Tales From Elaine
Welcome to Tales and Tails!
“Welcome! I’m Elaine A. Powers, the biologist and author of the science books on this website. Welcome to Tales and Tails–a blog written by two
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Curtis Tails
A Big Hello from Curtis!
Welcome to Tales and Tails. I am Curtis Curly-tail, the very special lizard who launched Elaine’s career as the author of science-based children’s books–and now,
Curtis Tails
It’s New Tech Time–Elaine A. Powers Will Now Visit Your Classroom via Video Conferencing
Image courtesy of Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay Hello, everyone! It’s me, Curtis Curly-tail! You know me as the perfect curly-tail lizard from the Bahamas, who inspired
Science Education
Homeschooling? Worried About Education? How About Supplementing with FUN Science Workbooks?
The mission of my book publisher, Lyric Power Publishing LLC, is to “Make Science Fun!” That’s because they know how fun science really is. Their
Science Education
Celebrating Our Bushy-Tailed Neighbors: National Squirrel Appreciation Day
Growing up in the Midwest and Northeast, I always enjoyed the antics of the squirrels. These fluffy fellows are part of the “tree squirrel” group,
Iguanas
Watch Out for Falling Iguanas!
Many people from the northern US and Canada head south to Florida in the winter, hoping to escape the biting cold. However, Florida can have
Book Stories
A Look Back at a Remarkable 2025
2025 was an amazing year in my life. Even though I write primarily to share my love of science with children—and the adults who help
Birds
Popcorn for Paco: Appeasing the Amazon Parrot
When I stay with my cousin Rick in Peoria, I also share the house with an Amazon yellow-naped parrot named Paco. He’s still a wild
Adventure!
Bison-tennial Celebration in Illinois
Peoria County (IL) is celebrating its bicentennial from 1825 to 2025. As part of the festivities, decorated bison sculptures can be found around town. You
Tales From Elaine
A Sonoran Desert Thanksgiving Feast
November is the month known for Thanksgiving. While turkey is the ‘traditional’ food, along with stuffing and cranberry sauce, it’s widely believed turkey was not
Lizards
The Mysterious Rio Grande Siren
I’m currently working on a book titled A Lotl About Axolotls, an amphibian who never fully matures into an adult salamander with lungs. They keep
Tales From Elaine
The Great Goose Dismount: A Museum Adventure
When I visit my hometown of Peoria, Illinois (not the fake Peoria in Arizona), my friend Ruth and I often go to the Peoria Riverfront
My Horses and Me
A Coat of Many Colors: Learning Horse Hues and Heritage
I came to the horse world late in life, and I’ll admit I’m in the category of “can’t teach an old dog new tricks” when
Conservation
Counting Rings on a Shell
If you’ve read my book, Don’t Call Me Turtle, or are familiar with how tortoises grow, you know they deposit more keratin between the scutes
Adventure!
High Desert Dewdrops: Mountain Mornings in Overgaard, Arizona
My friend has a cabin up in the mountains of Overgaard, Arizona. As often as we can, we haul our boys up there for a
Science Education
Tiny Architects of the Desert
The desert leafcutter ant, Acromyrmex versicolor, is an amazing creature. I wrote about them two years ago, but their recent activity in my front yard
Book Stories
From Frustration to Fascination: The Axolotl Story
As a children’s book author, I’ve learned that having a marketable topic is a crucial part of the business. One of the first questions I’m
Iguanas
The Iguana of Guam? Separating Fact from Fiction on a Pacific Island
On a recent book tour on Guam, I found myself talking about one of my favorite topics: iguana conservation. As I’ve worked to help control
Tales From Elaine
Zoe Steals the Show at Fox Tucson Theatre’s Monsoon Literacy Celebration
I was honored to have a book selected for this event and to be present to interact with the participants. I submitted my Sonoran Desert-themed