Blastoff! Readers Level 1

How do you measure the success of a wombat? Count how many warrens it has! This busy burrower digs several underground homes, or warrens, complete with tunnels, sleeping chambers, and… More →

A spider’s silk is liquid inside its body. When it hits air, it solidifies into elastic strands that spiders use to build webs, trap prey, bungee from great heights, and more. This… More →

Snails move pretty slowly. Maybe it’s because they carry their homes on their backs, or because they have only one “foot” to work with. One thing is for sure: snails would have trouble moving More →

When kangaroos gather in large groups, they get loud and physical. Males duke it out in boxing matches, jumping and jabbing with feisty determination to earn the “dominant male” title. Be… More →

Ostriches are birds that can't fly. They take it in stride, sprinting in short bursts instead. When ostriches can't run from danger, they face it head on. Well, with their heads on the… More →

When it comes to lemurs, it's a woman's world. Females rule—they eat first, win all family arguments, and fight enemies on the front lines. Learn why you'd want to be “one of the ladies” in a More →

Animals with an appetite for hedgehogs must work hard for their dinner! They need a pain tolerance for sharp spines and the strength to pry tightly curled bodies. Get a feel for why hedgehogs More →

Nothing says “bonding” like picking bloodsucking pests from your neighbor’s fur. Baboons of the same troop develop strong relationships this way, often beginning and ending each day with a… More →

In an act known as “pronking,” gazelles leap straight into the air with their backs arched before landing on all four feet. Their motive is a mystery, but it may just be their way of telling… More →

Warthogs are named for the thick knobs of skin between their eyes and snouts. These unsightly protrusions provide a cushion that comes in handy not in the face of predators, but against the… More →

When bullies like lions and hyenas are on the prowl for a lunch to steal, leopards keep their cool. The clever cats drag their kill with them as they climb high into trees, where they can… More →

Ants, ants, and more ants are on the menu for these long-snouted insectivores. Just how many ants can an anteater eat? Up to 30,000 in one day! Learn where anteaters live, how they hunt, and… More →