Amphibians and Reptiles

Intended for Middle-School-age and older readers, this book is a comprehensive, lively, and extensively illustrated introduction to the fascinating world of amphibians of reptiles written by award-winning author Marty Crump, a prominent herpetologist and long-established advocate of amphibian and reptile conservation. Well organized, clearly written, richly illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs and diagrams, and infused with substance, this book will inform the reader with knowledge about the basic biology, ecology, and natural history of amphibians and reptiles; about their declining populations throughout the world; about the causes of these declines; and about ways that human beings can help to save these important parts of Earth's biodiversity. The book concludes with a chapter on what kids can do, and should not do, to help protect and preserve amphibians and reptiles.

Marty Crump was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and spent her early years growing up in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York When in the 9th grade, she vowed to become a biologist. In pursuit of that commitment, she earned Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees from The University of Kansas, emerging as a herpetologist with extensive research interest and experience in the United States and several parts of Latin America. After completing her graduate work, Marty became a professor at The University of Florida in 1976 and continued in that position until 1992, at which time she moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, and held an adjunct position at Northern Arizona University. In the summer of 2011 she moved to Logan, Utah, where she currently is an adjunct professor at Utah State University and from where she continues to teach about, conduct research on, and write about the biology, natural history, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. Marty has written and coauthored or edited a number of scholarly and popular books dealing with amphibians and reptiles. An earlier edition of the present book – it titled Amphibians, Reptiles, and Their Conservation – was recognized as Outstanding Trade Book for Students K-12 2004; Selector's Choice, an award given jointly by the National Science Teachers' Association and the Children's Book Council. Marty also is a recipient of the Distinguished Herpetologist Award given by The Herpetologists' League.