Stump the Librarian

Episode 20 - Puppets in the Blue Skies

 It’s the season finale of Stump the Librarian! The podcast where YOU the listener, attempt to Stump Librarians Courtnei and Emily, with a little help from the Librarian-behind-the-computer, Jill. Tune in this week to hear why the sky is so blue, how TVs work, and who were some of the oldest known puppeteers in Michigan. We will be back with season 3 after just a short break. In the meantime, submit a question of your own! We would love to hear from you. Check us out at kdl.org/stump. 

While you wait for season 3, catch up on our first two seasons at stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com, or wherever you get your podcasts. We can’t wait to join you again and answer your tricky questions!  
 

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. And don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great read! 

Check out the books we discussed in this episode: 

Battle of the Butts https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C837790 

Whale Fall Café https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C872328 

Everything Under the Sun https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C839958 

 

Concerning Blue Skies.... 

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/blue-sky/en/ 

https://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight 

https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/environment-general-science-you-asked/why-sky-blue-or-better-yet-why-ocean-blue 

Concerning TVs... 

How do plasma TVs work? I James May Q&A I Head Squeeze 

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/television/353844 

Concerning Puppets... 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppetry 

https://wepa.unima.org/en/native-american-puppetry/ 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/detroit-puppetry_b_1158516 

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2015/03/31/puppet-show-offers-unique-viewing-experience-in-detroit/ 

https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/detroit-on-a-string/Content?oid=2182642 

https://www.puppetart.org/our-history 

https://wepa.unima.org/en/united-states-of-america/ 

Episode 19 - The Potential Energy of a Teddy Bear

Well, hello! Just your favorite friendly neighborhood librarians back with another information-packed episode of Stump the Librarian! This episode is a wild one, let me tell you! First, we start off with the very-sciencey question, “Is there a limit to how much potential energy an object can have?” Then, we ease our way into the next few questions on muteness, “How does being mute work? Can they not talk if they even try? Can they play an instrument?” Lastly, we slow it down with, “Who thought of making a teddy bear?” So, grab your teddy and listen as Emily and Courtnei, with help from our librarian-behind-the-computer, Jill, answer these fabulous questions! 

 

Join us every other Wednesday as we answer listener questions about space, nature, human bodies, animals, and so much more. You can submit your own question for a chance to Stump the Librarian. Check out kdl.org/stump. You can also email us at Stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. We would love to hear from you! You can follow our podcast at stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

 

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. And don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great read! 

Here are the books we mentioned in this episode. Check them out! 

Show Me a Sign – Ann Clare LeZotte 

 

Concerning Energy... 

https://www.coolkidfacts.com/potential-energy/ 

https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/energy/274180#300855.toc 

 

Concerning being mute... 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muteness 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apraxia 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphasia 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deafness 

https://www.nad.org/resources/american-sign-language/community-and-culture-frequently-asked-questions/ 

 

Concerning Teddy Bears... 

https://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/storyofteddybear.htm#:~:text=Morris%20Michtom%2C%20a%20Brooklyn%20candy,called%20it%20'Teddy's%20Bear'. 

The Woman Who Invented Stuffed Animals 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jENRuFJIBHk 

 

Episode 18 - Fighting Crickets

Stump the Librarian is here with a special 4th grade takeover episode! This week join librarians Courtnei and Emily, with a little help from the librarian behind the computer, Jill as they tackle questions from Mrs. Blanchard’s 4th grade class at Vanguard Charter Academy. These quick-thinking scholars tried to stump us and even gave us a book recommendation! Join us as we discuss the inner workings of fire extinguishers, the invention of zippers, and why crickets chirp. Listen to find out who will have to say the longest and silliest phrase (spoiler- I'm glad they are called ZIPPERS!) and to hear all about this guy with the great hair:  

Join us every other Wednesday as we answer listener questions about space, nature, human bodies, animals, and so much more. You can submit your own question for a chance to Stump the Librarian. Check out kdl.org/stump. You can also email us at Stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org,  We would love to hear from you! You can follow our podcast at stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com/ or anywhere you get podcasts.  

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. And don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/to search for your next great read! 

Here are the books we mentioned in this episode. Check them out! 

Fact of the day- https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C772356 

Book Recommendation- https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C840149 

 

Concerning Fire Extinguishers... 

