Baby Tales

Who can resist the magnetic allure of a baby? The presence of little ones of any species invariably generates instant attention and concern from onlookers. In fact, it seems that both humans and animals are hard-wired to find youngsters adorable. The practical and essential reasons why the very young have an ability to play on our heart strings are explored in Baby Tales.

Baby Tales demonstrates how young animals learn and develop, and examines the role of “cuteness” in helping to forge and solidify bonds between mother and offspring. Many newborns in the animal kingdom are entirely dependent upon their mothers — and sometimes their fathers, as well — for survival. And, especially in the wild, nurturing and protecting the young can require enormous effort, courage, and self-sacrifice. The cuteness of offspring creates a strong visual bond that helps evoke a caring response in parents, which must spend months, if not years, feeding, protecting, and teaching their young to survive on their own.

Production Credits

Web Credits

Producer
RONNIE GODEANU

Art Director
SABINA DALEY

Designers
LENNY DROZNER
KAREN MATTSON
RADIK SHVARTS

Pagebuilding
BRIAN SANTALONE

Writer
DAVID MALAKOFF

Production Assistance
PETER TIERNEY

Technical Director
BRIAN LEE

Content Consultant
SUSANE LEE

About the Writer
David Malakoff is a journalist covering research discoveries and the politics of science for SCIENCE MAGAZINE in Washington, D.C. His writing has appeared in a wide range of venues, including THE ECONOMIST, THE WASHINGTON POST, and ABCNews.com.

Thirteen Online is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York’s Kravis Multimedia Education Center in New York City. Anthony Chapman, Director of Interactive & Broadband. Bob Adleman, Business Manager. Carmen DiRienzo, Vice President and Managing Director, Corporate Affairs.

Television Credits

Narrated by
NANCY LEWMAN

For Malvina Martin Productions:

Producer
MALVINA ANDERSON MARTIN

Editor
ADAM LINGO

Original Music
COTTRELL MANGUM MUSIC

Associate Producer
R. PRIYA

Cinematographer
KEITH BRUST

Sound Recordist
BRIAN BUCKLEY

Additional Sound
R. PRIYA

Stock Footage Research
R. PRIYA
SHANNON LIVINGSTON

Production Assistants
JOSHUA AXELROD
ARLEN SHERWOOD

Offline Facility
PARK GROUP

Online Editor
VICKY BRADEN

Colorist
DAVE MARKUN

Audio Mix
NELSON FUNK

Sound Design
MICHAEL KELLY

Special Thanks
SUNNYSIDE FARMS
DAVID COLE
MICHAEL RANDOLPH
WESLEY CURTIS BEAL
BOB BRIDGES
DONNA MATTHEWS
CHARLES MATTHEWS
DONNA DALZELL
FRANK BAYLISS
MARK RHINES
LYNN SULLIVAN
CAROL LUCKING
BARBARA SHERWOOD
BRENDA VANNESS
RAE’S DELI
MELISSA C. MATCHETT
DAVID SMITH
MARTIN NELSON