New Releases by Natalie Lunis

"Schools and libraries are places for knowledge. But what if they contain something even scarier than homework and tests? Travel around the country, visiting real schools and libraries with creepy legends and unbelievable paranormal events. Are the stories of strange figures and unexplained disturbances make-believe or signs of something more sinister? Decide for yourself . . . if you dare"--

Places that are filled with history are also thought to be filled with ghosts. If that is true, then Washington, D.C.—a city that dates back to the earliest days of the United States of America—is surely one of the most haunted cities in the country. In A Haunted Capital, children visit eleven of the most haunted spots in Washington, D.C. and come across some of its most famous ghosts. Among them are a former president who never left the White House, a vice-president who still hurries to his office in the Capitol building, and a First Lady who has found a quiet and peaceful home—years after her death. The haunting photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

Meet Isaiah. He’s one of nearly 70 golden retrievers who are sent around the county to perform a special job—to comfort and calm people after a tragedy has occurred. From meeting survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing to victims of Hurricane Sandy, these specially-trained dogs help relieve people’s stress as they provide peace and comfort. Run by the Lutheran Church Charities, the comfort dog program is truly an example of the amazing ways a furry friend can bring happiness—or even just a smile—to people when they need it most. With real heart-warming stories and full-color photos of these lovable canines, this book is sure to appeal to dog lovers everywhere.

To most people, an inn is a place for weary travelers who are hungry and tired to get a bite to eat and rest for a while. After a few days, guests usually check out and return home or continue on their journey. Some people, however, check into an inn and never check out. Their ghosts stay on, sharing their rooms with the living. Among the 11 eerie inns in this book, children will discover an inn in Gettysburg that is said to be haunted by the soldiers who died in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War; a small hotel in San Francisco that was once a girls’ school and is now visited by the ghost of the headmistress; and a bed-and-breakfast in Florida that is haunted not by a person—but by a doll! The creepy photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

On the morning of July 15, 2012, the weather at Sant’Agostino Beach in Italy was clear and calm—just perfect for a swim. Shortly before noon, however, the wind picked up. Soon, it blew so hard that it pushed two swimmers dangerously far from shore. Fortunately, a lifeguard was on duty. She managed to swim out and help bring both swimmers back. Most of the time, such an event wouldn’t make headlines. This time, however, it did. That’s because the lifeguard was a yellow Labrador retriever named Ariel! Ariel is just one of hundreds of dogs that patrol beaches to keep people safe. Whether diving into dangerous waves from the decks of rescue boats or jumping from helicopters hovering above the water, these brave canines are willing to risk their lives to make sure no one drowns. With real-life stories and full-color photos of these courageous canines on the job, this book is sure to appeal to dog lovers everywhere.

Do some animals really have the power to transform themselves into something else? In fact, such creatures do exist. In this book, young readers will meet eight of these amazing, shape-shifting animals, including a sea creature that can pretend to be a rock, a caterpillar that can rise up like a snake that is about to strike, and a fish that can blow itself up into a big, spiky ball. These animals may take on very different shapes, but they do have one thing in common. They all use their shape-shifting abilities to scare off, escape from, or appear less tasty to their enemies. In other words, their special powers help them survive! Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

Gravity is an invisible yet powerful force that pulls people, animals, and objects down to the ground so that they don’t float into the air. As powerful as gravity is, however, there are certain animals that are able to break free of its forceful pull. Some do so by flapping their wings to fly incredibly high. Others shoot out from under the water. Still others stick to ceilings without any glue. In this book, young readers will discover eight of these extraordinary animals—and the secrets behind their gravity-defying powers. Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

Just when you thought youd seen every kind of animal, along comes a series featuring creatures that seem too unbelievable to be realAnimals with Super Powers. From eels that can kill a person with an electric shock to butterflies that are nearly invisible, kids are about to get an eye-popping look at animals from around the world that use their amazing super powers to hunt, hide, and survive. Full-color photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

A huge spider pokes two hairy legs out of a hole in the sandy soil. The opening leads to the tarantula's underground home. The spider lines its home with silk to keep the walls from caving in. It also makes a ring-shaped silk mat near the entrance to catch prey. Welcome to the tarantula's burrow! Clear text, colorful photos, and diagrams will engage young readers as they explore the habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of these curious creatures. Age-appropriate activities and critical-thinking questions give readers an opportunity to make observations and gain valuable insights.

