Pests: how humans create animal villains

By: Brookshire, Bethany

Although Pests is much more pro-animal than the pro-law enforcement Fuzz, both engaging works of nature writing may appeal to readers interested in the relationships between humans and animals. -- Autumn Winters

Poached: inside the dark world of wildlife trafficking

By: Nuwer, Rachel Love

Readers looking for the rarified combination of true crime and nature writing will find it in both books that tell well-researched, sometimes disturbing stories about humans trying to control animals (Fuzz) or make a profit from them (Poached). -- Autumn Winters

Animals strike curious poses: essays

By: Passarello, Elena

These accessible nonfiction works provide witty takes on human and animal relationships. Fuzz focuses on wild animal management while Animals Strike Curious Poses surveys famous animals in history. Both are well-researched and engaging. -- Andrienne Cruz

Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?

By: Waal, F. B. M. de (Frans B. M.), 1948-2024

Both engaging nature books feature lots of anecdotes of animal behavior that will fascinate and entertain, focusing on animal and human conflicts (Fuzz) or animal and human cognition (Are We Smart Enough To Know How Smart Animals Are?). -- Andrienne Cruz

Squirrel: how a backyard forager shapes our world

By: Castaldo, Nancy F. (Nancy Fusco), 1962-

If you are interested in wild animal behavior, especially at the urban wild interface, then squirrels are your guys!

Heal the beasts: a jaunt through the curious history of the veterinary arts

By: Schott, Philipp

We don't just live alongside our wild neighbors, for centuries we ha e been helping eachother through fist aid and last aid.

Nature at night: discover the hidden world that comes alive after dark

By: Hood, Charles, 1959-

Hood, like Roach, is known for his wit and in depth scientific research and sources. He is an experienced naturalist and photographer and shares his nocturnal adventures all over the world, with insight, wit, and over 240 stunning photographs. 

Vanishing treasures: a bestiary of extraordinary endangered creatures

By: Rundell, Katherine

"Extraordinary...For anyone whose capacity for wonder could use a jumpstart, Rundell's essays are essential reading."—Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air

The world is more astonishing, more miraculous, and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings. In this brilliant and passionately persuasive book, Katherine Rundell takes us on a globe-spanning tour of the world's most awe-inspiring animals currently facing extinction.

Meet the neighbors: animal minds and life in a more-than-human world

By: Keim, Brandon, 1976-

What does the science of animal intelligence mean for how we understand and live with the wild creatures around us?Honeybees deliberate democratically. Rats reflect on the past. Snakes have friends. In recent decades, our understanding of animal cognition has exploded, making it indisputably clear that the cities and landscapes around us are filled with thinking, feeling individuals besides ourselves. But the way we relate to wild animals has yet to catch up. In Meet the Neighbors, acclaimed science journalist Brandon Keim asks: what would it mean to take the minds of other animals seriously?

Why animals talk: the new science of animal communication

By: Kershenbaum, Arik

Why Animals Talk is an exhilarating journey through the untamed world of animal communication. Following his international bestseller, The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy, acclaimed zoologist Arik Kershenbaum draws on extensive original research to reveal how many of the animal kingdom’s most seemingly confusing or untranslatable signals are in fact logical and consistent—and not that different from our own. His fascinating deep dive into this timeless subject overturns decades of conventional wisdom, inviting readers to experience for the first time communication through the minds of animals themselves.

Beastly: the 40,000-year story of animals and us

By: Carew, Keggie

From an award-winning writer, a story-rich exploration of our shared planet, and the astonishing, moving, and troubled connections between humans and other animals

Animals have shaped our minds, our lives, our land, and our civilization. Humanity would not have gotten very far without them, and yet, over the past two centuries, the relationship has grown further apart. In Beastly, author Keggie Carew seeks to re-enchant readers with the wild world, reframing our understanding of what it is like to be an animal and what our role is as humans.

Many things under a rock: the mysteries of octopuses

By: Scheel, David

 A behavioral ecologist’s riveting account of his decades-long obsession with octopuses: his discoveries, adventures, and new scientific understanding of their behaviors.Of all the creatures of the deep blue, none is as captivating as the octopus. In Many Things Under a Rock, marine biologist David Scheel investigates four major mysteries about these elusive beings. How can we study an animal with perfect camouflage and secretive habitats? How does a soft and boneless creature defeat sharks and eels, while thriving as a predator of the most heavily armored animals in the sea? How do octopus bodies work? And how does a solitary animal form friendships, entice mates, and outwit rivals?

