Books by Sneed B. Collard III

One Night in the Coral Sea

by Sneed B. Collard III

In 1980, scientists discovered that hundreds of corals on the Great Barrier Reef participate in a mass spawning event. Science author Sneed B. Collard III explains coral reefs, the coral larvae's perilous journey through the sea to their home on the reef, and the animals that depend on this ecosystem for their survival. Intricate cut-paper illustrations capture the eye-catching colors of this underwater world.

Sneed B. Collard III's Most Fun Book Ever About Lizards

by Sneed B. Collard III

Lizards are cool. Literally. They are ectotherms, which means they can’t make their own heat. That’s why you see many types of lizards basking in the sun, seemingly doing nothing at all. That’s the life. But make no mistake, lizards have very busy lives—looking for food and avoiding being food. Popular science writer Sneed B. Collard III gets down and dirty with all kinds of lizards—from your average "Joe Lizard," the western fence lizard, to the impressively large Komodo dragon. In a kid-friendly narrative, Sneed explores many different kinds of lizards, their habitats, defense systems, hunting techniques, and mating rituals. He reveals the exciting life of a lizard—from rappelling from the tops of trees to the forest floor, to dropping off a tail to get away from a predator.

Insects: The Most Fun Bug Book Ever

by Sneed B. Collard III

Popular science writer Sneed B. Collard III gets creepy-crawly with many different kinds of insects, detailing their habitats, defense systems, communication techniques, and mating rituals. Colorful, closeup photos are paired with a kid-friendly narrative that boasts humor and accessible explanations about beetles, spider wasps, moths, and more.

For kids who love creepy-crawlies — School Library Journal

A lighthearted invitation to join the insect-appreciation club: "Righteous exoskeleton, dude!"— Kirkus Reviews

The Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America's Lost Grasslands (Scientists in the Field Series)

by Sneed B. Collard III

Sneed B. Collard III profiles Pauline Drobney and her crew as they struggle to rebuild a tallgrass prairie in central Iowa. From setting fires to rejuvenate the landscape, to searching for native seeds, to tracking down the elusive Regal Fritillary with Dr. Diane Debinsky, the story of rebuilding and regenerating the prairie landscape is a compelling and inspiring one.

Science Warriors: The Battle Against Invasive Species (Scientists in the Field Series)

by Sneed B. Collard III

There are 6,200 known invasive species in the United States, and scientists are scrambling to stop their unique paths of destruction, which can take a huge toll on regional economies and ecosystems. To effectively combat an invader, scientists must know the organism inside and out: What does it eat? How does it reproduce? What was its environment like in its native home? There are many questions, but just one right answer might yield a weakness in the enemy. In this entry in the Scientists in the Field series, Sneed B. Collard III introduces readers to some of the most brilliant minds, and promising advances, in the war against invasive species.

Leaving Home

by Anita Brookner, Sneed B. Collard III

We all “leave the nest” eventually, and animals do, too. Here we follow different creatures from all sorts of environments as they leave home and venture off to make their own place in the natural world. Some walk (jaguars), some crawl (crabs), some swim (sharks). Some leave as soon as they’re born (salamanders), and others leave after several years (elephants). Albatrosses fly across oceans while hedgehogs walk only a short distance away. And songbirds even come back.

Leaving Home

by Anita Brookner, Sneed B. Collard III

At twenty-six, Emma Roberts comes to the painful realization that if she is ever to become truly independent, she must leave her comfortable London flat and venture into the wider world. This entails not only breaking free from a claustrophobic relationship with her mother, but also shedding her inherited tendency toward melancholy. Once settled in a small Paris hotel, Emma befriends Françoise Desnoyers, a vibrant young woman who offers Emma a glimpse into a turbulent life so different from her own.

In this exquisite new novel of self-discovery, Booker Prize-winner Anita Brookner addresses one of the great dramas of our lives: growing up and leaving home.

Double Eagle

by Sneed B. Collard III

Mike and Kyle must outrun both a hurricane and thieves who will do anything to get their hands on a fortune in Confederate gold!
The year is 1862. The Skink, a Confederate ship, is attacked by Union forces and sinks off the Alabama coast in the Gulf of Mexico. Although the ship was rumored to be carrying newly minted gold coins, no trace of the wreck and not even a single piece of Confederate gold is ever found.
Fast forward to 1973. Mike is prepared for another routine summer in Pensacola with his marine biologist father. But plans suddenly change and Mike finds himself on Shipwreck Island―right near the site where the Skink went down. Mike and his new friend Kyle are intrigued by a salvage ship anchored just offshore. Some say it was brought in by fortune hunters, but when the boys scale a fence at the fort on the island, they realize that the fortune hunters may be looking in the wrong place. There in the sand-covered floor of an abandoned chamber they spot something shiny: an old double-eagle gold coin. Mike and Kyle agree to keep their discovery a secret and start their own investigation into the shipwreck and the missing gold.
Award-winning author Sneed B. Collard III blends history and mystery to create a dramatic, page-turning story featuring a strong friendship and plenty of action.

