Gophers
by Derek Zobel
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Gophers are known for their puffy faces. They often stuff food into their cheek pouches and carry it back to their burrows. Young children will enjoy learning how gophers gather food and dig vast underground tunnels.
Wolves
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Wolves are territorial animals. They mark the areas where they live and hunt with their scent. Most of these wild, howling dogs stay in groups called packs. Information about the dynamics within a wolf pack will interest young readers.
Salamanders
by Megan Borgert-Spaniol
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
It seems the most overlooked creatures tend to have tricks up their sleeves – or in this case, tails. Threaten a salamander and it might steal away, leaving one extremity behind. Kids will delight in the salamander's means of survival, and learn how this amphibian behaves in the wild.
Snakes
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Snakes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are only a few feet long, while others can stretch over 40 feet long! This title introduces young readers to the traits of snakes, what and how they eat, and where they make their homes.
Eagles
by Kari Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
An eagle will soar to great heights to build its nest in a tall tree or high cliff. It needs a safe place to care for its eaglets until they are ready for flight. Young children will watch eaglets change from fluffy and flightless to deadly raptors!
Armadillos
by Kari Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
A shell of bony plates covers an armadillo's body. This dense "body armor" protects the animal, but it also makes swimming difficult. To avoid sinking in water, an armadillo must inflate its stomach with air! In this book, children will learn about the diet, habitat, and unique look of the armadillo.
Foxes
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
From the Arctic to deserts, foxes are found in almost every kind of habitat. This book introduces children to foxes, explaining what they eat, their physical characteristics, and where they live.
Badgers
by Derek Zobel
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Badgers become fierce fighters when in danger. They can protect themselves from falling prey to large, strong animals such as wolves and bears! This book introduces beginning readers to badgers, highlighting the powerful jaws and strong claws of these animals.
Woodpeckers
by Kari Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Using their beaks, woodpeckers peck holes in trees to get at the insects inside. They also hammer to attract mates and declare their territory. This book will interest children as it presents the behaviors and physical features of these noisy birds.
Chipmunks
by Derek Zobel
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Small and quick, chipmunks make their homes in burrows, trees, nests, and logs. In some countries, they are sold as pets! Eager readers will find out the physical characteristics of chipmunks and what makes up their diverse diet.
Bears
by Emily Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Bears are large, tough animals. They can be quite intimidating when seen up close! This title introduces readers to the characteristics of bears, what they eat, and where they live.
Spiders
by Megan Borgert-Spaniol
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
A spider's silk is liquid inside its body. When it hits air, it solidifies into elastic strands that spiders use to build webs, trap prey, bungee from great heights, and more. This fascinating title for beginning readers will inspire respect for these silk-spinning arachnids.
Moose
by Kristin Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Moose are the largest members of the deer family. The biggest bulls can weigh up to 1,800 pounds! Though they eat plants, these aggressive animals do not shy away from a fight. Find out how moose fight off bears and wolves in this title for young readers.
Squirrels
by Derek Zobel
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
If you looked out on your backyard right now, chances are you would see a squirrel. These common little animals are famous for gathering and storing nuts or approaching humans in the hopes of getting something to nibble. Students will learn all about the foods squirrels eat, what they look like, and how they make their homes in our backyards.
Opossums
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
When a predator is near, an opossum will likely do one of two things. It will try to scare the predator away by showing its sharp teeth, or it will lie very still and pretend it's dead! In this book, beginning readers will discover how these marsupials escape predators and carry their young babies in pouches.
Toads
by Kari Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Toads are masters of self-defense. When they face predators, they have several survival strategies. They can ooze poison, puff up their bodies, or play dead! This book introduces young readers to toads-creatures with warty skin, long, sticky tongues, and a unique life cycle.
Weasels
by Megan Borgert-Spaniol
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Weasels are small and furry with a face of innocent curiosity, but it's all a facade. They are bloodthirsty predators, and they'll stop at nothing to sink their teeth into prey twice their size. Kids will learn how these unexpected predators manage to survive and thrive.
