John Himmelman – författare

At a time when night-singing insects have slipped beyond our notice—indeed, are more likely to be heard as NatureSounds than in a backyard—John Himmelman seeks to reconnect us to creatures whose songs form a part of our own natural history.On warm summer evenings, night-singing insects produce a whirring, chirping soundscape—a calming aural tapestry celebrated by poets and naturalists for millennia. But “cricket radio” is not broadcast for the easy-listening pleasure of humans. The nocturnal songs of insects are lures and warnings, full of risks and rewards for these tiny competitive performers. What moves crickets and katydids to sing, how they produce their distinctive sounds, how they hear the songs of others, and how they vary cadence, volume, and pitch to attract potential mates, warn off competitors, and evade predators is part of the engaging story Cricket Radio tells.Himmelman’s narrative weaves together his personal experiences as an amateur naturalist in search of crickets and katydids with the stories of scientists who study these insects professionally. He also offers instructions for bringing a few of the little singers into our homes and gardens. We can, Himmelman suggests, be reawakened to these night songs that have meant so much to the human psyche. The online insect calls that accompany this colorfully illustrated narrative provide a bridge of sound to our past and to our vital connection with other species.

In lively, accessible prose, John Himmelman explains the intricacy of moths' life cycle, their importance in nature, and how just a tiny handful of the many moth species are truly pests to humans. He tells how to attract moths with lights and bait, when and where to observe them, and how best to photograph these tiny subjects. Entertaining personal anecdotes and short profiles of some of the country's foremost mothers add human interest. This new edition updates photos and information while focusing on states east of the Mississippi.

Are bananas yellow . . . or is yellow a banana? Learn all about yellow—and other colorful things—in this rollicking picture book from John Himmelman, author of the Bunjitsu Bunny series​Approaching the concept of color, and the creative ways in which young children assign names to things in the world around them, with a fun, playful tone, this picture book is perfect for group or individual read-aloud story times.That yellow is a banana. No, a banana is yellow. These purples are grapes. No, these grapes are purple! This orange is a pumpkin. No, that pumpkin is orange! And this orange is . . . orange?With two charming siblings and a fresh, limited palette that allows each featured color to really shine, young readers will learn as they laugh in this side-splittingly funny, unique picture book.

One little hot dog sitting on a chair...“I want a friend to sit with me!”Two little hot dogs sitting on a chair...One by one, more little hot dogs join the group until...there are ten little hot dogs on the chair. They play and play until...they all fall asleep. But then, one little hot dog wakes up, and one by one, guess what the other hot dogs do? This funny picture book featuring artwork in watercolor and black pencil shows young readers how to count up from one to ten and back down from ten to one.

Where the ocean laps up against the beach there is a community of diverse sea creatures that live together, from the sea star hunting for clams to the moon snail laying its eggs beneath the sand. John Himmelman's beautiful watercolor paintings illustrate the delicate balance that exists at the seashore.

A surefire hit with young backyard diggers and bug-watchers, Basic Illustrated Guide to Frogs, Snakes, Bugs, and Slugs combines detailed illustrations of bugs, slugs, snakes, toads, and other creepy crawlies with clear and kid-friendly information to help the young bug-lover identify what's crawling up the tree, buzzing in his ear, or hiding under a log.

As author Himmelman can attest, people of all ages are actively learning more about frogs, toads, and salamanders. This book covers everything from amphibians' physiology to their place in folklore and literature to possible explanations of why many populations have declined. Along the way we learn where to find them and how to identify them, how to handle them safely, how to create vernal pools and year-round pond habitats for them, and more.