Crocodiles of the World

         

Crocodiles of the World: The Alligators, Caimans, Crocodiles and Gharials of the World by Colin Stevenson

Summary: Crocodiles come in a variety in size, shape, habits, and even habitats, from the infamous saltwater crocodiles that occasionally near 6 meters in length, to the diminutive 1.5 meter dwarf caimans from South America's tropics. This book explores all the facts and figures surrounding the ancestry of this intriguing family of reptilians, dispelling myths, and exploring their extensive evolution on the 230 million years that they have lived on this planet. With fantastic photography this book encapsulates the diversity of theses creatures. This book covers their evolutionary history, their biology and ecology and the diversity of the species.

Angie’s comments: The first part of the book deals with the evolution, history, and general characteristics of all crocodilians. The last part of the book goes through each species. I loved the photographs, and I never had so much appreciation for crocodilians. 

Recommended for readers interested in animal biology.

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Strange Planet

  

Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle

Summary: #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER

Straight from the mind of #1 New York Times bestselling author of NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette and 99 Stories I Could Tell Nathan W. Pyle, Strange Planet is an adorable and profound universe in pink, blue, green, and purple, based on the phenomenally popular Instagram of the same name!

Strange Planet covers a full life cycle of the planet's inhabitants, including milestones such as:

The Emergence Day

Being Gains a Sibling

The Being Family Attains a Beast

The Formal Education of a Being

Celebration of Special Days

Being Begins a Vocation

The Beings at Home

Health Status of a Being

The Hobbies of a Being

The Extended Family of the Being

The Being Reflects on Life While Watching the Planet Rotate

With dozens of never-before-seen illustrations in addition to old favorites, this book offers a sweet and hilarious look at a distant world not all that unlike our own. 

Angie’s comments: A cute comic book that reflects life in somewhat scientific terms. I definitely laughed out loud when reading all the humorous takes on modern human life. 

Recommended for readers of funny graphic novels.

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Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Insects

Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Insects by Gavin R. Broad and others

Summary: Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Insects presents striking photographic profiles of insects, each one specially selected from the 34 million specimens found in one of the oldest and most important entomology collection in the world, held by London's Natural History Museum. The book showcases more than one hundred significant bug species, including the ruby-tailed wasp, the garden tiger moth, the jewel beetle, the flying stick insect, the orchid bee, and many others.

Magnificent full-color photographs show the bugs in detail, so that readers can learn to distinguish, for example, the translucent abdomen of the great pied hoverfly from the yellow or orange markings on a giant scoliid wasp. Each detailed and dazzling photograph is accompanied by a caption describing the bug's lifestyle, distribution, size, and key characteristics. An insightful introduction also explores the different orders and families found in the insect classes and an explanation of how they have evolved. Based on the most up-to-date science and accessibly written, the book will appeal to scientists and amateur science readers alike.

Angie’s comments: This is a fun book with interesting photographs to look at. Each insect featured has a photograph and a paragraph of information about it. The photographs are wonderful, and the insects featured range from gorgeous to what-in-the-world to hope-I-don't-see-it-in-the-wild. The information is easy to digest and may lead to some searching online for more information. 

Recommended for readers interested in biology. 

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Buzz, Sting, Bite

Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson

Summary: An enthusiastic, witty, and informative introduction to the world of insects and why we--and the planet we inhabit--could not survive without them.

Insects comprise roughly half of the animal kingdom. They live everywhere -- deep inside caves, 18,000 feet high in the Himalayas, inside computers, in Yellowstone's hot springs, and in the ears and nostrils of much larger creatures. There are insects that have ears on their knees, eyes on their penises, and tongues under their feet. Most of us think life would be better without bugs. In fact, life would be impossible without them.

Most of us know that we would not have honey without honeybees, but without the pinhead-sized chocolate midge, cocoa flowers would not pollinate. No cocoa, no chocolate. The ink that was used to write the Declaration of Independence was derived from galls on oak trees, which are induced by a small wasp. The fruit fly was essential to medical and biological research experiments that resulted in six Nobel prizes. Blowfly larva can clean difficult wounds; flour beetle larva can digest plastic; several species of insects have been essential to the development of antibiotics. Insects turn dead plants and animals into soil. They pollinate flowers, including crops that we depend on. They provide food for other animals, such as birds and bats. They control organisms that are harmful to humans. Life as we know it depends on these small creatures.

