A Wonderleaf question
Why do some animals hibernate?
a real page from the book
Some animals hibernate because winter leaves them with too little food for the energy an active body needs. They lower heart rate, breathing, and warmth, spending stored fat slowly instead of searching through a season with little to eat. Hibernation is energy saving, not ordinary bedtime.
The surprising part is how varied the trick can be. A bear may still rouse if bothered, while a ground squirrel may cool until its pulse barely taps along. Some hibernators even protect muscles and bones during long stillness, a talent doctors study with real interest.
Wonder words
- torpor
- burrow
- calories
- insulation
Try it out
Before bed, compare a fast march with lying still for one minute, then talk about which one spends more energy.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
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One more wonder: Why is space so dark?
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