Many things under a rock: the mysteries of octopuses - adjusted for middle grade readers

By: Scheel, David

This compelling middle grade adaptation dives deep into the mysteries and misunderstandings of one of our planet’s most enigmatic animals.Among all the ocean’s creatures, few are more captivating―or more elusive―than the octopus. Marine biologist David Scheel investigates these strange beings to try and answer long-held questions: How can we learn more about an animal whose perfect camouflage and secretive habitats make them invisible to detection? How does an almost-boneless package of muscle and protein defeat sharks, eels, and other predators, while also preying on the most heavily armored animals in the sea? How do octopus bodies even work?

Urban coyotes

By:Carson, Mary Kay

Gorgeous photography helps tell the story of the Urban Coyote Research Project, whose mission is to help coyotes and human city-dwellers peacefully coexist, offering an in-depth look at how these mystifying wild creatures navigate urban spaces along with those dedicated to studying and protecting them.

The Astrochimps: America's first astronauts

By:Cusick, Dawn

Based on extensive research and interviews with the team who worked with the animals, this exploration of animal intelligence and the rise of the Space Age provides a call-to-action for readers to honor the astrochimps' legacy and advocate for the humane treatment of chimpanzees today.

A first guide to cats: understanding your whiskered friend

By:Bradshaw, John, 1950-

Uncovering the secret lives of pets, Dr. John Bradshaw invites young readers to learn more about their feline friends. Told from the point of view of a cat named Libby, this lively, illustrated book allows kids to follow her for a day and learn more about cats, their likes, dislikes, and everything in between, growing children into the best pet owners they can be.

Bandoola: the great elephant rescue 

By: Grill, William

When a world war comes to Myanmar (Burma), one special elephant becomes a hero. As people are forced to leave their home in the Burmese jungle, Bandoola, his keeper Po Toke and war veteran James Howard Williams (Aka Elephant Bill), undertake a journey that will test their courage, taking trust, understanding and bravery to the very limit. Together, they lead a group of 53 elephants and over 200 refugees to safety, scaling 6000ft mountains as they trek from Myanmar to northern India.

Horse power: how horses changed the world 

by: Thermes, Jennifer

Gorgeous photography helps tell the story of the Urban Coyote Research Project, whose mission is to help coyotes and human city-dwellers peacefully coexist, offering an in-depth look at how these mystifying wild creatures navigate urban spaces along with those dedicated to studying and protecting them.

My wild life: adventures of a wildlife photographer 

By: Eszterhas, Suzi

Suzi Eszterhas knew that she wanted to be a wildlife photographer from the time she was a small child. She got her first camera when she was six and proceeded to take pictures of her cats in her backyard, pretending that they were lions on the savanna or tigers in the jungle. In this book, Suzi will talk about her dream, and about how it isn't like what she thought it would be when she was a kid - ie, it's not glamorous and it's a lot of hard work, but still entirely worth it!

Our dogs, ourselves: how we live with dogs 

By: Horowitz, Alexandra

Uncovering the secret lives of pets, Dr. John Bradshaw invites young readers to learn more about their feline friends. Told from the point of view of a cat named Libby, this lively, illustrated book allows kids to follow her for a day and learn more about cats, their likes, dislikes, and everything in between, growing children into the best pet owners they can be.

Weird, Wild, Amazing!: Exploring the Incredible World of Animals

By Tim Flannery

Tim Flannery has the answers. Introducing some of the most spectacular and unusual creatures on Earth, from water to sky and the forests and deserts in between, he offers in-depth and often bizarre facts about extraordinary animals that live in each habitat. Flannery ties concepts of climate change, evolution, conservation, and taxonomy to each animal's profile, firmly connecting the animal and its environment while sparking wonder at its role in the natural world.

Did you know that lions once roamed North America, or that albatrosses sleep-fly? Have you ever heard a piranha bark, or wondered how the sloth got its name? Packed with vibrant illustrations and guided by real-life anecdotes from one of our greatest science communicators, Weird, Wild, Amazing! teaches readers to cherish and delight in our planet's ecosystems with Tim Flannery's signature mix of humor and wisdom.

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals 

Reveal the stories behind your favourite creatures with this awe-inspiring animal book for curious kids aged 6-8.

The animal kingdom is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. An Anthology of Intriguing Animals is a stunning animal encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they discover the facts, stories and myths behind their favourite animals. Whether it’s where the slow-motion sloth lives, how the plodding pangolin protects itself from predators, or which animal the Ancient Egyptians thought rolled the Sun across the sky, children can learn all sorts of fun animal facts from the storybook descriptions.

