Stump the Librarian

Kent District Library

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!

  1. May 27

    Episode 93 California Adventure

    In today’s episode we explore the Muir Woods National Monument and the San Diego Zoo. We hear some trivia from Programming Specialist Hennie and Liz recommends a magical chapter book about our favorite time traveling siblings. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!     Hennie’s Fact of the Day: The Colors of Nature by Catherine Barr  https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C1255994  Liz’s book recommendation: Camp Time in California by Mary Pope Osborne  https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C764960  Concerning Muir Woods:  The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barb Rosenstock: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C160135   Wildheart: The Daring Adventures of John Muir by Julie Bertagna: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C663331   "John Muir." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 29 Mar. 2024. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/John-Muir/54182. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.    "Theodore Roosevelt." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 17 Dec. 2024. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/Theodore-Roosevelt/276787. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.    https://www.savetheredwoods.org/redwoods/coast-redwoods/   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muir_Woods_National_Monument   https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm   https://www.nps.gov/articles/john-muir.htm   https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/default.aspx   John Muir quotes: https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=3BD48100-3981-45DD-B1DE-5BA909995897     Concerning the San Diego Zoo’s animals:  https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/story-hub/zoonooz/enrichment-is-serious-fun   https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/animal-enrichment   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_enrichment   https://www.nal.usda.gov/animal-health-and-welfare/behavioral-management-animals   "zoo." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jan. 2026. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/zoo/276045. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMR12z5F9BE   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf2B1dT6Enc   https://nationalzoo.si.edu/center-species-survival/news/cheetah-cubdate-9-treats-and-toys

    32 min

  2. May 13

    Episode 92 Big Walks and Tiny Treasures

    Join Liz and Jill as we answer the questions “What is geocaching?” and “How long does it take to walk all the way around the world?” We have a fact about underwater creatures and a nonfiction book about wolves. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!     Regarding geocaching...  Go Geocaching! By Meghan Gottschall: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C875087  Go Geocaching! by Heather Schwartz: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C910003  https://cosmoquest.org/x/2021/04/random-space-fact-geocaching-on-the-iss/  https://www.geocaching.com/play  https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCB02X4  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterboxing_(hobby)  https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/state-parks/geocaching  https://www.mi-geocaching.org/  Regarding Circumnavigation... "Nellie Bly." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 11 Feb. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/Nellie-Bly/15794#main-ada. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/world-nellie-milestones/  https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/learn/women-forging-the-way/nellie-bly-around-the-world/  "Earth." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/Earth/110147. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2e30mxnmxdo  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pedestrian_circumnavigators  https://youtu.be/FL4nMQsp828?si=FDze-hOY3vdM2v3m  https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/how-long-take-travel-around-world  https://worldrunnersassociation.org/records/  https://circumnavigators.org/

    27 min

  3. May 6

    Episode 91 Mummy Lake

    In today’s episode we answer the questions, “What is white chocolate made of?” and “Which lake mummifies creatures that fall into it?” We hear some trivia from Programming Specialist Lauren and Liz recommends a chapter book about a Wonderland adventure. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!     Liz’s book recommendation: Alice With a Why by Anna James  Alice With a Why | Kent District Library | BiblioCommons     Concerning white chocolate:  "chocolate." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 21 Mar. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/chocolate/82278. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.   https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zngsqp3   https://www.livescience.com/61754-chocolate-facts.html   "chocolate." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 6 Dec. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/chocolate/273650. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.   https://candyusa.com/story-of-chocolate/   https://chocolate.mit.edu/science/   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_chocolate   https://www.thefoodhistorian.com/blog/before-nestle-a-history-of-white-chocolate     Concerning Lake Natron:  Amazing Earth by Anita Ganeri: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C825993   Spooky Lakes by Geo Rutherford: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C1154736   https://www.brilliant-africa.com/tanzania/lake-natron   https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/lake-that-turns-animals-to-stone-not-so-deadly-as-photos-suggest   https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/lake-turns-animals-to-stone   https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/lake-natron-tanzania-90191/   https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-alkaline-african-lake-turns-animals-into-stone-445359/   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natron   Lake Natron explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ia_McqhoA

    28 min

  4. Apr 15

    Episode 90 the Littlest Bear in the World

    Join Liz and Jill as we answer the questions “Why do we use soap to wash our hands?” and “What is the smallest bear in the world?” We have a fact about bread bubbles and a sweet chapter book about animal friends. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!   Regarding soap....  https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/data-research/facts-stats/index.html  "soap and detergent." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 6 Dec. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/soap-and-detergent/277108. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.  https://www.livescience.com/57044-science-of-soap.html  https://globalhandwashing.org/about-handwashing/history-of-handwashing/  "germ." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 6 Dec. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/germ/442739. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.  Regarding bears...  Sun Bear by Julie Murray: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C1209298  https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/worlds-smallest-bears  https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/sun-bear-fact-sheet/  https://planetwild.com/blog/sun-bear  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/sun-bear  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_bear  https://zooatlanta.org/animal/malayan-sun-bear/

