John Himmelman has written and/or illustrated over 85 books for children, including five other books in the Nature Upclose series. His books have received a wide variety of awards and honors. He is also a naturalist who enjoys flipping dead logs, crawling through weeds, and gazing at the sky. His greatest joy is sharing these experiences with others. John lives in Connecticut with his wife Betsy, who is a potter. Their hummingbird feeder hums with activity right outside their kitchen window. His son Jeff is an artist, and daughter Lizzie is a photographer.
The Nature Upclose Series
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Have you ever wondered how some of nature’s smallest creatures spend their days? Here’s your chance to take a scientifically accurate peek into the life of a mealworm, (Tenebrio molitar), beginning with egg-laying. Striking illustrations and a lively storyline capture the real life challenges of the mealworm. Perfect to read to young children.
Many teachers keep mealworms in their classrooms. They are easy to raise, and children enjoy watching them grow and change. Mealworms eat all kinds of grains, so you might find them in flour, chicken feed, or breakfast cereal.
As a mealworm grows, it may shed its hard exoskeleton as many as twenty times. When it becomes a pupa, it cannot move. For about two weeks, all kinds of changes happen inside the hard case that encloses the pupa. Then an adult beetle emerges.
At first, the beetle is very pale, but it soon grows darker. Some people call mealworm beetles “darkling beetles”. They eat the same kinds of food as the young mealworms, so you may see them together. Some people think that mealworm beetles cannot fly, but they can – especially when attracted to a light.
Mealworm beetles prefer dark, humid places and often live in the food they eat.
Many teachers keep mealworms in their classrooms. They are easy to raise, and children enjoy watching them grow and change. Mealworms eat all kinds of grains, so you might find them in flour, chicken feed, or breakfast cereal.
As a mealworm grows, it may shed its hard exoskeleton as many as twenty times. When it becomes a pupa, it cannot move. For about two weeks, all kinds of changes happen inside the hard case that encloses the pupa. Then an adult beetle emerges.
At first, the beetle is very pale, but it soon grows darker. Some people call mealworm beetles “darkling beetles”. They eat the same kinds of food as the young mealworms, so you may see them together. Some people think that mealworm beetles cannot fly, but they can – especially when attracted to a light.
Mealworm beetles prefer dark, humid places and often live in the food they eat.
Have you ever wondered how some of nature's smallest creatures spend their days? Here's your chance to take a scientifically accurate peek into the life of a wood frog, (Rana Sylvatica), beginning with egg-laying. Striking illustrations and a lively storyline capture the real life challenges of the wood frog. The author also includes a glossary of unfamiliar words.
Wood frogs are common throughout eastern North America. In fact, they live as far north as the Arctic Circle!
Each spring, wood frogs gather in shallow pools of temporary water. The frogs reproduce in these pools because there are no fish to eat their eggs or tadpoles. Wood frogs spend the rest of the year in the woods where food is more plentiful. They are safest in wooded areas because their skin blends with dead leaves.
In winter, wood frogs hibernate under those leaves. They have a special chemical in their blood that keeps them from freezing solid.
Male wood frogs use their voice to attract females. When he forces air out of his lungs, it passes over the vocal cords in his throat. The vocal cords vibrate and give off sound. The air also causes vocal sacs in the frog's throat and sides to puff out and make his call louder.
Wood frogs are common throughout eastern North America. In fact, they live as far north as the Arctic Circle!
Each spring, wood frogs gather in shallow pools of temporary water. The frogs reproduce in these pools because there are no fish to eat their eggs or tadpoles. Wood frogs spend the rest of the year in the woods where food is more plentiful. They are safest in wooded areas because their skin blends with dead leaves.
In winter, wood frogs hibernate under those leaves. They have a special chemical in their blood that keeps them from freezing solid.
Male wood frogs use their voice to attract females. When he forces air out of his lungs, it passes over the vocal cords in his throat. The vocal cords vibrate and give off sound. The air also causes vocal sacs in the frog's throat and sides to puff out and make his call louder.
Have you ever wondered how some of nature's smallest creatures spend their days? Here's your chance to take a scientifically accurate peek into the life of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), beginning with egg-laying. Striking illustrations and a lively storyline capture the real life challenges of the hummingbird.
The author also includes a glossary of unfamiliar words.
