But a mystery is afoot, for in the midst of the games, music, and revelry, someone has eaten the birthday feast. The rhyming text and lavish, detailed illustrations each provide clues, and it's up to the reader to piece them together and decide whodunit! "The fun of poring over the pictures is matched by the enjoyment derived from the textwitty, ingenious verses." -- Publishers Weekly Graeme Base is the author of many award-winning books for children, including Animalia (Puffin), The Sign of the Seahorse, and most recently, The Discovery of Dragons.

    Will this nonconformist teach old penguins some new tricks and help save the day? This hilarious series following the adventures of one superlative penguin is a modern classic. Tacky likes to do splashy cannonballs and greet his friends with a loud, “What’s happening?” His fellow penguins find his odd behavior somewhat bothersome. But when fearsome poachers come to the iceberg hunting for penguins, Tacky’s odd ways may be just the thing that saves the day. From beloved children’s book author Helen Lester, and cherished illustrator Lynn Munsinger, Tacky the Penguin is a delightful tale about being true to yourself--even when it means being a little different from everybody else.

    The first four little books, published in 1980, have now been reprinted more than twenty times, and sales are in the millions.Jill Barklem chose the original small format herself: it seemed to suit her miniature community of self-sufficient mice. But her ability to visualize the detail of Brambly Hedge deserves a closer look, and for this reason the original pictures have now been re-organized to a larger size. At last Brambly Hedge can be enjoyed in all its detail, displaying Jill Barklem's artistic talent to the full.The Four Season of Brambly Hedge begins with a twenty-page "conversation" with Jill Barklem, illustrated with her early sketches and notebooks. This fascinating material has never been published before: it traces the origins and development of Brambly Hedge and reveals the artist's total commitment to her vision.

    The only horse to ever break the two-minute mark in winning the Kentucky Derby until recent winner Monarchos, Secretariat also pulled off one of the most astounding victories in the annals of horse racing by winning the Belmont Stakes by a record-breaking thirty-one lengths. Now William Nack updates his acclaimed portrait with a new afterword that examines the legacy of one of ESPN's "100 Greatest Athletes of the Century": the only horse to ever grace the covers of Time , Newsweek , and Sports Illustrated all in the same week.

    Grampa warned him to be careful with Beauty, but Luke didn't listen.He'd told her all about his hopes, dreams, and fears -- secrets Beauty would never reveal. She was his pal, who went skinny dipping with him in forbidden ponds and galloping after cattle in dangerous cowboy games he knew he shouldn't play. Until the night of the wild storm, when Beauty raced through the barn doors he'd forgotten to close into a terrible trap, and Luke ran into the blinding rain desperate to save the best friend he'd ever have...

    Frizzle's class become reptiles themselves and discover what it's like to be cold-blooded.

    From tales of vegetarian piranha fish and voiceless dogs to the scientific search for the genes that threaten to destroy the cheetah, Quammen captures the natural world with precision. A distinguished natural science essayist, Quammen’s reporting is masterful and thought provoking and his curiosity and fascination with the world of living things is infectious.

    This book is, like its author, a unique achievement. Weaving a vivid portrait of her own life and her bees' lives through the seasons, Hubbell writes "about bees to be sure, but also about other things: the important difference between loneliness and solitude . . . the accommodating of oneself to nature" (Philadelphia Inquirer).

    "A sensitive and sensible first book about death." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Filled with warmth and reassurance,...When a Pet Dies assures youngsters that no matter how badly they feel when they lose a pet, in time their hurt will ease, and they will be able to remember with fondness the happiness they shared.Booklist Fred Rogers and Jim Judkis live in Pittsburgh, PA.

    But Little Bush Deer is onto Anansi's scheme, and hatches a plan to beat him at his own game.Based on tales originating in West Africa and familiar in Caribbean culture, the five-book Anansi the Trickster series is full of slapstick humor and mischief. Eric A. Kimmel's imaginative energy combined with Janet Stevens' expressive illustrations create the perfect silly stories for fun-loving kids.

    While others thought Jane would be terrified by the toy, she adored it and it inspired a life-long love of animals in her. Jane dreamed of a life spent working with animals, and when she was twenty-six years old, she ventured into the forests of Africa to observe chimpanzees in the wild. During her expeditions she braved many dangers and she got to know an amazing group of wild chimpanzees—intelligent animals whose lives, in work and play and family relationships, bear a surprising resemblance to our own. Through her work at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania and her own Roots and Shoots program she has become a tireless advocate for animals and the planet. As for that stuffed toy, Jubilee still sits on Goodall’s dresser in London.