Mountain Lions
by Kristin Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Mountain lions, cougars, pumas, panthers, or catamounts: no matter what you call them, these big cats are always ready to hunt. They stalk their prey everywhere from Canada to Argentina in forests, deserts, and swamps. Young readers will be amazed to learn how these ambush predators attack animals that are bigger and faster.
Ducks
by Derek Zobel
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Ducks lead semi-aquatic lives. They spend a lot of time in water, paddling with their webbed feet or dipping their heads below for food. Presenting basic information about ducks, this title is sure to make a splash with young readers!
Bats
by Kari Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
When nighttime comes, bats fly out of trees, caves, and barns to begin their hunt. Some make high-pitched calls, and then they wait and listen. Echoes will lead them to their prey! Learn how bats sleep upside down, use sound to find prey, and more.
Rabbits
by Derek Zobel
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
A rabbit's teeth never stop growing. A rabbit needs to continually eat and chew to wear them down! Kids will learn what rabbits look like, where they live, and what they need to eat to keep their teeth short.
Frogs
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Frogs are powerful jumpers. They have been known to leap distances over 30 feet! Young learners will discover the physical characteristics of frogs, where they live, and what they eat to get the energy to leap.
Wild Turkeys
by Kristin Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Wild turkeys have roamed the woodlands of North America since before hunters came. These big birds have sharp senses and are extremely intelligent. They are also known to get rowdy with their gobble talk. Discover how wild turkeys survive in the woods in this title for beginning readers.
Geese
by Megan Borgert-Spaniol
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
A flying "V" never fails to draw attention, but the geese on display aren't forming letters for our benefit. Indeed, the shape gets a flock from point A to point B in the most energy-efficient way. In this book, beginning readers will learn about the many habits of geese.
Skunks
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Have you ever smelled the scent of a skunk? There is a reason other animals stay away from skunks! Kids will find out why skunks smell, the physical characteristics of skunks, where they live, and what they eat to survive.
Owls
by Kari Schuetz
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
An owl has large eyes that work like a pair of binoculars. This, combined with excellent night vision and a rotating head, makes this raptor a skilled hunter. Beginning readers will have a hoot as they read about the unusual features of this bird of prey!
Raccoons
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Raccoons are clever scavengers that live in forests, prairies, marshes, and even cities. Readers will learn about the unique markings of raccoons, their diverse diets, and how they are able to live in many different habitats.
Beavers
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Beavers gnaw on tree trunks until trees break in half and fall down! Then these busy builders pile wood, mud, and rocks in water to make dams and lodges. Young readers will enjoy learning how beavers use their teeth, paddle through water, and build safe homes.
Turtles
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Did you know that some turtles live to be over 100 years old? Some live in the ocean, others on land, and some live both in water and on land! Young readers will discover what turtles eat, where they live, and how their shells and other physical features help them survive in the wild.
Bobcats
by Megan Borgert-Spaniol
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Named for their short, bobbed tails, bobcats are only about twice the size of house cats. But these nocturnal wildcats aren't afraid to pick on larger animals during their nightly hunts. They stalk prey as big as deer and take them down with a leaping pounce! This title will introduce young readers to the brave bobcat's skills and lifestyle.
Coyotes
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Have you ever heard coyotes howl or yip? These members of the dog family can sure make noise! Children will discover what coyotes are, where they live, and how they both hunt and scavenge for food.
Porcupines
by Emily K. Green
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Porcupines have three kinds of hair: fur, guard hairs, and quills. Fur keeps these rodents warm, guard hairs keep them dry, and quills keep them safe. When in danger, a porcupine will raise its sharp quills to poke predators! This book introduces children to the unique physical features that help porcupines survive in the wild.
Deer
by Derek Zobel
read by Dana Fleming
Part of the Backyard Wildlife series
Deer can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour and can leap as high as 9 feet. In this introduction to deer, students will learn about the physical features of deer, where they live, and what they eat each season.