The Smokin' Science of Fire Extinguishers 

https://www.firesafe.org.uk/history-of-fire-extinguishers/ 

https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/fire-extinguisher/34329 

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/extinguishers.html 

Concerning Zippers...  

https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2010/05/03/the-up-an-down-history-of-the-zipper/#.YlXkk8jMIdU 

The Zipper: Where did it come from? | Stuff of Genius 

Concerning Crickets... 

https://www.orkin.com/pests/crickets/cricket-chirp 

https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/08/24/hear-crickets-chirping-in-the-evening-use-them-to-tell-the-temperature/ 

https://www.americanpest.net/blog/why-does-cricket-make-sounds-and-what-they-mean/ 

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cricket_(insect) 

https://www.terro.com/crickets 

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/true-bugs 

Episode 17 - Jaguars and Jolly Ranchers

Your favorite friendly neighborhood librarians are back with another information-filled episode of Stump the Librarian! In this episode, our librarians prove that they will try their best to answer any and every question they get! And will always go a little above and beyond what you asked for, but hey that’s what librarians are for. Listen as Emily and Courtnei, with a little help from our librarian-behind-the-computer, Jill, answer questions about the moon, jaguars, and Florida’s state representatives. You’ll learn quite a bit and hopefully laugh a little too! 

 

Join us every other Wednesday as we answer listener questions about space, nature, human bodies, animals, and so much more. You can submit your own question for a chance to Stump the Librarian. Check out kdl.org/stump. You can also email us at Stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. We would love to hear from you! You can follow our podcast at stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com/ or anywhere you get podcasts. 

 

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. And don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great read! 

Here are the books we mentioned in this episode. Check them out! 

Time Villains by Victor Piñeiro 
The US Congress for Kids by Ronald A Reis 

 

Concerning the Moon... 

https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/stories/creation-of-the-moon 

https://science.ucalgary.ca/rothney-observatory/community/first-nations-skylore/moon 

https://nativememoryproject.org/story/lakota-stories-creation-of-the-sun-moon/ 

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-did-the-moon-form.html 

 

Concerning the State Representatives of Florida... 

https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C256198 

https://www.house.gov/ 

https://history.house.gov/ 

  

Concerning Black Jaguars... 

https://www.britannica.com/animal/black-panther-mammal 

Do Black Jaguars' Have spots? | One Wild Fact | Earth Unplugged 

https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/jaguars#:~:text=Jaguars%20are%20opportunistic%20hunters%20and,and%20huge%20predators%20like%20caiman. 

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3944 

Episode 16 - Do You Bite Your Ice Cream?

Was the last episode a little too gross for you? Or not gross enough? Either way, we toned things down a bit this episode to talk about teeth, giraffe necks, and everyone's favorite frozen treats! Join your fearless podcasters Courtnei and Emily, with the gracious behind-the-scenes help of Jill, as we navigate through questions from listeners, like you! “Why do humans have two sets of teeth?,” “Why do giraffes have such long necks?,” and “Did the same person invite ice cream and popsicles?” Do you have any guesses as to the answers to these questions? Give a listen and find out if you are right! 

Join us every other Wednesday as we answer listener questions about space, nature, human bodies, animals, and so much more. You can submit your own question for a chance to Stump the Librarian. Check out kdl.org/stump. You can also email us at Stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. We would love to hear from you! You can follow our podcast at stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com/ or anywhere you get podcasts. 

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. And don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great read! 

Here are the books we mentioned in this episode. Check them out! 

Science Comics - Multiple Authors 

Behind the Scenes at the Zoo 

 

Concerning Teeth... 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/do-animals-have-baby-teeth-more-questions-readers-180963688/ 

https://stratfordctdentist.com/p/BLOG-78926-2021.1.25-Why-Do-We-Have-Two-Sets-of-Teeth-p.asp?C=1657#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20ever%20wondered,a%20permanent%20set%20of%20teeth 

https://www.drmaggiedavis.com/blog/2015/11/24/why-do-we-have-two-sets-of-teeth/ 

 

Concerning Giraffe Necks... 

Why do Giraffes have Long Neck? | Science Curiosity | Letstute 

Giraffes 101 | Nat Geo Wild 

https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/giraffe/36897 

https://www.clevelandzoosociety.org/z/2021/03/02/truth-or-tail-giraffe-have-more-neck-bones-than-a-human#:~:text=TALL%20TALE!,up%20to%2010%20inches%20long. 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-do-giraffes-stay-so-cool-those-necks-180964890/#:~:text=Reaching%20high%2Dup%20food%20may,in%20the%20hot%20African%20savannah. 

