In NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ANGRY BIRDS FURIOUS FORCES!: The Physics at Play in the World’s Most Popular Game (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-1172-0; on-sale date: June 4, 2013; $13.95 paperback), physics professor and Wired.com blogger Rhett Allain uses everyone’s favorite game characters and a dose of humor to illuminate the basic ideas behind physical science.

The book is divided into five chapters, each exploring the interesting and increasingly challenging concepts of physical science — mechanics, sound and light, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, particle physics and beyond. From the simplest ideas of force and motion to the complex notions of relativity and dark matter, Allain adeptly explains physics in a way that all readers can understand. The book serves as an entertaining and instructional tool for anyone interested in physics — and it may provide insight into how a better understanding of physics can help conquer that next level of Angry Birds, too.

Each chapter includes “Physics at Play” sections, which include experiments that readers can easily do at home to gain hands-on experience with physics concepts: launch Angry Birds at varying angles to explore gravity and projectile motion, scrape a steel nail along one end of a magnet to create a compass or use a balloon to simulate our expanding universe. Scattered throughout, “Physi-Facts” offer nuggets of physics knowledge: for example, the pound is often used as a unit of mass, but it is actually a unit of force, and the speed of sound changes with air temperature and humidity levels.

Allain profiles some of the favorite characters from the Angry Birds games, explaining the physical prowess of each and illuminating the physics behind their favorite tactics, like King Pig’s reliance on inertia and Mighty Eagle’s combustion-like outbursts. As readers progress through the clever explanations and colorful illustrations, they will gain a fresh perspective on the physics at play all around them. Like the game, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ANGRY BIRDS FURIOUS FORCES! will entertain kids and adults alike.

This is the third book in the ongoing collaboration between National Geographic, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, and Rovio Entertainment, an industry-changing entertainment media company with a broader mission to make learning fun. The first two books, “National Geographic Angry Birds Space” and “National Geographic Angry Birds,” were published in 2012. A fourth book in the series is due out in September 2013.

About the Author

Rhett Allain spent most of his younger years in Illinois. In his youth, he enjoyed building things and taking things apart — although he couldn’t always put them back together. He studied physics at the University of Alabama and North Carolina State University. Currently he is a blogger at Wired Science Blogs and an associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University. He lives with his wife and children in  Hammond, La., where he likes to ride his bike to work.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books. The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 450 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; books; music; radio; films; DVDs; maps; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. For more information on National Geographic Books, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.

About Rovio Entertainment Ltd.

Rovio is an industry-changing entertainment media company headquartered in Finland and is the creator of the globally successful Angry Birds™ franchise. Angry Birds, a casual puzzle game, became an international phenomenon within a few months of its release and is now the number one paid app of all time. Angry Birds has expanded rapidly in entertainment, publishing and licensing to become a beloved international brand. www.rovio.com

Cronkite’s wartime adventures took him from the landing grounds of North Africa and bombing raids over occupied Europe to crash landing a glider in Holland behind enemy lines with the 101^st Airborne, surviving the bombing of Eindhoven by the Luftwaffe and filing dispatches on the Battle of the Bulge. These and many other stories chronicled in CRONKITE’S WAR provide revealing insights into the man who was the defining voice of “the greatest generation” and who became America’s foremost television anchorman.

“World War ll made my grandfather the man he was,” writes Walter Cronkite lV in his introduction. “He was already smart, competitive, and driven, but the war made him tough, worldly, and thoughtful. He was catapulted from a promising but obscure wire service reporter in the Midwest to an internationally famous war correspondent. The war provided the foundation for the rest of his illustrious career. It vaulted him into the top ranks of U.S. reporters.”

The book provides a more complete picture of the man who significantly shaped the popular memory of World War ll for those who lived through it. It casts light on the professional as well as personal life of the journalistic legend who, in a 1972 poll, was voted “the most trusted man in America.”