A brightly colored spider stretches silky threads between two tree branches. Then it lets more silk out of its body and moves back and forth to make a set of straight lines. Finally, the spider moves in a spiral path leading out from the center of its large, wheel-shaped home. Welcome to the spider's web! Clear text, colorful photos, and diagrams will engage young readers as they explore the habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of these curious creatures. Age-appropriate activities and critical-thinking questions give readers an opportunity to make observations and gain valuable insights.

Theaters are fun places to visit—most of the time. These beautiful buildings are usually filled with funny comedies, dramatic tragedies, and exciting musicals. Yet what happens when the most exciting and dramatic events aren’t happening on the stage? Many theaters have been the scenes of unusual deaths, tragic events, and are even said to be home to ghosts and spirits. Within the 11 tragic theaters in this book, children will discover the ghost of the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, and the spirit of a beautiful showgirl who keeps reappearing on the stage where she became famous 100 years ago. The haunting photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

Most days, schools are filled with students learning in classrooms, studying in libraries, and eating in lunchrooms. Yet what about the reports that something more unusual has been spotted in these buildings? Are they true? According to some, ghostly figures and creepy spirits haunt the hallways of some of America’s most well-known schools, colleges, and universities. Among the 11 spooky schools in this book, children will discover an art institute haunted by a mischievous ghost and a university in Florida where a man with glowing red eyes mysteriously appears. The haunting photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

How large is the giant weta? This enormous grasshopper weighs about as much as three full-grown mice and grows to be 4 inches (10 cm) long! These long-legged insects are so heavy that they can’t jump like other grasshoppers. Instead, they walk or crawl to move around. These are just some of the surprising facts children will discover as they explore the fascinating world of these giant grasshoppers. In Giant Weta: The World’s Biggest Grasshopper, eye-popping color photos paired with simple, grade-appropriate text will engage children as they learn about the natural habitat, physical characteristics, diet, life cycle, and behavior of this supersized animal. A comparison diagram is also included to show readers the animal in relation to a familiar object.

Some cities that once thrived have now disappeared, the sites sometimes turning into empty, ominous ruins. What dark secrets are hidden in these vanished cities? In this book, readers will explore the mysteries of the world’s most famous lost cities and learn how these intriguing places were rediscovered. Among the 11 spooky places highlighted are the abandoned remains of a futuristic vacation town that was said to be cursed, and the crumbling ruins of an industrial town on an eerily deserted island. Fascinating histories and haunting photographs will keep kids turning the pages for more.

Explains how the U.S. Navy SEALs tracked down and defeated the terrorist, Osama bin Laden.

Readers will get a lesson in history in this series of titles that looks at what happened in various historical places and how these happenings are tied to tales of ghosts, poltergeists and other unexplainable phenomena.

Young readers will meet coyotes and learn where these animals live, how they stay safe, and the different ways their howls help them communicate.

Describes how humpback whales communicate with each other and how the sounds they make help them survive, and discusses their habitat, diet and behavior.

Mockingbirds are talented singers. They can mimic the songs of many other birds, not to mention the sounds of barking dogs, chirping crickets, and car alarms! In fact, the mockingbird’s name comes from this special talent, as at one time the word "mock" meant the same things as to "mimic." Male mockingbirds will sing all day and night when they're looking for a mate. The loud, long-lasting song tells female mockingbirds that he's ready to mate and also warns other males to stay out of the area. These are just some of the fun facts that kids will discover as they learn about these harmonious birds. Spectacular photos and clear, easy-to-read text will engage emergent readers as they come face-to-face with these animal loudmouths. In addition, children discover where mockingbirds live, how they stay safe, and the different ways their sounds help them communicate with each other—and tell other mockingbirds to stay away! A "Sound Check" chart at the end of the book describes the different noises that mockingbirds make and what each sound is used for.

