Elizabeth Thornberry

Elizabeth "Eliza" Thornberry is the series' 12-year-old protagonist whom, unknown to most (with the exception of her older sister Debbie as of the movie), gained the ability to speak with animals after an encounter with an African shaman, two years prior to the start of the series at the age of ten. Eliza is portrayed as a geek by her extensive zoological knowledge and her glasses, braces and by occasionally standing pigeon-toed. She has freckles and shoulder-length red-orange hair that is usually worn in braided pigtails with two red elastic bands and occasionally a ponytail. She almost always wears a yellow dress, though later in the series she sports other clothes.