National Seashell Day by Elaine A. Powers, Author

If you’ve stopped by Lyric Power Publishing, LLC or elaineapowers.com before, you might know that I love beaches. Many of my books are set on islands. In addition, I often blog about the beaches around Ft. Myers, where I go when I need my ocean fix. Earlier this month was World Oceans Day. One of the reasons I love the oceans is because of the plants and animals that live in them.

Even though we lived in Central Illinois, my family traveled to Sanibel Island on Florida’s Gulf of Mexico once a year. My parents made the first reservation ever at the Periwinkle Way Trailer Park, so whenever they needed a site for their trailer, they had one as a thank you from the owner. I loved Sanibel Island, which is known as the Shell Island. This barrier island’s curved shape and its position across the currents create the perfect place to catch the shells brought up through the Gulf.

One of my primary pastimes is collecting shells on the beach–all sorts of shells. I don’t like to sit, so I spent many hours walking along Sanibel’s beaches collecting seashells. I was in danger of developing the “Sanibel Stoop.” With all the shells I collected, my apartments and houses have always been decorated in shells.

a photo of a collection of seashells on a dark table
Just a few of the many shells I have collected

Tomorrow, June 20, is National Seashell Day. Seashells are the exoskeletons of mollusks, a kind of snail. Their mantles secrete a mixture of calcium carbonate and proteins to produce the shells, which grow as they do. Seashells can be plain and smooth or covered with spikes and ridges. The   mollusks that have shells with protrusions live in places with lots of predators. The protrusions provide protection! Even though the mollusks create the shells for protection, they also create a work of beauty for us to enjoy.

Here is a link for The Dragon of Nani Cave–a fun Lime Lizard Lads island adventure tale about their journey to locate the famous dragon on their island. Tag along with them on their fun and sometimes dangerous trip and learn all about island science as you do.

 

 

 

colorful children's book cover with illustrations of curly-tail lizards
Gene and Bony are bored. They go see Old Soldier Crab who tells them wondrous, dangerous creatures live up on the bluff. And, if they go, they must prove themselves worthy and return with a piece of Caymanite. They must journey through Skull Cave and meet bats, and a cat with sharp teeth. Then they meet Kat, a fellow Curly-tail Lizard and she knows the way to Nani Cave. But she warns there might be more than one dragon. Meeting one danger after another, they finally arrive at Nani Cave. There he is: the dragon! He’s HUGE! And look at all those teeth! What will Gene and Bony do now?
KEEP THE FUN GOING!
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MY  READING BOOK AND COLORING PAGES FOR THE DRAGON OF NANI CAVE
CURTIS CURLY-TAIL COMES ALIVE ON YOU TUBE!a curly tail lizard on a bahamian beach with blue sky and ocean, sand and green plants
Elaine A Powers Author Conservationalist Biologist
Click Image to Hear “Don’t Call Me Turtle!”image of woman reading book at tucson botanical gardens
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