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
Tales From Elaine
Great Escape: How My Spiny-Tailed Iguana Outsmarted a Cabinet
While I was away on vacation in California, the bottom latch of my spiny-tailed iguana’s enclosure somehow came open. Did the pet sitter forget to
Conservation
Meeting the Tough Ground Squirrels of Ventura Beach
I’m very fond of ground squirrels. Even though I grew up with tree squirrels in central Illinois, I’ve come to adore the ground squirrels of
Birds
Why Are Tropical Brown Boobies Journeying North?
On a tour boat cruise to Channel Islands National Park, one of the bird species we observed was a pair of Brown Boobies! Brown Boobies
Tales From Elaine
What an Unkindness! A Raven Encounter in Black Canyon
The collective noun for a group of ravens is an “unkindness.” While riding my Missouri Fox Trotter gelding, Poncho, recently, I experienced an unkindness of
Tales From Elaine
Jumping onto the Screen with Curtis Curly-tail
Some of you may be wondering how the Curtis Curly-tail movie is coming along. I’m delighted to announce that Scene 2 has officially been released!
Tales From Elaine
What Do You Call a Gathering of Gate-Checked Bags?
I admit, I’m fascinated and delighted by unusual collective nouns. You know, like a creep of tortoises or a murder of crows. I particularly like
Tales From Elaine
When the World Cup Meets the World of Iguanas
When the World Cup Meets the World of Iguanas The FIFA World Cup of soccer (known as football to the rest of the world) is
Tales From Elaine
The Search for the Perfect Collective Noun for Horseback Riders
You might have noticed by now that I absolutely love collective nouns—like a “creep” of tortoises or a “murder” of crows! While I was out
Tales From Elaine
Why I’m Like a Galápagos Pink Iguana
The newest type of iguana discovered in the Galápagos Islands is the Galápagos pink land iguana (Conolophus marthae). These pink beauties are only found on
Tales From Elaine
The Stubborn Homeowners of the Sonoran Desert
In my yard, I have a multitude of objects that have apparently become high-demand real estate for my local lizards. In addition to these tiny
Tales From Elaine
The Unintended Impact of the Honeybee
In writing about the horses introduced by the conquistadors being an invasive species—even though they have become intertwined with Western U.S. and indigenous cultures—I got
Tales From Elaine
Don’t Get Bitten by Bad Research! Join Me at the Sonoran Writers Conference
Calling all writers and writers-to-be! I invite you to join me in Mesa on May 9, 2026, for the Sonoran Writers Conference at Benedictine University.
Tales From Elaine
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Curious Case of the Pocket Tortoise
Tortoises are not often associated with professional sports. They aren’t known for their speed, and their collective noun is—appropriately—a “creep.” So, when I saw a
Adventure!
The Parakeet in the Plastic Bubble
I once wrote a book about a catfish who tours her museum home using a motion-activated, wheeled fish tank (Clarissa Catfish at the Peoria Playhouse
Tales From Elaine
Springing into April: Music, Art, and Reptiles
If you didn’t have a chance to catch up with me during the busy March festival season, don’t worry! I’m not heading back to the