The first rays of sun break through the darkness, and the gray light of dawn appears. It does not last long, though, for as the sun rises higher, its light gains strength. The misty gray of dawn...
Reptiles & Amphibians
Pictures & Poems, November 2021
Mailbox, October 2021: Black Swallowtail Chrysalises
Favorite Focus, September 2021
See "Focus Illustrated, September 2021, for spider photo mentioned above.
Back cover, June 2021
Garter snake. Photo © Alva Steury Jr.
No Fish Tale
Spring was on the calendar and in the air. Bright sunshine, warm temperatures, and clear blue skies beckoned winter-weary children of all ages outdoors to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. River...
Covers, June 2021
Baltimore Oriole, Female. Photo © Alva Steury Jr. Garter snake. Photo © Alva Steury Jr.
You Can Draw a Bullfrog Submissions
Go to January 2021 for Bullfrog Lesson
Crocodiles
A crocodile basks in the sun on the banks of the Nile River. He has just eaten, so he will probably not need to hunt again for a long time. He sleeps, undisturbed. He looks like his name—crocodile....
You Can Draw a Bullfrog Lesson
Go to January 2021 to download
Alligator Eating a Juvenile Alligator
Great Blue Heron photos © Danny Gilliam. Background adult alligator photo © Allen Shank.
The Secretive Caecilian
Nestled in a moist dirt burrow in the forested hills of Kenya, Africa, a 3-inch-long (75-mm), pale, serpentine creature uncoils as it awakens. It wriggles around in search of something to satisfy...
Fascinating Frogs
Abundance of young tadpole in pond water. Photo © Hanbr/iStockPhoto.com “What is that?” questioned one of my students. In an instant, more students were crowded around my desk, staring at a shallow...
Exploring Nature, Spring
Photo © Kevin Shank Skunk cabbage is in bloom late winter and early spring.Woodcocks begin doing their courtship displays.Mid-to-late March grizzlies come out of hibernation.400,000-600,000 Sandhill...
Wondernose: What Animal Pretends to be Poisonous, yet is Actually Harmless to People?
For a description of our mystery animal, we’ll start with its nose. It resembles the snout of a barnyard pig, because it’s slightly turned up at the end. The resemblance is so strong that “hognose”...
