New Releases by Natalie Lunis

What could cause a once-bustling city to fall quiet, or--even more shocking--an entire civilization to vanish? The eerie empty streets of ghost towns and fantastical stories of lost cities are truly mysterious. Travel the world, visiting real ghost towns and searching for lost cities 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. Then, explore a map of dreadful dwellings around the world.

"In this book, readers learn about hippos."--

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Introduces the giant weta, a type of grasshopper that lives on lislands near New Zealand, describing its physical characteristics, habitat, life cycle, and the way in which it defends itself against predators.

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. Lost Cities is part of Bearport’s Scary Places series.

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.

Shortly after midnight on May 2, 2011, two large helicopters swooped down on a home in Abbottabad, a small city in northern Pakistan. As the helicopters reached the ground, a group of American fighters spilled out. Soon, loud blasts filled the air as the commandos—all members of a group known as the Navy SEALs—blew apart walls and doors and shot their way in. The SEALs were looking for the world''s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden. The secret raid was risky, but if anyone could carry out the mission successfully, it was the Navy SEALs. Members of this special operations force are among the best-trained fighters in the world. Young readers will follow this elite group of soldiers on their raid and explore the context for their mission, from the 9/11 attacks by Al Qaeda to the war against terrorists in Afghanistan. Large, full-color photos, grade-appropriate text, and a narrative format will keep kids turning the pages as they learn about our nation''s military heroes.

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

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

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

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

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

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 weather station.

You can make your very own fingerprint artwork! Read this book to find out how.

Learn how to make a desert terrarium.

Learn how to make banana bread by following a recipe.