Jacqueline Briggs Martin

High on the remote, freezing plains of Tibet live the chiru, nimble, antelope-like creatures with incredibly soft wool. But because they cannot survive in captivity, hunters threaten to wipe them out completely just to steal their precious coats. To save these amazing animals from disappearing forever, someone needs to find their secret birthing grounds in the harsh, snowy mountains and protect them. Enter scientist George Schaller and his team of brave mountain men. Driven by a deep love for nature, they embark on a treacherous and exhausting journey across one of the most rugged landscapes on Earth. Along the way, they must battle blinding snowstorms, freezing temperatures, and dangerous terrain to reach the chiru before it is too late. This gripping true adventure takes you right into the heart of the expedition. Packed with fascinating science and inspiring courage, it shows how a few dedicated people can make a massive difference for our planet's endangered wildlife.

Old Washburn is the kind of mountain man who can find a silver lining in any storm cloud. Sitting peacefully on the porch of his farm on Grandfather Mountain, he calmly whittles wood while disaster after disaster strikes his home. Whether it is a runaway pig or a collapsed roof, Washburn simply insists that he can whittle his way out of any trouble. This original tall tale introduces you to a wildly optimistic hero whose unshakable calm will make you laugh out loud. Through vibrant storytelling, you will discover the power of staying positive even when everything seems to go wonderfully wrong. Filled with rustic charm and humorous mishaps, this story proves that the best tool for fixing a problem might just be a cheerful attitude and a piece of wood.

A single bird finds itself caught in a dangerous oil spill, its beautiful feathers coated and heavy. This is the touching story of a rescued loon and the dedicated people who carefully clean and care for it. Step into the careful rescue process as you learn exactly what it takes to wash the willow tree loon and help it heal. You will see the gentle hands that scrub the delicate feathers and the watchful eyes that make sure the bird is ready to swim again. This warm, factual tale shows you the real-life steps of wildlife rescue and the importance of protecting our feathered friends. With tender words and a message of hope, it is a perfect journey for anyone who loves animals and wants to understand how to keep them safe.

Bizzy the mouse cannot possibly go to sleep without his cherished patchwork quilt. It keeps him warm, safe, and perfectly snug in his little mouse bed. But when the beloved quilt suddenly disappears, Bizzy's whole world turns upside down. Seeing how sad the little mouse is, kind Uncle Ezra and the friendly orchard mice decide to team up and create a wonderful surprise. You will watch these tiny friends gather scraps and stitch together a brand new blanket filled with love to help Bizzy feel secure again. This gentle, comforting story explores the sadness of losing something special and the joy of finding out how much your friends care. Curl up with Bizzy for a heartwarming adventure that is guaranteed to chase the nighttime worries away.

From the time he was a young boy, Wilson Bentley was completely captivated by the falling snow. While his neighbors only saw freezing weather and blocked roads, Wilson saw tiny, freezing miracles dropping from the sky. With fierce curiosity and the loving support of his parents, he saved up for a special camera and microscope, determined to prove that every single snowflake is a one-of-a-kind work of art. You will follow Wilson's patient, freezing journey as he stands in the bitter cold, carefully photographing hundreds of delicate ice crystals before they melt. Though people thought he was strange, his breathtaking photos forever changed the way the world understands winter. This award-winning true story celebrates the incredible power of perseverance and shows how one boy's quiet passion revealed the hidden, frosty beauty of nature.

When Joe Beebee plays his lively music, folks instantly forget all about their tight shoes, bad knees, and everyday worries. His upbeat tunes lift everyone so high that their biggest problems look small enough to stomp on. But deep in Bayou country, a plain brown hen is dealing with a very serious problem. Her absolute best friend, a blue-headed rooster, has lost his voice to the chicken measles, and she is terrified he will soon become Quiet Rooster Stew! You will tap your toes as this determined little hen hunts down musicians to help her friend find his crow again. With words that bounce like a fiddle tune and vibrant, moonlit art, this bayou romp captures the true magic of music. Discover how a catchy song and a loyal friend can heal almost anything.

On Second Street, the neighbors are convinced they have absolutely no interest in planting anything. Their street is cluttered with trash, and nobody seems to care about making it look nice. But everything begins to change when a mysterious green truck rolls into the neighborhood and two generous people start passing out free seeds and gardening supplies. You will watch in amazement as the grumpy, uninterested residents slowly pick up shovels and begin turning the empty, dirty spaces into vibrant patches of green. Packed with real gardening tips, fascinating history, and tasty recipes, this colorful almanac is more than just a story. It is a joyful reminder that a little bit of dirt and a few tiny seeds can completely transform an entire community. Grab a trowel and join the neighborhood dig!

