Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The dolphin in the mirror; exploring dolphin minds and saving dolphin lives.

Reiss is affiliated with the psychology department, Hunter College; the biopsychology and behavioral neuroscience department, City U. of New York; and the ecology, evolution, and environmental biology department at Columbia U. She also directs the Dolphin Research Program at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, among other projects. Although she also writes for scientists, this book is intended for general readers. She surveys recent research, intertwining accounts of her own experiences. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Sex on six legs; lessons on life, love, and language from the insect world.

While yet another book on the lives and times of insects may not seem like an attractive choice for many readers, Zuk (biology, U. of California, Riverside) takes a much livelier and accessible approach than one might expect considering the topic. The author, armed with decades of insect research and a healthy dose of wit, offers an engaging look at the world of insects: their capabilities, nurturing, communications, genetics, and more. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)