Nature Nonfiction

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?

What does spring look like in different regions of the United States? Depending on where you live, you could have different weather from someone across the country—even during the same season! See how different spring can look as Jade, Rowan, Lacey, and Isaac all get to enjoy a spring day from their backyards.

Have you ever heard about "Whitewater Rosie," the blind cow? Hear the amazing true story of how she survived for days in the Fraser River! Learn about all the dangers she survived, including whitewater rapids, rocks, and debris!

Watch out! Some animals make it clear for others to stay away by how they protect themselves. Other animals have more subtle ways of defending themselves. Find out how different animals use their bodies and behaviors in order to survive.

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!

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?

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!

Have you ever gone birdwatching before? Learn about all the different birds that migrate to the Magee Marsh every spring! See all the kinds of birds that make their way to the same spot every year, like warblers, owls, and even ducks!

Have you ever wondered why birds have beaks? They don't have hands like we do, so they need another way to help themselves. Learn all the ways birds use their beaks, and see how different birds have different types of beaks that allow them to catch their meals.

Did you know that dogs have been helping humans for thousands of years? They have done a lot of different jobs to help us, even today! Dogs are more than just pets. They help police officers, people with disabilities, farmers, and even sick people. Have you ever met a dog that does one of these jobs?

Dana is going to the dog park! Meet all of the dogs that are at the park and what makes them special. Do you know the different breeds that are at the park? Help Dana find them!

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!

Spiders are nothing to fear! Even though they are carnivores and hunt all sorts of bugs, many spiders cannot harm humans. Spiders can only eat their prey by using their venom to liquefy a bug's insides—in other words, they make bugshakes! Follow along to learn more about common spider mealtime habits.

Garden spiders belong to a group called orb weavers, which spin wheel-shaped webs. Some webs are funnel-shaped and some are very sticky. In this essay about different kinds of spider webs, listeners will learn all about nature's masters of silk weaving.