Whenever the ducks head down to the splashing pond, it is always Bim, Bam, Bop first, and poor Oona dragging along in last place. The problem is that Bim, Bam, and Bop are speedy runners, while Oona is just a classic waddler. Feeling awful about always trailing behind, Oona confesses to her frog friend Roy that she does not feel as grand as a duck should. But Roy points out that Oona has a brilliant mind for gizmos! You will cheer for Oona as she gathers scraps, strings, and spare parts to build the ultimate gadget that will finally get her to the water first. This spunky, read-aloud adventure is packed with wonderfully silly words and a fantastic lesson about self-confidence. Discover how using your own unique talents can help you win the day.

Long before cars filled the roads, two sisters ran a busy store in a small Maine village. They were the proud owners of Prince, a brilliant gray horse who pulled their shiny black buggy and was known by everyone as the finest horse in town. But who actually took care of this magnificent animal while the sisters were busy working? You will explore three fascinating, mysterious rumors about Prince's secret life. Was it a sneaky trader trying to steal him away, a one-legged harmonica player teaching him to dance, or two brave children who rescued him from danger? Based on the author's real great-aunts, this beautifully painted historical tale brings the turn of the century back to life. Step back in time and uncover the enchanting legends of a truly remarkable horse.

Once, a vibrant creek burbled through a prairie valley in Iowa, teeming with brook trout, chirping frogs, and darting insects. But over time, the creek was buried beneath heavy fields of corn, its lively ecosystem silenced. Enter Mike, a man with a big dream and even bigger earth-moving machines. This true, heartening mystery follows his quest to uncover the lost creek and bring it back to the surface. As the diggers scoop and scrape, you will witness the remarkable rebirth of a forgotten habitat. Filled with the wonders of science and the power of environmental restoration, this captivating true story shows how nature can heal when given a little help. Perfect for young ecologists, this tale invites you to explore the hidden world beneath your feet and celebrate the return of the wild.

Long before she became a famous chef, Alice Waters was just a child discovering the pure joy of tasting real, vibrant food. Her lifelong search for truly delicious meals eventually took her all the way to France, and then back home to California, where she created the legendary Chez Panisse restaurant and the amazing Edible Schoolyard project. Join Alice on a delicious adventure as she proves that the best meals do not start in the kitchen, but outside in the dirt with healthy soil and caring farmers. This lively biography invites you to explore the magic of fresh ingredients and see how one person changed the way the world eats. Filled with passion and tasty discoveries, this inspiring story shows how growing good food can be just as joyful as listening to a beautiful song.

Not everyone has the special gift of finding things, but a quiet orphaned girl soon realizes she might share her grandfather's mysterious talent. Her grandfather uses a simple divining rod to locate hidden water deep beneath the earth. When the family's beloved and incredibly clever pig suddenly disappears, the young girl must step up and see if her own inner magic can save the day. You will follow her through a beautifully textured world as she searches for the lost pig, uncovering her own unique strengths along the way. This radiant, tender tale proves that there is often much more to the world than what we can see with our eyes. Dive into a gentle story of family, quiet courage, and the hidden wonders waiting to be discovered by those who simply know how to feel.

Will Allen is no ordinary farmer. Once a towering professional basketball player, Will can easily hold a whole cabbage in one hand. But his true superpower is seeing potential where others see nothing at all. When Will looked at an empty, abandoned city lot in Milwaukee, he did not see trash or weeds. Instead, he envisioned a massive, welcoming table big enough to feed the entire world. This inspiring true story follows Farmer Will as he tackles poor soil and tight spaces using genius ideas like worm composting and aquaponics. You will discover how his bold vision sparked a grassroots urban farming revolution, turning empty spaces into thriving green gardens. Packed with hope, determination, and fresh vegetables, this vibrant biography shows exactly how one person can grow the power to feed a community.

After a terrible fire takes the life of her beloved dog, young Sarah is haunted by bad dreams. Seeking comfort and a fresh start, she travels to eighteenth-century Maine to stay with her grandparents. There, surrounded by the quiet rhythms of country life, Sarah meets a gruff one-eyed cat and a noisy flock of unfriendly geese who keep her on her toes. But it is the magical, comforting treasures tucked away in Grandmother Bryant's deep pocket that finally begin to chase Sarah's nightmares away. This historical healing journey wraps you in the warmth of family and the simple cures found in everyday love. Through gentle moments and gentle farm friends, you will discover how a broken heart learns to mend, one small stitch of kindness at a time.