More than a hundred of Cronkite’s letters to his wife survive and are archived in the Walter Cronkite Papers at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin.

Walter Cronkite lV, who offers fascinating observations and experiences about growing up as the Cronkites’ grandson, says that the ties that bound his grandparents in their 60 happy years together after World War ll were forged during their lonely years of separation. “The letters to Betsy collected in this book show the importance of this loving and enduring marriage.”

In his foreword, Brokaw writes, “In this remarkable collection of personal letters, the reader is transported back to the pivotal year of 1943, when the push against Hitler’s war machine was beginning to have its effect. In the straight-ahead, honest prose he later became famous for as an anchorman, Walter mixed the momentous, the personal, and the ordinary in his dispatches to Betsy.” Calling theirs a “quintessential American love story,” Brokaw adds that Walter and Betsy were a matched pair with a “zest for life…who loved each other deeply.”

Equal parts love story and history lesson, CRONKITE’S WAR is an intimate glimpse into the man who became one of the most important voices in our nation’s history.

About the Authors

Walter Cronkite lV, Walter Cronkite’s grandson, is an associate editor with CBS News.

Maurice Isserman is the Publius Virgilius Rogers Professor of History at Hamilton College. He is the author of the prize-winning book “Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes,” co-authored with Stewart Weaver.

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This spring, the National Geographic Society will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the 1963 American Mount Everest Expedition and detail the 2012 Legacy Climb in a new book, THE CALL OF EVEREST: The History, Science, and Future of the World’s Tallest Peak (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-1016-7; on-sale date: May 14, 2013; $35 hardcover). A June 2013 National Geographic magazine article will focus on problems that have developed on the mountain and how to address them.

THE CALL OF EVEREST takes a comprehensive look at the significance of Mount Everest through scientific analysis of its geology and climate, through captivating anecdotes from climbers and from insight into the people and the history of the area.

Divided into eight chapters, leading experts in their field examine the mountain from various viewpoints:

• “The Meaning of Everest,” by Conrad Anker — undertaking the ultimate test of human performance, and what the mountain means to climbers all over the world;
• “The Birth of Everest,” by David Lageson, professor of structural geology at Montana State University — the geological and geophysical aspects of the mountain and how they formed over time;
• “The People of Everest,” by award-winning author Broughton Coburn — the history of the Sherpas and their place in the world today;
• “The Nature of Everest,” by conservationist and mountain geographer Alton C. Byers — the flora and fauna that exist in the thin air of Nepal, and the landscapes in the area;
• “The Climbers of Everest,” by author and winner of the 2007 BANFF Summit of Excellence Award Bernadette McDonald — a look back at the influential climbers and expeditions to summit the mountain;
• “The Agonies of Everest,” by Mayo Clinic respiratory expert Bruce Johnson, Ph.D. — the failed and fatal attempts to summit the peak as well as how the body reacts to the atmosphere, including medical analysis from the Mayo Clinic;
• “One Season on Everest,” by writer and 2012 Legacy Climb team member Mark Jenkins, who also wrote the June 2013 National Geographic magazine article — his personal story of his time spent on Mount Everest during the Legacy Expedition;
• “The Future of Everest,” by mountaineer and filmmaker David Breashears, the first American to reach the summit of Everest twice — how the legend of the tallest mountain in the world grows with each new generation of adventurers.

THE CALL OF EVEREST includes 180 photographs and 20 maps, showcasing the majesty of the area. Short essays and personal stories are included in the “Voices” section of each chapter, featuring Everest experts such as Jane Summers, Wade Davis, Hilaree O’Neill and Edwin Bernbaum. The book also highlights the advancements in equipment over the last century, looking at the tents, backpacks, water containers and more used both then and now.

The book’s foreword is written by Thomas Hornbein, a member of the 1963 American expedition. He looks back on his pioneering ascent and compares the conditions on Everest then to what they are today.

