In the Amazon Basin, many animals hunt fish for every meal. Sometimes, this shared diet leads to a battle! Giant otters are speedy predators, but are they a match for powerful caimans? This title dives into the strengths of each animal and their tactics to take down prey. Profiles for each animal highlight their size, habitat, and range, while other features showcase their speed and summarize their prized weapons. Who do you think will win this water war?

Introduces the giant river otter, describing its physical characteristics, habitat, life cycle, and ways in which young otters learn how to survive from older family members.

“The charisma of these huge, Amazonian ‘river people’ burns through even the most factual descriptions, emphasized by an abundance of photographs.” —BBC Wildlife The aptly named giant otter is exceptionally well adapted to life in rivers, lakes and wetlands in tropical South America. Known in Spanish as lobo del rio or ‘river wolf,’ it can be as long as a human is tall and is the most social of the world’s thirteen otter species. Each individual is identifiable from birth by its pale throat pattern, as unique as your fingerprint. Giant otters are top carnivores of the Amazon rainforest and have little to fear . . . except man. There are many reasons why scientists and tourists alike are fascinated by this charismatic species. Spend a day in the life of a close-knit giant otter family and you’ll realize why. Learn about their diet and hunting techniques, marking and denning behavior, and breeding and cub-rearing strategies, including shared care of the youngest members. Become familiar with the complex life histories of individual otters over their 15-year lifespans. And accompany a young disperser during the trials and tribulations of a year spent looking for a mate and a home of its own. “The descriptions of the otters, their habits and their homes along with tons of jaw dropping photographs, made me feel (almost) like I was there myself. Treat yourself to a book that will transport you to a place like nowhere else on earth, where you explore the wilds of the Amazon from your own garden.” —Cayocosta 72 “An intimate, educational and a dedicated love letter to the Giant Otter.” —Queen of Geekdom

A mother sea otter gives birth to her pup in the ocean. Then, as she floats on her back on the water’s surface, she lifts the little pup up from the water so it can feed and sleep while snuggled into her warm, furry chest. So begins the life of this marine mammal. In Sea Otter Pups, children will read how this little water baby receives its mother’s undivided attention until it has learned the swimming, diving, and hunting skills it needs to leave mom and go off to begin its adult life. The colorful interior spreads and gorgeous photos of sea otter pups are sure to delight emergent readers.

Tigers and bears, oh my! These powerful predators each have terrifying traits that firmly place them at the top of the food chain. But what would happen in a matchup between the two of them? Reluctant readers can weigh each animal’s advantages and compare their attack moves with this high-interest title. Profiles offer stats including height and weight, while infographics highlight special abilities. A final narrative follows a fight between the two animals. Who will be ruler of the north?

Leopards are ferocious fighters that hunt for a living. But could they take on a powerful 450-pound gorilla? This high-interest text weighs the advantages of these fierce beasts and examines their attack moves. Charts and profiles compare the animals in speed, strength, and size, while a narrative outlines a fight between the two animals. Which of these fighters will be crowned king of the jungle?

Look inside this book to meet the everyday heroes who found ways to save animals from Hurricane Katrina and the floods that followed.