    29 min

  5. Apr 1

    Episode 89 Owl Moon

    In today’s episode we answer the questions, “How do owls fly so quietly? What do owls eat and what happens to the parts they cannot digest? Can I have a pet owl?” and “Why can we see the moon in the daytime?” We hear some D&D trivia from Librarian Tabby and Jill recommends a chapter book about kids protecting owls. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!    Jill’s book recommendation: Hoot by Carl Hiaasen   https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C206833  Concerning owls:  https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/owl   "owl." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 16 Dec. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/owl/332197#main-ada. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.   https://blandfordnaturecenter.org/ambassadors-2/?#owls   https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Strigiformes/   https://www.thesprucepets.com/do-owls-make-good-pets-390707   https://www.internationalowlcenter.org/owlsaspets.html   https://www.owlresearchinstitute.org/owls-1     Concerning the moon:  The Moon Tonight by Jung Chang-hoo: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C936619   https://earthsky.org/moon-phases/do-we-all-see-the-same-moon-phase/   https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/why-can-you-see-the-moon-during-the-day-we-asked-a-nasa-scientist-episode-19/   https://science.nasa.gov/sun/facts/   https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question43.html   https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/seasons/en/   Moon doesn’t go around the Earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4z0Z7vC6gE   Solar time lapse: https://youtu.be/o-DHwNFDgOU

    32 min

  6. Mar 18

    Episode 88 Orange Cat, Orange Fruit, and the Color Orange

    "orange." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 12 Jan. 2017. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/orange/57261#main-ada. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.  https://www.livescience.com/45057-oranges-nutrition-facts.html  https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/health-benefits-oranges  https://www.uslanguageservices.com/blog/the-history-behind-english-color-names/  https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/color-etymology

    27 min

  7. Mar 4

    Episode 87 Turtle-Flour!

    In today’s episode we answer the questions, “What is flour made of?” and “What do turtles do in winter?” We hear a library fact of the day from KDL’s Data Coordinator Sheri and Liz recommends a delicious graphic novel about two friends on an adventure. To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!      Liz’s book recommendation: Night Chef by Mika Song  https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C1229987    Concerning flour:  https://www.funkidslive.com/learn/homeschool/baking/mission-3-how-do-we-make-flour/   "flour and flour milling." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 16 May. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/flour-and-flour-milling/274353. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.   "bread." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 5 Jan. 2022. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/bread/273343. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.   "wheat." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 6 Dec. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/wheat/277720. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.   https://fabflour.co.uk/fab-flour/how-is-flour-made/     Concerning turtles:   The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery & Matt Patterson   "turtle." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 4 Dec. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/turtle/277471. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.   https://blog.nature.org/2017/01/30/turtles-under-ice-winter-survival-hibernation-adaptation/#:~:text=Painted%20turtles%20spend%20most%20of,the%20mud%20beneath%20the%20water.   https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/39771-Chrysemys-picta   https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/michigan-species/reptiles/turtles   https://wildlifeinwinter.com/painted-turtle/   https://www.sarett.org/painted-turtles   https://virginiazoo.org/where-did-the-turtles-go-for-the-winter   Turtles breathing underwater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcqcfFd2htg

    27 min

  8. Feb 18

    Episode 86 Slurp, Click, and Growl

    Join Liz and Jill as we answer the questions “What year was the first phone invented?” and “What noise does a seahorse make?” We have a fact about buying books for the library and a road trip novel that you are sure to love! To submit your own question, go to KDL.org/Stump. We can’t wait to hear from you!     Regarding telephones...  https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/telephone/110260  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_telephone#:~:text=1667:%20Robert%20Hooke%20invents%20a,(non%2Delectrical)%20telephone.  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/theres-a-1200-year-old-phone-in-the-smithsonian-collections-180947641/  "Alexander Graham Bell." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 19 May. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Alexander-Graham-Bell/15220. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.  Regarding Seahorses...  Seahorses by Melissa Gish: https://kdl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S174C921475  Sea horse. (2024). Salem Press Primary Encyclopedia.   https://www.livescience.com/46718-seahorses-growl.html  https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/sea-life/seahorse-facts/  https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/seahorses-make-racket  www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/seahorse-fact-sheet  https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/fishkeeping-news/seahorses-growl-when-theyre-stressed/  https://projectseahorse.org/  https://www.theseahorsetrust.org/seahorse-facts/  Pygmy seahorse camouflage: https://youtu.be/Q3CtGoqz3ww?si=uspCBEInzoqShwKr

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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!

Information

  • Creator
    Kent District Library
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Stump the Librarian