Sea Lions in the Parking Lot

"In years to come, these will surely be some of the few joyous tales told about the pandemic . . . This moment in time is gloriously brought to life on the page with brief descriptions and stunning, double-page illustrations of animals - playing, exploring and napping in peace - that will resonate with young readers....[Sea Lions in the Parking Lot] stands as an important reminder that things were different for a while, and guides readers toward deeper environmental thinking, about species and habitats and the interdependence of it all."-Helen Scales, New York Times What would happen if people all around the world stayed inside, away from animals' habitats? Twelve fascinating real-life stories of creatures around the globe who reclaimed their habitat during the COVID-19 quarantine show animal lovers and aspiring citizen scientists how to help wildlife by fighting habitat loss. With the skies, roads, and waterways clear and quiet during the COVID-19 pandemic, the natural world seemed to return to an earlier, wilder state. Animals crossed boundaries that people had set over centuries, reclaiming ancient habitats. From sea lions who clambered into a parking lot in Argentina to deer who wandered in a Japanese subway to lions lounging in the middle of South African roads to kangaroos who bounced through a shopping district in Australia, this thoroughly researched, stunningly illustrated book tells the stories of these newly footloose creatures -- and describes what the COVID-19 "pause" taught scientists about how ecosystems and wildlife can rebound if the right environmental conditions are achieved.