Mark Jenkins’ June National Geographic magazine article, titled “Maxed Out on Everest: How to Restore Sanity to the Top of the World,” looks at ways that conditions on the mountain can be improved. He focuses on the largely man-made dangers: overcrowding on the mountain, inexperienced climbers, pollution and the altering of seasonal climbing windows. Jenkins tells the story of the elite climbing team led by Anker, of which he was a member last year, including how it was stuck at choke-points on the mountain in a “conga-line” of hundreds of other climbers.

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In the book, which includes a foreword by Aldrin’s son Andrew, Aldrin makes the case and argues passionately for pushing our boundaries of knowledge and exploration of our solar system and presents his “unified space vision.” Aldrin discusses the history of space flight, including a reflective, not nostalgic, look at the people, technologies and steps that were taken to accomplish America’s Apollo moon landings, and plots a course of future exploration. He says “Do not put NASA astronauts on the moon. They have other places to go.” And he emphasizes that the path forward is not a competition; we cannot restart an engine to rerun a race we previously won. This is a controversial notion that causes significant division among astronauts.

In an interview, Aldrin can discuss:

• The blossoming of space tourism, and why public space travel by private citizens is critical as it makes space more familiar.
• Why a second race to the moon is a dead end and a waste of precious resources.
• Why there is high value on the political and collaborative front by letting partners such as China and India tie into the International Space Station.
• Apollo was a get-there-in-a-hurry, straightforward, space-race strategy. Today, Aldrin calls for a unified international effort to explore and utilize the moon, a partnership that involves commercial enterprise and other nationwide building upon the Apollo mission.
• What Aldrin views as the biggest mistake he ever made relative to the future of the space program.

Aldrin is honest in his critiques of space policy, discussing the economic, political, technological and other issues of viability of various options. It is a personal book in which he discusses his family, especially his father (whose impact on Aldrin is particularly striking); his own life, including his time in the Korean War; his initial rejection by NASA (he was one of the only astronauts who did not start as a test pilot, but as an MIT engineer); his eventual journey to the moon; and his hopes and frustrations. He even calls out large aerospace contractors for a lack of transparency with NASA and admits that he made a big mistake in the 1970s by not being more vocal about his displeasure with the initial design that preceded the Space Shuttle.

MISSION TO MARS uncovers an intimate side of Aldrin, while spotlighting some of the most important issues facing our nation’s space program today.

To view the book trailer for MISSION TO MARS, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLQ4KNA2d-k

About the Authors

Buzz Aldrin, best known for his Apollo 11 moonwalk, holds a doctoral degree in astronautics and, at the age of 83, continues to wield influence as an international advocate of space science and planetary exploration. He has written three nonfiction books, two science fact/fiction novels and two children’s books.

Leonard David is a space journalist, who has reported on space activities for some 45 years. He is the 2010 winner of the prestigious National Space Club Press Award. Currently, David is SPACE.com’s Space Insider Columnist as well as a correspondent for Space News newspaper and a contributing writer for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aerospace America magazine.

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC POCKET GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-1044-0; on-sale date: April 2, 2013; $12.95 paperback), by best-selling birding authors Jonathan Alderfer and Laura Erickson, is geared toward beginners as well as more experienced bird watchers.

The book is a sampler of the rich array of North American birds. From the tiny tufted titmouse and house wren to the majestic great blue heron and bald eagle, the book covers the top species from coast to coast. For easy identification, each bird is presented in a full-color-page spread, with photographs, illustrations and a description of the bird, its typical behavior and its range. Also included for every bird are its voice, habitat and food. A fun readable snapshot of what makes the bird so interesting completes each portrait. A convenient color Visual Index located inside the front cover helps guide users to the right page.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC POCKET GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA also provides tips on the best binoculars to buy, the basics of bird identification, and opportunities to broaden one’s bird watching experiences and expertise.

