Animal Chapter

Welcome to Backyard County, Mississippi—where the dirt is rich, the compost is gourmet, and the worms are smarter than they look. Meet Riley the Red Worm, a scrappy, sharp-witted underdog who just wants peace, quiet, and a prime spot in the compost heap. But when the legendary Night Crawler Nate slithers in from Fisher’s County with charm, muscle, and a mysterious agenda, Riley finds himself in the middle of the squirmiest showdown the soil has ever seen. With an all-star cast of bug buddies, a moldy villain threatening the entire garden, and a secret human experiment creeping closer ...

While the snow swirls outdoors and the fire crackles in the hearth, Mr. Putter decides to write a mystery book. But he soon learns that writing isn't as easy as he thought it would be.

Paddington doesn't intentionally turn his friend's wedding into an uproar by getting the wedding ring stuck on his paw. Nor does he plan for Mr. Curry to slip on his marmalade sandwich in the middle of an important golf shot. But these sorts of things and more just happen when Paddington goes to town.

Mr. Putter and his neighbor Mrs. Teaberry both like music. He likes the broken hearts and big round heroes of opera. She likes the broken hearts and big-haired stars of country music. One day Mrs. Teaberry has one of her famous ideas. She and Mr. Putter will form their own band. Mr. Putter is a good sport. He buys a little horn and practices for hours. Finally, he decides that everyone will be happier if he uses the horn to hold up his tomato plant.

Newbery Medal winner Cynthia Rylant is widely recognized for the consistent excellence of her tales for young readers. Her Mr. Putter & Tabby stories have won immense popularity, and the 20th book in the series, Mr. Putter & Tabby Ring the Bell, showcases Rylant at her very best. When Mr. Putter wishes he could go back to school - just for one day - he soon finds that he’ll need a few tricks up his sleeve (pet tricks, that is) to keep the kids entertained.

When Ralph and his pesky cousins accidentally make a mess at the Mountain View Inn, Ralph decides that he'd better take his motorcycle and leave. He persuades his young pal Ryan to take him to school, where Ralph is an instant hit with Ryan's classmates. But Ralph doesn't like being told what to do. Worse than that, his precious motorcycle gets broken. Is Ralph stuck at school forever?

Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle's classic Bear books have been a hit with children for many generations and have sold more than 11 million copies. This wonderful compilation brings together the beloved first three Bear books—Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?; and Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?—and includes the newest addition, Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?

Eleven-year-old Leo is an "armchair adventurer." This, according to Dad, means he'd choose adventures in books or video games over real-life experiences. And while Leo hates the label, he can’t argue with it. Unlike his little sister Lizzie, Leo is not a risk-taker.

It all started when my sister, Thea, discovered an old, mysterious map. In no time at all, my sister dragged me and my cousin Trap into her treasure hunt. It was an adventure I'd never forget.

The magic tree house has returned, and it's taking Jack and Annie back in time to Alaska, 1925. There they meet Balto, a jet-black Siberian husky destined to save victims of the diphtheria epidemic. But the trail isn't easy, and Balto is going to need Jack and Annie's help!

Their magic tree house takes Jack and Annie deep into the sea, where they meet up with dolphins, sharks, and octopi as they search for the answer to an ancient riddle.

Twins Bradley and Brian Pinto are getting ready to celebrate Mother's Day by treating their mom to a show by Hypo, the world's greatest hypnotist. Brian hopes that if Hypo can hypnotize his mom into loving ducks, then she will let him raise ducks in their backyard. But when the Pinto family gets home from the show, the twins' mom starts acting strange. She splashes in the bathtub for hours, she leaves corn kernels all over, and - could it be? - she quacks!

Ever since he was a boy, Mr. Putter has always loved planes. And he still loves playing with toys - even though he is pretty old. While visiting the toy store with his fine cat, Tabby, he decides to buy a brand new, red and white, remote-controlled biplane! Remembering when he was young, how he stayed awake at night wishing for such a toy, Mr. Putter thinks about the boy he met earlier that day. The boy was a little shy, clumsy and forgetful - just like Mr. Putter was when he was that age!

When Paddington returns from his trip to Peru, he doesn't waste any time getting back to business. The stock exchange, the ballet, the barber's shop, Mr. Curry's kitchen - nothing is safe when Paddington gets to work.

After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin the beetle surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that could help recover a famous drawing by Albrecht Dürer. But James can't go through with the plan without Marvin's help. And that's where things get really complicated (and interesting!)

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig, she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toast feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons' bed. BOOM! CRACK! Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson.

Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, love to take naps - too many naps. What they need is a sport! Luckily, Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke, know of a baseball team they can join. It's not long before Mr. Putter is ready to play ball, but will his creaky knees cooperate? And can Zeke avoid wreaking havoc on the field? Win or lose, this baseball team will never be the same!

Only a bear like Paddington could find himself taking a driving test by mistake, becoming a model at an art school, or being sawed in half at a magic show. No matter what adventures await, Paddington always comes through with flying colors.

Eugenia and Baby Lincoln may live next door to a pig, but that doesn't stop them from living a gracious life. And the amiable Mercy Watson is equally determined to follow the delightful scent (and delicious taste) of the pansies her thoughtful neighbors are planting in beautify their yard. "Where have all the flowers gone?" shouts Eugenia.

Ever since Paddington started working in the garden, it's been a bit quieter in the Brown household. But with Paddington around, things never stay quiet for long. From a paw-sticking toffee disaster to a slight scorching of Father Christmas' beard, Paddington brings a splash of adventure to every day.