{"title":"Illustrated by Pavel Dvorsky","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9788000069685","title":"Insectopia","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA sequel to \u003cem\u003eAtlas of Extinct Animals\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAtlas of Endangered Animals\u003c\/em\u003e, this large-format encyclopedia focuses on the world’s largest group of animals\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003einsects.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInsects are the most diverse and abundant creatures on Earth, yet we often overlook their critical role in our ecosystem. \u003cem\u003eInsectopia\u003c\/em\u003e, the third book in the Large Encyclopedias series, invites young readers to explore the fascinating world of insects with expert entomologist Jiří Kolibac and the stunning illustrations of Pavel Dvorsky and his wife Pavla Dvorsky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith 96 pages of engaging content and lifelike full-page illustrations, \u003cem\u003eInsectopia\u003c\/em\u003e provides an immersive journey into the realm of these tiny creatures, whose behavior, shapes, and colors surprise us with their complexity. Kids will learn about the full range of topics related to insects, including complex rituals of courtship, tender care for offspring, organization of insect states, wars over food sources, and various insect features (scents, colorful wings, sharp mandibles, etc.).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSections include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnatomy and Body Structure of Insects: How insects have a segmented body with a hard exoskeleton.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrders of Insects: The best-known groups of winged insects and their common and scientific names.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBiology and Development of Insects: How insects undergo various metamorphoses.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvolution of Insects: The evolutionary relationships of insects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvolutionary Tree of Insects: A tree graph showing the evolutionary relationships among different insect groups.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDawn of the Insects: The evolution and diversification of insects during various periods, including the emergence of flight and the extinction of certain insect orders.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiversification of Insects: The development of insect life through different geological periods, including their coevolution with plants and their rise to dominance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCourtship and Nuptial Gifts: How male insects often present a nuptial gift to the female, who chooses the suitor with the largest or most alluring gift.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdapting to Island Life: How isolated islands are home to unique plants and animals, some of which undergo insular gigantism, and are threatened by introduced predators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFighting for the Female: Insects often engage in contests to produce offspring with a female, with the best-performing male often winning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlying Acrobats: Dragonflies are ancient predators with exceptional flying abilities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Short Life of the Mayfly: Mayflies have a brief lifespan of just a few hours to a few days, during which they mate, lay eggs, and die.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInsect States: Termites live in large colonies with specialized castes, with worker termites providing food and defense and soldier termites fighting spraying predators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlave-Makers, Slaves, and Warriors: Ants engage in aggressive behavior and interspecies wars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCourtship in the Hills: Insects gather on the tops of hills to find a mate, with males competing for the most visible spots, and this also attracts insectivorous birds and predators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLife in Darkness: Caves are home to uniquely adapted insects that are fairly different than those that live in the daylight.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarmer Ants: How large ant colonies are complex “state” organizations comprised of workers, soldiers, a queen and her entourage, nurses, foragers, and other occupations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoexistence: How anthills are places where ants and other insects form complex relationships of mutual benefit or parasitism.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to exploring this complex world of insects, young readers will also discover the importance of insects to humankind and all life on our planet. They will learn about how insects are found everywhere, from arid deserts to freshwater pools, and how they play a crucial role in pollination, decomposition, and pest control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten for children aged 12–15 who are nature lovers, biology enthusiasts, or just curious about the world around us, \u003cem\u003eInsectopia\u003c\/em\u003e is an essential addition to any young reader’s library. This informative and beautifully illustrated encyclopedia highlights the importance of insects and their contribution to our world. Whether used as a reference for school or as a fun read at home, \u003cem\u003eInsectopia\u003c\/em\u003e is a must-have resource for any young nature lover.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309934260597,"sku":"9788000069685","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9788000069685_a09bb45d-7595-418d-87e6-fb2f62e53fe3.jpg?v=1786031979"},{"product_id":"9788000061269","title":"Atlas of Extinct Animals","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe first book in the Large Encyclopedias series presents animals that once walked the Earth but have vanished due to the actions of humankind.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Atlas of Extinct Animals, award-winning poet Radek Malý tells the stories of forty-one extinct species and studies the causes of their sad demise. The large-format in Atlas of Extinct Animals is supplemented with beautifully expressive full-page illustrations by gifted artist Jiri Grbavcic and detailed pictures by renowned scientific illustrator Pavel Dvorsky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gorgeous, detailed depictions and descriptions of species and their eventual extinction serves as a reminder and a warning of how much life has already disappeared from the Earth. The atlas also shows that species continue to disappear. As we get closer and closer to present day, we are introduced to creatures that still existed in recent years, like the Zanzibar leopard (until 1996) and the Chinese river dolphin (until 2007). And in the end, we are left with a bitter question: Which creature will next be added to this atlas?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book was selected by White Ravens 2020 for the annual catalog of book recommendations in the field of international children’s and youth literature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56310968615285,"sku":"9788000061269","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9788000061269_5170e7fd-e32e-48af-86ca-d6b47930eeff.jpg?v=1786031953"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/illustrator-pavel-dvorsky.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}