Hummingbirds are among the smallest birds in the world. They are the only birds that can fly up, down, forward, and backward. They can even hover in place. Ruby-throated hummingbirds live in the eastern half of the United States. Metallic green feathers cover their backs, and males have a bright red throat. In autumn, they migrate to Mexico or Central America. In the spring, they fly north to find a mate. Females usually lay two navy bean-sized eggs in a nest made of plant fibers, spider webs, and bark. These birds usually cover the outside of their nest with lichen so it is difficult for predators to spot them. During the summer, hummingbirds eat insects and sip nectar with their tongues. If you hang a hummingbird feeder in your yard, hummingbirds may come to feed on the sugary water inside it.
The author also includes a glossary of unfamiliar words.
Hummingbirds are among the smallest birds in the world. They are the only birds that can fly up, down, forward, and backward. They can even hover in place. Ruby-throated hummingbirds live in the eastern half of the United States. Metallic green feathers cover their backs, and males have a bright red throat. In autumn, they migrate to Mexico or Central America. In the spring, they fly north to find a mate. Females usually lay two navy bean-sized eggs in a nest made of plant fibers, spider webs, and bark. These birds usually cover the outside of their nest with lichen so it is difficult for predators to spot them. During the summer, hummingbirds eat insects and sip nectar with their tongues. If you hang a hummingbird feeder in your yard, hummingbirds may come to feed on the sugary water inside it.
Have you ever wondered how some of nature's smallest creatures spend their days? Here's your chance to take a scientifically accurate peek into the life of the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopsus). Striking illustrations and lively storyline capture the real life changes for this small animal as it hunts for food, faces its enemies, and interacts with humans.
The white-footed mouse is common throughout most of the United States and Canada. It usually sleeps during the day and spends the night searching for food. Seeds and nuts are this mouse's favorite food, but it also eats insects, fruit, and mushrooms. Of course, a piece of cheese left out is always welcome.
The white-footed mouse is active all year long. It builds a nest of twigs, leaves, and grass in tree holes, abandoned bird houses, and wood piles. It may even make a nest in your attic or basement.
Owls and cats are the biggest enemies of the white-footed mouse. When a mouse senses danger, it drums its feet to warn other mice. The mice run and hide until the danger has passed.
White-footed mice live for about 2 to 3 years in the wild. They may give birth as many as four times a year. Each litter has two to six babies. That's a lot of mice!
The white-footed mouse is common throughout most of the United States and Canada. It usually sleeps during the day and spends the night searching for food. Seeds and nuts are this mouse's favorite food, but it also eats insects, fruit, and mushrooms. Of course, a piece of cheese left out is always welcome.
The white-footed mouse is active all year long. It builds a nest of twigs, leaves, and grass in tree holes, abandoned bird houses, and wood piles. It may even make a nest in your attic or basement.
Owls and cats are the biggest enemies of the white-footed mouse. When a mouse senses danger, it drums its feet to warn other mice. The mice run and hide until the danger has passed.
White-footed mice live for about 2 to 3 years in the wild. They may give birth as many as four times a year. Each litter has two to six babies. That's a lot of mice!
Have you ever wondered how some of nature’s smallest creatures spend their days? Here’s your chance to take a scientifically accurate peek into the life of the luna moth (Actias luna). Striking illustrations and lively storyline capture the real life changes for this small animal as it hunts for food, faces its enemies, and interacts with humans.
The luna moth is found in forested areas throughout the eastern United States and southwestern Canada. The caterpillars eat the leaves of white birch, walnut, and hickory trees. The adult luna moth comes out of its cocoon in the late spring or early summer in the north. In the south, the moth can come out at any time of the year. As a result, up to three generations of lunas can live in one year. Adults die within a week of mating. They do not have working mouthparts, so they do not eat. Their energy comes from the leaves they fed upon while in the caterpillar stage.
The name “luna” means “moon” in Latin. The moth was named after the moon because it is a creature of night. The two long tails are said to aid in making it difficult for bats to target them with their sonar. Luna moths are often attracted to bright lights. Be sure to look for them around outdoor lights.
The luna moth is found in forested areas throughout the eastern United States and southwestern Canada. The caterpillars eat the leaves of white birch, walnut, and hickory trees. The adult luna moth comes out of its cocoon in the late spring or early summer in the north. In the south, the moth can come out at any time of the year. As a result, up to three generations of lunas can live in one year. Adults die within a week of mating. They do not have working mouthparts, so they do not eat. Their energy comes from the leaves they fed upon while in the caterpillar stage.
