Sidewinders leave J-shaped tracks when they slither through the deserts of the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. Students will learn why sidewinders leave such tracks, what sidewinders eat, and how these poisonous snakes stay safe in the wide-open desert.

These unique insects get their name from the position in which they hold their front legs together. These legs are also "preying" as they shoot out and grab insects for the mantis to eat. Students will learn about the other physical characteristics of praying mantises and how they use each body part.

Reaching speeds of up to 12 miles per hour, mambas are considered the world's fastest snakes. Readers will see what mambas look like, where they call home, and why they are one of the deadliest snakes in the world.

Living in parts of the Eastern United States, copperheads are named after the orange-brown color of their bodies. Students will learn about the diet, habitats, and physical characteristics of these poisonous snakes.

Cottonmouths are named after the white color inside of their mouths. They open their mouths wide to threaten predators that get too close! Readers will discover where cottonmouths live, what they eat, and why they can be very dangerous!

Sea snakes are skilled underwater breathers able to spit out stored saltwater with their tongues. Kids will learn what these ocean creatures look like, how they swim and thrive in water, and how they hunt near the ocean floor.

Tusks are long teeth that never stop growing. Walruses use tusks to pull themselves out of the water and onto ice. Young readers will learn how walruses look, act, and swim.

Pythons can measure up to 30 feet long! Students will explore how pythons look, the environments in which they live, how they use senses to track prey, and how they can swallow large animals whole!

Puffins are skilled swimmers that can dive 100 feet deep! Their ability to dive helps them hunt and devour fish. Young readers will learn about this seabird's nesting patterns, hunting abilities, and physical characteristics.

Boa constrictors slither around smelling for prey with their forked tongues. Eager students will learn what these fierce hunters look like, where they can be found, and how they use their coils to kill.