• how plants and animals have adapted to survive the unforgiving climate
• why deserts don't have to be hot
• what causes us to see mirages
• and much more!

A highly illustrated, playful field guide for budding natural scientists and curious observers of the world right under our noses.

Observology is the study of looking. An observologist makes scientific expeditions, albeit very small ones, every day. They notice interesting details in the world around them. They are expert at finding tiny creatures, plants, and fungi. They know that water snails glide upside down on the undersurface of the water; not all flies have wings; earthworms have bristles; butterflies taste with their feet. An observologist knows that there are extraordinary things to be found in even the most ordinary places.

The Observologist puts more than 100 small creatures and features of the natural world under the microscope, piquing our curiosity with only the most interesting facts. Subjects range from slugs, ants, and seeds to fungi, flies, bees, and bird poop.

But this is no everyday catalog of creatures. It is an antidote to boredom, an invitation out of the digital world and screentime, an encouragement to observe our environment, with care and curiosity, wherever we are.

Facts combine with comics, detailed illustrations, science, and funny stories in this unique, warm, and fascinating account of the small things all around us. Graphic and comic illustrations with funny talking insects make this a playful and informative book one to be treasured in the classroom.

Giselle Clarkson has a comics and conservation background. Through her unique sensibility, you'll find that once you start thinking small, there's no limit to what you can notice--right under your nose.

Praise for The Observologist:
A charming work sure to spark a lifelong habit of looking closely at the natural world.--starred, Kirkus Reviews

With lots of useful pieces of information, you can dip in and out and learn something new each time.--National Library of New Zealand, Best Children's Books of 2023

Transportable in size and crammed with profiles of different mushrooms, An Anthology of Fungi covers toadstool species including fly agaric, porcelain fungus, velvet shank, wood blewit, and crimson waxcap, as well as lichens, brackets, and more.

Featuring photographs of striking specimens and illustrations by the artist behind DK's celebrated Anthology series, as well as plenty of intriguing information, this book will be one to treasure for young nature enthusiasts.

Get the scoop on bison poop and the tiny ecosystem it creates in this interesting and beautiful (School Library Journal, starred review) new book in an illuminating nonfiction picture book series that explores how even the smallest habitats play big roles in nature.

Behold! The majestic bison of the Great Plains! Hear them thunder across the prairie! Watch them mow down miles of meadows! See them...poo.

Did you know that entire tiny habitats can form on a pile of poo? In the prairies of North America, bison roam the land, and their poo becomes an important building block for diverse prairie ecosystems. It fertilizes the soil, spreads seeds, and houses and feeds hundreds of tiny grassland species, which in turn feed birds and small mammals, which then attract bigger animals, and the cycle goes on! With snappy, funny text and lush illustrations, this book invites curious readers to explore a tiny ecosystem that's truly abuzz with life.

A lot of life is spent waiting--waiting for the day to start, waiting for the toast to cook, waiting for the school bus. Waiting is not easy, but as life happens, things change and grow while you are waiting. Discover how good things take time, and how there is a season for everything.

Discover how long it takes for

• Light from the sun to reach Earth
• A barn owl to hunt
• The moon to rise and fall
• A nymph to grow wings
• A bird to incubate its eggs
• A camel to cross the desert to drink
• A bear to wait for spring
• An apple tree to grow fruit
• A coral to grow
• A patch of rainforest to regrows
• A tortoise to complete its life cycle
• . . . and more!

In Over and Under the Pond, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the water is a hidden world of creatures--minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing.

These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered over and under the pond in this sweet children's book from Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal, the latest in their beloved series that offers kids a peek into hidden ecosystems.

ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL: Stunning illustrations paired with an easy-to-follow storyline make this a great read for any early elementary school student, while a glossary of animals that live in, near, and around the mountain pond enriches the reading experience.

INSPIRES A LOVE A NATURE: Offering a look inside a beautiful underwater ecosystem, this gorgeously illustrated book encourages children to explore the world around them and appreciate the natural wonders they discover.

A FIVE-STAR FAVORITE OF READERS & REVIEWERS: Playful and lovely to read aloud. Even older budding naturalists will find something to enjoy here.--School Library Journal; A contemplative journey through an ecosystem.--USA Today

Perfect for:

• A great read-aloud book for home or school
• Parents looking for enchanting bedtime reads or nature books for kids
• Fans of books like A Different Pond, An Egg Is Quiet, Because of an Acorn, and Over and Under the Rainforest and others in the Over and Under series
• Any kid who loves picture books about science, nature, or animals

From Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Steve Jenkins comes a fascinating, comprehensive, and in-depth look at our world as seen through numbers, facts, and stunning infographics.