    He comes from the Gates of Death—and if he can, he will destroy the Dancer.Between them stands Duchess, last true mare of the Appaloosa line. With the Dancer, she runs away from the barns of men—but is stalked by Anor and his Harrier Hounds. If they can kill her and her foal, the Appaloosa breed will be ended.

    "She's stood in that stall for twelve years and given me thousands of gallons of milk."But Blossom the cow was too old now for milking, and the farmer needed to make room for a younger animal. So, sadly, he was sending blossom to market. At least, that's what he and the vet thought. But as James Herriot continued on his rounds to Mrs. Pickering and her Basset hounds, he was about to find that Blossom has a surprise in store...

    There were ten in the bed and the little one said Roll over, roll over! But who were the ten? And what happened to them all after they rolled out of bed? All is revealed in this bedtime tale featuring a small child and an assortment of soft toys.

    Jane Tabby can't explain why her four precious kittens were born with wings, but she's grateful that they are able to use their flying skills to soar away from the dangerous city slums where they were born. However, once the kittens escape the big city, they learn that country life can be just as difficult!

    Creatures that fear little, bears compete for survival with the only other animals that can threaten their existence: Humans. Bear Attacks is a thorough and unflinching study of attacks made on humans. This is the sometimes horrific, yet always instructive, story of Bear and Human, written by the leading scientific authority in the field. This book is for everyone who camps, hikes, or visits bear country -and for anyone who wants to learn more about these fearsome but always fascinating wild creatures.

    Perfect for growing families or as a baby shower gift. When Koala Lou’s mother becomes so busy that she forgets to tell her firstborn how much she loves her, Koala Lou enters the Bush Olympics, intending to win an event and her mother’s love all at one time. Filled with charming art and featuring a heartwarming story about family, read the classic that's been called, “a first-rate choice for bedtime, story hour, or reading aloud.”--The Horn Book.

    Eerie footsteps cross the roof at midnight. Local townsfolk become oddly secretive. And then, while fishing, Qwilleran hooks on to a murder mystery. Soon Qwilleran enters into a game of cat and mouse with the killer, while Koko develops a sudden and uncanny fondness for classical music...

    The Arctic wolf, a powerful and compelling predator, has been captured ever so gently in the pages of White Wolf.Share the adventure of living with a pack of wolves on Ellesmere Island, a pure wilderness in the High Arctic where man is only an infrequent visitor. Experience the drama of a musk ox hunt, the innocent joy of wolf pups playing at the den and the serenity of Ellesmere. The insightful text and the 160 stunning photographs will bring the inspiring world of the Arctic to anyone willing to turn these pages. It will be a memorable experience.

    With its bright watercolor illustrations and one sentence of text per page, toddlers will love following Cookie through the days of the week--and seeing all the trouble he causes around the house!

    Bismark the Buffalo is grumpy and unlovable until his friends teach him how to laugh and show him that wearing colorful underwear can be great fun.

    Dr Ian Stirling, the best known polar bear scientist in the world, compresses the major new discoveries of the last 40 years of research on this iconic mammal into a new easily readable and scientifically comprehensive book about the ecology and natural history of polar bears.  He explains how polar bears evolved, how they were researched, aspects of their behaviour and how the threat of global warming is jeopardizing the survival of this magnificent hunter.

    Based on field research, the book brings the amateur naturalist the latest information on animal gaits and the interpretation of scat.

    It is now brought back into print, complete with the original drawings by Francis L. Jaques."As I reflect on the multitude of books published and read over the past thirty years, I can think of none to which I have returned more often and with more constant satisfaction than Louis Halle's Halle's Spring in Washington, a mixture of ornithology, international affairs, and reflections on the human scene, " wrote John W Nason in the American Scholar in 1961. "Written by a State Department official during World War II, it is an escape to the real world of nature and man. 'To snatch the passing moment and examine it for eternity is the noblest of occupations, ' writes Halle. He does so with quiet wisdom and originality. To read him is inevitably to share his passion."In the form of a journal, the book takes the reader along on excursions through Washington and its environs -- the Tidal Basin, Rock Creek Park, and beyond -- to experience the rebirth of the season. To the movement of winds and skies, the migrations of birds, the budding of plants and trees, Mr. Halle brings a quick and observant eye. But more important, he brings an imagination that can evoke in the reader a new perception of the drama in the universe around him.

