Church, Dana L

"This nonfiction book for middle-grade readers examines how animals think and the ways scientists study their cognitive abilities. Illustrated with photographs throughout"--Provided by publisher.

"With their stunning black-and-orange wings, monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable insects on the planet. But despite their delicate beauty, these creatures are warriors. The moment they hatch, they're fighting for their lives. Everything is the enemy: from the very leaf they live on to the humans and animals around them to nature itself. How does such a tiny egg survive to become a butterfly? And even after emerging from the cocoon, unimaginable danger awaits: migration. Every year, monarchs take flight, making one of the greatest migrations in the world. However, for a long time, their destination was unknown within the scientific community. Through the research of scientists in Canada and the United States and the support and efforts of ordinary people as well as Indigenous knowledge in Mexico, that mystery was finally solved. But to do so would involve years of searching across three countries and encounters with feuding scientists, the consequences of colonialism, and life-and-death stakes"--Provided by publisher.

"Thanks to humans, bumble bees are world travelers, spreading to countries that never hosted bumble bees before. For centuries these insects pollinated our crops. But are they pushing out native pollinators? Why are some species of bumble bees flourishing whereas others are floundering, to the point of possibly disappearing forever? . . . explores these questions and tells the tale of bumble bees' history with humans . . . highlights the interconnectedness of the two species, and touches on the topics of endangerment and extinction, the impact on human agriculture, bumble bee habitats and ecology, and the current crisis of bee protection"--Provided by publisher.