Youngsters can also get in on the birding action this spring with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS BIRD GUIDE OF NORTH AMERICA (National Geographic Children’s Books; ISBN 978-1-4263-1094-2; on-sale date: March 12, 2013; $15.95 paperback). Written by Jonathan Alderfer, it speaks directly to children about the captivating winged world beyond their windows. A perfect gift for children and grandchildren of birders, this kid-friendly guide provides engaging photography, fun facts that kids love, habitat snapshots and interactive birding activities and crafts.

Affordable and lightweight enough to carry on any outing, these two newest additions to National Geographic’s comprehensive library of birding books and field guides are a perfect way for the whole family to discover the joys of bird-watching and explore the continent’s amazing bird life.

About the Authors

Jonathan Alderfer is National Geographic’s resident bird expert. He has written or edited numerous bird books for National Geographic, most recently “Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America” and “Bird-watcher’s Bible.” Also an artist, he has contributed paintings to “National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America” and co-authored its sixth edition in 2011.

Laura Erickson has authored six books about birds — including “Sharing the Wonder of Birds with Kids, winner of the National Outdoor Book Award — writes for birding magazines and blogs for the American Birding Association. Her long-running radio program, “For the Birds,” airs on public and community radio stations.

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These are just some of the lesser-known facts about our national parks revealed in a new book from National Geographic, SECRETS OF THE NATIONAL PARKS: Experts’ Guide to the Best Experiences Beyond the Tourist Trail (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-1015-0; on-sale date: April 2, 2013; $22.95 trade paperback). The book showcases the parks’ hidden gems and little-known experiences, and provides a wealth of information designed to help visitors get the most out of exploring the national parks. Visited by nearly 280 million people in 2011, the parks are among the most popular destinations in the country.

The editors of National Geographic Books asked 10 well-known nature writers with intimate knowledge of 32 of the most-visited parks to share tips about spots off the well-beaten tourist tracks that are often overlooked but which can make a trip to a national park extra special, exciting and memorable.

These writers-at-large talked to park rangers, outfitters, local guides and others to uncover the least crowded beaches, barely tramped trails, hard-to-find sights, best wildlife-viewing spots and more. The writers found there are still secrets to be discovered in every park, including much-traveled ones such as Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Petrified Forest, Haleakalā and Wind Cave national parks. Their tips are organized into easy-to-read narratives to help travelers plan and enjoy their national park adventures.

Divided by region — The East; Southwest & the Rockies; and Pacific Rim — each of the 32 park descriptions includes the best hidden gems, such as walks, trails, waterfalls and out-of-the-way valleys, lakes and groves, as well as photographs of the scenery and wildlife and National Geographic maps to orient visitors to specific places. Also provided is practical information such as the locations of visitor centers and the best time of year, or day, to visit a park. In addition, members of the National Park Trust, local park staff, frequent visitors and outfitters offer their thoughts on traveling in the national parks.

The final chapter offers one secret each from 26 other national parks.

“Our national parks are places of majesty that hold secrets large and small for those with a curious eye and adventurous spirit. Even our most-traveled parks are constant sources of discovery,” writes F. William Brownell, chairman of the National Park Trust’s board of trustees, in his introduction to the book. “Each national park has its secrets, whether it’s walleyed pike spawning in a trickle in the middle of Voyageurs in Minnesota, or grizzlies viewed from the old school bus that runs deep into Alaska’s Denali, or bugling elk at dusk in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming.”

From unusual animal sightings to scenic viewpoints to mountain biking and kayaking opportunities, SECRETS OF THE NATIONAL PARKS is the perfect way to see the parks through fresh eyes and a new perspective.

Spokesman for the Book

National parks expert Robert Earle Howells has been editor at large of National Geographic Adventure magazine, a correspondent for Outside magazine, a regular writer for Men’s Journal and an author for National Geographic Books during his long writing career focused on adventure and the outdoors. He won the 2009 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist of the Year silver award and has twice won Lowell Thomas gold awards for his adventure travel writing. Among his book credits are National Geographic Books’ “The Ten Best of Everything: National Parks” as well as “Backroads of Southern California” and “Backroads of New England.” An ardent hiker and mountain biker, he lives in Southern California.