    Now an international bestseller, these are the fascinating adventures of a leading wolf expert on a National Geographic expedition, as he tracks the rare white Arctic wolf to its den and lives with the wolf pack.

    Winner is the spellbinding saga of Macha Sheridan, the passionate gypsy daughter of a horse-trading rogue, fated to ride and race with a spirit no man can match, driven to love, destined to survive.

    Horace Hayes's "Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners" has been the standard work on equine health care for more than a century. The seventeenth edition of this "bible" is fully revised by one of England's leading veterinarians, Peter D. Rossdale, Ph.D., F.R.C.V.S., with the help of leading veterinary specialists. A totally comprehensive manual of horse medicine and surgery, it explains the symptoms and treatments of every disease or injury that the horse owner is likely to encounter. Written in a straightforward manner that will appeal to both novices and experts, the book contains detailed sections on the organ systems, the musculoskeletal system, the reproductive system, infectious diseases, medical and surgical advances, management and husbandry, exercise physiology, the purchase of horses, legal and medical certification, and up-to-date information on the veterinary service itself. Also included are invaluable Sections on nutrition, determination of age, proprietary medicines, prohibited substances, and notifiable diseases. This latest revised edition has entirely new illustrations and photographs.Clear, concise, and authoritative, "Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners" saves horses' lives.

    And in the whole wide blue sea you can't find a nicer fish. But because Big Al is large and scary-looking, the little fish are afraid to get to know him. What can he do? He tries everything he can think of -- from disguising himself with seaweed to burrowing under the ocean floor so he'll look smaller. But something always goes wrong, and lonely Big Al wonders if he'll ever have a single friend. Then one frightening day, when a fishing net captures the other fish, Big Al gets the chance to prove what a wonderful friend he can be!

    Yet Mike Tomkies called him a "gentle giant". For eight years this remarkable dog was Mike's constant companion as they roamed 300 square miles of the Scottish Highlands.

    Will he speak soft words unto thee?' Job 41 Whale Nation is a hymn to the beauty, intelligence and majesty of the largest mammal on earth. A 'green classic' read with natural resonance by its author, it rarely fails to strike a chord in the heart of those concerned with the abuse of our planet. It is joined by additional content devoted to a fascinating account of whale history.Music: Mendelssohn, Holst, Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Debussy, Ciurlionis, The Song of the Humpback Whale

    Amy Liptrot, the author of The Outrun, has written the introduction.

    Full-color illustrations.

    It is the obvious first place to look for a solution or a hint to all your questions while having fun looking at the marvelous photos at the same time.

    Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of a variety of mammals, insects, and other animals people often fear, dislike, or simply ignore.

    Almost blind and deaf, a woman mistakes a visiting bear for a rabbi.

    Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises combines a highly informative text with spectacular full-color illustrations to provide one of the most comprehensive, balanced, and attractive surveys of these majestic creatures ever published.

    The author shares her valuable insights into this beloved breed, drawing from her wealth of experience as a breeder, exhibitor, and AKC judge. Her factual (as well as entertaining) book shines with a special love for this truly special breed. From the Collie's history, Standard, and care, to breeding, nutrition, puppy evaluation, showing, and more, this book has it all.

    

    Where is the milk the freshest and the mice the most plump? Cats know, just as they know best how to groom themselves, take care of their kittens, and more. "Enchanting illustrations. A cat-lover's delight".--Kirkus Reviews. Full-color throughout.

    

    One day she finds a giant egg . . . tap, tap, tap, out pops a baby dinosaur. Now the farm has another huge mouth to feed. Full-color illustrations.

    This Second Edition is thoroughly revised, and emphasizes the clinical component of veterinary medicine particular to the ferret, reflecting recent advancements of knowledge and the author's work at MIT. New techniques for routine diagnostic and surgical procedures are covered, as well as discussion of eosinophilic gastroenteritis; hormone-dependent cystitis; lymphomas; rabies vaccines, Aleutian disease; insulinoma; alopecia; adrenal neoplasia; bleeding disorders; and anesthesia protocols. Lecturers - Click here to order a FREE Review Copy of this title !

    Size indicators, charts, an index, and more.

    A young lamb that is rescued by a farmer and raised with the family's sheepdog grows up thinking of himself as a dog, and his ability to herd sheep proves very valuable during a severe snowstorm.

