Hello, Scorpion!

A folded-paper scorpion illustration for the book covers.

Fold 2, ages 6 to 8FOLD2AGES 6–8Fold 2 · Read Together
Ages 6–8

Hello, Scorpion!

Start reading
Mila I'm Mila. Let's look together!
Omar I'm Omar. What will we find?

Share the pictures and take turns talking.

A representative folded-paper scorpion body model.

Hello, scorpion! We can look without touching. Let's start with this picture.

A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.

Scorpions are not insects. They are related to spiders.

Mila What do you notice first?
A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.

Scorpions have eight walking legs. The front claws are not walking legs.

Omar Shall we count the legs?
A paper scorpion holds illustrative insect prey in its pincers.A paper scorpion holds illustrative insect prey in its pincers.A paper scorpion holds illustrative insect prey in its pincers.

Scorpions use claws to hold prey. Prey is an animal they eat. Insects can be prey.

A paper scorpion illustrates a night-active scene.A paper scorpion illustrates a night-active scene.A paper scorpion illustrates a night-active scene.

Most scorpions are active at night. Many hide under rocks during the day. Can you find the shelter?

A UV-illuminated paper scorpion illustrates fluorescence.A UV-illuminated paper scorpion illustrates fluorescence.A UV-illuminated paper scorpion illustrates fluorescence.

Scorpions can glow blue-green under UV light. Can you find the glow here?

A paper scorpion holds illustrative insect prey in its pincers.A paper scorpion holds illustrative insect prey in its pincers.A paper scorpion holds illustrative insect prey in its pincers.

Scorpions can sting to stop prey. A sting puts venom into prey.

Mila We watch, but do not touch.
Paper newborn scorpions ride on a representative mother.Paper newborn scorpions ride on a representative mother.Paper newborn scorpions ride on a representative mother.

Scorpion mothers give birth to live young. The newborns ride on their mother's back.

A paper scorpion illustrates undisturbed wildlife with space around it.A paper scorpion illustrates undisturbed wildlife with space around it.A paper scorpion illustrates undisturbed wildlife with space around it.

Scorpions live in forests, grasslands, and deserts. Give wild scorpions space. Do not touch them.

A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.A paper scorpion illustrates its walking legs and pincers.

Young scorpions shed their outer covering as they grow. An old covering is left behind.

A paper scorpion illustrates a night-active scene.A paper scorpion illustrates a night-active scene.A paper scorpion illustrates a night-active scene.

Tiny hairs help scorpions sense movement. Some sense shakes in the ground.

Omar What might move near this scorpion?
A representative folded-paper scorpion body model.

Scorpions eat other animals. Other animals can eat scorpions, too. Some birds do.

A paper scorpion illustrates undisturbed wildlife with space around it.A paper scorpion illustrates undisturbed wildlife with space around it.A paper scorpion illustrates undisturbed wildlife with space around it.

Goodbye, scorpion! We'll leave you space.

Mila Which picture would you show a friend?
Omar What would you tell them?

The end

Hello, Scorpion!

See the printed pages
Front cover of Scorpion: Claws, Legs and a Tail, Fold 3The next fold upScorpion: Claws, Legs and a TailFold 3 · Early Reader · Ages 8–10 All six books

For grown-ups

Read slowly and let your child talk. Questions refer to pictures, not a hunt for wild scorpions. Keep observation hands-off; use the glow picture, not a UV experiment.

The facts behind the pictures

Look from a distance. Do not pick up a scorpion or reach into its shelter. Pictures offer a hands-off way to learn.

Scorpions are arachnids, related to spiders, ticks and mites. A scorpion is neither an insect nor a kind of spider.

Eight walking legs means four pairs. The front pincers are separate grasping appendages, not another pair of walking legs.

The front pincers hold prey. Scorpions eat animals, including insects and spiders; their menus differ with species and available prey.

Most are active at night; many shelter by day. Rocks are one shelter choice, not every scorpion's home. These patterns have exceptions.

The blue-green glow shown here occurs under UV light. It is not self-made light in complete darkness. Share the picture, not a UV experiment.

A sting delivers venom into prey and can also serve in defense. Venom does not come from the pincers. Keep observation hands-off.

Scorpions give birth to live young. The back-riding babies are newborns in an early stage of care, not babies attacking their mother.

Forests, grasslands and deserts host different scorpion species. No single species must live in all three. Give any wild scorpion space.

Growing young scorpions molt: they shed an outer skeleton and leave the old covering behind. Growth schedules differ among species.

Sensory hairs and other sensors detect vibrations. Ground movement and air movement involve different sensors. The question invites ideas, not a claim about unseen prey.

Scorpions are predators and also prey. Birds, lizards and small mammals can eat them. Predator menus vary with species and place.

Leave wild scorpions untouched. Ask your child to choose a picture and explain one detail; there is no need to approach a living animal.

Read together and notice the scorpion discoveries.

Ages
6–8
Trim
8.5 × 8.5 in
Pages
32
Words
212
Reading grade
Read aloud
See the printed pages

From the scorpion episode of our video series.