With his signature style, Steve Jenkins uses engaging graphics and visual literacy to convey scientific facts and concepts, making them accessible for all kinds of readers. In Our World: By the Numbers readers will learn about the complex and wonderful place we call home. This book opens wide on the solar system and then zooms in on planet Earth--its history, its creatures, its climate, and its future. Discover some of the most fascinating aspects of our world through astonishing numbers: the stretch of time from Earth's formation to the present, how often lightning strikes in one day, the temperature at the center of the sun, what percentage of Earth's land is covered in deserts or forests or cities, and so much more.

This compendium is ideal for curious young readers, with fact-packed and image-driven pages detailing the astonishing phenomena that make our universe such an incredible place to live.

From the deepest known sea trench on Earth to the underwater forests that make their home in the Pacific Ocean, discover 10 of the world's most spectacular ocean habitats, and the animals and plants that live in them in this beautiful gift book for children.

This fascinating book on oceans offers:

• The second in a series of 4 books that takes children on a grand tour around the different habitats of the world.
• Everything you could want to know about habitats; the animals and plants that live there, the geography of the area, and plenty of incredible facts
• A giftable book with foil on the cover and edges, plus beautiful illustrations and photographs on every page.

Children can marvel at fire coral in the Red Sea, sea spiders that thrive in the ghostly quiet of the Southern Ocean, and sea anemones that can live forever. As well as the wonders of these places, the threats facing oceans and their species are also investigated.

More in the series

The Habitats series takes children on a grand tour of the different natural environments of the world, exploring animals, landforms and geography. If you enjoyed Ocean, why not try Mountain and learn about some of the earth's most incredible landforms and the science behind them?

All around us, nature is working wonders. Every day, hour by hour, magical transformations happen right in front of you. But it's not always easy to see them . . .

In this beautifully illustrated collection, 50 moments in nature are paused for you to watch them in detail. Then you should go outside and explore and see what you find when you take the time to slow down. Gorgeously illustrated, this charming collection celebrates the small wonders happening all around us every day.

Slow Down series:
Slow Down
Slow Down and Be Here Now
Slow Down . . . In the Park
Slow Down . . .On Your Doorstep

The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system. Stretching more than 1,400 miles, it provides a home to a wide diversity of creatures. Designated a World Heritage Site, the reef is suffering from the effects of climate change but this fascinating book shows this spectacular part of our planet.

Discover the tiny, fascinating world of sunken-ship reefs in this latest book in an illuminating nonfiction picture book series that explores how even the smallest habitats play big roles in nature.

Long ago, a grand treasure ship journeyed across the Caribbean sea. One day a storm swirled in. The ship was swished, and swayed, and swamped! Then it sank down to the seafloor, where it would become a treasure ship of a different kind...

When ships sink to the bottom of the sea, time can change them into rich reef ecosystems, home to a wealth of sea life big and small. Sunken ships and other human-made underwater objects are called artificial reefs. These ocean oases provide food and shelter for a vast array of plants and animals, from little sea lettuces to big bottlenose dolphins and many more sea species in between. With snappy, funny text and lush illustrations, this book invites curious readers to step into a tiny ecosystem that's truly full of treasures.

Discover the tiny, fascinating world of nurse logs in this first book in an illuminating picture book series that explores how even the smallest habitats play big roles in nature.

Once there stood a giant fir tree that stretched to the sun. One stormy day, a great gust came. The tree creaked, and cracked, and collapsed! And the tree's new life as a nurse log began...

When old trees fall to the forest floor, they can take centuries to decompose, becoming home to all sorts of organisms along the way. These nurse logs are unique ecosystems that support hundreds of rare and important plants, creatures, and fungi. They provide nutrients for tree seedlings, hideaways for animals, shelters in the winter, and protection from the elements. With snappy text and lush illustrations, this book invites curious readers to step into a tiny ecosystem that's truly like no other.

In this follow-up to the highly acclaimed Glow, award-winning illustrator Jennifer N. R. Smith takes us on a breathtaking tour of the planet's most astonishing natural phenomena--from explosive volcanoes and geysers to dancing lights in the night sky.

The Earth may seem solid and stationary but deep beneath its surface it is constantly changing, twisting, and transforming. Its unbridled power is what generates surreal natural phenomena and dramatic landscapes, as well as devastating natural disasters.

