Photo 1: Snow and her babies Here’s Snow, my curious little ferret, looking straight at the camera with her beautiful white face. Under her, three of her four babies are feeding, nestled safely in her cozy nest made from a slightly stained old towel, with pieces of torn newspaper scattered around. I didn’t want to wash it, as I didn’t want to disturb her or her rapidly growing babies. Snow is such a kind and devoted mother, and you can see her gentle watchfulness as she cares for her little ones. Vocabulary: Curious – wanting to know or learn about something Nestled – settled in comfortably and safely Cozy – warm, comfortable, and snug Stained – marked or discolored by dirt or something spilled Scattered – spread around in different places Kind – caring and gentle toward others Devoted – very loving and committed Watchfulness – paying close attention to keep someone safe Photo 2: Close-up of one baby Here’s a close-up of one of Snow’s babies. It fits in the palm of my hand, its eyes still closed, so delicate and small — only slightly bigger than a finger. Its skin is soft and pink, with just a hint of fuzz, tiny ears, paws, and a hairless tail. Its little nose seems almost too big for its face, and every little feature is fragile and perfect, a tiny miracle of life. Vocabulary: Close-up – a photo taken very near the subject to show details Palm – the inside part of your hand Delicate – very small, fragile, and easily damaged Paws – the feet of an animal, often soft and small Fragile – easily broken or harmed