Step into a magical place so close to the ocean you can taste the sea salt, and so close to the woods you can practically talk to the trees. Here, Farmer Eva Sommaripa has spent over fifty years growing a massive, vibrant green garden life. Eva's farm is not just about plants; it is a bustling community of flying, slithering, and crawling creatures, along with the invisible, hardworking microbes deep in the brown underground soil. You will discover the beautiful science of ecology as you follow Eva's gentle, pioneering methods of caring for the land. As one of the very few books highlighting a female farmer, this biography bursts with the magic of the natural world. Get ready to dig your hands in the dirt and explore how a healthy farm breathes life into everything around it.

Chef Roy Choi calls himself a street cook, and his mission is to feed everyone from skateboarders to low-riders with absolute love. Growing up in Los Angeles, Roy's best moments were spent in his family's Korean restaurant, learning the deep, handmade flavors his mother called sohn maash. After trying his hand at fancy, fine-dining restaurants, Roy realized his true joy was out on the vibrant city streets. You will hit the pavement with Roy as he launches the legendary Kogi food truck, mashing up delicious Korean BBQ with classic street tacos. Watch as his spicy, sweet, remixed food brings totally different neighborhoods together in long, laughing lines. This buzzing, graffiti-painted biography celebrates the incredible power of cooking outside the box. Grab a spot in line and discover how one chef cooked up a street food revolution.

Simon Henry is a grumpy fisherman who claims he can catch absolutely anything that swims, crawls, or floats. He is all business when he is on the riverbank, right until he meets Oscar. Oscar is the craftiest, most frustrating bait-stealing catfish that ever lived in the deep hole at Higgins Bend. When the giant fish starts snatching Simon's prized redworms and his top-secret stinkbait, the grumpy fisherman vows to eat his own socks if he cannot reel Oscar in. What follows is a wildly funny, splashing battle of wits between a stubborn man and an even more stubborn fish. You will laugh out loud as Simon and his old friend Potato Kelly are taken for the wildest boat ride of their lives. Dive into this hilarious tall tale to see who truly rules the river.

Granny has just heard the best news in the world, and her heart is absolutely set on seeing her brand new grandbaby. There is just one huge problem: there is a fast-rushing river, a towering mountain, and a wide, dusty desert standing right in her way. But Granny is not about to let a little geography stop her. Armed with a well-stocked banjo case and a whole lot of sheer determination, she sets off on an epic, musical journey. You will tap your toes as Granny plucks her banjo, singing sweet bluegrass lullabies that somehow conquer every wild obstacle in her path. This bouncing, rhythmic tall tale celebrates the unstoppable love between grandmothers and their grandbabies. Jump into this warm, pastoral adventure and let the joyous music carry you all the way home.

In the deep blue waters of Lake Superior lies a tiny island shared by hummingbirds, rabbits, and a close-knit community of hardy fishing folk. Here in 1916 lives Carl, a young boy with a single, burning dream: to sail out on the water in a boat built with his own two hands. To make his dream come true, Carl begins bartering with his neighbors, trading his hard work for the parts and labor he needs. You will join him as he picks sweet strawberries, moves heavy stones, and carefully mends fishing nets as fine as lace. Along the way, Carl discovers that the islanders are closer than cousins, always ready to lend a helping hand. This tender story of sawing, nailing, and sanding reveals the beautiful power of teamwork and the quiet joy of making a dream set sail.

Deep inside her tiny body, one single queen bee carries the entire future of her colony. This is the fascinating life cycle of the rusty-patched bumblebee, an incredible insect whose story begins in early spring. When the queen emerges from her underground home, she immediately sets out to gather golden pollen, lay her eggs, and build a bustling nest. You will watch in awe as summer arrives, hatching dozens of busy worker bees who help her maintain the hive. As the very first bee to land on the Endangered Species list, this queen's journey is both a miracle of science and an urgent call to care for our planet. Discover the essential magic of pollination and learn exactly which native plants these fuzzy heroes need to survive. It all begins with a single bee.

Sandor Katz discovered his absolute love for fermented foods by crunching on kosher dill pickles on the busy streets of New York. Years later, he traded the city for a vibrant, queer community in the lush Tennessee mountains. There, he and his friends grew fresh vegetables, cooked huge meals, and threw fabulous drag dances. But when a massive cabbage harvest left them with too much food, Sandor discovered the magic of making sauerkraut. You will journey alongside Sandor as he chops, salts, and packs raw ingredients, waiting for the invisible microbes to create zingy, zangy flavors. This lively biography is a wonderful celebration of ecology, community, and the delicious power of science. Discover how sharing recipes and cultivating tiny microbes can deeply connect us to the earth and to each other.