Undercover Conversations: Eavesdrop on the Natural World

Did you know that turtles are great singers? Or that trees love to gossip with their fungi friends? Or that fish farts almost started a war? The world around us is full of chatter—it turns out that we just aren’t listening.

Did you know that whether humans are paying attention or not, the rest of nature is busy communicating through sound, sight, chemicals, and touch? Crackling with tongue-in-cheek wit and accessible science, this third installment in the Your Hidden Life series offers insights into animal navigation, neurotransmitters, and other hidden messaging. From meteorologist crickets and flirtatious flowers to gossiping trees and rumbling earthworms, from the love songs of turtles to the fish farts that triggered an international incident, this compendium of strange-but-true facts pairs interviews with diverse scientists and bountiful back matter with wisecracks, clever spot art, and scatological delights to keep readers guessing, chortling, and (painlessly) learning. Rally your senses and get ready to eavesdrop!ABOUT UNSEEN JUNGLE: THE MICROBES THAT SECRETLY CONTROL OUR WORLDThis lively peek into the amazing world of microbes, replete with a kid-pleasing “ick” factor, is chock-full of facts, humor, and fun illustrations.

Microbes are everywhere: outside, indoors, on your body, in your body. In fact, only about half of our bodies’ cells are human cells—the rest are microbes. Whether helping people digest their food or using mind-control techniques to lure mice into the path of hungry cats (no, really), microbes form an unseen jungle all around us. Through zany facts, hilarious and sometimes disgusting illustrations, and interviews with experts in their fields, aspiring young scientists (or kids who just want to be grossed out) will discover a hidden world In which your health depends on a myriad of microbes, houseflies get zombified by fungi, and termites are saving the planet one fart at a time. With fun extras, including sidebars, limericks, and even a lesson on how to draw E. coli, this “eww”-worthy treasure trove for kids is an engrossing romp into the microbe drama unfolding where you might least expect it.Eleanor Spicer Rice, PhD, is an entomologist, a science writer, and the author of many books, including Behaviors; Dr. Eleanor’s Book of Common Ants; Dr. Eleanor’s Book of Common Spiders; and Ants: Workers of the World. As a scientist, she has presented her award-winning research at conferences across the United States. As a communicator, she writes popular science for many publications, including Our State Magazine and American Scientist. She makes frequent television and radio appearances, including on the popular Discovery and Science Channel television show What on Earth? and on NPR’s Science Friday, CBC’s Quirks and Quarks, and the podcast Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone. Eleanor Spicer Rice lives in North Carolina.

Rob Wilson is an award-winning illustrator and celebrated graphic designer who has created work for the Washington Post, New York magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Mother Jones, and the covers of best-selling books. He is the illustrator of Your Hidden Life: Unseen Jungle and Your Pets' Secret Lives: The Truth Behind Your Pets' Wildest Behaviors, as well as the creator of the icon for the popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale. Rob Wilson’s work has been featured in galleries in London and New York City, where he lives.