"Picked by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the unknown wilds of the Louisiana Territory, Meriwether Lewis assembles a rugged team of adventurers, including co-captain William Clark-and a Newfoundland dog named Seaman. As hunter, retriever, and guard, Seaman becomes a trusted member of the Corps of Discovery. While the team tackles raging rivers and muddy shallows, Seaman is there-sharing their hunger and fatigue. Whether Indians threaten or grizzlies roar, he stands his ground. And through mountain peak or valley deep, Seaman remains a watchful friend and determined foe. Laurence Pringle-one of America's premier nonfiction writers for young people-has garnered critical acclaim for 'turning natural history and science into page-turning reading' (Booklist). Relying on journal accounts, Pringle delivers a dog-centered narrative of the 8,000-mile Lewis and Clark expedition from its harrowing beginning to its triumphant end in 1806. To fill gaps in the historical record, Pringle imagines details of Seaman's vital role. '. a richly detailed . intriguing . treasure trove of information about the expedition and the dog that was its most unusual participant.'-Library Journal 'Full of adventure and excitement, this book contains a wonderful mix of intriguing stories and historical facts.'-Childhood Education"
"Did you know there are over 400 different species of sharks? Did you know they have been on Earth much longer than humans, and even lived before the dinosaurs? Here you'll learn all about these fearsome kings of the ocean, including their eating habits and the basics of their anatomy. Sharks come in many sizes, from under a foot long to over 40 feet-and that's not even counting the long-extinct, 60-foot-long Megalodon shark. And while some have been known to bite people, they are usually quite content to hunt other sea creatures. There are many things we still don't know about sharks, but this is an excellent jumping-off point to discover more! Winner of the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award, author Laurence Pringle presents this masterful introduction to one of nature's most misunderstood, yet exciting, animals. '... [an] inviting introduction to a fascinating array of sharks.'-School Library Journal"
"When the platypus was first discovered by Europeans in the 1800s, it was well-known by Australian Aborigines-but no one knew how to classify it. It lived in the water and laid eggs like a reptile, had a bill like a bird, and was furry and warm-blooded like a mammal. Scientists had to come up with a way to solve this and many other mysteries of nature. Alaskan Polar bears sleeping in hidden underground dens caused problems for researchers wanting to drill for oil without disturbing the bears. Find out how scientists used infrared imaging to see the caves beneath the snow. One type of parrot from southern Peru munches on dirt from a riverbank each morning. Learn how these birds (and some people) use dirt as part of their diet. And also learn how a special kind of bird in Africa actually leads villagers to one of the town's main food sources, honey. This collection of articles by Jack Myers, long-time chief science editor for Highlights for Children magazine, answers some of the most interesting questions science has explored."
