Kathryn Smithyman

Kids love everything about trains! Trains on the Tracks explains how an engine and railcars fit together, how train wheels keep trains on the tracks, and the different kinds of cars that make up freight trains and passenger trains.

Insects are essential to life on Earth and many of them are endangered. Some may become extinct even before we know they exist! Kids will discover that many species of beetles, butterflies, moths, ants, and other insects are endangered and that thousands of others are at risk. The stunning photography in Insects in Danger shows these animals in their natural habitats.

This work is for ages 6-12. Children will be shocked to learn that arthropods outnumber all other animal species combined! They will also be fascinated by the variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and behaviours found among these invertebrates. Labelled diagrams and startling close-up photography will introduce concepts including: the similarities and differences among insects, arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans; the functions and features of an exoskeleton; moulting, metamorphosis, and other interesting body facts; the crucial function of arthropods in food chains and webs.

This title is intended for ages 6-12. Few books explain the scientific classification of animals as well as this one. All creatures, including insects, mammals, and fish, are classified and described from simple animals like sponges to the larger brained mammals such as humans. Young readers will learn: all the basics of kingdoms and species that form an important foundation for the study of biology; the threat to habitats by illegal hunting, human development, and pollution; how readers can help prevent their destruction.