Animalium Hardcover – 

by Jenny Broom 

Welcome to the Museum is a series of books set on the "walls" of the printed page, showcasing the world's finest collections of objects?--?from natural history to art. Open 365 days a year and unrestricted by the constraints of physical space, each title in this series is organized into galleries that display more than 200 full-color specimens accompanied by lively, informative text. Offering hours of learning, this first title within the series?--?"Animalium?--?"presents the animal kingdom in glorious detail with illustrations from Katie Scott, an unparalleled new talent.

The Elephant Scientist 

by Caitlin O'Connell, Donna M. Jackson, Timothy Rodwell (Illustrator)

In the sprawling African scrub desert of Etosha National Park, they call her “the mother of all elephants.” Holding binoculars closely to her eyes, American scientist Caitlin O’Connell could not believe what she was seeing from these African elephants: as the mighty matriarch scanned the horizon, the other elephants followed suit, stopped mid-stride, and stood as still as statues. This observation would guide the scientist to a groundbreaking discovery about elephant communication: elephants actually listen with their limbs.

The crane and the keeper: how an endangered crane chose a human as her mate 

By: Pincus, Meeg

Illustrator:O'Mara, Gillian Eilidh 

Raised by humans, Walnut, the white-naped crane, didn't see herself as a bird and could not breed with others of her species, but she bonded with her keeper, Chris Crowe, and an extraordinary partnership evolved.

When dogs work 

By: Sinclair, Opal

An energetic and educational rhyming picturebook showcases the jobs that dogs do, from guide dog to water rescue dog to actor, in a photographic celebration of working dogs that has a padded cover and extra-heavy pages.

Dogs and us: a fifteen-thousand-year friendship 

By: Pantaleo, Marta, 1990-

Tracing the special relationship between humans and our canine companions, this treat of a book shows how dogs have been by our side throughout history and how there are all kinds of dogs in the modern world--some of which share our houses and our lives.

Owls in our yard!: the story of Alfie 

By: Safina, Carl, 1955-

In this touching picture book of animal/human friendship rooted in trust, care and respect for the natural world, an ecologist shares his experiences rescuing and rehabilitating Alfie, an Eastern Screech Owl, and the magic of their bond that went beyond just saving her life.

Cats and us: a ten-thousand-year fascination 

By: Pantaleo, Marta, 1990-

When human beings first encountered wild cats, they could see things in the dark that our eyes couldn't, and their hunting helped keep pests away. Eventually, they became our companions, and joined us on journeys across the sea to faraway lands. Soon, the whole world became obsessed with cats! Over the centuries and all around the w orld, the cat has appeared in myths, legends, superstitions and stories.

Gertie: the darling duck of WWII 

By: Swanson, Shari

Illustrator:Graef, Renee 

In 1945, against the backdrop of WWII, a soon-to-be-mama duck builds a nest in a precarious spot in the city of Milwaukee. Soon, news outlets around the world are carrying the hopeful story of the plucky duck.

Elephants remember: a true story 

By: O'Connell, Jennifer

"This nonfiction picture book tells the story of Lawrence Anthony and the deep bond he forged with the matriarch of the herd he saved at his animal reserve in South Africa. When Lawrence died, the matriarch led all the elephants from remote parts of the reserve in a procession to his home, where they gathered to mourn him. They returned on the same day at the same time for the next two years because elephants remember"--.

Out of the woods: a true story of an unforgettable event 

By: Bond, Rebecca, 1972-

"Inspired by the author's grandfather's experiences living in a lodge in the woods, a story of how people and animals survive a forest fire in a small Canadian town"

Anne and her tower of giraffes: the adventurous life of the first giraffologist 

By: Gray, Karlin

Illustrator:Varma, Aparna 

This extraordinary true story of the first giraffologist who, with no scientific information to be found, journeyed alone to South Africa, where she decided to teach herself about her favorite animal and became the first scientist to study wild animal behavior in Africa.

Animals 

By: Peto, Violet

Readers are encouraged to find differences among photographs of animals while learning facts and trivia about elephants, snakes, penguins, cats, and sharks.

A is for axolotl: an unusual animal ABC 

By: Macorol, Catherine

"A rhyming, ABC adventure picture book that introduces readers to the most unique animals from around the world"--.

Actual Size

by Steve Jenkins

Steve Jenkins (Illustrator)

In this visually stunning picture book, Caldecott Medalist Steve Jenkins illustrates animals both large and small at actual size.

How big is a crocodile? What about a tiger, or the world’s largest spider? Can you imagine a tongue that is two feet long or an eye that’s bigger than your head?

Sometimes facts and figures don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes you need to see things for yourself—at their actual size.