The name “luna” means “moon” in Latin. The moth was named after the moon because it is a creature of night. The two long tails are said to aid in making it difficult for bats to target them with their sonar. Luna moths are often attracted to bright lights. Be sure to look for them around outdoor lights.
Have you ever wondered how some of nature's smallest creatures spend their days? Here's your chance to take a scientifically accurate peek into the life of the slug (Limax). Striking illustrations and lively storyline capture the real life changes for this small animal as it hunts for food, faces its enemies, and interacts with humans.
Slugs are closely related to snails. They both have shells, but a slug's shell is small, and hidden under its skin. Land slugs live in moist places. They spend the day under stones and logs and come out at night to feed. Slugs eat a variety of plants and mushrooms.
There is no such thing as a male or female slug. Every slug is a hermaphrodite (her-maf-fro-dyte)-sometimes it plays the role of male, and sometimes female. All slugs can lay eggs.
As slugs move from place to place, they leave behind a slimy trail. The slime is similar to the mucus that runs down the back of your throat when you have a cold. The thick, slippery slime is produced by a gland in the slug's foot. The slime makes it easier for the slug to glide along the ground.
The next time you spot a slug's slime trail, see if you can follow it to its hideout.
Slugs are closely related to snails. They both have shells, but a slug's shell is small, and hidden under its skin. Land slugs live in moist places. They spend the day under stones and logs and come out at night to feed. Slugs eat a variety of plants and mushrooms.
There is no such thing as a male or female slug. Every slug is a hermaphrodite (her-maf-fro-dyte)-sometimes it plays the role of male, and sometimes female. All slugs can lay eggs.
As slugs move from place to place, they leave behind a slimy trail. The slime is similar to the mucus that runs down the back of your throat when you have a cold. The thick, slippery slime is produced by a gland in the slug's foot. The slime makes it easier for the slug to glide along the ground.
The next time you spot a slug's slime trail, see if you can follow it to its hideout.
Spanish Edition - A Luna Moth's Life
¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez cómo pasan sus días algunas de las criaturas más pequeñas de la naturaleza? Esta es su oportunidad de echar un vistazo al mundo desde su punto de vista, con una precisión científica. En cada libro, las llamativas ilustraciones y el animado argumento siguen a un pequeño animal mientras caza su comida, se enfrenta a sus enemigos e interactúa con los humanos.
La mariposa luna se encuentra en zonas boscosas del este de Estados Unidos y el suroeste de Canadá. Las orugas se alimentan de las hojas de abedules blancos, nogales y pacanos. La mariposa luna adulta sale de su capullo a finales de la primavera o principios del verano en el norte. En el sur, en cambio, puede salir en cualquier momento del año. Como resultado, pueden vivir hasta tres generaciones de lunas en un año. Las adultas mueren una semana después del apareamiento. No tienen piezas bucales operativas, por lo que no comen. Su energía proviene de las hojas de las que se alimentan cuando están en fase de oruga. El nombre "luna" significa "moon" (luna) en latín. La mariposa recibió el nombre de luna porque es una criatura nocturna. Se dice que sus dos largas colas ayudan a dificultar que los murciélagos las localicen con su sonar.
Las mariposas luna suelen ser atraídas por las luces brillantes. Asegúrese de buscarlas cerca de las luces exteriores.
La mariposa luna se encuentra en zonas boscosas del este de Estados Unidos y el suroeste de Canadá. Las orugas se alimentan de las hojas de abedules blancos, nogales y pacanos. La mariposa luna adulta sale de su capullo a finales de la primavera o principios del verano en el norte. En el sur, en cambio, puede salir en cualquier momento del año. Como resultado, pueden vivir hasta tres generaciones de lunas en un año. Las adultas mueren una semana después del apareamiento. No tienen piezas bucales operativas, por lo que no comen. Su energía proviene de las hojas de las que se alimentan cuando están en fase de oruga. El nombre "luna" significa "moon" (luna) en latín. La mariposa recibió el nombre de luna porque es una criatura nocturna. Se dice que sus dos largas colas ayudan a dificultar que los murciélagos las localicen con su sonar.
Las mariposas luna suelen ser atraídas por las luces brillantes. Asegúrese de buscarlas cerca de las luces exteriores.