Two Adventurous Bloggers: A Human and a Lizard!

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

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

Baby tortoises huddle against the walls of a wooden crate.

Living with Reptiles

A Tale of Unexpected Tortoises

Caring for my diverse group of tortoises, which includes four different species, is a constant challenge. I make a conscious effort to keep the sexes

A bright red cardinal perched on bare tree branches.

Birds

An Enchanting Tale of Birdwatching and Mockingbirds

As I navigate the captivating landscape of the Sonoran Desert, always on the lookout for intriguing subjects for my Fun Fact videos, I am constantly

Science Education

Adventures in Algae!

I’ve been having trouble with algae growth in my pool this summer. My crawling pool cleaner broke and was removed for repairs—it hasn’t returned. The

Science Education

Spectacular Saguaros!

The saguaros, Carnegiea giganteus, are magnificent on the property where I board my horses. The owner has a cactus garden, a vibrant and diverse collection

Living with Reptiles

The Omnivorous Adventures of My Red-Footed Tortoises

Many tortoises are vegetarians, but my red-footed tortoises are a unique bunch. They roam free throughout my house, enjoying the heat lamp and UVB basking

A young turtle sits on a sandy beach surveying his surroundings.

Conservation

Tales of Turtles: A Look into the World of Sea and Freshwater Turtles

Many places in the world have sea turtles, which live in the ocean, and freshwater turtles, which live on land, often in lakes and rivers.

A Desert Iguana peeks out from his hole.

Iguanas

Meet the Desert Iguana!

While wandering through nature the other day, I passed an exciting hole-up in Marana. Fortunately, the occupant came out to greet me. I was delighted

A picturesque sunset ssilhouetted by palm trees and water.

Birds

My Desert Oasis

Living in the Sonoran Desert, I realize the importance of water. Many animals have adapted to getting the water they need from their food. However,

A bright pink, orange, and yellow desert sunset.

The Sonoran Desert

The Science of a Sunset

Tucson is known for its spectacular sunsets. One survey ranked them second only to Key West’s sunset over the ocean. I think it was the

A magnifying glass sits in front of a blue background.

Adventure!

Whose Paw Left a Print?

I have a natural desert dirt driveway. Most neighbors have opted for fancy rock, but I like the natural substrate. I have holes dug by

A Sonoran Desert scene with several pink blossomed trees.

Tales From Elaine

The New Color of Spring!

Last year, I wrote about the color of the Sonoran Desert Spring being yellow. Spring had been yellow for many years. However, this year, the

A dark mysterious hole, a bright light shines in the opening.

The Sonoran Desert

Who is in the Hole?

I was taking Max, my dog, for a walk one evening. The setting sun illuminated a new hole in my dirt driveway. The hole was

A Kermit the frog puppet sits on a couch.

Science Education

Kermit the Ancestor

Since I wrote that book on the dinosaurs found in Arizona, Dinosaurs Roamed Arizona, I’ve been intrigued by ancient fossils. Reptiles are pretty easy to

A gecko crawls across a window with a cityscape in the background.

Lizards

Vincent van Gecko

The name of a newly discovered lizard has combined science and art in a unique way, resulting in a heavenly name. The lizard’s name is

A hedgehog peeks up, only their face and ears are visible.

Plants

The Hedgehogs of the Sonoran Desert

Before the dog days of 2023, the only mammal I wanted as a pet was a hedgehog. However, every time I got the urge to

Elaine A. Powers, Author

MAKING SCIENCE BOOKS FUN!

BLOG: Tales and Tails

Welcome to Tales and Tails!

A Big Hello from Curtis!

It’s New Tech Time–Elaine A. Powers Will Now Visit Your Classroom via Video Conferencing

Homeschooling? Worried About Education? How About Supplementing with FUN Science Workbooks?

A Tale of Unexpected Tortoises

An Enchanting Tale of Birdwatching and Mockingbirds

Adventures in Algae!

Spectacular Saguaros!

The Omnivorous Adventures of My Red-Footed Tortoises

Tales of Turtles: A Look into the World of Sea and Freshwater Turtles

Meet the Desert Iguana!

My Desert Oasis

The Science of a Sunset

Whose Paw Left a Print?

The New Color of Spring!

Who is in the Hole?

Kermit the Ancestor

Vincent van Gecko

The Hedgehogs of the Sonoran Desert

About

Elaine A. Powers, Author

© 2021 ELAINE A. POWERS, TUCSON, ARIZONA