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As a result of the National Geographic Kids partnership, in early 2013 Reading Rainbow will launch a branded island featuring books from National Geographic Kids’ most popular series, including Picture the Seasons, books filled with beautiful photography that captures the essence of different seasons; National Geographic Readers, easy-to-read books about exciting subjects kids care about; and the National Geographic Little Kids Look & Learn series of picture books for pre-readers.

“National Geographic is one of the most admired educational publishers in the world. For 125 years, its famous yellow border has meant adventure, education and quality to millions of adults and children,” said Sangita Patel, President of Publishing for RRKidz. “We are thrilled that children will soon be able to explore their world through the exceptional books offered by National Geographic Kids within the Reading Rainbow App.”

“Reading Rainbow and LeVar Burton have inspired generations of young readers to become passionate about books and reading. With this new app, the next generation of kids will take that passion to the digital world,” said Melina Bellows, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of National Geographic Books, Kids and Family. “Our partnership with RRKidz to create the National Geographic Kids Island will further our mission of getting kids excited to explore the world around them wherever they are.”

Reading Rainbow has further enhanced its service with the addition of a new “Awesome People” island. Here, children discover dozens of new books and video field trips about heroes, important historical figures and everyday people who make a difference. Some of the new books on this inspiring island include numerous offerings from the highly respected “A Picture Book of…” series including Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin and many others. In addition, children can journey on exciting video field trips, connecting the books they read to the world they live in. Exclusive real-world segments include a look into the Oval Office, an exciting view of Air Force One, and a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition, the new island debuts an all new video series titled “I Love My Job Because…,” introducing children to the world of possibilities of who they can become one day.

“I promised parents and children that the Reading Rainbow App would continually evolve, and with this major partnership with National Geographic Kids, we deliver on that promise,” said RRKidz Co-Founder LeVar Burton. “With hundreds of books and video field trips in our library, and more being added every week, our App continues to be the best resource for children to develop the love of reading that is so important to their futures.”

The Reading Rainbow App, available on the iPad, is a completely re-imagined and interactive experience reminiscent of the original TV series.  The App is currently available on the iPad and has consistently been a top-grossing app. The App features hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books from numerous acclaimed children’s publishers as well as newly produced and classic video field trips. The reading experience is customized to a child’s specific topics of interests and age. Each book in the library can be experienced as either “read on my own” or “read to me,” with voice-over narration by professional actors including Emmy award-winning actor LeVar Burton.

About LeVar Burton

Best known for his Reading Rainbow stewardship as well as his other TV roles (most notably Kunta Kinte on Roots and Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation), LeVar Burton comes from a family of educators and is widely recognized for his lifelong advocacy of children’s literacy. In the past few months alone, he has been a keynote speaker at South by Southwest (SXSW) Edu and received the Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence in Children’s Media from Tufts University.

About RRKidz, Inc.

RRKidz provides interactive platforms for families to discover and explore exceptional digital media content that is both educational and entertaining. Headquartered in Los Angeles with an office in Oakland, RRKidz holds global rights to the trusted Reading Rainbow brand through a partnership with series creator, WNED-TV, a premier PBS station. To download the Reading Rainbow App go to the App Store or for more information, visit ReadingRainbow.com. Like Reading Rainbow on Facebook facebook.com/ReadingRainbow and follow us on Twitter for news and announcements twitter.com/ReadingRainbow.

