New Releases by Natalie Lunis

"In this book, readers learn about hippos."--

Meet Isaiah. He’s one of nearly 70 golden retrievers who are sent around the county to perform a special job—to comfort and calm people after a tragedy has occurred. From meeting survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing to victims of Hurricane Sandy, these specially-trained dogs help relieve people’s stress as they provide peace and comfort. Run by the Lutheran Church Charities, the comfort dog program is truly an example of the amazing ways a furry friend can bring happiness—or even just a smile—to people when they need it most. With real heart-warming stories and full-color photos of these lovable canines, this book is sure to appeal to dog lovers everywhere.

On the morning of July 15, 2012, the weather at Sant’Agostino Beach in Italy was clear and calm—just perfect for a swim. Shortly before noon, however, the wind picked up. Soon, it blew so hard that it pushed two swimmers dangerously far from shore. Fortunately, a lifeguard was on duty. She managed to swim out and help bring both swimmers back. Most of the time, such an event wouldn’t make headlines. This time, however, it did. That’s because the lifeguard was a yellow Labrador retriever named Ariel! Ariel is just one of hundreds of dogs that patrol beaches to keep people safe. Whether diving into dangerous waves from the decks of rescue boats or jumping from helicopters hovering above the water, these brave canines are willing to risk their lives to make sure no one drowns. With real-life stories and full-color photos of these courageous canines on the job, this book is sure to appeal to dog lovers everywhere.

Do some animals really have the power to transform themselves into something else? In fact, such creatures do exist. In this book, young readers will meet eight of these amazing, shape-shifting animals, including a sea creature that can pretend to be a rock, a caterpillar that can rise up like a snake that is about to strike, and a fish that can blow itself up into a big, spiky ball. These animals may take on very different shapes, but they do have one thing in common. They all use their shape-shifting abilities to scare off, escape from, or appear less tasty to their enemies. In other words, their special powers help them survive! Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

Gravity is an invisible yet powerful force that pulls people, animals, and objects down to the ground so that they don’t float into the air. As powerful as gravity is, however, there are certain animals that are able to break free of its forceful pull. Some do so by flapping their wings to fly incredibly high. Others shoot out from under the water. Still others stick to ceilings without any glue. In this book, young readers will discover eight of these extraordinary animals—and the secrets behind their gravity-defying powers. Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

A huge spider pokes two hairy legs out of a hole in the sandy soil. The opening leads to the tarantula''s underground home. The spider lines its home with silk to keep the walls from caving in. It also makes a ring-shaped silk mat near the entrance to catch prey. Welcome to the tarantula''s burrow! Clear text, colorful photos, and diagrams will engage young readers as they explore the habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of these curious creatures. Age-appropriate activities and critical-thinking questions give readers an opportunity to make observations and gain valuable insights.

Readers will get a lesson in history in this title that looks at what happened in various schools and how these happenings are tied to tales of ghosts, poltergeists, and other unexplainable phenomena.

Readers will get a lesson in history in this series of titles that looks at what happened in various historical places and how these happenings are tied to tales of ghosts, poltergeists and other unexplainable phenomena.

Explains how the U.S. Navy SEALs tracked down and defeated the terrorist, Osama bin Laden.

A single coyote''s howl measures around 90 decibels—about as loud as a gas-powered lawn mower. That’s pretty noisy, but when a pack of coyotes howl together they can sound louder than the sum of their individual parts! Coyotes can change the sounds they make by altering the pitch of their voice and the loudness of their howling. By playing with sound in this way, one small family of coyotes can make itself seem bigger and tougher than it is, which helps the coyotes protect their territory. These are just some of the interesting facts that kids will discover as they learn about the howls, growls, and snarls of these animal loudmouths. Fabulous photos and clear, easy-to-read text will engage emergent readers as they come face-to-face with these noisy animals. In addition, children discover where coyotes live, how they stay safe, and the different ways their sounds help them communicate with each other—and tell other coyotes to stay away! A "Sound Check" chart at the end of the book compares the decibel level of a coyote to familiar noises, including an airplane, an ambulance, and a train engine.

This book briefly describes the history, characteristics, and behavior of the German Shepherd.

Describes how mockingbirds communicate with each other and how the sounds they make help them survive, and discusses their habitat, diet, and behavior.

Describes how howler monkeys communicate with each other and how the sounds they make help them survive, and discusses their habitat, diet, and behavior.

Do some animals really have the power to kill by zapping their prey with electricity? The shocking answer is yes. And that’s not all that electric animals can do with their super-charged powers. Some can target their victims in near-total darkness while others "talk" to each other using electricity. These are just some of the surprising facts kids will discover as they enter the world of these amazing animals. Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

Instructions to create greeting cards, various gifts and gift wrapping.

This book is about the co-dependent relationship, or partnership, between plants and animals.

This book is about the coloration of animals, how colors are used in traffic signals, and the color spectrum.

This book is about the evolution of the automobile from the horseless carriages to the hybrid cars of today.

Find out about nature''s fiercest weather and explore how meteorologists predict when and where such weather will occur.

This book is about many of the holidays that are celebrated in the United States.

Find out about how to make greeting cards and gifts using various materials.

Find out about the distinguishing characteristics of fruits and vegetables and how you can grow them in your own kitchen.

The mummy of King Tutankhamun, the Egyptian boy king, had not been disturbed for over 3,000 years. In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter and his team discovered the ancient tomb and examined the dazzling treasures within its chambers. However, soon after the thrilling discovery, a member of Carter’s team became ill and died. Stories of other deaths connected to the tomb followed. Had an ancient curse doomed those who entered the pharaoh’s tomb? An exciting narrative format brings Egyptian history to life, while providing plenty of creepy details to satisfy young horror fans. Chilling photos and illustrations and clear, age-appropriate text will keep readers turning the pages to unlock the secrets of the mummy’s tomb.

Describes the pronghorn, the fastest-running animal in North America, including its habitat, how it avoids predators, and the history of conservation of the animal.

The California sea lion can swim at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. Its speed helps it escape from predators such as sharks and killer whales. Sea lions are not just fast; they’re also smart and playful. They can even learn to perform tricks at zoos and aquariums! These are some of the fascinating facts kids will discover as they learn all about these swift marine mammals. Eye-popping photos and clear, easy-to-read text will engage emergent readers as they discover the anatomical features that help California sea lions reach fast speeds. A "Speed-o-Meter" graphic compares the sea lion’s top speed to that of other animals.

Describes the anatomical features that make the cheetah the fastest animal on land, includes fascinating facts about its habits and behavior, and compares its speed to that of other animals.

Describes the anatomical features that make the greyhound the fastest dog in the world, includes fascinating facts about its habits and behavior, and compares its speed to that of other animals.

The alarm sounds and Lyric bolts into action. Lyric knows just what to do in an emergency. She is a service dog who has been trained to help her owner out of danger. She knocks off the phone receiver and presses the key, calling 911--and saving her owner''s life! Lyric isn''t the only smart dog in the kennel. People are discovering why dogs really are man''s best friend. In Dogs, kids will read many exciting stories of dogs displaying their amazing intelligence. From saving lives, detecting cancer, and communicating using body language, dogs are surprising people with their intelligence and ingenuity. Full-color photographs, a diagram of animal intelligence features, and lively canine anecdotes will engage every smart child.

Introduces tree frogs, describing their physical characteristics, life cycle, habitat, common predators, defense mechanism, and the dangers they face from pollution and climate change.