascinating and often misunderstood insect, one that deserves to be protected.

You see them feeding along the sides of roads or flying to the tops of trees. They are known as common crows, but there is nothing common about them. The familiar sound of "caw, caw, caw" is just one of at least twenty-five distinct sounds crows make in order to communicate with one another. Laurence Pringle examines these remarkable creatures in a fact-filled text that explores how crows talk, behave, and survive. With beautifully detailed illustration by Bob Marstall, young readers get a fascinating look into the world of one of the smartest birds on earth in this winner of the John Burroughs Nature Books for Young Readers Award.

Bats are among the world''s most misunderstood animals. This Parents'' Choice Award book gives readers an inside look at the earth''s only flying mammals. Readers discover how bats can pluck insects from the air, fish from the water, and help giant trees and other tropical plants to reproduce, among other fascinating facts. Featuring stunning illustrations, this is a great introduction to an extraordinary mammal.

From the tiny cookiecutter to the great white, the world''s oceans are home to hundreds of species of marvelous and mysterious sharks. There''s the giant whale shark - longer than two school buses but gentle enough to swim with humans; and the swell shark, which can wedge itself into a hideout and then swell so that it cannot be pulled out. There are sharks that lay eggs and sharks that have live babies. Some are small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, and some have teeth bigger than your fist. Join acclaimed author Laurence Pringle on a fascinating exploration of the wide variety of fish classified as sharks. Together with Meryl Henderson''s beautiful and realistic illustrations, young readers will be taken on an unforgettable journey deep under the sea.

The little-known life of York, the African American man enslaved by William Clark, and his contributions to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition are examined in this carefully crafted Society of School Librarians International Honor Book. Award-winning author Laurence Pringle gives an accurate account of York''s life—before, during, and after the expedition. Using quotations from the expedition''s journals, he tells how York''s skills, strength, and intelligence helped in the day-to-day challenges of the journey. Artists Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu consulted with a Lewis and Clark expert to create thoroughly researched and stunning watercolor paintings of York''s life.

Meet Seaman, the Newfoundland dog who joined the Lewis and Clark expedition into the uncharted western wilderness. Seaman was much more than the faithful companion of Captain Lewis. Seaman risked his life many times and served the Corps of Discovery as a hunter, retriever, and guard dog. This richly detailed account of the expedition includes its planning, its adventures and discoveries, and its aftermath. During the trek from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back, every member of the Corps of Discovery suffered from hunger, insect bites, injuries, and close calls with death. Noted children''s author Laurence Pringle follows the expedition closely and highlights the adventures of Seaman as they appear in the journals of Lewis and Clark. Pringle also offers evidence, first revealed in 2000, about what happened to Seaman after the journey''s end. With intriguing sidebars, historical illustrations, journal excerpts, and original art, this account of the Corps of Discovery features the remarkable dog that was the expedition''s most unusual member.

Snakes come in all sizes and abilities.

Discover how global warming began, what problems it is causing, and how it can be reversed.

Tells about marine biologist Randall S. Wells and his studies of bottlenose dolphins.

Profiles birds, fish, mammals, insects, and amphibians in alphabetical order, providing information on each animal''s physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat.

Environmentalism is one of the most powerful social revolutions of the twentieth century. It has affected our legal and educational systems, the economy, politics--and our day-to-day lives. And it will continue to promote change in the new millennium. Noted science writer Laurence Pringle examines this extraordinary force. He traces the movement''s evolution from its grassroots beginning in seventeenth-century New England town meetings to its present-day focus on global issues. He describes the key events and concerns that have shaped it and tells how writers, thinkers, scientists, politicians, and ordinary people have played major roles through the years. Finally, he looks forward to a new century, discussing some of the challenges that must be faced and overcome in the years ahead. Informative and thought provoking, The Environmental Movement is important reading for everyone who cares about our planet. Books for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL)

Describes the sense of touch, how it works, and why it is important, discussing such related phenomena as goose bumps and phantom limbs, and examining this sense in a variety of animals.