About National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, videos, events and a website, and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core. National Geographic Kids (10 issues per year) and Little Kids (6 issues per year) are photo-driven publications and are available on newsstands or by subscription in print and on tablets. The award-winning website kids.nationalgeographic.com excites kids about the planet through games, videos, contests, photos and blogs about cultures, animals and destinations. National Geographic Kids Books is the leading nonfiction publisher with as many as 100 nonfiction titles each year, including the New York Times bestselling “Kids Almanac.” National Geographic Kids Games engages kids to learn through play with games like the online virtual animal world of Animal Jam and the interactive TV experience of Nat Geo Kinect TV. National Geographic Kids Apps bring the best of National Geographic Kids to smartphones and tablets.

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Mile by mile, this easy-to-use, photo-filled and detail-packed guide will allow users to explore America. Adventurers across the country will find a route for them, whether they are looking for a short jaunt, day trip or several-weeks-long vacation.

SCENIC HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS is divided geographically into New England, Middle Atlantic, Southeast, Great Lakes, Central Plains, South Central, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Northwest and Far West. Included are famous drives such as the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Natchez Trace, some of the picturesque routes like the Great River Road and lesser-known drives like the back roads of Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country, Michigan’s remote Whitefish Bay or Maryland’s quiet Eastern Shore. From the jaw-dropping magnificence of places such as Wyoming’s Centennial Scenic Byway to the quiet beauty of Flint Hills byways of Kansas, this guide is a tribute to our country’s splendor, unique character and storied past.

Among the new drives featured in the 4^th edition are:

• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Maryland
• Scenic Byway 143 – Utah’s Patchwork Parkway
• Washington’s White Pass Scenic Byway
• Edisto Island National Scenic Byway in South Carolina
• Alaska’s Haines Highway

Conveniently sized to fit into a glove compartment or backpack, SCENIC HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS celebrates the United States and its rich history and topography by featuring points of interest and places of historical importance.  It is also beautifully illustrated with 370 scenic photographs and a detailed four-color map for each drive. Ideal for trip planning and on-the-road consulting and packed with drives ranging from 5 to 500+ miles, this is a must-have for every traveler.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 450 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channels; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. For more information on National Geographic Books, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.

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From the treetops of Costa Rica to the Grand Canyon to Loch Ness, 100 PLACES THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR CHILD’S LIFE explores the world, plumbing the heart of each special place and presenting it through a kid’s eyes. Divided by region, the book looks at exciting travel locations for children in the United States/Canada; Caribbean/Mexico/South America; Europe; Africa/Middle East; Asia; and Oceania/Antarctica. Each chapter contains contributions by regional experts and experienced travelers and travel writers who offer tips on how to communicate each location’s value to children. From following whales in Quebec’s Saguenay Fjord to exploring a Crusader castle in Cyprus to studying the biodiversity of the Galápagos, the book offers scores of ideas on how kids can experience the wonders of the world.

“The world is the greatest classroom we have,” writes Bellows in his introduction. “I’m convinced that any parent willing to give the gift of travel offers the gift that keeps on giving. Children who learn to travel will travel to learn. And they will do it all their lives.

“I never went to a theme park until I was an adult,” he adds. “The world was my theme park. And that’s what I wish for my kids – and yours. I want them to discover the real, not just the faux, and to find it here, not just abroad. I want them to thrill to all the planet has to offer. And see as much of it firsthand and soon.”

In addition to descriptions of each location and advice on how children can experience the world on their level, 100 PLACES THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR CHILD’S LIFE offers scores of tips, ideas and opportunities for fun activities, and background for potential visitors in the information boxes throughout the book.

• “Insider Tips” tap into the local smarts of the people in each location.
• “Know Before You Go” suggests books, movies or music that give a sense of the location.
• “Connections” lists organizations working in the field that can provide more in-depth information.
• “Fast Facts” are nifty trivia that will surprise the kids (and you).
• “Buy Worthy” suggests authentic products that express a sense of place.
• “Get Involved” features volunteer opportunities and important charities in the region.
• “Yum” and “Nest” offer kid-friendly food and accommodation options.
• “Objects of Wonder” captures cool culture that fascinates children —and expresses the local zeitgeist.
• “Words of Wisdom” are intriguing ways to jump-start conversations with your child.

