Animals Nonfiction

Take flight and discover the corvid family of birds that boasts an intelligence that is comparable to the human brain. Ravens' anatomy, like humans, have big brains that makes them great problem-solvers in finding creative ways to survive as scavengers. What other birds are covids? Learn about the theory of convergent evolution and how it applies to humans and ravens' brains!

You won't believe your ears! Scientists are testing otter's hearing to help annimal conservation efforts. By understanding the sensitivity of otter's hearing, scientists can focus their efforts to save otters—but can you imagine an otter taking a hearing test like you do at school? Learn about the important understanding of the effects from noise pollution on otters' living habits.

What's so special about cats? Learn about cat history that started 60 million years ago and how they were domesticated from ancient Egypt to today. Cats, called Felids by scientists, evolved from wild animals into mild animals all over the world except for one place. Where do you think cats can't survive? Learn how different types of cats live and how pet cats meow uniquely to different people.

Chincoteague islanders tell a story of beautiful ponies inhabiting a neighboring island for over 300 years–nestled between Maryland and a Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, wild ponies of Assateague Island run free! The legend of Chincoteague ponies has been told for centuries through books and tourist visits of the island. Learn how the ponies adapted and came to inhabit an island of their very own.

Do you know what a baby koala, or a joey, looks like? Learn about how a joey spends its first year—from staying exclusively inside its mother's pouch, to venturing out into the world, and finally to moving into its own tree.

Hop to it! Do you know how or why a kangaroo hops and leaps? Learn how their legs, feet, and tail help a kangaroo move which starts with bouncing! Like humans, kangaroos' legs are made for how they move! While we walk upright, they jump and leap! Kangaroos use their tail to slow down. Find out why they are the largest and most powerful marsupials!

Did you know a baby porcupine is called a porcupette? Learn about porcupines as Porcupette goes on an adventure to look for a snack! She explores the forest and shows how her quills work to help defend her. Find out different facts about porcupines and what makes them unique!

Did you know there once was a dinosaur with colorful stripes? Go on a prehistoric journey to learn how dinosaurs had colorful feathers! See the different clues they left behind as fossils to help scientists learn about the past.

Mikey the horse needs a new pair of shoes. Since he’s a horse, he can’t just go to a shoe store. Instead, a farrier comes to take care of his feet. Meet Natasha, the farrier who takes care of Mikey’s hooves. She cleans and clips his hooves—just like humans clip their toenails!—before putting on his special horseshoes. Learn about her job and why it’s important to keep horses’ hooves healthy!

Abby wanted to be a penguin for the school play, but is cast as an owl instead! After complaining to her horseback-riding instructor, Abby learns a lesson on the important role barn owls play on farms. After seeing an owl in action, will she be able to proudly portray an owl in the play?

What were horses like one million years ago? Learn about the evolution of horses through history and how they adapted to their environment. How did horses go from being hunted by humans to being friends? Horses were domesticated to become more important to people's daily lives for work and transportation. What qualities do horses have that helped their survival and their human friends, too?

Did you know that a woolly bear is a type of caterpillar? People have sometimes used these caterpillars to predict the weather by looking at their stripes! Learn about these interesting creatures and what their life is like before they make cocoons and morph into their final form—the yellow tiger moth!

Meet Tiger, the tabby cat! Meet his family by learning about all the different kinds of cat breeds in the world. See how they are similar and how they differ from one another, but in the end—they are all part of the same family!

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!

Mama Kiwi has finally laid her eggs! Now it's time for Papa Kiwi to take care of them until they hatch. Learn what Papa Kiwi must do in order to protect his babies. See how he hunts for food and protects the eggs all by himself until it's time for the eggs to hatch!

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 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!