In this lavishly illustrated book, young readers will discover the explosive power of volcanoes, a cave filled with giant crystals, a hot spring pool filled with bathing snow monkeys, dinosaurs hidden between layers of rock, and an incredible ecosystem that can survive the boiling hot waters around hydrothermal vents. There is also extreme weather and incredible optical phenomena, including auroras, light pillars, and sun dogs.

Hyperdetailed, glorious, and awe-inspiring, Bang will inspire young earth scientists to see the wonder in the world around them.

Tomie dePaola--best-selling author of Strega Nona, Quiet, and many others--knows a lot about clouds. He also knows a lot about what people think of them.

Some people see animals and pictures in clouds. The ancient Greeks believed that Hermes, the messenger of the gods, once stole the sun's cattle, which were clouds.

In this unique picture book, Tomie introduces some of the most common types of clouds, as well as the myths and legends inspired by their shapes. Simple, whimsical illustrations show the variations in shape and color that herald changes in the weather.

This book will tell you many things about clouds we bet you didn't know. Filled with his signature humor and gentle illustrations, Tomie dePaola's approach to nonfiction is like no other.

A Reading Rainbow book.

Over and Under the Canyon takes young readers on a thrilling tour of a desert canyon ecosystem. Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, baking desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the cliffs hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. Discover the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, the magic of a desert wildflower bloom, and all the unexpected creatures that bring the desert to life.

DISCOVER AMAZING ANIMALS: Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied animals living in it--and the desert is FULL of amazing and surprising animals!

CAPTIVATING NONFICTION: Like its predecessors, this latest offering in the Over and Under picture book series illuminates the magic of the natural world and its amazing inhabitants by telling the story of one family's hike through a real-world desert ecosystem in lyrical prose and color-drenched illustrations. Even the most reluctant readers will be drawn into a fact-filled story this compelling!

GREAT FOR TEACHING: The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasize learning about animal habitats/biomes in K-2 curriculums, while later grades address topics like food chains, conservation, and endangered species. With a depth of research and an engaging, highly visual narrative, this book is an excellent resource for librarians and primary school educators.

ENCOURAGES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Concern for and preservation of the wilderness is an increasingly talked-about topic. This book provides a great, upbeat jumping-off point for discussions of the importance and wonder of our world's natural habitats and ecosystems.

ACCLAIMED AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR TEAM: Kate Messner is an award-winning author whose books for kids have been New York Times Notable, Junior Library Guild, IndieBound, and Bank Street College of Education Best Book selections. In addition to his work on this acclaimed series, Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator and author who regularly contributes to the New York Times and The New Yorker, and he has been awarded a medal from the Society of Illustrators.

Perfect for:

• Parents
• Nature lovers
• Fans of Kate Messner
• Fans of Over and Under the Snow and previous books in the series
• Educators and librarians seeking nonfiction books with STEM content

Ellen Swallow found a friend in nature and a lifelong love of science as a child exploring the woods around her family's home. She was a voracious learner with an interest in chemistry, and continuing her education at the newly established Massachusetts Institute of Technology seemed a good fit. But in 1871, many believed that women belonged in the home, not in schools dedicated to the study of science. Ellen thought, why not both? She believed science could help solve the problems of everyday life, including the pollution she observed in Boston, so when offered the chance to study the city's water systems, she seized it. What she found would change the way we think about clean water. In her lifetime, Ellen pioneered science education for women, advocated for a healthier environment, and helped develop the field of ecology. The Girl Who Tested the Waters, with engaging text and soft, inviting illustrations, portrays a woman ahead of her time and her tireless efforts to bring about change for good. Curious readers can find more in the back matter, including a time line, an author's note, source notes, and a bibliography.

Bioluminescent animals make their own light to survive.

A firefly lights up the night sky, a foxfire mushroom sets the forest floor aglow and sea butterflies shine like beacons deep in the ocean. These glowing species are one of the most spectacular wonders of the natural world, and they are found on land, in the air and in the depths of the ocean.

In Living Light, discover how and why bioluminescent creatures glow, and what that special ability can tell scientists about how diseases such as cancer and malaria spread in humans. These light makers are facing threats from the effects of climate change, pollution and loss of habitat, and they need our protection. Young readers will learn how they can shine a light on bioluminescent species and use citizen science to conserve their habitats and keep these creatures glowing into the future.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.