Wildlife and nature films are a hugely popular entertainment genre: networks such as Animal Planet and Discovery are stars in the cable television universe, viewers flock to IMAX theaters to see jaw-dropping footage from the wild, and the venerable BBC still scores triumphs with series such as Planet Earth.

But this success has a dark side, as Chris Palmer reveals in his authoritative and engrossing report on the wildlife film business. A veteran producer and film educator, Palmer looks past the headlines about TV host Steve Irwin’s death by stingray and filmmaker Timothy Treadwell falling prey to his beloved grizzlies, to uncover a more pervasive and troubling trend toward sensationalism, extreme risk-taking, and even abuse in wildlife films. He tracks the roots of this trend to the early days of the genre, and he profiles a new breed of skilled, ethical filmmakers whose work enlightens as well as entertains, and who represent the future that Palmer envisions for the industry he loves.

A picture-book classic available for the first time in paperback!

When day is done, the sun streaks the desert sky with flame. Soon the stars come out, and with them, a host of creatures. Bats spill from a hillside cave; insects seek out the sweet fruit of the saguaro; and a lone coyote sings his haunting song to the moon.

In this lyrical evocation of the desert night, celebrated author Tony Johnston and Caldecott medalist Ed Young offer young readers an unforgettable look at the many plants and animals that thrive in these surprisingly lush and fragile wilderness.