Fruitless Fall: The Collapse of the Honey Bee and the Coming Agricultural Crisis

By Rowan Jacobsen

With a passion that gives this exploration of colony collapse disorder real buzz, Jacobsen (A Geography of Oysters) investigates why 30 billion honeybees—one-quarter of the northern hemisphere's population—vanished by the spring of 2007. He identifies the convergence of culprits—blood-sucking mites, pesticide buildup, viral infections, overused antibiotics, urbanization and climate change—that have led to habitat loss and the destruction of the beautiful mathematics of the hive. Honeybees are undergoing something akin to a nervous breakdown; they aren't pollinating crops as effectively, and production of commercial American honey, already undercut by cheap Chinese imports, is dwindling, even as beekeepers truck stressed honeybees cross-country to pollinate the fields of desperate farmers. Jacobsen pessimistically predicts that our breakfasts will become... a lot more expensive as the supply of citrus fruits, berries and nuts will inevitably decrease, though he expresses faith that more resilient bees can eventually emerge, perhaps as North American honeybees are crossbred with sturdier Russian queen bees. The author, now tending his own hives, invests solid investigative journalism with a poet's voice to craft a fact-heavy book that soars.

Everything Kids' Environment Book

By Sheri Amsel

Everything we do has an impact on the world around us--from the clothes we wear and food we eat to the gardens we grow and the trash we throw away. And to take the best care of the earth--and ourselves--it's important to make smart choices. With The Everything® Kids' Environment Book, you'll find out what you can do every day to help protect our planet. You'll also learn why the rainforest is so important to us, how animals go extinct, and what environmentalists can tell us about taking good care of our world. Learn how to "go green" and to:

• Find new uses for recycled grocery bags
• Create your own greenhouse
• Make acid rain--safely!--to see how it affect plants
• Test organic food against foods grown with chemicals
• Make your own compost pile
• Re-create deforestation with the soil from timbered trees
• Test your sensitivity to noise

Whether you are in the classroom, surfing the Internet, or just hanging out with your friends, you can make a difference. Start today--so our Earth can live another 4.5 billion years!

Albatross: Their World, Their Ways

By Tui De Roy

The magic and misfortune of the world's greatest migrating bird.

Albatrosses are best known for their enormous wingspan and global migrations. They are also the subject of intense scientific scrutiny. Recent DNA studies have revealed that there may not be just 13, but 21 to 25 albatross species. With all but two of them endangered, the albatross may disappear just as we are discovering more about it.

Tui De Roy and Mark Jones set out in a 43-foot sailboat to cross the world's oceans in search of the albatross. They weathered storms, finally arriving to camp on barren landfalls, where they studied and photographed these fascinating birds. Albatross features the very best writing and research on these extraordinary creatures. The book includes a breathtaking photographic portfolio, a series of essays by leading experts, and a natural history section with detailed information on each species.

Along with commentary on the authors' adventures, topics include:

• Size and population distribution
• Biology and recent DNA discoveries
• Food and reproduction
• Breeding sites and courtship behavior
• Albatrosses in exploration, exploitation, myth and legend
• Migratory routes and the mysteries of migration
• Conservation threats and status

Albatross is an impassioned, authoritative and richly illustrated study of a magnificent creature.

Previously Listed Books
Cradle to Cradle	The Bridge at the Edge of the World	Ecology and the Politics of Survival
Planet U: Sustaining the World, Reinventing the University	The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Living	Wake Up and Smell the Planet
Planet U: Sustaining the World, Reinventing the University	The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Living	Wake Up and Smell the Planet
Winning Our Energy Independence	Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that will Recharge America	Earth: The Sequel: The Race to Reinvent Energy and Stop Global Warming
Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals	Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America	Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity
The Noble Wilds	The Great Bear Rainforest: Canada's Forgotten Coast	Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization
Farewell, My Subaru	Green to Gold	Freedom from Oil
Cutting Your Car Use	Field Notes from a Catastrophe	Environmental Solutions