New Releases by John Himmelman

Are bananas yellow . . . or is yellow a banana? Learn all about yellow—and other colorful things—in this rollicking picture book from John Himmelman, author of the Bunjitsu Bunny series u200bApproaching the concept of color, and the creative ways in which young children assign names to things in the world around them, with a fun, playful tone, this picture book is perfect for group or individual read-aloud story times. That yellow is a banana. No, a banana is yellow. These purples are grapes. No, these grapes are purple! This orange is a pumpkin. No, that pumpkin is orange! And this orange is . . . orange? With two charming siblings and a fresh, limited palette that allows each featured color to really shine, young readers will learn as they laugh in this side-splittingly funny, unique picture book.

On a dig in a Spanish desert, archeologist, Jennifer Moore uncovers the skeleton of a young Neanderthal, a prehistoric branch of humans that mysteriously vanished. In its hand is a bone flute. But Neanderthals were not known to create music. 40,000 years earlier, Skeetu, one of the last remaining Neanderthals, finds a flute. This leads her to a small band of Homo sapiens-our ancestors. With her Woolly Rhino, Bulo, they travel together in search of more of their kind. Saber-toothed tigers, monstrous hyenas, cave bears, wolves, and winter storms challenge their survival. Forward to present time: Jennifer is racing backwards through her dreams; seeing through the eyes of one ancestor to the next. Could it have something to do with the flute she stole from the dig site? Neandergirl is in essence a time travel story, joining family across the span of 40,000 years, and plays with the challenges of companionship-not between two races, but two different species of human beings.

Have you ever wondered how some of nature's smallest creatures spend their days? Here's your chance to take a scientifically accurate peek into the life of a mealworm, (Tenebrio molitar), beginning with egg-laying. Striking illustrations and a lively storyline capture the real life challenges of the mealworm. Perfect to read to young children.

This is the charming story of a box turtle whose life begins in a New England forest in 1890, and who lives over 100 years and witnesses changes to the landscape that threaten her habitat until the spirit of conservation transforms her remaining woodlot. A charming story that teaches, conservation, wildlife biology, and history.

Blah! Mr. Raisin is a bit of a grump. He lives all alone in a little house, and he likes it that way just fine. One day, a mysterious basket appears on Mr. Raisin’s doorstep. When he opens it up, it seems there’s nothing inside . . . until he notices a floating dog bobbing along his ceiling. What follows is a heartwarming, hilarious tale about embracing the unexpected—and finding friendship that takes you to new heights, in John Himmelman''s Floaty.

Beetles fly, frogs hop, and slugs slide over the pages of this book, made to be read by a child while lying on the grass. Children interact with the book, with a tip, tap, and turn of the book, moving the critters along. The critters even interact with each other in surprising ways. John Himmelman brings together his expertise as both a naturalist and an artist to encourage children to explore nature in their own backyard

No one likes getting caught out in the rain! One drizzly day on the farm, a cow overhears a cat meowing to be let into the house. When the kind old lady inside opens the door, the cow gets an idea--one that spirals out of control! Minimal text and maximum hilarity make for a zany, fun-filled tale as we find out what happens when the cow says meow.

Meet the most heroic chickens in town! On Monday, Farmer Greenstalk dropped his watch down the well. . . . On Tuesday, Mrs. Greenstalk was too tired to make dinner. . . . Who will help the poor Greenstalk family? Chickens to the rescue! The amazing chickens on the Greenstalk farm race to help various family members and farm animals every day of the week. Every day until Sunday, that is, when Emily Greenstalk has a little trouble . . . John Himmelman''s expressive illustrations are filled with the kind of hilarious details that will delight young readers. "The fun here comes from all the frenzy in the pictures, and it will take kids more than one look to see all the silliness." - Booklist

Katie the dog learns that sharing can be fun when she becomes friends with the playful puppy next door.

It''s the day of the county fair! Three-legged races, a "Smartest Pig" contest, the Ferris wheel—what could be more fun? But the Greenstalks'' car won''t start, so they''ll need some help getting there. . . . Cows to the Rescue is the fabulous new book in John Himmelman''s hilarious barnyard saga. It follows Chickens to the Rescue and Pigs to the Rescue, bringing back the fun with brand new mishaps and brand moo—er, new—problem-solvers.

