Monster Hunt: Exploring Mysterious Creatures

Manatees can grow to up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 3,000 pounds. They harm no other wildlife but are often victimized by human water traffic. These gentle mammals are distant relatives of the elephant but live in warm water. Arnosky’s illustrations and straightforward text provide an introduction to these gentle giants.

Gentle rhymes and realistic watercolor illustrations invite readers to imagine what a range of animals are doing as readers go through their day. Naturally, activities wind down as animals “…who at this very moment/will fall asleep with you.”

Crinkleroot shares the excitement and rewards of birdwatching, in a beginner’s guide that offers tips on identifying more than fifty birds and includes facts about bird anatomy, behavior, life cycles, and more.

Noted naturalist, Arnosky, trekked through Florida’s Everglades to count crocodiles, the once endangered reptiles. Through informal narration and arresting, large paintings, these toothy creatures come alive. A DVD with highlights of the author’s trek is included.

As the seasons change, a large black bear prepares for hibernation. In his search for a den, he startles a bobcat, a grouse, and other smaller animals. Striking watercolors and brief text, drawn from the artist’s observations of a bear behind his Vermont home, explain the balance found in nature and the cycles of life.

The author/illustrator’s enthusiasm for the birds he observes is contagious in this artful and informative look at various birds of prey. Several pages fold out to showcase the splendor of these amazing flyers.