Most Popular Books by Natalie Lunis

Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat of eight pterosaurs.

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.

Describes the anatomical features that make the cheetah the fastest animal on land, includes fascinating facts about its habits and behavior, and compares its speed to that of other animals.

Describes the natural habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of the blue-ringed octopus.

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.

Text and photographs present amazing facts about squids.

Text and photographs present amazing facts about jellyfish.

Introduces the potbellied pig, describing its physical characteristics, habitat, and behavior, and discussing the care and diet that it needs if it is kept as a pet.

Describes the anatomical features that make the greyhound the fastest dog in the world, includes fascinating facts about its habits and behavior, and compares its speed to that of other animals.

Text and photographs present amazing facts about crabs.

In Komodo Dragon, young readers follow Komodo dragons living in the small islands of Indonesia as they learn about their natural habitat, physical characteristics, diet, life cycle, and predatory behavior. Age-appropriate text paired with colorful photographs will engage young readers as they discover how the world''s biggest lizard adapts to its environment for survival. Komodo Dragon includes such useful and fun learning features as a detailed diagram that compares the animal''s super size to something familiar in kids'' own lives.

Describes ostriches, discussing where and how they live and their size, important body parts, defensive behavior, and babies.

Describes the characteristics, diet, behavior, and life cycle of killer whales.

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.

The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world. It can fly at a speed of 68 miles per hour, and it can dive through the air at an even more amazing speed: 200 miles per hour! The falcons make these high-speed dives in order to catch other birds for food. They attack their prey in midair! These are just some of the fascinating facts kids will discover in the thrilling world of these swift birds of prey. Eye-popping photos and clear, easy-to-read text will engage emergent readers as they discover the anatomical features that help peregrine falcons reach fast speeds. A "Speed-o-Meter" graphic compares the peregrine falcon’s top speed to that of fastballs and roller coasters.

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 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.

Introduces scorpions, describing their physical characteristics, life cycle, habitat, diet, and behavior.

Introduces the three-toed sloth, including information on its green camouflage, its habitat, and its life cycle.

Do some animals really have the power of invisibility? The surprising answer is yes. Look inside to find out about glass frogs, transparent sea butterflies, and other see-through creatures that survive by performing vanishing acts wherever they go. Pay close attention, though, or they might disappear before your eyes! Book jacket.

Introduces the miniature horse, describing its physical characteristics, history, and behavior, and discussing the care and diet that it needs.

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

Do some animals really have the power to kill by zapping their prey with electricity? The shocking answer is yes. And that’s not all that electric animals can do with their super-charged powers. Some can target their victims in near-total darkness while others "talk" to each other using electricity. These are just some of the surprising facts kids will discover as they enter the world of these amazing animals. Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

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.

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.

Profiles the Jack Russell terrier.

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.

Travel along with Sue Hendrickson as she uncovers the remains of a huge dinosaur.

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.

Introduces the furry ferret, describing its physical characteristics, habitat, and behavior, and discussing the care and diet that it needs if it is kept as a pet.

Learn how to make banana bread by following a recipe.

The black spiny-tailed iguana can run at a maximum speed of 21 miles per hour, making it the world’s fastest lizard! These iguanas are also agile climbers and will race up trees to find the leaves, fruit, and flowers that make up most of their diet. These are some of the fascinating facts kids will discover as they learn all about these speedy lizards. Eye-popping photos and clear, easy-to-read text will engage emergent readers as they discover the anatomical features that help iguanas reach fast speeds. A "Speed-o-Meter" graphic compares the black spiny-tailed iguana’s top speed to that of other animals.

Follow Paul Sereno''s 1997 excavation in the desert, revealing facts about this giant prehistoric croc that lived and fought among the dinosaurs.

Describes the natural habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of the box jellyfish.

Travel with Luis and his team as they hunt for fossils.

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.

Student Book