Kirjahaku

This volume of the six book "Discover Hawaii's" nature series introduces young readers to some of the unusual animals that live in Hawaii's freshwater streams and wetlands. To set the stage, we learn how fresh water is recycled in nature, and how plants play a vital role in this-how vegetation on land helps bring fresh water to the island, helps hold it in the ground, and helps Hawaii's offshore coral reefs to survive. Young readers learn about the strange lives of certain Hawaiian fish, shrimps and snails that spend their entire adult lives in fresh water, but produce young that must live in salt water. How could this be? The book explains. Some of these unusual fish can even climb straight up waterfalls Young nature explorers can use Discover Hawaii's Freshwater Wildlife as an illustrated guide and tool to take with them as they visit different wetland areas. Like other books in this series, Discover Hawaii's Freshwater Wildlife has a conservation message. It describes threats that are undermining Hawaii's freshwater wildlife, and concludes with suggestions of simple things we can do to help. Full color illustrations on every page. Text and illustrations are equally balanced throughout the book. Includes Table of Contents, Glossary and Index.

This volume of the six book "Discover Hawaii's" nature series introduces young readers to the marine mammals that inhabit Hawaii's surrounding seas. Many species of whales and dolphins live in the tropical Pacific Ocean; about ten of these are seen in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. Although these ten are identified and illustrated, Discover Hawaii's Marine Mammals focuses on the three species that Hawaii is well known for: the humpback whale, the spinner dolphin, and the Hawaiian monk seal. Young readers learn about special features that make whales and dolphins well designed for a life at sea (such as breathing from a blowhole on top of the head, and using sonar to locate food). They learn about unusual behaviors like the humpback whale's "song," the spinner dolphin's' ability to keep track of its schoolmates even when they're spread out across miles of open ocean, and the monk seal's need to rest on the beach in solitude, undisturbed. Readers learn about dangers imposed by human activities that now threaten the future of these marine mammals, along with some "Dos and Don'ts" that we can do to help them. Text and colorful illustrations are equally balanced throughout the book. Includes Table of Contents, Glossary and Index.

This volume of the six book "Discover Hawaii's" nature series introduces young readers to the interesting lives of Hawaii's seabirds. Readers learn about the unusual habits of birds such as the Newell's Shearwater, or 'A'o, that dig their underground nesting burrows on the slopes of Hawai'i's high mountains; their eerie call, sounding very similar to a braying donkey, can be heard at night as the birds commute back and forth along "flyways" (like highways for birds) between mountains and sea. Readers are introduced to special features that enable some seabirds to live well in a salty ocean environment (such as excreting salt out the nose and being able to sleep while in flight). Local residents will recognize many familiar seabirds, from the albatross or Mōlī that nest on Kauai and the White Terns or Manu-o-kū that are seen in the parks around Waikiki in spring, to the frigate birds or'Iwa that soar high on warm air currents and the fish diving antics of boobies, or 'Ā. Text and colorful illustrations are equally balanced throughout the book, which concludes with an environmental message and some recommended "Do"s and "Don't"s that suggest what each of us can do to help protect these wonderful birds.

The Natural World of the Turks and Caicos Islands helps children discover nature and their relationship to it. Beginning with Lessons from the past, and ending with Caring for our islands, young readers learn that we cannot take more than nature can give; that we humans are interconnected with plants, animals and environments in a great web of life; that we can use our past mistakes to help us choose more wisely for the future, and that we can take action steps to help nature heal. Readers learn how the Turks and Caicos Islands were formed and how plants and how animals reach a new island. This book introduces young readers to the main environments of the Turks and Caicos Islands along with some of the characteristic plants and animals that live in each environment. It also introduces the two most important fisheries animals, the queen conch and the spiny lobster, and two special marine animals of the open sea that breed in surrounding waters: sea turtles and the humpback whale. Clear text is balanced by colorful and sometimes whimsical illustrations throughout.

This informative book begins, "Warm, tea-colored water swirls gently around our canoe as we paddle slowly up the salty channel." Take a journey through the Mangrove Swamp and learn about its many important roles. "...a home for wildlife; a protector of our coastal land and clear seas; a nursery ground for baby marine animals; and an amazing nutrition source for the abundant life in our shallow oceans."

In 1973, Katherine Orr and her partner, Chuck Hesse, sailed south to the islands to do underwater research. This book contains letters Kathy wrote to her family recounting their memorable adventures at sea and on land. Old letters, sketches and photographs give readers a tantalizing taste of a time and place gone by. Sketches; photographs; full color throughout.