
Welcome to Kent District Library’s Stump the Librarian Podcast where your friendly neighborhood librarians put their research skills to the test answering questions from you, the listener! Jill and Liz every other Wednesday to learn new and exciting information. Think you have a question that can stump us? Visit www.kdl.org/stump to submit a question of your own!
Episodes

Wednesday May 01, 2024
Episode 52 Animal BFFs and Bubbles!
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Join Jill and Liz as they answer the questions “Do animals make friends?” and “How do bubbles work? Why are they always round?” You can send us your question at KDL.org/stump or email us at Stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
Regarding Animal BFFS...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interspecies_friendship
"Animal social behaviour." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 3 Mar. 2017. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/animal-social-behaviour/110427. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/animal-behavior
"Charles Scott." Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1936. Gale In Context: U.S. History, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/BT2310003891/UHIC?u=madi17239&sid=UHIC&xid=cccdcb74. Accessed 7 Nov. 2020.
Regarding Bubbles....
https://www.cmosc.org/category/resources/
https://exetersciencecentre.org/projects/nibbles/bubbles/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/why-do-bubbles-pop.htm
Make a square bubble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12UIOlzai5M

Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Episode 51 Just My Luck!
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Join Jill and Liz as they answer the questions, “Why are ladybugs and four-leaf clovers lucky?” and “Why do some foods taste salty and some taste sweet?” We also share a fact of the day about mapmaking and several heartwarming book recommendations. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Liz’s Fact of the Day: The Maps Book by Joanne Bourne
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C972130
Jill’s Book Recommendations: A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C935518
The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C978558
Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C951435
Concerning ladybugs & four-leaf clovers:
https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/ladybug
https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/ladybug/46799/related#nodeId=websites&page=1
https://www.celticbug.com/Legends/Lore.html
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/ladybug
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8261899/
https://www.woodlandsonline.com/npps/story.cfm?nppage=69552
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-leaf_clover
Concerning tastebuds:
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/taste-buds.html
https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/tongue/72870
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24684-taste-buds

Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Episode 50 Color Conundrums
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Join Jill and Liz as they answer the questions, “Where do bruises come from and where do they go?” and “What causes the Northern Lights?” We also share a fun fact of the day about crodile tears and non-fiction graphic novel recommendation. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Regarding bruises...
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bruises.html
https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/cardiovascular-system/403974
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21640-blood-vessels
Regarding the Northern Lights...
https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/aurora/399350
https://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sdcmp.html
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/aurora/
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/

Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Episode 49 A Very Hairy Episode
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
A Very Hairy Episode
Join Jill & Liz as they answer the questions, “Why do we have eyebrows?” and “Why do cats purr?” We also share a fact of the day about knocking on wood and a powerful book recommendation. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Liz’s Fact of the Day: The Good Luck Book by Heather Alexander
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C976162
Jill’s Book Recommendation: Eagle Drums by N. R. Hopson
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C985171
Concerning hair:
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/hair.html
https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/hair/38817/related#nodeId=websites&page=1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513312/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513312/
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-many-hairs-on-a-human-head
Concerning purring:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purr
https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/zoology/item/why-and-how-do-cats-purr/
https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/1995/Questions-and-Answers-About-Wildlife
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-tomorrow/202311/why-and-how-cats-purr
https://www.sciencealert.com/these-are-the-largest-cats-known-to-purr

Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Episode 48 Koala Criminals
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Koala Criminals
Join Jill and Liz as they answer the questions, “Why do we have fingerprints?” and “Why can't I remember being a baby?” We also share a fun fact of the day about tickles and a new book by Lisa Yee. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Concerning fingerprints
https://umbc.edu/stories/how-did-i-get-my-own-unique-set-of-fingerprints/
https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/parts/why-do-we-have-fingerprints.htm
"Fingerprint." World Book Kids, 2024,
www.worldbookonline.com/kids/article?id=ar830835. Accessed 31 Jan. 2024.
https://www.rd.com/article/why-do-we-have-fingerprints/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprint
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/koala-fingerprints/
Concerning memories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nHwQKT_muc

Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Episode 47 430 Million Hiccups
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Join Liz & Jill as they answer the questions, “What makes the colors of a sunset?” and “Why do we hiccup?” We also share a fact of the day about clouds and a magical book recommendation. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Liz’s Fact of the Day: Weird and Wonderful Nature
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C976169
Jill’s Book Recommendation: Elf Dog & Owl Head
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C914825
Concerning sunsets:
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/blue-sky/en/
https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov/video/ourworld/our-world-sunsets-and-atmosphere
https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/sunlight/70375
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcVr13Fw7w8
Concerning hiccups:
www.scientificamerican.com/article/whats-the-science-behind-why-we-hiccup/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21578-diaphragm
"Hiccup." World Book Kids, 2024,
www.worldbookonline.com/kids/article?id=ar830894. Accessed 25 Jan.
Durant, Penny. “Hiccups.” Sniffles, Sneezes, Hiccups, and Coughs, DK, New York, NY, 2023, pp. 20–23.

Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Episode 46 Slime Time
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Join Liz and Jill as they answer the questions “Do cats and dogs see all the colors or just black and white?” and “Are snails born with shells? Do they use the same shells their whole lives?” We also share a fun fact about the Galapagos Islands and a choose your own adventure book called Search for a Giant Squid. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Concerning Snails...
https://a-z-animals.com/blog/incredible-snail-facts/
https://www.optimax.co.uk/blog/snails-eyes-what-vision/
"Snail." World Book Kids, 2024,
www.worldbookonline.com/kids/article?id=ar831322. Accessed 04 Jan.
Concerning Pet Vision...
https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/what-colors-do-dogs-see
https://www.dvm360.com/view/vision-in-dogs-and-cats
https://www.cleanrun.com/feature/what_do_they_see_and_how_do_we_know_part_1/index.cfm
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-colors-do-dogs-see/
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-do-other-animals-see-the-world.html

Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Episode 45 Pizza Stomach
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Pizza Stomach
Join Liz & Jill as they answer the questions, “What do you tells actors before a show?” and “Are cows the only animal with more than one stomach?” We also share a fact of the day about giraffes and a heartwarming STEM book recommendation. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Liz’s Fact of the Day: Weird, Wild, Amazing!
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C757177
Jill’s Book Recommendation: Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C522553
Concerning idioms:
https://grammarist.com/idiom/break-a-leg/
https://languagetool.org/insights/post/break-a-leg-meaning/
https://www.rd.com/article/break-a-leg/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_a_leg
Concerning animal digestion:
https://a-z-animals.com/blog/10-animals-with-multiple-stomachs/
https://extension.umn.edu/dairy-nutrition/ruminant-digestive-system
https://animalsmart.org/species/cattle
https://www.faunaadvice.com/animals-with-multiple-stomachs/
https://www.safariventures.com/why-do-ostriches-have-three-stomachs/
https://www.juneauempire.com/news/churn-it-over-this-beaked-whale-has-13-stomachs/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator

Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Episode 44 Animal Toolbox
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Join Liz and Jill as they answer the questions “Why do seasons change?” and “What animals besides Otters and Chimpanzees use tools?” We also share a fun fact about Animal Bffs and a sad book called Efren Divided. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Regarding seasons...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b25g4nZTHvM
https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/season/66491
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/season/
Regarding animal tools...
https://www.livescience.com/9761-10-animals-tools.html
https://www.livescience.com/5616-orangutans-musical-instrument.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_use_by_non-humans
Boxer crab with anemone pom poms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUdpqFQYeZA
Animal Toolkit: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C874147

Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Episode 43 Slithering Snakes & Octopus Escapes
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Slithering Snakes & Octopus Escapes
Join Liz and Jill as they answer the questions, “How do worms/snakes move without bones?” and “What is the smartest animal?” We also share a fact of the day about dinosaurs and a suspenseful book recommendation. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Jill’s Fact of the Day: 1,000 Amazing Dinosaur Facts
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C966814
Liz’s Book Recommendation: 96 Miles
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C736314
Concerning snakes:
Snakes For Kids https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C752598
"Snake." World Book Kids, 2023, www.worldbookonline.com/kids/article?id=ar831323. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/reptiles/how-do-snakes-move
Snake movement video:
https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_videos.jsp?org=NSF&cntn_id=114941&media_id=65243
https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~rlenet/Earthworms.html
https://www.britannica.com/animal/snake/Locomotion
Concerning animal intelligence:
https://dptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nat17-sci-crows/tool-making-crows/
https://factanimal.com/animal-facts/smartest-animals-on-earth/
https://www.britannica.com/story/which-animal-is-the-smartest
https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/smartest-animals
https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/smartest-pets.htm