From Katherine Rundell comes a “rare & magical book” (Bill Bryson) reckoning with the vanishing wonders of our natural world"Extraordinary...For anyone whose capacity for wonder could use a jumpstart, Rundell's essays are essential reading."—Maureen Corrigan,Fresh Air"This celebration of seahorses, lemurs, & others doubles as a wake-up call: look around & protect what you love.” —Boston GlobeThe world is more astonishing, more miraculous, & more wonderful than our wildest imaginings. In this brilliant & passionately persuasive book,Katherine Rundelltakes us on a globe-spanning tour of the world's most awe-inspiring animals currently facing extinction.Consider the seahorse: couplesmate for life & meet each morning for a dance, pirouetting & changing colors before going their separate ways, to dance again the next day. The American wood frog survives winter by allowing itself to freeze solid, its heartbeat slowing until it stops altogether. Come spring, the heart kick-starts itself spontaneously back to life. As for the lemur, it lives in matriarchal troops led by an alpha female (it’s not unusual for female ring-tailed lemurs to slap males across the face when they become aggressive). Whenever they are cold or frightened, they group together in what’s known as a lemur ball, paws & tails intertwined, to form a furry mass as big as a bicycle wheel.But each of these extraordinary animals is endangered or holds a sub-species that is endangered. This urgent, inspiring book of essays dedicated to 23 unusual & underappreciated creatures is a clarion call insisting that we look at the world around us with new eyes—to see the magic of the animals we live among, their unknown histories & capabilities, & above all how lucky we are to tread the same ground as such vanishing treasures.Beautifully illustrated, & full of inimitable wit & intellect,Vanishing Treasuresis a chance to be awestruck & lovestruck…