Describes how hyenas communicate with each other and how the sounds they make help them survive, and discusses their habitat, diet, and behavior.

A hippo's mouth is huge, measuring about four feet (1.2 m) from top to bottom when open. That’s big enough for a six-year-old kid to fit inside! These big mouths make a lot of noise. Hippos can produce a 115-decibel roar that’s as loud as a train engine. They also make softer noises such as croaks, clicks, and bellows that are heard in the air and underwater at the same time—something no other mammal can do. These are just some of the interesting facts kids will discover about these noisy giants. Spectacular photos and clear, easy-to-read text will engage emergent readers as they discover where hippos live, how they stay safe, and the different ways they communicate with each other. Kids will also learn the origin of the name hippopotamus, which is Greek for “River Horse”—and discover why this name is actually inaccurate. A “Sound Check” chart at the end of the book compares the decibel level of a hippo to familiar noises, including an ambulance, a lawnmower, and a train engine.

Readers will meet Buddy, a German shepherd who ran to get help when his owner's garage caught on fire. The dog led a police officer to the burning building, who helped stop the fire from spreading further. Buddy became known as a hero! However, he’s not the first German shepherd who has won fame for his intelligence, courage, and loyalty. These dogs were first bred and trained to herd sheep, and have also worked as guide dogs, police dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and military dogs. The same qualities that make the German shepherd a great working dog also make it a great pet. Year after year, it is among the three most popular dog breeds in the United States! German Shepherd: Super Smart is a perfect read for dog lovers that includes amazing, real-life stories about these huge dogs while also recounting the breed’s history and how that determined the animal’s physical characteristics, personality, and suitability as a pet.

For children who love to scream, shout, or just have fun making silly sounds, along comes the perfect series from Bearport—Animal Loudmouths. From howling coyotes to roaring hippos, young readers will meet some of the noisiest creatures in the world. Spectacular, full-color photos and clear, simple text bring beginning readers face-to-face with these animal loudmouths. In addition, children learn where the animals live, how they stay safe, and the different ways their clicks, grunts, snorts, honks, and songs help them communicate with each other—and tell other animals to stay away!

Learn how to make a desert terrarium.

Learn how to make ice cream using sugar, light cream, and vanilla.

Fireflies aren’t the only animals with the power to glow in the dark. In this book, young readers will meet eight creatures that emit light from their bodies. Some use sparkling lights to attract a mate, while others create a sudden flash to scare their predators. Some animals even shine a light to lure their prey close—and then attack their unsuspecting victim! These are some of the surprising facts kids will discover in the amazing world of bioluminescent animals. Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

Do some animals really have the power of invisibility? In See-Through Animals, young readers will meet eight creatures whose clear body parts help them survive. Some animals, like the glasswing butterfly with translucent wings, use their vanishing powers to hide from predators. Others, like jellyfish with clear bodies, can sneak up on their prey unnoticed. After all, invisibility is the ultimate camouflage! Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

The mummy of King Tutankhamun, the Egyptian boy king, had not been disturbed for over 3,000 years. In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter and his team discovered the ancient tomb and examined the dazzling treasures within its chambers. However, soon after the thrilling discovery, a member of Carter’s team became ill and died. Stories of other deaths connected to the tomb followed. Had an ancient curse doomed those who entered the pharaoh’s tomb? An exciting narrative format brings Egyptian history to life, while providing plenty of creepy details to satisfy young horror fans. Chilling photos and illustrations and clear, age-appropriate text will keep readers turning the pages to unlock the secrets of the mummy’s tomb.