Web Wednesday-Animals!

For this week’s Web Wednesday we’ve gathered a few cool websites for the animal lovers.

San Diego Zoo Kids

San Diego’s website is super fun. It’s colorful and delightfully animated. It’s a great balance of educational and fun.You can:

Get an inside look at zoo careers and what it takes to get that job

All about amphibians, birds, arthropods (insects, crustaceans arachnids, etc), mammals and reptiles

Fun games, many of which are available in the app store for download on your device

Activities & crafts

Live animal cams

Animal Diversity Web

Animal Diversity Web, an online database and encyclopedia of animal natural history, is best for older students, or young biology buffs. It’s less visually pleasing, but is full of interesting information. You can:

Learn how scientific animal names are created

Explore various animal anatomies

Check out photos of scientific specimens

National Aquarium

You have to love an aquarium! While this website has a lot of things you won’t be able to take part in unless you visit (exhibitions, programs, etc) there is still plenty of information, and exciting things to look at. Our favorite is the Blue Blubber Jelly cam! You can:

Learn about animal rescue and how the National Aquarium has taken part

Watch live cams. Jellyfish! Sharks! Coral Reefs!

Explore different animal facts and conservation facts

Click the video to see the mesmerizing jellies.

Happy Belated Peculiar People Day!

Did you know that January 10^th was National Peculiar Person Day?  To celebrate, let’s talk about a peculiar children’s book character named Xan from the book The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill.  Xan is a witch who lives the forest in the land of the Protectorate alongside her friends Glerk, the Swamp Monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon named Fryian.  Once a year, Xan rescues a baby abandoned by the people of the Protectorate and delivers it to welcoming families who live on the other side of the forest.  During the journey, Xan usually nourishes the baby with starlight.  One year, she accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead which grants the baby magical abilities.  As a result, Xan must raise the magical baby herself.  She names the baby girl Luna and locks up the magic deep inside of the child. Luna grows up with Xan, Glerk, and Fryian and it isn’t until her thirteenth birthday her magical abilities are unlocked.  Unfortunately, when that happens, Xan is far away and unable to help Luna with her magical powers, or protect Luna and her friends from a Protectorate invader.  Luna must do everything in her own power to protect her peculiar friends from harm in this magical coming of age story.

Recommended for grades 4-8.

ATOS Book Level: 4.8

A.R. Points: 12

Who are some peculiar book characters you’ve encountered in your reading?  Are they weirder than Xan?