PLACES THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR CHILD’S LIFE is an invaluable travel planner filled with ideas on how to get kids excited about the world, gain an appreciation of travel and different traditions, and value the diversity and wonders of our planet.

About the Author

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Keith Bellows has launched 30 magazines, television and radio properties and has lectured around the world. He is editor in chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine and senior vice president/editor in chief of National Geographic Travel Media. A graduate of Gordonstoun School in Scotland and Dartmouth College, Bellows has appeared on NBC’s “Today” show and ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

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For more than 20 years, the Dutchers have focused their lives on the study and documentation of wolf behavior. As two of America’s most eminent experts on wolves, they are devoted to sharing their knowledge for the betterment and understanding of this keystone social species, which recently lost its federal protection and is being killed at an alarming pace.

Living among a pack of wolves at the edge of Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness, the Dutchers spent years in a tented camp, intimately observing the social hierarchy and behavior of the now-famous Sawtooth Pack. Over time, the wolves became comfortable enough with the Dutchers to reveal social bonds and intimate behavior never before documented. These extraordinary experiences led first to a series of films that won three Emmys and now to this groundbreaking book, which offers a new understanding of wolves through powerful insights, compelling images, timelines, maps and informational sidebars.

“Wolves possess something beyond their more obvious attributes of beauty, strength, and intelligence. These animals, who have been maligned for centuries and despised as the embodiment of all that is cowardly, savage, and cruel, clearly care about one another. They show signs of what we believe are nothing less than empathy and compassion,” the Dutchers write.

Vivid observations detailing the selection of pack leaders, the birth of pups and mourning the loss of a pack member offer new knowledge about wolves, enhanced by photography that brings these behaviors to life. Photos from the Dutchers will be featured in an upcoming photo exhibition at the Field Museum in Chicago and other major U.S. cities.

Royalties from THE HIDDEN LIFE OF WOLVES will go to the Dutchers’ nonprofit organization, Living with Wolves, which is dedicated to raising awareness about wolves and their importance to the environment. The foreword to the book is by actor Robert Redford, who met Jim Dutcher 34 years ago, shares his concern for the natural world and serves on the honorary board of Living with Wolves.

The Dutchers cite breakthrough scientific studies that describe the return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park and the animals’ pivotal role in restoring a natural balance. They are revealed as key members of wild ecosystems where they were meant to live.

 “Wolves — curious, caring, and intelligent — share strong social bonds, wolves watch over each other, nurture their injured, and raise their pups among their family groups. By hunting together to feed the pack, wolves redistribute elk and deer and allow overgrazed trees and shrubs to rebound. As wolves restore natural order to ecosystems, they undo damage done long ago,” they write as they call for people to understand the wolf’s true nature and to work with it, not against it. “The more we learn about wolves, the more we see that taking into account their intelligence and their ability to learn and adapt could lead us to a path of coexistence.”

With this book, we come closer to this fascinating creature of the American wild than ever before, thanks to the amazing story told by the Dutchers and the Sawtooth wolf pack that let them into their lives.

About the Authors

JIM DUTCHER is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer whose extraordinary camerawork has led audiences to places never before filmed: inside beaver lodges, down burrows to peek at newborn wolf pups and into the private life of a mother mountain lion. His work includes the National Geographic special, “A Rocky Mountain Beaver Pond,” and ABC World of Discovery’s two highest-rated films, “Cougar: Ghost of the Rockies” and “Wolf: Return of a Legend.”

JAMIE DUTCHER, Jim’s wife and co-producer, worked in the animal hospital of the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., before bringing her knowledge of animal husbandry and medical care to the Sawtooth film project. Her recordings of the howls of the Sawtooth Pack won an Emmy for sound recording.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 450 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. For more information on National Geographic Books, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.

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