 

Concerning Ice Cream and Popsicles... 

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/07/22/425294957/how-an-11-year-old-boy-invented-the-popsicle 

https://www.popsicle.com/us/en/our-story.html 

https://www.history.com/news/frozen-history-the-story-of-the-popsicle 

https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/tr33b.html#obj36 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream 

https://www.idfa.org/the-history-of-ice-cream 

Episode 15 -Ew, That’s Gross

Stump the Librarian Episode 15 – Ew, That’s Gross 

It’s the gross out episode of Stump the Librarian podcast where we explore all things icky! Join librarians Courtnei and Emily, with a little help from the librarian behind the screen Jill as we answer questions from YOU, the listener. This week we are tackling the questions “Why does there have to be bugs?”, “Why don’t we notice our own BO?” and “How many times does an average person fart in a day?” If you love all things ick, this is the episode for you!  

Join us every other Wednesday as we answer listener questions about space, nature, human bodies, animals, and so much more. You can submit your own question for a chance to Stump the Librarian. Check out kdl.org/stump. You can also email us at Stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. We would love to hear from you! You can follow our podcast at stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com/ or anywhere you get podcasts.  

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. And don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great read! 

Here are the books we mentioned in this episode. Check them out! 

Science Comics: Trees 

Alligators and Crocodiles Can’t Chew 

 

 

Concerning Bugs... 

https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/bugnos 

https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/radicalbugs/index.php?page=importance_of_insects#:~:text=Without%20insects%2C%20our%20lives%20would,fruits%2C%20flowers%2C%20and%20vegetables.&text=Many%20insects%20are%20omnivorous%2C%20meaning,they%20encounter%20in%20their%20environment. 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/insect-bug-medicine-food-macneal 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZ_YdKPMdM 

 

Concerning Body Odor..... 

Five Senses: The Sense of Smell | Educational Videos for Kids 

https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/sense-smell-covid-19 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/11/07/dear-science-why-cant-i-smell-my-own-body-odor/ 

https://www.thecut.com/2014/08/why-cant-you-smell-your-own-home.html 

https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chsmell.html 

 

Conerning farts.... 

https://www.healthline.com/health/why-do-i-keep-farting#see-a-doctor 

Episode 14 – To Great Heights (not by flying)

Your friendly neighborhood librarians are back at it, answering questions from listeners, like you, in episode 14 – To Great Heights (not by flying). In this episode, our librarians, Courtnei & Emily, with a little help from the librarian behind the screen, Jill, answer questions about the tallest building, how hearing works, and if humans will ever be able to fly! Take a listen because this episode is filled with lots of useful information and a few laughs. (Please do not try to fly, just take our word for it.) 

Join us for a new episode every other Wednesday to see if listeners were able to stump the librarian and learn some rather interesting information! You can submit a question of your own via http://kdl.org/stump. Don’t forget to subscribe to Stump the Librarian via https://stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com/ or wherever you prefer to listen to podcasts, so you never miss an episode. You can also reach our librarians with your questions or by email at Stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. 

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to https://kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. Oh, and don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great nonfiction read! 

Concerning Tall Buildings... 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa 

https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C486811 

https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C771976 

 

Concerning Hearing Aids... 

https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/hearing-loss-basics/ 

 

Concerning Flying... 

https://www.discovery.com/nature/Why-Do-Birds-Have-Hollow-Bones 

https://wgvu.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/1cfb284d-a0ec-4ade-9815-8c10810685ee/wings-back-fly/ 

https://wgvu.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/f245d54d-f0fe-49e3-9162-f5c5bb6fc26e/humans-fly/ 

 

Books mentioned... 

“Out of My Mind” by Sharon Draper 
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C117544 

 

“Out of My Heart” by Sharon Draper 
https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C807074 

Episode 13 - Flying Paper Airplanes to the Moon

Welcome to the third episode of season two of Stump the Librarian! Join Courtnei and Emily, with a little help from Jill, as they tackle three questions in this episode. Does the Earth’s moon have a name? How far can a paper airplane fly? How does hair grow? We would love to answer questions from you, the listener. Email us at stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. 

Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode! While you are waiting for the next episode, check out season 1 or submit a question of your own at kdl.org/stump. 

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode’s curious questions? You can use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information. And don’t forget books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great nonfiction (or fiction) read! 

