The JHU Press has a beautiful selection of books on the natural world, from the amazing new edition of Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America, to our popular Animal Answer Guide series, to family-friendly guide books, to handsomely illustrated volumes on owls, polar bears, and mountain gorillas. Read more or place an order by clicking on the titles below. To receive a 30% discount on all books featured in this blog post, enter code HDPD at checkout or mention this code when calling in your order at 1-800-537-5487. Happy holidays from JHUP!
Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America
revised and updated, 2-vol. set
Guy Baldassarre
A Wildlife Management Institute Book
“Creating a brand-new version of such a timeless and previously revised classic is a risky venture indeed, but nobody could be better suited for this monumental task than Guy Baldassarre. He has created a stunning new classic, at once magnificent in its visual appeal and truly comprehensive in its scientific breadth and depth. Hats off to Guy for dedicating himself to this project with such obvious passion, patience, and skill. This book absolutely belongs on the shelf or coffee table of anyone who has ever marveled at waterfowl, whether through their binoculars or from inside the duck blind.”—John W. Fitzpatrick, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
“Whether you’re a duck hunter, a decoy collector, or just enamored with the world of waterfowl, Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America is the ultimate reference . . . Destined to become a go-to source for this generation of enthusiasts and the next.”—Garden & Gun
Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide
Gene Helfman and George H. Burgess
“Whether you fear sharks or just have a curiosity about them, Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide will home school you about these fascinating creatures that have been around for millions of years. . . Get a copy, you’ll be glad you did.”—Skip Clement, Fly Life Magazine.com
“I most highly encourage that all interested not only purchase and read Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide themselves but that additional consideration be given to presenting a copy as a gift to anyone with an interest in sharks… Ignorance and error are indeed a darkness of the mind for which the easiest correction is the introduction of light. To that end, this book veritably glows.”—John E. Riutta, The Well-read Naturalist
Penguins: The Animal Answer Guide
Gerald L. Kooyman and Wayne Lynch
“As a penguin biologist, I was surprised how much I learned reading Penguins that I had not already known. For penguin enthusiasts, Penguins: The Animal Answer Guide is a must read that will, thanks to Lynch’s spectacular photographs, be thoroughly thumbed through by the whole family. Likewise, this book should be required reading for those doing penguin outreach or informal education.”—Heather J. Lynch, Quarterly Review of Biology
“The writing is crisp and often witty and entertaining. These characteristics make it appealing to professional ornithologists as well as enthusiastic children—it would be great bedtime reading for any penguin lover. . . Highly recommended.”—Choice
Polar Bears: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior
Text by Andrew E. Derocher
Photographs by Wayne Lynch
“A book which would grace any coffee table, but equally one which should be in the library of every zoo and scientific institution which has an interest in polar bears, Arctic biodiversity or the possible effects of global warming. For every curator, animal manager, veterinarian and zoo architect it should be mandatory reading . . . Global warming, with or without mankind’s help, may cause the polar bear to become extinct and this book may be the best record we have to remember it by.”—Richard Perron, International Zoo News
A Year across Maryland: A Week-by-Week Guide to Discovering Nature in the Chesapeake Region
Bryan MacKay
“This is a delightful book packed with information on a diversity of organisms with explicit instructions on how to enjoy marvelous creatures virtually every day of the year. MacKay’s passion for natural history is palpable.”—Lytton John Musselman, author of Plants of the Chesapeake Bay: A Guide to Wildflowers, Grasses, Aquatic Vegetation, Trees, Shrubs, and Other Flora
“Whether you want to see Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swans pausing in their northward migration each March, or the mating ‘jubilee’ of polychaete worms during the new moon in May, A Year across Maryland offers valuable advice for the spontaneous adventurer and the serious planner alike.”—Northeastern Naturalist
Trees of Life: A Visual History of Evolution
Theodore W. Pietsch
“Trees of Life commemorates the tree as a visual representation of life; science buffs will revel in this dazzling forest of transformation.”—Jen Forbus, Shelf Awareness
“Trees of Life is a beautiful book, and the diversity of beautiful images within its pages should be of interest to historians of science, biologists, folks working at the intersection of science and art, and, honestly, anyone with a genuine interest in science and the study of the natural world. This is a taxonomy of trees of life, if you will.”—Michael Barton, Dispersal of Darwin
Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C.
Howard Youth
illustrated by Mark A. Klingler, photographs by Robert E. Mumford, Jr.
foreword by Kirk Johnson
“Downtown sightings of such wild creatures as snowy owls, peregrine falcons, and vultures may generate media attention, but after persusing Howard Youth’s Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C., I don’t find these episodes as outlandish as the headlines might suggest . . . The guide represents a considerable documentation of the species that share our corner of the world.”—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post
“The book is simply an amazingly informative work of art.”—Chris Knauss, The Star Democrat
Mountain Gorillas: Biology, Conservation, and Coexistence
Gene Eckhart and Annette Lanjouw
“Every visit I ever had with mountain gorillas ended in tears. My emotions exploded as I drove away with my back to the silhouette of the Virunga volcanoes. I was always given more by the gorillas, the trackers, and researchers than I could ever find a way to give back with my photographs. Gene Eckhart and Annette Lanjouw’s new book brings me home again, reminding us all of the world treasure that exists so tenuously in this one spot on our fragile planet.”—Michael “Nick” Nichols, National Geographic Magazine
Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior
Wayne Lynch
“Beautiful, readable, and affordable. So if you plan to give it as a gift, I suggest you buy a copy for yourself as well.”—Whit Gibbons, Tuscaloosa News
“This book is a pleasure to read whether you’re a diehard owl enthusiast or a casual admirer. You’ll find yourself wanting to leave this book somewhere conspicuous, so you can show the images off to friends, family, and unwary passersby.”—Jim Cirigliano, Bird Watcher’s Digest
The Quick Guide to Wild Edible Plants: Easy to Pick, Easy to Prepare
Lytton John Musselman and Harold J. Wiggins
“Dr. Musselman is a passionate botanist. Walking among plant life makes him very happy, which means he is happy most of the time, except when riding in a car stuck in a long tunnel. He will stop people on the street to tell them some great news from the plant world.”—Garrison Keillor
“The book is witty and full of commonsense. It is a jolly good read for anyone.”—Jane Manaster, Portland Book Review