With ecologist Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson as our capable, entertaining guide into the insect world, we'll learn that there is more variety among insects than we can even imagine and the more you learn about insects, the more fascinating they become. Buzz, Sting, Bite is an essential introduction to the little creatures that make the world go round.

Angie’s comments: Buzz, Sting, Bite is a quick introduction to insects, filled with information and enthusiasm. The book is more of an overview about insects. The information never gets too technical or difficult to follow. Includes some humor and a pun or two.

Recommended for readers interested in the environment, biology, or insects. 

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I Know What I Saw

I Know What I Saw: Modern-Day Encounters with Monsters of New Urban Legend and Ancient Lore by Linda S. Godfrey

Summary: The monsters of ancient mythology, folklore, and more contemporary urban legend have long captured the popular imagination. While most people in America today relegate monsters to just that--our imaginations--we continue to be fascinated by the unknown. Linda Godfrey is one of the country's leading authorities on modern-day monsters and has interviewed countless eyewitnesses to strange phenomena. Monsters evolve, taking on both new and familiar forms over time and across cultures. In this well-researched book, Godfrey explores uncanny encounters with werewolves, goatmen, Bigfoot, and more.

In more than twenty-five years spent "chasing" monsters, Godfrey has found that it often remains unclear whether the sightings are simply mistaken animals, hoaxes, or coincidence. When all the speculation is said and done, one question remains for fans and researchers- Are the creatures "real," or are they entirely "other-world?" Godfrey suspects that it isn't an either/or question--our reality operates on a scale from dense matter to realms the human eye cannot see.

As Godfrey investigates unexplained phenomena, her search for answers will fascinate casual observers and enthusiasts alike.

Angie’s comments: A compilation of reports, grouped together by type of monster. This is a fun, entertaining read for both believers and skeptics (I tend to be more skeptical). The chapter on Bigfoot was one of the best. Most of the reports concern Wisconsin and Michigan, but other locations are included. While not an exhaustive dive into each creature, it is a pleasant one.

Recommended for readers interested in strange, unverified creatures.

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Chi's Sweet Adventures

Chi's Sweet Adventures, Volume 1, by Konami Kanata and Kinoko Natsume

Summary: Cat lovers and comic readers alike rejoice at the return of manga's biggest name in feline cartoons - Chi! Chi's Sweet Adventures collects dozens of new full color Chi stories.

Chi is back! Manga's most famous cat comic returns with a brand new series! Inspired by the new Amazon PrimeTV anime, Chi's Sweet Adventures collects a number of new full-color kitty tales made for readers of all ages!

Angie’s comments: This is the first of four volumes about Chi. Chi is a sweet, funny cat who loves her human family. It is super cute and suitable for children (and adults). The panels go by columns, so make sure you are reading down the column, and not across the row. 

Recommended for anyone who likes sweet, cute tales about cats.

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Mrs Moreau's Warbler

Mrs Moreau's Warbler: How Birds Got Their Names by Stephen Moss

Summary: We use names so often that few of us ever pause to wonder about their origins. What do they mean? And where did they come from?

From the common starling to the many-colored rush tyrant, the names we have given to birds are some of the most vivid and evocative words in the English language. They can carry whole stories - of arctic expeditions, pitched battles between rival ornithologists or touching romantic gestures.

Through fascinating encounters with the bird kingdom and the rich cast of characters responsible for coming up with their names, in Mrs Moreau's Warbler Stephen Moss shows how these words reveal as much about ourselves and our relationship with the natural world as about the creatures they describe.

Angie’s comments: This is a fun exploration of how birds got named, ranging from being named after people to being named after physical appearance. The names range from old and used for hundreds of years to ones that have been named very recently. The book is mostly focused on birds that you can find in Britain, although North America is included as well. The writing is easy and you learn about science, etymology, language, social customs, and of course, birds. You also travel along with Moss as he goes birdwatching. 