At a time when night-singing insects have slipped beyond our notice—indeed, are more likely to be heard as NatureSounds than in a backyard—John Himmelman seeks to reconnect us to creatures whose songs form a part of our own natural history. On warm summer evenings, night-singing insects produce a whirring, chirping soundscape—a calming aural tapestry celebrated by poets and naturalists for millennia. But “cricket radio” is not broadcast for the easy-listening pleasure of humans. The nocturnal songs of insects are lures and warnings, full of risks and rewards for these tiny competitive performers. What moves crickets and katydids to sing, how they produce their distinctive sounds, how they hear the songs of others, and how they vary cadence, volume, and pitch to attract potential mates, warn off competitors, and evade predators is part of the engaging story Cricket Radio tells. Himmelman’s narrative weaves together his personal experiences as an amateur naturalist in search of crickets and katydids with the stories of scientists who study these insects professionally. He also offers instructions for bringing a few of the little singers into our homes and gardens. We can, Himmelman suggests, be reawakened to these night songs that have meant so much to the human psyche. The online insect calls that accompany this colorfully illustrated narrative provide a bridge of sound to our past and to our vital connection with other species.

From Australia's outback to the neighborhood lawn, animals great and small fill the pages of the 13 Sylvan Dell books in this Wildlife Set. The picture books in this set are each fictional stories with nature & science themes designed for reading fun but, at the same time, to pique a child's interest and tee-up science, math, and geography learning. Titles include: Tudley Didn't Know**, Habitat Spy, In My Backyard, Little Skink's Tail**, Kersplatypus**, Animals are Sleeping, Blackberry Banquet, One Wolf Howls**, Moose and Magpie**, Felina's New Home, Baby Owl's Rescue**, Fur and Feathers, River Beds: Sleeping in the World's Rivers**, and Little Red Bat. (**Award Winners) 4-6 pg For Creative Minds educational section in the back 40-60 pg cross-curricular Teaching Activities and 3 Interactive Quizzes available free on the book's homepage eBooks with Auto-Flip, Auto-Read and selectable English and Spanish text and audio.

Describes the daily activities and life cycle of a pill bug or wood louse

This book beautifully renders ocean-side wildlife and their delicate relationships with one another. Himmelman''s breathtaking watercolor paintings are coupled with rhyming text couplets that examines the delicate balance that exists on the seashore.

Crickets, katydids, shieldbacks, coneheads, trigs, and angle-wings across the northeastern United States Full-color illustrations depict each insect in extraordinary detail Enclosed audio CD features songs and calls The mysteries behind the musical chirps, buzzes, and songs of the night are revealed in this guide to night-singing insects. Includes in-depth information on the three main families of these insects-the katydids, mole crickets, and true crickets-as well as full-color illustrations showing the unique features of each species. Readers will learn where to find each species, what colors and physical attributes are important, how species compare with one another, and how various sounds can help identify a particular insect. Complete with an audio guide and CD, this package is the only resource readers will need to study these small yet amazing insects of the night.

As author Himmelman can attest, people of all ages are actively learning more about frogs, toads, and salamanders. This book covers everything from amphibians'' physiology to their place in folklore and literature to possible explanations of why many populations have declined. Along the way we learn where to find them and how to identify them, how to handle them safely, how to create vernal pools and year-round pond habitats for them, and more.

While helping them, Tudley the turtle adopts his fellow animals'' behaviors--flying like a hummingbird, calling like a katydid, and flashing like a firefly--but learns about his own special talent when they help him out of his own trouble.

Features animals, insects, and plants in a bog.

In lively, accessible prose, he explains the intricacy of moths' life cycle, their importance in nature, and how just a tiny handful of the many moth species are truly pests to humans. He tells how to attract moths with lights and bait, when and where to observe them, and how best to photograph these tiny subjects. Entertaining personal anecdotes and short profiles of some of the country's foremost mothers add human interest.

Depicts a house spider going about its daily life and through its entire life cycle.

Follow the monarch butterfly as it hunts for food, faces its enemies, and interfaces with humans.

Eyeballs on the ceiling and vampires at the outhouse are only two of the reasons the Camp Badger Scouts find for getting Counselor Jim to turn the lights back on in their dark cabin.

Examines the life cycle of a Nature Upclose: A Salamander's Life

Examines the life cycle of a Nature Upclose: A Luna Moth''s Life

Adventures await around every corner for this brave band of young nature lovers as they race off with a Wildlife Rehabilitator to rescue animals in trouble! Includes colorful illustrations, an author¿s note and a note to caregivers.

As he pursues the man in the big red hat who dropped a copper coin, Tulio accumulates an unusual following, including a chicken that lays square eggs.

When Gregory's parents see a sign on their son's bedroom door: "Wanted: Perfect Parents, Inquire Within", they find a "job description" that seems like a tall order for any parents--even perfect ones. When Gregory reveals the most important thing perfect parents must do, it turns out to be something they can gladly deliver. Full-color illustrations.

Simpson Snail learns to sing. Puffin Easy-To-Read Level 2.

Chaos prevails when the barnyard animals decide to live in the house with Farmer Beanbuckets and his family.