Tree-dotted African grasslands teem with beloved creatures like elephants, giraffes, and zebras. But there is more to the landscape than meets the eye. Down in the burrows, a colony of naked mole rats (NMRs), unlikely to win any beauty pageants, lead busy, interesting lives. And just as does any human village, an NMR burrow reflects the different talents, personalities, and aspirations of its residents. Mole rat twins Middee and Maudee are esteemed elders in their colony. But there is one ...

Featuring acclaimed humorist David Sedaris's unique blend of hilarity and heart, this illustrated collection of animal-themed tales is an utter delight.Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life. In "The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck," three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In "Hello Kitty," a cynical feline struggles to sit th...

Noseholes and elephants! A pet-eating monster interrupts a perfect playdate with Princess Sneezewort. . . . But who is that new masked avenger?Princess Magnolia and Princess Sneezewort have plans . . . mysterious plans, like a princess playdate! They dress-up slam! They karaoke jam! But then a shout from outside Princess Sneezewort's castle interrupts their fun. It’s a monster! This is a job for the Princess in Black. Yet when the Princess in Black gets there, she ...

The Princess in Black may know how to handle all kinds of monsters, but a kitten set on destruction? Me-OW!Duchess Wigtower had heard that pets are fun, but all her kitten has gotten her is nine lives' worth of problems. Eeeeek! It’s time for someone else to deal with this catastrophe. Princess Magnolia is thrilled when a kitten lands on her doorstep, but just as she’s about to play with Plumpkins (or should it be Hugmaster Floof?) the monster ala...

With its ruthless concision and artful mysteries, Kathryn Scanlan's Kick the Latch is lightning in a bottle. Based on transcribed interviews with Sonia, a horse trainer, the novel vividly captures the arc of one woman's life at the racetrack – the flat land and ramshackle backstretch; the bad feelings and friction; the winner's circle and the racetrack bar; the fancy suits and fancy boots; and the 'particular language' of 'grooms, jockeys, trainers, racing secretaries, stewards, pony peopl...

In the New York Times bestselling Bad Kitty series from writer and illustrator Nick Bruel, prepare for a battle royale as Uncle Murray steps into the role of petsitter in Bad Kitty vs the Babysitter.Kitty's owners are taking a week off and leaving Kitty and Puppy at home. So who's going to watch them? Good ol' Uncle Murray, star of the Fun Facts feature of previous Kitty books—the guy you thought knew everything about cats. Think again! It isn't l...

Need a break . . . now? Horizontal Parenting offers 50 hilarious and effective activities designed to entertain kids while you lie down.Children are exhausting! In the marathon of modern parenting, everyone needs a break—just 10 precious minutes to rest your body and tune out the chaos. Enter Horizontal Parenting, the super-simple parenting hack for everyone, everywhere. With creative and practical advice for overworked parents and caretakers who "just nee...

Learn English with James and the Giant Peach! A Penguin Readers book. Discover fifteen famous Roald Dahl adventures, adapted for learners of English aged 7+. Can you read them all?Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Readers include simplified text, illustrations and language learning exercises. Plea...

He's digging up clues. Literally.When struggling freelance writer, Clarissa Hayes, and her trouble-making Saint Bernard, Paw, visit their relatives in Upstate New York, they are saddened to find the family in mourning. Clarissa's amateur sleuth uncle has died, evidently from a heart attack.But was the death truly an accident? An anonymous note hints that her uncle was murdered, and now Clarissa and Paw are determined to sniff out the truth....

The poems in this book tell stories of animals and nature.From two sweaty hippos, a smiling lizard and some creepy crawlers to a few tricky dandelions. At the end of each poem, find out more in an interview with a key character or a list of fascinating facts.The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Watch out, parents!Hilarious jokes are coming your way! This Kid's Joke Book will turn your 9-year-old into a young comedian."Almost all creativity involves purposeful play." – Abraham MaslowThe You Laugh You Lose Challenge is a book designed for both single-player and to be shared and read by everyone in your household.But why not let everyone play? Gather your family around the fire, call...

It’s just Penn Newburgh and his digital camera, all alone and out in the woods. He’s on the trail of a cougar, the biggest cat in North America. He’s got fresh tracks, but what are the odds? And that ain’t the half of it, as there’s more than one kind of cougar. A short and romantic tale of adventure.