Nonfiction Science

On a hot day in July 1919, five black youths went swimming in Lake Michigan, unintentionally floating close to the white beach. An angry white man began throwing stones at the boys, striking and killing one. Racial conflict on the beach erupted into days of urban violence that shook the city of Chicago to its foundations. This mesmerizing narrative draws on contemporary accounts as it traces the roots of the explosion that had been building for decades in race relations, politics, business, and clashes of culture.

On remote Codfish Island off the southern coast of New Zealand live the last 91 kakapo parrots on earth. These trusting, flightless, and beautiful birds - the largest and most unusual parrots on earth - have suffered devastating population loss. Now, on an island refuge with the last of the species, New Zealand’s National Kakapo Recovery Team is working to restore the kakapo population. With the help of 14 humans who share a single hut and a passion for saving these odd ground-dwelling birds, the kakapo are making a comeback in New Zealand.

Meet rufa red knot B95. Scientists call him the Moonbird because, in the course of his astoundingly long lifetime, this robin-sized shorebird has flown the distance to the moon - and halfway back! Each February he joins a flock that lifts off from Tierra del Fuego, headed for breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic, 9,000 miles away. Late in the summer, he begins the return journey. B95 can fly for days, but eventually he must descend to refuel and rest. However, recent changes at stopover sites along his migratory circuit - changes caused mostly by human activity - have reduced the food available and made it harder for the birds to reach.

In May 1869, the U.S. railroad network unified when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads came together in Promontory, Utah. The Transcontinental Railroad: The Gateway to the West discusses this important milestone in the expansion of the United States and its impact on the nation, both positive and negative. This book tells how the east-west railroad played an integral role in opening western markets to the residents of the eastern United States, but it also examines how the railroad led to the demise of many American Indian groups in the West.

Since Fidel Castro staged a coup and assumed power of Cuba in 1959, the United States has been obsessed with this small island nation, only 90 miles south of the Florida Keys. But because of the country's isolation, the island and its people have remained a mystery. This revised edition of Cuba takes listeners through the country's storied history, its people, and what the future holds for this island nation.

Ring-tailed lemurs have bushy, striped tails. Newborn lemurs hold onto their mothers' bellies. Within a few weeks, they learn to walk and climb. Baby lemurs climb trees to find food and sleep. How do baby lemurs grow and change? Listen to this book to find out.

Ostriches are the largest birds in the world, but they cannot fly. Ostrich chicks hatch from their eggs. Then they grow quickly. Chicks practice running. This makes their legs strong and fast. How do baby ostriches grow and change? Listen to this book to find out! This title also includes fun facts, a glossary, and more!

Chimpanzees live in forests in Africa. Baby chimpanzees cannot walk. They ride on their mothers' backs. Baby chimpanzees first learn to climb. They learn how to walk at about age four. How do baby chimpanzees grow and change? Listen to this book to find out! This title also includes fun facts, a glossary, and more!

Zebras are speedy, striped animals that roam the African grasslands. Zebra foals can stand right after birth. Foals eat grasses and grow quickly. They learn how to survive from their mothers. They must be fast to run from predators. How do baby zebras grow and change? Read this book to find out! This title also includes fun facts, a glossary, and more!

African elephants are the largest animals that live on land. Elephant calves are born into a big family. They play with other calves. Calves learn to use their trunks. They drink water and make loud noises. How do baby elephants grow and change?

When I was a boy, my greatest fear was my dog running away and that manifested itself in a reoccurring dream. That dream was the impetus for After All, Dogs Are Color Blind, Aren't They? It dawned on me after reflecting on my dream that man's best friend makes immediate friends with everyone they meet, and that is a wonderful life lesson I hope to share with my kids as well as yours.

Every wonder how a vehicle weighing several tons can soar through the sky? This audiobook explains briefly why airplanes are able to fly and notes certain historical milestones in the field of aeronautics.

Did you know there are over 400 different species of sharks? Did you know they have been on Earth much longer than humans, and even lived before the dinosaurs? Here you'll learn all about these fearsome kings of the ocean, including their eating habits and the basics of their anatomy. Sharks come in many sizes, from under a foot long to over 40 feet - and that's not even counting the long-extinct, 60-foot-long Megalodon shark. And while some have been known to bite people, they are usually quite content to hunt other sea creatures.

Hibernation is a cycle that some animals go through every year. Most people know that bears hibernate. But why do they hibernate? And what other animals hibernate?

Three species of bear inhabit North America: the grizzly, the polar bear, and the black bear. But the American black bear is truly North America's bear, found only in North America. Black bears range from Canada to Mexico, from New England to California.

Christmas is many things to many people. It celebrates the birth of the Christ child. It is also Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus, angels, lights, Christmas trees, cards, carols, presents, and prayers. Christmas is...peace, love, and joy.

How does an egg become a butterfly? Follow each step in nature's cycle - from egg to brightly colored insect - in this fascinating book!

How does a foal grow into a horse? Follow each step in nature's cycle - from birth to stallion or mare - in this fascinating book!

What does it mean to migrate? Discover which animals migrate and why they migrate through detailed, simple text.

They say a dog is a man's best friend. Well, while this may partly be true, the unfortunate part about our friendship with our dogs is really wanting. Let me ask you this simple question; how much do you know about dogs? If you really are someone's friend, you probably would do everything possible to know as much about them as is practically possible. If you've been a dog owner for some time, you can bet that your dog knows a lot about you than you probably may think.