Dan Riskin Book order (chronological)

A sweet, fun, and informative picture book about bat echolocation for kids 3-7. Written by a scientist who works with bats in his everyday life!It’s time for Fiona the fruit bat to take her very first flight, but she’s scared. How will she fly when she can’t see in the dark? Mama just says, “listen.” But how will listening help her to see? Then she hears a mysterious sound from deep in her cave. To find out what’s making that noise—and to finally fly—Fiona will have to unlock a secret hidden inside herself. Written by biologist and bestselling author Dan Riskin, and rooted in the real-life biology of short-tailed fruit bats, this adorable story features: The fascinating science behind echolocation, including backmatter pages with information on fruit bats from the author. A comforting message to help kids scared of the dark: Alongside Fiona, they’ll learn there’s nothing to be scared of! A celebration of self-confidence and independence: Shows readers the amazing things they can accomplish all on their own.Accompanied by delightful illustrations from Rachel Qiuqi, Fiona the Fruit Bat is a touching tale about overcoming the fear of new experiences and finding the courage to listen to your own voice.

This “fact-filled and amusing trek through nature’s dark side” (Kirkus Reviews) reveals the bizarre and often perverse ways Mother Nature looks out for herself. While it’s a wonderful world, Dan Riskin (host of Animal Planet’s Monsters Inside Me) illustrates that it’s also dangerous and disturbing. Living things constantly attempt to eat us, poison us, or use our bodies as homes. Riskin serves as our guide through nature's ruthless landscape, employing the seven deadly sins as a framework to share jaw-dropping examples of nature's brutality. From slothful worms that can hide in your body for decades to wrathful snails armed with lethal harpoons, and lustful ducks that experience orgasms in the blink of an eye, these accounts reveal the true colors of “gentle” Mother Nature. Riskin's enthusiasm and expertise bring Earth's most intriguing creatures into sharp focus. His adventures—such as sliding through bat guano to meet a vampire bat, befriending a parasitic maggot in his head, and confronting fatherhood—lead to unexpected insights about the world around us and the responsibilities we bear toward this complex, beautiful planet we inhabit.