Recommended for readers interested in birds and/or language.  

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The Accidental Veterinarian

The Accidental Veterinarian: Tales from a Pet Practice by Philipp Schott

Summary: Cats, dogs, people -- funny and heartbreaking stories from a pet veterinarian.

With insight and humor, Dr. Philipp Schott shares tales from the unlikely path he took into his career of veterinary science and anecdotes from his successful small-animal clinic. Dr. Schott brings to his writing the benefit of many years of expertise. Wisdom he imparts on readers includes the best way to give your cat a pill, how to prevent your very handy dog from opening a fridge, and how to handle your fish when it has half-swallowed another.

Through these and other experiences, Dr. Schott also learned that veterinary medicine is as much, if not more, about the people as it is the animals. And he will have you laughing and crying as you embark on this journey of discovery with him.

Angie’s comments: This is a great book to pick up and read a story whenever you have time. The stories are always interesting, sometimes sad and sometimes happy. It was a quick read for me. 

Recommended for readers interested in animals. 

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The Book of Snakes

The Book of Snakes: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World by Mark O'Shea

Summary: For millennia, humans have regarded snakes with an exceptional combination of fascination and revulsion. Some people recoil in fear at the very suggestion of these creatures, while others happily keep them as pets . Snakes can convey both beauty and menace in a single tongue flick and so these creatures have held a special place in our cultures. Yet, for as many meanings that we attribute to snakes--from fertility and birth to sin and death--the real-life species represent an even wider array of wonders.

The Book of Snakes presents 600 species of snakes from around the world, covering nearly one in six of all snake species. It will bring greater understanding of a group of reptiles that have existed for more than 160 million years, and that now inhabit every continent except Antarctica, as well as two of the great oceans.

This volume pairs spectacular photos with easy-to-digest text. It is the first book on these creatures that combines a broad, worldwide sample with full-color, life-size accounts. Entries include close-ups of the snake's head and a section of the snake at actual size. The detailed images allow readers to examine the intricate scale patterns and rainbow of colors as well as special features like a cobra's hood or a rattlesnake's rattle. The text is written for laypeople and includes a glossary of frequently used terms. Herpetologists and herpetoculturists alike will delight in this collection, and even those with a more cautious stance on snakes will find themselves drawn in by the wild diversity of the suborder Serpentes.

Angie’s comments: I loved this book for the photographs that are made to be actual size.  Some of the snakes are so small and some so big it was fun to flip through the pages comparing the sizes. Almost all of the book is devoted to a page for each species featured, but the beginning has a nice introduction to snakes. 

Recommended for anyone interested in snakes.

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The Ravenmaster

The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife

Summary: The first behind-the-scenes account of life with the legendary ravens at the world’s eeriest monument

The ravens at the Tower of London are of mighty importance: rumor has it that if a raven from the Tower should ever leave, the city will fall.

The title of Ravenmaster, therefore, is a serious title indeed, and after decades of serving the Queen, Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife took on the added responsibility of caring for the infamous ravens. In The Ravenmaster, he lets us in on his life as he feeds his birds raw meat and biscuits soaked in blood, buys their food at Smithfield Market, and ensures that these unusual, misunderstood, and utterly brilliant corvids are healthy, happy, and ready to captivate the four million tourists who flock to the Tower every year.

A rewarding, intimate, and inspiring partnership has developed between the ravens and their charismatic and charming human, the Ravenmaster, who shares the folklore, history, and superstitions surrounding the ravens and the Tower. Shining a light on the behavior of the birds, their pecking order and social structure, and the tricks they play on us, Skaife shows who the Tower’s true guardians really are—and the result is a compelling and irreverent narrative that will surprise and enchant.

Angie’s comments: A little bit British history, a little bit ravens, a little bit biography, a little bit military, this is a fun read. It isn’t crammed full of facts, and has quite a bit of humor, although there are serious parts.

Recommended for readers interested in ravens, London history, tourist attractions, or interesting people.

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