Concerning the moon... 

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/earths-moon/overview/ 

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/earths-moon/lunar-phases-and-eclipses/ 

https://www.livescience.com/33373-moon-name.html 

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/64667/why-doesnt-our-moon-have-name 

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/jupiter-moons/overview/?page=0&per_page=40&order=name+asc&search=&placeholder=Enter+moon+name&condition_1=9%3Aparent_id&condition_2=moon%3Abody_type%3Ailike 

https://www.npr.org/2012/01/20/145525014/science-diction-the-origin-of-the-word-moon 

 

Concerning paper airplanes... 

https://howthingsfly.si.edu/ask-an-explainer/who-created-paper-airplane-0 

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/farthest-flight-by-a-paper-aircraft 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/paper-airplanes-flew-decades-real-ones-did-180955129/ 

Concerning hair... 

How Does Hair Know When to Stop Growing? 

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/science-hair 

https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C808650 

https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C676546 

 

Episode 12 - Spinning is NOT for the Faint of Heart

Welcome to the second episode of season two of Stump the Librarian! Join Courtnei and Emily, with a little help from Jill, as they tackle three questions in this episode. What causes earthquakes? Why do we get dizzy when we spin? Do kangaroos have belly buttons? We would love to answer your questions too! Email us at stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. We would love to hear from you!  

Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast via stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an episode! While you are waiting for the next episode, check out season 1 of Stump the Librarian or submit a question of your own at kdl.org/stump. 
 

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. And don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great nonfiction (or fiction) read!  

 

Concerning episode book recommendations... 

Out of My Heart by Sharon Draper 

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper 

 

Concerning the Earthquakes... 

https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-geology/earth-hazards/earthquakes/what-causes-earthquakes/ 

Earthquake Science, and the Disaster That Created It 

What Causes Earthquakes? 

The Plate Tectonics Revolution: Crash Course Geography #19 

 

Concerning Spinning... 

https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-when-i-stop-spinning-why-do-i-feel-dizzy-and-the-world-looks-like-its-tilting-154559 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-don-t-figure-skaters-get-dizzy-when-they-spin/ 

Why Do We Get Dizzy? 

 

Concerning Belly Buttons... 

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/how-long-do-joeys-stay-in-the-pouch/ 

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/biological/what-alive/evolution-natural-selection/compare-contrast-connect-marsupial-mammals-versus-placental-mammals 

https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/researchers-in-museums/2014/03/19/question-of-the-week-do-other-animals-have-belly-buttons/ 

Episode 11 - Who Toots?

Welcome to the first episode of season two of Stump the Librarian! Join Courtnei and Emily, with a little help from Jill, as they tackle three questions in this episode. Why is New York called the Big Apple? How did black pepper become such a popular spice? Are there any animals that can’t fart? Do bats?? We would love to answer your questions too! Email us at stumpthelibrarian@kdl.org. We’d love to hear from you!  

Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast via stumpthelibrarian.podbean.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode! While you are waiting for the next episode, check out season 1 of Stump the Librarian or submit a question of your own at kdl.org/stump. 
 

Interested in learning and exploring more about this episode's curious questions?  You can always use any of the databases KDL has to offer with your library card. Just go to kdl.org/online-resources/ to find the best database for more information on the answer to your question. And don’t forget the books! Our catalog is full of amazing books that are filled with fascinating information. Just visit kdl.bibliocommons.com/ to search for your next great nonfiction (or fiction) read!  

Concerning the Big Apple... 

https://www.amazon.com/Origin-York-Citys-Nickname-Apple%C2%BB/dp/3631437870 

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32902732/photo-of-john-j-fitz-gerald-of-the-new/ 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7914753/Historian-traces-origin-New-York-Citys-nickname-Big-Apple-100-years-1920.html 

https://www.travelawaits.com/2657319/why-new-york-is-called-the-big-apple-and-other-city-nicknames/ 

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers 1939 (The Big Apple) 

 

Concerning Black Pepper... 

https://www.worldhistory.org/Pepper/ 

https://www.britannica.com/plant/black-pepper-plant 

 

Concerning Farts... 

Rabaiotti, D., & Caruso, N. (2018). Does it fart?: The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence. QUERCUS Publishing. https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C857354 

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/4/3/17188186/does-it-fart-book-animal-farts-dinosaur-farts 

https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/fart.html