This series takes young readers all over the globe, and deep underwater, to learn about some of Earth's most amazing creatures. Age-appropriate content and language relay more complicated science concepts, like habitats, life cycles, ecosystems, and evolution, in an accessible way. Readers are sure to be fascinated by these fun, longest-living animal books, ranging from unfamiliar subjects, such as sponges and tubeworms, to more recognizable animals, such as sharks and flamingoes. Features include: Close-up color photography brings the animal kingdom into sharp focus. Familiarizes children with the wide range of life on Earth. Fosters awe for nature while teaching basic science.

Parrots are common pets, but not many people know that some parrots may outlive their owners! These amazing animals are the world’s longest-living birds. Readers will learn why parrots are not often prey for other animals, and how taking care of them in captivity can extend their lives even longer. Colorful photographs show off these bright, feathered birds at all ages, showing where they live and how they stay alive in some of the most dangerous places on Earth.

Stories of long-lived animal species—from thousand-year-old tubeworms to 400-year-old sharks—and what they might teach us about human health and longevity. Opossums in the wild don’t make it to the age of three; our pet cats can live for a decade and a half; cicadas live for seventeen years (spending most of them underground). Whales, however, can live for two centuries and tubeworms for several millennia. Meanwhile, human life expectancy tops out around the mid-eighties, with some outliers living past 100 or even 110. Is there anything humans can learn from the exceptional longevity of some animals in the wild? In Methusaleh’s Zoo, Steven Austad tells the stories of some extraordinary animals, considering why, for example, animal species that fly live longer than earthbound species and why animals found in the ocean live longest of all. Austad—the leading authority on longevity in animals—argues that the best way we will learn from these long-lived animals is by studying them in the wild. Accordingly, he proceeds habitat by habitat, examining animals that spend most of their lives in the air, comparing insects, birds, and bats; animals that live on, and under, the ground—from mole rats to elephants; and animals that live in the sea, including quahogs, carp, and dolphins. Humans have dramatically increased their lifespan with only a limited increase in healthspan; we’re more and more prone to diseases as we grow older. By contrast, these species have successfully avoided both environmental hazards and the depredations of aging. Can we be more like them?

A large format board book of animals from all over the world, illustrated with charm and humor. Each spread in this big book focuses on a continent or ocean and features animals unique to that part of the world. Simple but charming, this is a great mix of world tour and day at the zoo, with plenty of room for spontaneous storytelling.

Some animals have very short lives, but many live for decades. Some amazing creatures can even live for centuries! Bowhead whales, for example, often live more than 200 years, and some parrots can outlive their human owners! Some surprising animals live incredible long lives, and this series features some of the amazingly old creatures that make young readers marvel. With fun facts and handy charts, early readers will experience the science and fun of century-old tortoises and elephants old enough to be their great-grandparents!