Pattison, Darcy

In 1862, naturalist Charles Darwin received a box of orchids, including the Madagascar star orchid. It had an 11.5 inch nectary, the place where flowers make the nectar that insects and birds eat. He determined that the only way this flower was pollinated was by a giant moth with an 11.5 inch proboscis. A moth with a long proboscis was cataloged on Madagascar in 1903, but it took almost ninety years to prove Darwin's theory. Includes information on the Madagascar hawk moth, the Madagascar star orchid, and pollination.

"How long does it take for science to find an answer to a problem? On January 25, 1862, naturalist Charles Darwin received a box of orchids. One flower, the Madagascar star orchid, fascinated him. It had an 11.5" nectary, the place where flowers make nectar, the sweet liquid that insects and birds eat. How, he wondered, did insects pollinate the orchid? It took 130 years to find the answer. After experiments, he made a prediction. There must be a giant moth with a 11.5" proboscis, a straw-like tongue. Darwin died without ever seeing the moth, which was catalogued by entomologists in 1903. But still no one had actually observed the moth pollinating the orchid. In 1992, German entomologist, Lutz Thilo Wasserthal, Ph.D. traveled to Madagascar. By then, the moths were rare. He managed to capture two moths and released them in a cage with the orchid. He captured the first photo of the moth pollinating the flower, as Darwin had predicted 130 years before"--Provided by the publisher.

"When the family gathers for Grandma's birthday, they spend the day at the local K-9 Karnival. Cousins Dennis and Mellie get their faces painted, learn how to give a dog a bath, and march in a parade. At home, they write informative essays about the day. Two full mentor essays included. With the homework done, it's time for Grandma's birthday party!"--Amazon.com.

Looks at the sound experiments Ernst Chladni presented to Napoleon Bonaparte in order to get funding for a French translation of his book on sound.

Early in August 1937, a news flash came: a sea monster had been spotted lurking off the shore of Nantucket Island. Was this real---or a hoax? This nonfiction picture book is a perfect tool to discuss non-political fake news stories.

Eliot Winston, a grieving son, unites an immigrant community and rebuilds his family--using a simple sourdough bread recipe. Alli Flynn, a foster child befriends Eliot. This story follows two kids who search for a family and a home.

"In August 1937 the local paper reported that a sea monster had been spotted near Nantucket, illuminating both the importance and cost of a free press"--Publisher provided.

Describes how desert animals face the difficulties of staying clean in a dry and parched land.

The story of Wisdom, a Laysan Albatrosses living on Sand Island, Midway.

Explores the history of the university of Kentucky's basketball team, the Wildcats.