How Animals Work

A study of comparative physiology that explains the ways in which specific bodily systems function in different species.

Animals herd, carry, pull, and even . . . keep us company! This nonfiction, easy-to-read picture book transports readers from an open field to a desert to a snowy tundra as animals of all kinds perform some very important work. The book ends with an endearing role reversal as a young boy gives milk to his cat, reminding readers that just as animals help people, people in turn can help animals. This book teaches readers about the variety of work animals and depicts the give-and-take of human/animal relationships. A map is included. Guided Reading Level C.

The alarm calls of birds make them difficult for predators to locate, while the howl of wolves and the croak of bullfrogs are designed to carry across long distances. From an engineer's perspective, how do such specialized adaptations among living things really work? And how does physics constrain evolution, channeling it in particular directions? Writing with wit and a richly informed sense of wonder, Denny and McFadzean offer an expert look at animals as works of engineering, each exquisitely adapted to a specific manner of survival, whether that means spinning webs or flying across continents or hunting in the dark-or writing books. This particular book, containing more than a hundred illustrations, conveys clearly, for engineers and nonengineers alike, the physical principles underlying animal structure and behavior. Pigeons, for instance-when understood as marvels of engineering-are flying remote sensors: they have wideband acoustical receivers, hi-res optics, magnetic sensing, and celestial navigation. Albatrosses expend little energy while traveling across vast southern oceans, by exploiting a technique known to glider pilots as dynamic soaring. Among insects, one species of fly can locate the source of a sound precisely, even though the fly itself is much smaller than the wavelength of the sound it hears. And that big-brained, upright Great Ape? Evolution has equipped us to figure out an important fact about the natural world: that there is more to life than engineering, but no life at all without it.

"Learn how animals can be trained to assist people with a variety of different jobs."--

This non-fiction children’s book explains how animals work together to survive and thrive in the wild. It teaches children how important teamwork is, no matter how big or small a creature you are. Charlotte Milner's stunning illustrations blend with photographs to create engaging animal scenes that children will love to pore over again and again. Discover why teamwork is so important for different groups of animals in the wild. Inside this animal book for children, you’ll find: • A stunning picture book that introduces children to a range of different animal groups, including a pack of wolves, flock of birds and school of fish • A range of habitats, including mountains, coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest • Stunning illustrations by award-winning author and illustrator Charlotte Milner, who wrote and illustrated The Bee Book series • Engaging text introduces children to different types of animal groups and how they work together in the wild Have you ever asked why birds swoop and soar in a flock? Or wondered where an army of ants is marching? This beautiful animal book takes young readers through a range of habitats, from snowy mountains to colorful coral reefs, to discover different groups of animals and how they work together to survive in their environments. Children will learn fascinating fun facts along the way. For example, did you know that a group of monkeys is called a troop? Or that flying in flocks means birds can sleep as they fly? Combined with gentle learning and simple, lyrical text, Animal Teams is perfect for reading aloud which presents many early learning benefits including language development. This exquisite children’s educational book is unique in its ability to educate little ones about the animal kingdom while also teaching them about the importance of teamwork in their own lives.

In this thought-provoking and innovative book, Kendra Coulter examines the diversity of work done with, by, and for animals. Interweaving human-animal studies, labor theories and research, and feminist political economy, Coulter develops a unique analysis of the accomplishments, complexities, problems, and possibilities of multispecies and interspecies labor. She fosters a nuanced, multi-faceted approach to labor that takes human and animal well-being seriously, and that challenges readers to not only think deeply and differently about animals and work, but to reflect on the potential for interspecies solidarity. The result is an engaging, expansive, and path-making text.

Have you ever wondered how fish breathe underwater, how caterpillars transform into butterflies, how snakes slither, or why deer grow cumbersome antlers every year? This book on the anatomy and behavior of animals solves these mysteries in an irresistibly engaging way: by organizing the information by behavior or adaption, instead of by species. Readers will learn about flight by looking at birds, insects, bats, and flying squirrels. They'll learn about skin by comparing scales, feathers, fur, and shells. How Animals Work explains the structures and systems of animal bodies, using exquisite photographs and diagrams to show how animals use their anatomy to move, communicate, hunt, and feed, and how their bodies enhance their chances in the struggle for survival.