Underdogs, unite! Celebrated nonfiction author Melissa Stewart offers young readers a funny, informative look at some animal "underdogs" that have amazing means of survival. Pee-ew! Should the stinky, skunklike zorilla take a bath? And should the slowpoke Galápagos tortoise get a move on? Everyone knows "cool" animals like elephants and cheetahs, but you should meet these lesser-known creatures that have amazing, creative means of survival! Written with a lively, playful voice, this book introduces young readers to a variety of animal "underdogs" and explains how characteristics that might seem like weaknesses are critical for finding food and staying safe in an eat-or-be-eaten world. Along with her engaging animal facts, Stewart weaves in a gentle message of understanding and celebrating differences. Stephanie Laberis's bright, humorous, and scientifically accurate illustrations add to the fun.

Award-winning nonfiction author and science specialist Melissa Stewart offers young readers a mega-exploration of little-known prehistoric predators that rival even the mightiest of dinosaurs! It is time for T. rex and his dinosaur cousins to step aside and let other mega-predators like the terror bird and the giant ripper lizard take the spotlight! Travel back to prehistoric times and meet some of the most impressive creatures to ever roam the Earth. You'll be amazed at the size and the fierceness of these lesser-known predators, many of them ancient ancestors of animals that we still see today. Stewart's cheeky, humorous voice—along with a comical version of the familiar "comparison man"—put these creatures in perspective. Artist and former zoologist Howard Gray brings these predators (back) to life with dynamic, humorous, and scientifically accurate illustrations. Sidebars and extensive back matter material provide more detailed information and context.

Everyone loves chocolate, right? But how many people actually know where chocolate comes from? How it’s made? Or that monkeys do their part to help this delicious sweet exist? This delectable dessert comes from cocoa beans, which grow on cocoa trees in tropical rain forests. But those trees couldn’t survive without the help of a menagerie of rain forest critters: a pollen-sucking midge, an aphid-munching anole lizard, brain-eating coffin fly maggots—they all pitch in to help the cocoa tree survive. A secondary layer of text delves deeper into statements such as "Cocoa flowers can’t bloom without cocoa leaves . . . and maggots," explaining the interdependence of the plants and animals in the tropical rain forests. Two wise-cracking bookworms appear on every page, adding humor and further commentary, making this book accessible to readers of different ages and reading levels. Back matter includes information about cocoa farming and rain forest preservation, as well as an author’s note.

Once upon a time...children's nonfiction books were stodgy, concise, and not very kid friendly. Most were text heavy, with just a few scattered images decorating the content and meaning, rather than enhancing it. Over the last 20 years, children's nonfiction has evolved into a new breed of visually dynamic and engaging texts.In 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children's Books , Melissa Stewart and Dr. Marlene Correia present a new way to sort nonfiction into five major categories and show how doing so can help teachers and librarians build stronger readers and writers. Along the way, they: Introduce the 5 kinds of nonfiction: Active, Browseable, Traditional, Expository Literature, and Narrative -;and explore each category through discussions, classroom examples, and insights from leading children's book authorsOffer tips for building strong, diverse classroom texts and library collectionsProvide more than 20 activities to enhance literacy instructionInclude innovative strategies for sharing and celebrating nonfiction with students.With more than 150 exemplary nonfiction book recommendations and Stewart and Correia's extensive knowledge of literacy instruction, 5 Kinds of Nonfiction will elevate your understanding of nonfiction in ways that speak specifically to the info-kids in your classrooms, but will inspire all readers and writers.

True stories of animals and the people who love them.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! What would you be if your finger bones grew so long that they reached your feet? You'd be a bat! What if you had no leg bones but kept your arm bones? You'd be a whale, a dolphin, or a porpoise! This entertaining picture book will keep readers guessing as they learn about how our skeletons are like—and unlike—those of other animals. "I've been longing for another kind of picture book: one that appeals to young children's wildest imagination in service of real evolutionary thinking....Bone by Bone, by veterinarian and professor Sara Levine, fills the niche to near perfection." —Slate "engaging and delightfully-illustrated book"—The Guardian

Author and illustrator Bob Barner makes waves with his signature rhyming text and colorful illustrations in this lush picture book about the sea. Filled with incredible fishy facts about vertebrates, invertebrates, endoskeletons, and exoskeletons, plus an underwater informational chart, Sea Bones will make young readers want to dive right in! Plus, this is the fixed format version, which will look almost identical to the print version. Additionally for devices that support audio, this ebook includes a read-along setting.

"From award-winning author Melissa Stewart comes the grossest journey through the animal world you'll ever take. From ants to zorillas, get ready to discover some seriously strange animal behaviors. Slurp up soupy insides with houseflies, spit sticky saliva to build nests with birds, and fend off predators with poop-flinging caterpillars and farting snakes. And that's just the tip of the dung pile! These yucky habits may seem surprising to us, but they're totally normal for these animals. In fact, their survival depends on them."--

Whether your family is about to adopt a kitten, or just starting to think about it, this original eBook is full of fascinating information and irresistible photos you and your children will want to read again and again! With his trademark balance of conversational tone, informative text and stand-out illustrations, Simon delivers another delightful romp of discovery, both pictorially and factually. Each question about kitten behavior is treated to a full-color, photographic spread; the images in this picture book are so adorable that they are bound to provoke squeals of delight! This engaging title will be an asset to both early reader and read aloud collections.

Are you ready to meet some of the most incredible Olympians in the world? These animal athletes are at the top of their game, and they’re ready to go for gold! This fascinating book for readers aged 5+ examines the incredible abilities of animals from all around the globe with a captivating and original conceit – in Animal Olympics, the creatures are competing, and the reader has a front row seat to the action. In each event, animals are awarded bronze, silver or gold for their skills. Events featured in the book include diving, wrestling, rock climbing and gymnastics. Readers will discover all kinds of astounding animals, from the bar-headed goose, which flies at heights of up to 6,300 metres, to the flic-flac spider, which cartwheels across the Moroccan desert. Fun vignettes show the animals in their heat, and are accompanied by absorbing, fact-packed captions. On your marks, get set, and off we go to the Animal Olympics!