Biology For Children

Did you know that there are animals all around you that you can’t see without a microscope? Sometimes it’s good you can’t see them. As you shed dead skin cells, thousands of dust mites gobble them up. Gross!

A tree and your pet look nothing alike, but they have one thing in common—they are both made up of cells. Cells are really small. You can see them only with a microscope.

How did life begin? How many species are on our planet? Can we bring extinct species back to life? When it comes to life on our planet, there are a whole lot of questions we’re still trying to answer. Get ready to explore the unknown and discover how scientists are working to solve the mysteries of living things.

Animals are living things. Rocks are nonliving. Why? Let’s investigate the differences between living and nonliving things!

Amazing animals live all over our world. But which ones are the strongest, hairiest, or fastest? Listeners will learn all about the most extreme animals living on our planet.

Some dogs are black. Other dogs are brown. Some plants have purple flowers and others have white flowers. Living things have different traits that they pass onto their offspring. Let’s investigate traits to learn more!

Many animals, both big and small, sleep through long, cold winter months. Learn the process of hibernation and different ways animals adapt to survive in harsh climates.

First published more than 50 years ago, this award-winning classic brings Rachel Carson's unique vision to a new generation of listeners. The Sense of Wonder is Carson's intimate account of adventures with her young nephew, Roger, as they enjoy walks along the rocky coast of Maine and through dense forests and open fields, observing wildlife, strange plants, moonlight, and storm clouds, and listening to the "living music" of insects in the underbrush.

With three hearts and blue blood, its gelatinous body unconstrained by jointed limbs or gravity, the octopus seems to be an alien, an inhabitant of another world. It’s baggy, boneless body sprouts eight arms covered with thousands of suckers—suckers that can taste as well as feel. The octopus also has the powers of a superhero: it can shape-shift, change color, squirt ink, pour itself through the tiniest of openings, or jet away through the sea faster than a swimmer can follow.

Why do mandrills have blue faces? What makes a parrot's feathers so bright? Learn these answers and more about some of nature’s most colorful creatures in Science Behind the Colors. Each book highlights a specific animal, detailing how and why the animal gets its colors, how and why its colors change, and what purpose the colors serve. This volume includes Mandarinfish, Mandrills, and Parrots.

What animal has the biggest eyes? Why do elephants have enormous ears? This series explores different animal parts and demonstrates how and why these parts vary throughout the animal kingdom. Each title introduces listeners to four animals whose distinct body parts are unique and important.

From the smell of fresh cookies to the sounds of birds chirping, our senses tell let us know what’s happening around us. Young listeners will learn how our senses take in information, how we process it, and how we use it to understand the world.

Learn all about nocturnal animals.

In the fight for survival, poison and venom are deadly weapons. They can help animals defend themselves against predators or conquer unsuspecting prey. Find out which animals carry the deadliest toxins, and how poison and venom differ between species. You might want to stay clear of these animals!

Zombies rise from the dead. Some organisms in nature seem to do so as well. Listeners will learn about the creatures that shouldn’t be alive but are.

Zombies have no control over their own minds. Some insects and other creepy crawlies have the power to turn other animals into zombies, controlling their behavior. Listeners will learn all about these creatures and the real-life zombies they are making.

Regenerative animals are survivors. Species with this ability can regrow limbs, skin, organs, and more! Find out how these animals use regeneration to evade predators and stay alive.

When it comes to battle, some animals seem to be natural warriors. They may have spines or armor to fend off predators, or horns made to attack. Enemies that mess with these animals are in for an unpleasant surprise.

All living things develop through a unique life cycle, but some animals go through greater changes than others. This transformation is called metamorphosis. Learn more about two types of metamorphosis, complete and incomplete. Discover what animals are like throughout the stages of their lives.

When it comes to survival, appearances are everything! A harmless animal can frighten predators away by appearing dangerous. A dangerous animal can lure prey by appearing harmless. Discover the disguises of some of your favorite animals.