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

A roadrunner mid-stride running across an asphalt surface.

Living with Reptiles

Fast Food: Roadrunner Edition

After writing a couple of books about reptiles (Don’t Call Me Turtle! and Don’t Make Me Rattle!), I wrote a book about roadrunners. I’m not

Science Education

How to Make a Monsoon

Here in the Sonoran Desert, changes in the weather occur before the monsoons arrive. Humidity and dew points increase. Replacing our comfortable dry heat –

Conservation

Celebrate Snakes!

Snakes often make the list of least understood and disliked animals. But since World Snake Day is on July 16. I think it’s time we

Turk and Caicos the tortoises, wondering together in Elaine's back yard.

Living with Reptiles

Tortoise Emergency? Max to the Rescue!

When a friend needed help with her dog, I offered to foster him as long as he got along with my reptiles. I was very

illustration of curtis curly-tail lizard

Curtis Tails

Summer Fun with Curtis Curly-tail!

Hey, kids, it’s me Curtis Curly-tail! I know I haven’t blogged in a long time, but hopefully, you’ve been keeping up with my activities on

Snakes

What is the Color of a Snake’s Tongue?

Have you ever thought about the color of a snake’s tongue? I hadn’t until recently when a snake flicked its tongue at me. Let me

A brown grasshopper sitting on a wood plank.

Birds

Excuse Me, is This Chair Taken?

I was outside recently and went to sit down in a cushioned chair as I often do, but this morning, I found the chair occupied!

Plants

Yellow is the Color of Spring!

Growing up in Illinois, I knew the blooming of the forsythia bushes meant spring had arrived. The bright yellow flowers of the large bushes added

A private investigator searching the jungles for Elaine.

Adventure!

Where’s Elaine?

“A book is made from a tree. It is an assemblage of flat, flexible parts (still called “leaves”) imprinted with dark-pigmented squiggles. One glance at

Conservation

It’s Not Our Planet, It’s WePlanet

Older generations are known for disparaging the younger generation. Even Aristotle complained about youth in the 4th century BC, stating “they think they know everything

Elaine smiling from her booth at the 2019 TFOB

Book Stories

Join Me at TFOB!

The festival is coming! The festival is coming! On March 4 & 5, 2023, the best book festival in the country, the Tucson Festival of

Tales From Elaine

Love is in the… Cactus?

Ah, the heart! ❤️ The symbol of romantic love. An appropriate topic for February 14th is Valentine’s Day. It was in the fifteenth century that

Science Education

Hare, There, Everywhere!

Hares! Here, there and everywhere. I seem to be finding hares everywhere. I live in the Sonoran Desert with the very large rabbits known as

A hand balances a plate with a cloche hiding the food beneath.

Tales From Elaine

What Strange Food is This?

I recently wrote a blog about popcorn for National Popcorn Day. Microwave popcorn is very popular these days. Microwave ovens often have a designated popcorn