    Written to Grahame's four-year-old son, the letters introduce the beloved characters that appeared later in The Wind in the Willows. 118 illustrations.

    Containing a fascinating array of facts, explanations and diagrams, it divulges all the secrets of taming, controlling and "educating" unbroken and vicious horses, their abuses, diseases and remedies. Learn how to tell a horse's age by its teeth; how to break a horse of its kicking habit, teach a colt to follow with a whip, and much more.

    

    When one of his release sites was raided by a golden eagle, he managed to save a peregrine chick, and decided to make an improbable two-thousand-mile trip with the surviving young falcon, Dolly. From the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, following the autumnal migration of waterfowl, O'Brien taught her to hunt as a wild falcon would, in the hopes of releasing her into the natural world. The Rites of Autumn is the riveting account of their incredible journey. (51/2 X 81/4, 208 pages, map)

    There was water all over her apartment!"Well," said Angel, "what should I do now? I can't swim."Then Angel got a good idea, and the fun began. . .

    Paintings and text capture the strange moods of cats and introduce the alphabet.

    The number of citations has nearly doubled to 900, reflecting more than a decade's worth of scientific inquiry and discovery. As with the original North American Owls, this second edition will become the standard work in the field.

    When four children come face to face with a great grey rhinoceros, their adventurous spirits desert them - just for a moment.

    

    In 'Thank You, Nicky!' our hero earns the gratitude of his friend and shows even the youngest readers that a small child can earn priases of grown-ups.

    

    

    Marvel Monkey Tales are endearing original stories that you and your child will enjoy sharing over and over again

    He has written extensively on animals, both as a philosopher of nature and as an expert on bird song. Since the publication of Creative Synthesis and Philosophic Method in 1970, he has devoted a great deal of attention to animals. Among the main issues he advances is that the relationship between human beings and animals helps us to better understand our relationship with God.

    

    The books are easy and enjoyable to read, and feature full-page, full-color pictures and photographs. Each title includes interesting information about the authors, and comprehension questions to spark discussion.

    Perfect for the Halloween season and for those young tricksters just dying to get a laugh out of a favorite occasion. Black line illustrations.

    When the selfish townspeople of Hamelin refuse to pay the piper for spiriting away the hordes of rats that had plagued them, he exacts his revenge by luring away their greatest treasure, the children of the town.This version of Browning's poem, is illustrated and revised by Terry Small. He updated some of the Robert Browning's language. For example, Browning moved the town from Hamelin to the province of Brunswick; Small returns it to Hamelin. Browning's "bate a stiver" becomes "cut my price."Small's retelling of this medieval poem adds impact without changing the original flavor. Black-and-white illustrations.

    -- Colorful picture books filled with fascinating facts and amazing records and data-- Colorful illustrations and cartoons

    This streamlined volume contains; a simple field guide covering 80 common seashells found in the North America from shores along the Pacific, the Gulf Coast and Atlantic, a basic overview of the shells divided into the three major groups--gastropods, chitons and bivalves, covering seashell features helpful in identification, tips on where to look for shells; the basic equipment useful in seashell-hunting and text on the different life cycles of the animals which inhabit them.This pocket guide is brimming with information; detailed photographs and an illustrated table of various shell groups; information about the range and natural habitats of different seashells; the family and class each individual shell species belong to, facts for the shell-collector including commercial value of certain shells and a glossary of technical terms.Whether you are a casual beachcomber, a serious shell-collector or just interested in the seashells you find in the sand, the National Audubon Society Pocket Guide to Familiar Seashells of North America is a handy reference guide to bring along on your next trip to the beach.

    Dr. Doctor and Mrs. Dr. Doctor, who are a married team of medical pigs, experience a change in their office routine when it is time for Mrs. Dr. Doctor to have her new babies.

    Moore and illustrated with hilarious Garfield drawings and "bubble" commentary.

    

    Background information on everything from coats and head markings to breaking and rearing provides an introduction to this encyclopedic reference of major breeds. Each entry for the more than 170 breeds covered includes details of the breed's history, its place of origin and current geographical distribution, functions, aptitudes, and notable physical and temperamental characteristics. Beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs and handy visual symbols, this stunning, authoritative book will prove invaluable to the amateur equestrian and the professional jockey or trainer alike.

    

    Pig sisters Betsy and Bonnie begin an innocent game to see who can perform certain tasks first, but the fun wears off for Bonnie when Betsy becomes obsessed with winning every time.