Discovery Animals

Meet Speedy, a vibrant Blue Betta, also known as a Siamese Fighting Fish and Betta Splendens in the world of ichthyology. Living in a small bowl, Speedy finds himself perplexed by the reflection he sees daily, mistaking it for a rival Blue Betta. With the spirit of a Japanese fighting fish, Speedy prepares diligently to defend his territory, training harder each day to become faster and stronger. His determination grows as he waits for his adversary to return. But then, a realization dawns on him: there is no need for an actual fight.

Did you know that women once wore corsets under their bathing suits? Or that "semi-drowning" - the strip and plunge practice - was thought to be good for one's health? Or that Pudgy Stockton, the body-building queen of Muscle Beach, California, opened the country's first gym for women? From the bathhouses of the ancient Greeks to Venice Beach and Coney Island, Let's Go to the Beach takes a multifaceted and well-researched look at beaches and their attendant customs.

La Balsa es un relato imaginario del naufragio de la Corbeta francesa Felicidad (Félicité). Esta historia nos anima a mantener el sentido de propósito y fe que debe siempre acompañarnos en cada proyecto de vida que nos tracemos, para poder hacer frente a cualquier adversidad y salir fortalecidos ante cada situación que se nos presente. Después de cada tormenta viene la calma y este cuento te invita a ver brillar la luz del sol después de navegar en las turbulentas aguas de sus narraciones y diálogos.

At one time, red wolves roamed the US from southern New York to as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas. But as European settlers moved in, these wolves began losing their home range and were hunted as a threat. Red wolves became so rare by 1973 that they were given protection under the US Endangered Species Act. Then scientists came up with a daring plan: round up all remaining red wolves, launch a captive breeding program, and once the captive population was large enough, release red wolves to roam free in protected areas.

On January 31, 1961, a three-year-old chimpanzee named Ham made history. Strapped inside a Mercury capsule, the little chimp blasted off into the sky, becoming the first intelligent being to ride an American rocket into suborbital space. Ham made a vital contribution to the United States space program. Because there were so many unanswered questions about space travel, scientists could not risk sending humans on a journey into the unknown. Chimpanzees, however, are very similar to humans in the makeup of their skeletons and internal organs.

From the team that created the ALA Notable Book The Cod's Tale comes the fascinating history of salt, which has been the object of wars and revolutions and is vital for life. Based on Mark Kurlansky's critically acclaimed best seller Salt: A World History, this handsome picture book explores every aspect of salt: The many ways it's gathered from the Earth and sea; how ancient emperors in China, Egypt, and Rome used it to keep their subjects happy; why salt was key to the Age of Exploration; what salt meant to the American Revolution; and even how the search for salt eventually led to oil.

Acclaimed science author Sandra Markle offers a fascinating look at Gobi bears - the rarest bears on the planet. These adorable animals face threats ranging from illegal gold miners to climate change. Find out more about these bears, which are considered a national treasure in Mongolia, and learn what scientists are doing to help this critically endangered species.

In the dark, Kristofer Helgen and a group of scientists peered up into the treetops of the Ecuadorian cloud forest. Staring back at them was a furry, four-legged creature. Could it be the mysterious, wild olinguito? Helgen had been studying the olingo, a relative of raccoons, for years. As he examined their pelts and skulls in museums, he noticed differences in a few. Through scientific investigating, he realized the different examples weren't olingos at all - he had discovered a completely new species.

In the cloud forests of the Amazon Basin, scientists are installing extraordinary numbers of camera traps in the hopes of learning more about an elusive species - woolly monkeys. No one knows for sure how many woolly monkeys are left in the wild. But they play a key role in their ecosystem, and without them the rain forest is in trouble. Join scientists on their quest to solve the mysteries surrounding the lives of woolly monkeys before it's too late. Scan QR codes inside the book to see and hear the monkeys!

African penguins waddle around nesting colonies in lower numbers than ever before. Despite South African government efforts to protect the penguin colonies and their ocean fish supply, young penguins still struggle to survive. Fuzzy chicks waiting for food in open nests may overheat in the sun or become prey. Others simply may not get enough food to survive on their own once their parents leave.

Little brown bats do us a big favor. They eat huge numbers of insects! That helps limit the spread of diseases and the damage that insects do to farm crops. But in recent years, large populations of little brown bats have been dying off each winter. Is a virus killing them? Could climate change or pesticides be the cause? Or is it something else? Follow a team of dedicated scientists working to save the little brown bats in this real-life science mystery.

On this adventure, Mr. Waldorf discovers the huge Russia. The curious canine encounters fun new friends and places while visiting Saint Petersburg, the Ural Mountains, Lake Baikai, Russian State Library and more. Silly Mr. Waldorf has a tendency to misplace his favorite reading spectacles and can't seem to find them while discovering the largest country in the world. Mr. Waldorf will learn all about Russia, while seeking his missing spectacles.

Amy embarked on an amazing alphabet adventure, guided by a magical book. Each letter of the alphabet introduced her to a new animal friend and a delightful story. From Antelope to Zebra, Amy explored the wonders of the animal kingdom, learning valuable lessons along the way.

Read by the authors. Includes an exclusive bonus song, “Ocean’s World,” written for the book! Join Ocean and Kingston as they explore the ocean, discover wildlife, and learn fascinating marine facts in Ocean's World, an action and adventure story for kids! Ocean and his little brother...