Nature Nonfiction

Slither into the scaly world of the mighty python! Learn about all the parts that make the python such a strange and misunderstood creature. See how its anatomy allows it to be more than just a limbless tube-like animal! Gain knowledge about this reptile’s habits and senses.

When a young boy visits his friend, Mary, he finds out it’s honey harvest day! Even though Mary’s family lives in the big city of Chicago, they have honeybees in their backyard. Follow along to learn about beekeeping and lots of cool stuff about the honeybee!

Two ants have lost their queen’s pink sprinkle! Now they must go on an adventure to find their queen’s sugary snack. They need to ask all the other creatures that live around them if they have seen it! Will they ever be able to find the sprinkle?

Have you ever wished you could swim with whales? Swim alongside a pod of orcas and see how these magnificent creatures spend their lives together in the Johnstone Strait. Learn how they travel, communicate, play, and hunt through the eyes of a young male orca.

Have you ever wondered how insects defend themselves from predators? Some, like the stick insect and katydid, use amazing disguises to help blend into their surroundings! Others, like wasps, hornets, and some caterpillars, use a painful venom to discourage attackers. If you were a bug, what sort of defense would you use?

During the rainy season in the marshlands, Alligator has almost nothing to eat. When the dry season comes, Alligator digs a hole in the pond and waits for the animals to return. Without Alligator and her hole, there would be far fewer animals living in the marsh.

When a young boy happens across a tarantula, it scares him at first! But then he and the tarantula have a conversation, and he learns about the differences between insects and spiders—like the spider’s unique body, which is comprised of a combined head/thorax, abdomen, and palps—as well as some interesting facts about other arachnids!

Did you know that scientists can track animals? By tracking animals, scientists can see where animals migrate to and from. These trackers can be big or small and are different depending on the kind of animal being tracked. Learn about the different technology that is used for tracking!

Have you ever seen a sea star before? They are the pretty star-shaped creatures that hang out at the bottom of the ocean. Learn about Sea Star as she finds and eats her favorite food, moves around the ocean floor, and regenerates her broken arm! Learn about these strange invertebrates and the unique lives they live.

Did you know hermit crabs need to leave the ocean and find new shells to live in as they grow up? Click, Jane, and their friend CeCe are exploring the beach when they meet a new friend—a growing crustacean named Shelly!

Do you know how to tell if a creepy-crawly is an insect? Is a spider an insect? What about a millipede? Listen to learn how and put your skills to the test!

Frogs and toads and newts, oh my! Amphibians are a special class of animals. Have you ever seen one? Learn what sets amphibians apart from reptiles, and then take a quiz to see if the animal of your choice makes the cut as an amphibian!

Many people think penguins live only in cold, icy places. But the Galapagos penguins live in the blazing heat of the tropics. While this may seem like paradise, the Galapagos penguins are always on the lookout for ways to stay cool and comfortable. Learn more about these adorable animals, including how they got to the tropics, what they eat, other challenges they face in their lives, and what you can do to help.

Parrots can do more than just mimic human speech. These colorful, sassy birds often mate for life, and some parrots can live 90 years or more. Learn more about these intelligent birds.

Puffins are seabirds with large beaks. They look like a cross between penguins and parrots. Their teeth point backward to help them catch fish. Find out more details about these unique birds.

When you look, always look twice, and maybe even listen. You're bound to see a thing or three that everyone else is missing.

How did some birds come to have brightly colored feathers to match the flowers and fruits of the tropical forest, but others stayed in muted colors? According to this Arawak folktale, they got their colors from a snake! What happens when there aren’t enough colors to go around?

Have you ever wondered why there are different shaped footprints in the mud or snow? An animal may be nearby! Discover the many animals that are in your environment! Every animal creates different tracks. Some tracks are large, and some tracks are small. Some animals may have five toes while others may have only a few. How many animal tracks can you name?

What good is money to a beaver? In this amazing yet true story, wild beavers build their dam using stolen money that was discard into a creek. While the authorities scoured the area for the cash, the beavers incorporated the bills into their dam.

Sisters Leslie and Brie recently moved next door to a llama ranch, where Stacy keeps two unique animals named Cal and Sterling. Stacy shows the girls how shearing llama hair can be cleaned, carded, spun, washed again, and then knitted into toasty sweaters that keep you warm in the winter!