Two Friends
No thoughts on writing, research, or poop today. Instead enjoy this photo of my pup, Karma, and cat, Tessie, who do not actually like each other but are both fiends for warmth and will tolerate anything for a cozy spot to sleep.
Afraid of Mice? Not Quite…
Photo credit: keithlawson
More animal research tidbits. You know that old story that elephants are afraid of mice? In the first century A.D., Pliny the Elder claimed that elephants hate mice “above all other creatures.” Later scientists speculated that mice might run up elephant’s trunk.
This does not happen. And elephants are not particularly afraid of mice, although they have poor eyesight (and also eyes a long way around from the ground) and can sometimes get started by anything that scuttles unexpectedly around their feet.
But there is a tiny animal that elephants are actually afraid of.
Bees.
Despite elephant’s thick skin, bee stings can still hurt. If bees are flying around, an elephant herd may form up into a protective circle with the calves inside to keep them safe from the fuzzy little flying menaces.
Read MorePoop Research Continues
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Nhobgood, Nick Hobgood
Guess what the pristine what beaches of Hawaii and the Caribbean are made out of?
Parrotfish poop.
Parrotfish use their tough beaks to scrape algae off coral and eat it. They also eat the little animals that build the coral. Doing this, they end up crunching up the coral itself, which their bodies process and defecate as lovely white sand.
A big parrotfish can poop out 1000 pounds of sand a year.
You are welcome for this tidbit of horrifying yet delightful knowledge. Take it with you on your next beach vacation.
Read MoreEric Carle
This is the week that we lost Eric Carle, a giant of the world of children’s literature. He wasn’t just an amazing illustrator and author, he was a champion of picture books for the preschool set–the very youngest readers.
Books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar (listen to Carle read his own words and get a glimpse of his studio here) and Brown Bear, Brown Bear are perfectly suited to children just learning about language, art, and story. Carle was one of the first to write and illustrate books for kids this young with superb dedication and artistry. These are books that are narratively elegant and visually stunning–those colors! Those pristine white backgrounds! Those simple and powerful shapes!
He brought not only his skill, but also his respect, to that audience. He is (present tense, always) a writer who understands the courage it takes to be two, or three, or four, or five, in a world that’s overwhelming both in its joys and its challenges.
Not everyone knows this, but when writing for kids, the younger the audience, the tougher the task. Carle took on the toughest audience of all and captivated them. He’ll be much missed.
Read MoreSarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Readers will treasure the blossoming friendship between opposites in this whimsically illustrated tale. Short chapters and plenty of action make for an accessible and appealing reading experience. . . . Touching and inspiring.”
—Kirkus Reviews