Armadillo | 20 Species of Armored Cuteness

by Gail Baker Nelson | Feb 2, 2022 | children's books, Mammals

You read that right. There are approximately 20 armadillo species! They’re all cute, in their weird sort of way, and they all have protective armor. Each is unique too, one species screams, one is pink, and yet another can weigh up to 120 pounds. Most Species...

Dolphins | Friendly Toothed Whales

by Gail Baker Nelson | Jan 13, 2022 | etymology

Dolphins and porpoises are part of a large group of animals called cetaceans. Yep, we know – right? Did you know that cetaceans include whales and that dolphins are small toothed whales? Or that there are about 86 species of cetacean at last count? Many of us...

Toucan | A Bird with a Big Mouth

by Gail Baker Nelson | Dec 29, 2021 | Birds, children's books, etymology

Toucans are in my top-ten list of favorite birds. I mean, look at them; they have huge colorful beaks. Of course, we can’t forget the Fruit Loops Mascot, a toco toucan. These colorful birds are even more colorful than you might realize. Did you know that there...

Did You Know? The Okapi is the Only Other Giraffe Family Member

by Gail Baker Nelson | Dec 29, 2021 | children's books, etymology

For years, leading up to their (sort of) discovery by Sir Harry Johnston, stories of an African unicorn had persisted. So when a group of pygmies was abducted, he was charged with their rescue in order to return them to their home in the Ituri Forest. It was this...

Torpedo | Meaning and History

by Gail Baker Nelson | Dec 20, 2021 | etymology

I have occasionally said that in another life, I’d have been a linguist. It’s a fascinating study, and the rabbit hole into which you can jump is never-ending. It’s like that puzzle you can’t quite finish or the mystery that can never truly be...