"Since I became a climate reporter — and then a new dad — bedtime stories are different now," writes CNN's Bill Weir.

"Coming home from flood or drought, wildfire or research lab there awaits a four-year old named River who loves story time almost as much as he loves animals.

'Once upon a time, there was a camel,' I begin, after settling into the night-night chair and flipping to a picture of his old man after a ride around the Great Pyramids of Giza. I point out the splayed toes perfect for walking on sand, and eyelids seemingly custom-made to see through a sandstorm. 'It looks like they were born to live in hot places, doesn’t it?'

River nods.

'Wrong!' I blurt with the zeal of discovery. 'The camel is actually from Canada! Like your mom!'

Camel fur turns out to be a decent sunscreen that helps with thermal regulation, those snowshoe feet perform well in sand while triple eyelids evolved in countless blizzards also work in Sudanese haboobs.

But these accidental advantages were just the beginning."

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📸: Julian Quinones/CNN