Biology For Children

A Wall Street Journal writer’s conversation-changing look at how reading aloud makes adults and children smarter, happier, healthier, more successful and more closely attached, even as technology pulls in the other direction. A miraculous alchemy occurs when one person reads to another...

From one of the finest nature writers at work in America today-a lyrical, dramatic, illuminating tour of the hidden domain of wild animals. Whether recalling the experience of being chased through the Grand Canyon by a bighorn sheep, swimming with sharks off the coast of British Columbia...

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!

What to read after What to Expect . . . . A badass, feminist, and personal deep-dive into the science and culture of pregnancy and early motherhood that debunks myths and dated assumptions, offering guidance and camaraderie to women navigating one of the biggest and most profound changes in...

Zombies love to feast on brains and flesh - so do some organisms in nature! Listeners will learn all about creatures that eat brains.

When these animals face a dangerous situation, they either run away, stay and fight, or hide from sight. Find out which of your favorite animals are masters of speed, strength, and stealth.

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.

A leading cognitive scientist argues that a deep sense of good and evil is bred in the bone. From John Locke to Sigmund Freud, philosophers and psychologists have long believed that we begin life as blank moral slates. Many of us take for granted that babies are born selfish and that it is...

Animals get their energy from the food they eat. Animals depend on other living things for food. Some animals, called herbivores, eat plants; while others are carnivores that eat other animals. Scavengers, like vultures and hyenas, eat dead animals. Learn how different animals eat and how this determines how they look and where they live. Can you name other animals that are scavengers?

Did you know your teeth are the hardest thing in your body? Your tooth has many parts that protect it and keep it strong. How do cavities form? Learn how brushing and flossing can keep plaque from forming which helps prevent cavities.

Do you know that astronauts are not the only living beings who can travel through space? Our human microbes do as well! When human astronauts go into space and return, they bring the microbes inside their bodies with them! Learn what these organisms teach scientists and how they can affect the human body both in space and on Earth.

Have you ever wondered how your body grows? Learn about how your cells and DNA help your bones and body grow into a healthy adult. See how our bodies grow the way that they do and how they know when to stop!

Tiny creatures called microbes live in, and on your body that can be helpful. But some are bad like bacteria and viruses–in fact, they can make you sick! Your body needs medicine called antibiotics to fight and kill these germs so you can feel better. You must get a different medicine called a vaccine to keep from catching a virus.

Have you ever wondered why you get grossed out by different things? Everyone has had that feeling in their stomach when they are grossed out. Sometimes it can give you a stomachache or it can even make you get sick! Both people and animals can get disgusted by a wide range of things. Do you know why you feel this way at times? Well, this story can help you learn how these feelings are a response that allows you to stay healthy and keep germs out of your body!

Did you know that humans are actually pretty slimy? Slide into the wonderful world of slippery, sticky slime! Learn about the important functions of slime, and how it is necessary for most living organisms. Slime helps with many important functions including eating, breathing, moving, and self-defense. Learn how many animals depend on slime—the number may surprise you!

How would you survive a meteor impact? Learn about the different ways some plants and animals survived the meteor that killed all the dinosaurs! Do you think you could adapt as well as these tough creatures?

What comes to mind with you think of fungi? Is it mushrooms, or perhaps mildew? Mold and yeast are fungi, too! Learn all about how fungi reproduce with spores, and how their bodies are made up of mycelium!

Have you ever wondered why most people can eat foods like chocolate, but dogs cannot? Or why you may get sick after drinking one too many sodas? Learn more about how some poisons are used for good. Some poisons can be used in medicines, but remember: too much of a good thing can be bad for you!

Zombies have become a staple in pop culture. But where did the idea of zombies come from? According to biologist David Hughes, the culprit is nature itself.

During the last Ice Age, large, hairy elephants roamed Asia and the Americas. But by about 4,000 years ago, all the mammoths and mastodons had vanished. Could these ancient beasts ever come back to life?