Happy World Sea Turtle Day!
Celebrate with Save the…Turtles, and discover things like:
Which sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world? (The leatherback)
How do sea turtles navigate thousands of miles of open ocean to return to the beach where they were hatched? (We’re still figuring this out! But sunlight and the earth’s magnetic fields may play a role.)
How often does a sea turtle leave the water? (A female–just to lay her egg. A male–never after it reaches the water after hatching).
How can knocking down sandcastles, turning off lights, and reducing plastic waste help sea turtles? (Read the book to find out!)
Read MoreClimb the Steeple of Old North Church
While I’m waiting to hear back from my editor on a collection of poems about Paul Revere’s ride, I thought I’d share this delightful resource I came across on during my research–a virtual tour of the steeple and bell tower of Old North Church. Follow the stairs and ladders up to the top and imagine yourself as Revere’s two friends (or maybe just one, the historical record is a bit on the skimpy side) toiling up the tallest point in Boston to light a pair of lanterns and let watchers in Charlestown know that the redcoats were leaving Boston over the Charles River…
Read MoreHappy Book Birthday to Save the…Turtles!
It’s publication day for Save the…Turtles, the book that introduced me to the term “chelonian.” Meet Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise and the oldest living land animal…find out how turtles breathe through their butts (it’s true, they do)…and learn about the Wijsen sisters, teenage environmental activists. “Written in an engaging, easy-to-read style, this series works for both research and personal reading,” says Booklist.
Read MoreSave the…Rhinoceroses
Have I mentioned that Save the…Rhinoceroses is on sale? Can’t remember if I gave this one a shout-out on its pub date!
And did you know that a contented rhino makes a sound like mmm-wonk? This is my favorite rhino fact.
(I lobbied for “rhinos” instead of “rhinoceroses” in the title but got overruled by somebody at the publisher. Shame. Once you start saying “rhinoceroses” it’s really, really hard to stop.)