📖 Smithsonian Handbooks: Reptiles and Amphibians by George McGavin. Here is a great reference guide to have on hand as you explore reptiles and amphibians. The introduction, which describes the animals' reproduction, habits, and distribution, is followed by an encyclopedic guide to representative members of these classes. Wonderfully detailed illustrations. – All

▶️ The game-changing amniotic egg from TED-Ed. “350 million years ago, eggs could not survive far from water, therefore animals were water-bound. That is, until the amniotic egg, which allowed animals to live a fully terrestrial life. April Tucker peels back each layer of the amniotic egg, revealing how truly extraordinary this evolutionary marvel is.” – All

frogs & toads

📖 From Tadpole to Frog by Wendy Pfeffer. This simple Stage 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science title gives a very basic introduction of the metamorphosis of a tadpole to a frog. – Preschool • Elementary

📖 The Hidden Life of a Toad by Doug Weschler. Through excellent close-up photographs and clear descriptive text, Weschler reveals the life cycle of a toad, from embryo to adult. Fascinating. – Elementary

📖 The Frog Scientist by Pamela Turner. This Scientist in the Field book introduces Professor Tyrone Hayes, whose research with amphibians at UC Berkeley led him to conclude that the herbicide atrazine causes de-masculinization of male frogs. This is a great story of scientific discovery, and Hayes' personal story is equally compelling. – Middle

📖 The Mystery of Darwin's Frog by Marty Crump. "Here, for the first time, is the strange but true story of Darwin’s frog. After Charles Darwin discovered the frog in 1834, other researchers found that one of his specimens was packed full of tadpoles. Was the frog a cannibal, or perhaps a rare species that gave birth to live young instead of laying eggs? No. He was a male, holding the tadpoles safe in his vocal sac while they morphed into froglets." The author, Marty Crump, is a scientist who has studied Darwin's frogs. – Elementary • Middle

📖 The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs by Sandra Markle. In this entry in her "Scientific Mystery" series, Markle examines the sudden disappearance of Panamanian golden frogs. Follow a team of researchers as they investigate what's killing the frogs, and work to protect the species from extinction. – Elementary • Middle

🔗 Content Connection: Conservation. Learn about the importance of healthy ecosystems to frogs and other reptiles and amphibians.

▶️ Disappearing frogs from TED-Ed. “Frogs (and amphibians in general) are in danger; worldwide, nearly one-third of the world's amphibian species are on the verge of extinction. And yet, frogs contribute to our well-being in many important ways. Kerry M. Kriger describes why frogs are in trouble and how you can help save them.” – All

turtles & tortoises

📖 Galápagos George by Jean Craighead George. This story about the recently-extinct saddleback tortoises of the Galápagos Islands can fit nicely into a unit on reptiles or on evolution. – Elementary

🔗 Content Connection: Evolution. Learn about Darwin’s visit to the Galapagos.

▶️ How turtle shells evolved – twice from TED-Ed. "Modern turtle shells are almost as diverse as the turtles themselves. Sea turtles have flatter, lighter shells for gliding through the water. Land-dwelling tortoises have domed shells that can slip free of predators’ jaws. Leatherback turtles have shells without the ring of bone around the edge. So how did the shell evolve? Judy Cebra-Thomas explores the ancestry of the turtle." – All

▶️ The survival of the sea turtle from TED-Ed. “Watch the miraculous journey of infant sea turtles as these tiny animals run the gauntlet of predators and harsh conditions. Then, in numbers, see how human behavior has made their tough lives even more challenging.” – All

snakes

📖 Python by Christopher Cheng. In this nicely illustrated book, we follow a python as she molts, hunts, and tends her eggs. Snippets of factual information accompany the text and further facts about pythons can be found at the end of the book. A great addition to your study of snakes. – Elementary

crocodiles & alligators

📖 What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings: A Guide for Crocodilian Parents (and Curious Kids) by Bridget Heos. This very funny, informative book absolutely deserves to be included in your study of crocodiles and alligators. Written in Q&A format, the guide explains everything that expectant crocodilian parents need to know about protecting their eggs and raising their young. – Elementary

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