Updated and reviewed by experts in the field for the most accurate, up-to-date information, this comprehensive reference book features 2,500 species, 1,000 stunning photos, and more than a dozen engaging maps. Jam-packed with fun facts–such as the world’s tallest animal, the longest living animal on Earth, and even the smelliest–it also contains new, exclusive “From the Field” reports highlighting National Geographic explorers working around the world to study and protect every kind of animal, from giraffes to penguins and sharks to snails. Kids will love diving into topics like animal homes and habitats, migration, life cycles and babies, conservation and more! This must-have encyclopedia for all animal lovers also includes an extensive listing of animal species with basic facts and figures, and a comprehensive glossary and index.
Author Bio: Lucy Spelman
Lucy Spelman is a board-certified zoo and wildlife veterinarian with degrees from Brown University and the University of California at Davis. During her tenure as the first woman and youngest person to head the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, she brought two giant pandas to the U.S. from China. She worked as a consultant for Animal Planet before moving to central Africa to run the field program for the Gorilla Doctors, which monitors the health of gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Since returning home, Lucy has been teaching biology to students at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 2015, she founded Creature Conserve to provide ways for artists and scientists to work together for the benefit of all animals. She is the author of 40 scientific articles, the National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia, and The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes.
