# Stick Your Tongue Out!

- Source: StoryWeaver (storyweaver.org.in), CC BY, Pratham Books, StoryWeaver, CC BY 4.0
- Reading level: Grades 1 and 2
- Subjects: Animals
- Topics: tongue, blue, helps, tongues, flies, forked
- Length: 213 words, about 2 min
- By: Praba Ram, Sheela Preuitt
- Original: <https://storyweaver.org.in/en/stories/25932-stick-your-tongue-out>
- Page: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/storyweaver/stick-your-tongue-out>
- Open in Sprouts: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/?read=storyweaver/stick-your-tongue-out>

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Blue tongue Black tongue

Long tongue Strong tongue

Spiky tongue Sticky tongue

Rough tongue Smooth tongue

Forked tongue Fast tongue

Heavy tongue Hairy tongue

**What is YOUR tongue like?**

**Let’s talk about tongues**

Did you know that tongues are made of muscle and are able to do many different things? Yet tongues never get tired or sore!

**Polar Bear’s** blue tongue absorbs the sun’s heat to keep warm.

**Giraffe’s** tongue is dark, which protects it from sunburn in the African savannah.

**Pangolin** puts its long tongue into anthills to slurp up ants – its favorite snack.

**Salamander** shoots out its powerful tongue to snatch crickets and fruit flies.

**Goose** grips grass with its spiky tongue and tears it off to munch.

**Frog** catches flies with its sticky saliva and stretchy tongue.

**Cat’s** rough tongue helps it brush its fur.

**Dog** cools off by sticking out its tongue that swells up when it gets too hot.

**Snake** uses its forked tongue to smell its surroundings.

**Chameleon’s** tongue darts out with lightning speed to grab that grasshopper before it leaps away.

**Blue Whale**, the largest animal on Earth, has the heaviest tongue that helps trap tiny krill that it loves to eat.

**Flamingo’s** hairy tongue helps filter blue-green algae and shrimps that are its favourite food.

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## Picture credits

- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10861-animals-their-tongues-out>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10817-polar-bear-and-giraffe>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10818-pangolin-and-salamander>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10819-goose-and-frog>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10820-cat-and-dog>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10821-snake-and-chameleon>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10822-whale-and-flamingo>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10823-children-sticking-their-tongues-out>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10866-polar-bear-and-giraffe-and-pangolin>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10858-salamander-and-goose-and-frog>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10859-cat-and-dog-and-snake>)
- Sandhya Prabhat, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/10860-chameleon-and-whale-and-flamingo>)