Washoe County Library System

"In all about deserts & grasslands, young viewers will discover the characteristics that make these regions unique, while exploring the plants and animals that make their homes in these environments. A visit with a scientist examines the world of the hummingbird, while a hands-on experiment demonstrates how different plants have adapted to survive in different ecosystems."--Container.

The featured book explores the ecosystem of the giant Saguaro cactus. The life and seasons of the desert are explored with an introduction to a variety of the desert's inhabitants.

Under the sea with Al Giddings: Shares stories and scenes from more than 30 years of deep-sea diving experience and undersea film adventures. Visions of the sea: Presents a wide variety of marine creatures filmed by Al Giddings, from tiny single-celled organisms to huge mammals. Ocean odyssey: The result of an effort to understand how healthy marine ecosystems work before they are damaged, explores marine ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands, Raja...

Forests are biomes in which trees are the main life form, but what makes a forest deciduous? Students will explore these colorful woodlands that change with the seasons.

Earth at risk is an annual conference featuring thinkers and activists who are willing to ask the hardest questions about the seriousness of our situation. The conference is convened by Derrick Jensen, who has argued that we need stop industrial civilization.

"The National Petroleum Reserve-- Alaska is the largest tract of public land in the nation. It is also Alaska's best-kept secret. Unsuitably named for the deep vein of petroleum that rolls beneath it, the Reserve is held apart by towering mountains, lush wetlands, wild rivers, sparkling coastlines and a vast horizon of rich tundra. The rich wild diversity of this place makes it the biological backbone of America's Arctic and a true national treasure....

A mixture of animation and live footage serves as a background for a narrated introduction to the geographical history of deserts, their animal life and their importance for human culture.

"Ocean explorers Howard and Michele Hall turn their love for the ocean and their concern for the future of the world's coral reefs into action. With Jean-Michel Cousteau, deep reef scientist Richard Pyle and Fijian diver Rusi Vulakoro, the Halls explore and capture on film the dazzling underwater world of coral reefs, magical places here on earth."--Container.

Creature teachers Chris and Martin Kratt will take families along on extraordinary animal-powered adventures. The show transforms the Kratt Brothers into animated versions of themselves, allowing the real-life zoologists to visit wild animals in their little-seen habitats and showcase key science concepts.

When the Magic School Bus takes a dive, Wanda discovers that one of Ms. Frizzle's ancestors was Redbeard the Pirate and a treasure map leads the class to a coral reef where they learn first hand that life there is risky. In The Magic School Bus gets swamped, the class learns that swampland is an important haitat and natural water filter. In the Magic School Bus goes to Mussel Beach, the class learns about life along a shore.