Wings

by Sneed B. Collard III, Aprilynne Pike, Julie Gonzalez, Shinsuke Tanaka

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Wings

by Sneed B. Collard III, Aprilynne Pike, Julie Gonzalez, Shinsuke Tanaka

Ben Delaney has a steadfast belief: Someday he will fly. He’ll sprout wings and really begin his life. But in all of his 17 years, there’s been no sign of any wings. Ben blames Gravity, his sworn enemy, for keeping him down. Yet if there’s one thing Ben isn’t, it’s a ground-dweller. He can feel his wings wanting out, just biding their time. But when will they be ready to emerge? And when will his older brother, parents, and friends accept his inevitable destiny? For flying is what Ben was born to do . . . and no one can persuade him otherwise.

From the Hardcover edition.

Wings

by Sneed B. Collard III, Aprilynne Pike, Julie Gonzalez, Shinsuke Tanaka

Take flight!

Simple text explains the versatility of bird, insect, and mammal wings. Detailed paragraphs spotlight particular animals and discuss how the animals' wings help them to survive. Intricate, cut-paper illustrations capture the delicate beauty of each type of wing.

Includes a glossary and additional resouces.

Wings

by Sneed B. Collard III, Aprilynne Pike, Julie Gonzalez, Shinsuke Tanaka

On a road by the sea a farmer finds an adorable, abandoned puppy. But this is no ordinary pooch . . . this pup has wings! The dog soon becomes a beloved member of the farmer’s family, and they discover the charms — and sometimes comical consequences — of life with a flying dog. But not everyone is charmed: in his youthful exuberance, the puppy wreaks havoc in the village. Will the free-spirited dog’s wings be clipped? Will he be grounded forever? Shinsuke Tanaka’s intricate pencil drawings, filled with action and emotion, carry the reader along on a buoyant and joyous adventure, a soaring flight of fancy to delight young and old alike.

Teeth

by Sneed B. Collard III

What do you know about teeth?

Animals use their teeth in many ways for many reasons. Grind. Mash. Munch. Simple text introduces various types of teeth, while detailed explanations regarding specific animals offer further information about teeth function, structure, and number. Vivid, accurate illustrations put teeth in context, from the great white shark with its rows of sharp teeth to the Cuban crocodile with its replacement teeth to the cutthroat trout with its tongue teeth.

Teeth are amazing. They help animals survive in many ways. Young wildlife lovers will love learning all about these animals and their amazing teeth.

Includes a glossary and additional resources.

One Iguana, Two Iguanas: A Story of Accident, Natural Selection, and Evolution (How Nature Works)

by Sneed B. Collard III

KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW
2020 Outstanding Science Trade List

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Natural selection and speciation are all but ignored in children’s nonfiction. To help address this glaring deficiency, award-winning children’s science writer Sneed Collard traveled to the Galapagos Islands to see for himself, where Charles Darwin saw, how new species form. The result is this fascinating story of two species of iguana, one land-based and one marine, both of which developed from a single ancestor that reached the islands millions of years ago. The animals evolved in different directions while living within sight of one another. How is that possible?
Collard uses the iguanas to explore Charles Darwin’s great discovery.
F&P Level V
color photographs

Birding for Boomers And Everyone Else Brave Enough to Embrace the World's Most Rewarding and Frustrating Activity

by Sneed B. Collard III

"With its ranging approach and easy-to-follow advice, Birding for Boomers is a handy guide for all those--boomer or otherwise―who are looking to pick up an ornithological hobby." -- Foreword Reviews

Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Winner in Nature - Montana Book Award Honor Book - Independent Publisher Book Award Winner - High Plains Book Awards Nonfiction and Big Sky Finalist

Birding for Boomers is a friendly, accessible, and humorous guide to discovering the joys of bird watching. Beginning birders of all ages will get answers to every question they may have, like which birds like feeders, the difference between a finch and a flicker, or which birding app to use. The guide also helps birders plan everything from local explorations to exciting "bird-cations."

Late-bloomer birders will appreciate Collard's personal insights and tips for overcoming aging-related challenges such as physical handicaps, poor hearing, or failing eyesight. Additional sections cover sharing birding with others and contributing to community science, habitat stewardship, and bird conservation.

Appealing and light-hearted, Birding for Boomers will help a wide range of readers overcome any doubts and get started with watching, understanding, and conserving our feathered friends.