Endangered Species Books

I think the whole Untamed World series is great (see Black Rhinos and Leatherback Turtles), but the jaguar book is particularly good. It is really hard to find good information about jaguars and this book has it all. It includes sections on fascinating facts, folklore, jaguar cubs, special adaptations, jaguar research and even a jaguar quiz. It is listed as being for kids from 9-12, but it works well for teens and adults too. The book has dozens of impressive color photographs. This highly recommended series is great for both home and school libraries.

My 4 year old daughter loves this book. She became interested in lemurs and lorises through watching Zoboomafoo. This book gives information on a variety of lower primates that is scientific, but is presented in a manner that young children can understand and will find interesting. The photographs are excellent and each animal section is short, so you do not lose the child's attention. It does not cover every kind of animal within the larger groups, but it does give a good selection of each species. Sorry Zoboo fans, there are no Sifakas in the lemur section. However, the lemurs included are interesting and easily recognizable to young children (especially if they have seen Happy Lemur Day).

Ms. Povey really brings the information to life! Brilliant work!

The incredible nature photography and illustrations are reason enough to buy this book!

Life on the Edge... is a book like no other. It is both specific and thorough in its description of the plants, wildlife, habitats of California that are most endangered and does so in a in a visually stunning format. It provides life history information for each species, maps that represent species/habitat occurrance, strategies for conservation and recovery, as well as supplying references on each topic for further research.

The book elegantly simplifies the complex issues surrounding natural resource management in California. It also provides a well-written ecological, legal, and historical background to why our state's precious natural resources have become so imperiled. Life On The Edge is both a detailed reference guide and an impressive addition to the coffee table.

The book is intended for experts and lay people alike. But really, anybody who has a love and appreciation of California should own "Life on the Edge."

And did I mention the beautiful color photography...

There's not much information written about Mahogany gliders. The only place you're likely to see one is at David Fleay Wildlife Park on the Gold Coast where the QPWS (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) has a number of breeding and research programs to help this endangered creature. So being able to find a book on them is very difficult and being able to find a really good book (as this is) is just simply amazing.

This picture book sized non fiction book has plenty of colourful photograph realistic looking sketches. It provides history on the discovery of this species and the rediscovery after it was thought to be extinct. There's also a poem and a story (told by a glider apparently) where it talks about other Australian animals in the area it is found (North Queensland), some of which are also endangered. There are also some great illustrations of these animals (pythons, crocodiles, owls, cassowaries, bats, birds etc). Pretty much everything known at the time of print (1999) on the Mahogany Glider is inside. Obviously a lot of communication with the Queensland Museum as well at Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has been done to create this fascinating book.

If you come across a copy of this, get it!

"Manatees," by Homer Seward, combines an easy-to-read text with full-color photographs. The result is a good children's book about these fascinating aquatic mammals. Seward discusses the manatees' habitat, their diet, and how mother manatees care for their babies. He also writes about attempts to protect these endangered animals. Overall, this is an enjoyable and informative book.

Marjorie's Magical Tail teaches children about the hazards manatees face in a story format. The authors did a great job at educating children without frightening them. Marjorie's a delightful manatee. The watercolor illustrations are childlike and very inviting.

This book is full of beautiful pictures and an interesting story of how author Diane Ackerman got to "meet" some monk seals. She was fortunate enough to be able to tag some seals for protection and research and describes the experience in detail. Recommend this book for your young aspiring marine biologists and animal lovers of all ages.

Great, great, great!

My seven and five year olds received this book as a gift for Christmas. We have read and reread it so many times that I could probably recite it. The language is perfect for children and the inclusion of a glossary is wonderful. The children also love the photographs. It was such a hit that my daughter(7) has chosen Mountain Gorillas as the topic for her first research project. The book contains a great deal of information delivered in a fun, easy to understand manner.

I've read "The Nature of Lions: Social Cats of the Savannas" as I was going to give it as gift to my (school aged), nephews and neices for a Christmas present... I guess I'll just have to get another copy of it as I enjoyed it so much myself. Various aspects of these big cats, including the evolution of lions, their anatomy, social behavior, mating rituals and birth are all covered in this study. As well, there's lots of stunning photos that compliment the book well.