Sneed B. Collard III

How can a toucan fly with such a large, cumbersome beak? A toucan's beak is actually light as a feather due to its honeycomb construction. And not only is it beautiful, but it's an extremely useful tool in foraging for food. Find out more fascinating facts in this remarkably illustrated study of bird beaks. Learn about several different birds, their habitats, and how their beaks are uniquely styled to help them survive. Outstanding 3-D cut-paper illustrations...

Profiles the Mexican American labor leader who helped create the United Farm Workers union to protect the rights of migrant agricultural laborers.

Lizards are cool. Literally. They are ectotherms, which means they can't make their own heat. That's why you see many types of lizards basking in the sun, seemingly doing nothing at all. That's the life. But make no mistake, lizards have very busy lives-looking for food and avoiding being food. Popular science writer Sneed B. Collard III gets down and dirty with all kinds of lizards-from your average "Joe Lizard," the western fence lizard, to the...

Nature's creatures can be ferocious! Lions and sharks leave many animals running scared. But some predators may be hunting beneath your feet or above your head- and you don't know they're there. Meet some of the most successful predators on Earth: little killers. These small creatures can have a big impact. They change ecosystems, control pests, and even take down much larger prey. Tiny predators use adaptations including poisons, strong jaws, and...

Take flight! Simple text explains the versatility of bird, insect, and mammal wings. Detailed paragraphs spotlight particular animals and discuss how the animals' wings help them to survive. Intricate, cut-paper illustrations capture the delicate beauty of each type of wing. Includes a glossary and additional resources.

A lovely educational tale about how animals live in harmony and benefit their ecosystem through commensalism A family of beavers love their pond, which they've worked hard to turn from a bedraggled landscape into a thriving wetland. But when, a family of otters move in and start reaping the rewards of the beavers' efforts, the only thing the beavers can do is tolerate their new neighbors as best they can. Despite the fact that the otters can be rather...

What has a bill like a duck's and the body of a beaver? A platypus, probably. Engaging text follows a female platypus through her life, while sidebars offer in-depth information about this unique monotreme and her environment. Vivid, accurate illustrations capture the wonder of this amazing creature.

Reliability, devotion and faithfulness: endearing qualities shared between people and their canine companions. Shep is the true story of a dog that became an inspiration to people around the world. Following the death of his owner in 1936, Shep watched as his body was placed on a train and shipped east. For more than five years, through rain and snow, Shep met every incoming train with hopes that he would see the man who had cared for him. Even today,...

Grind. Mash. Munch. Simple text introduces various types of teeth, while detailed explanations regarding specific animals offer further information about teeth function, structure, and number. Vivid, accurate illustrations put teeth in context, from the great white shark with its rows of sharp teeth to the Cuban crocodile with its replacement teeth to the cutthroat trout with its tongue teeth. Includes a glossary and additional resources.

I bet you've seen a furry gray animal scurrying across the highway late at night-you know, the one with the pink snout and long tail? That's an opossum, and it is a marsupial. Did you know that it is related to all sorts of different animals, including the kangaroo and the Tasmanian devil? Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of marsupials, a group of mammals found around the globe, though mostly in Australia and Southern Asia. They share many traits...