Nature Mysteries

Life innovates constantly, producing perfectly adapted species—but there's a catch. Many animals and plants eke out seemingly unremarkable lives. Passive, constrained, modest, threatened. Then, in a blink of evolutionary time, they flourish spectacularly. Once we start to look, these 'sleeping beauties' crop up everywhere. But why? Looking at the book of life, from apex predators to keystone crops, and informed by his own cutting-edge experiments, renowned scientist Andreas Wagner demonstrates that innovations can come frequently and cheaply to nature, well before they are needed.

My troublemaker cousin was trapped in Transratania! And before I could even squeak, my sister, Thea, dragged me along on her rescue mission. Little did we know that Transratania is the land of vampire bats! Holey cheese, bats give me goose bumps!

Can you SPOT the mystery? Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are visiting the San Diego Zoo. When a rare amur leopard goes missing, everyone is a suspect! Can these expert clue hunters find out how the leopard got loose?

Samantha Moon figured her daughter's birthday would be nice and normal, not usher in a magical apocalypse. Amid the frequent chaos in her life, Sam has learned to take comfort in the boring moments. She's one of the few people who doesn't mind a long day in the office. So when Paxton's fourteenth birthday rolled around, she expected it would be cute, innocent and full of unicorn-themed stuff. An actual unicorn, though? Not so much. What's an immortal psychic vampire to do when a creature of fable decides to crash in their backyard? Sam has no idea. However, it soon becomes apparent that the...

Tricked-up pickup! Hank the Cowdog is about to go on the ride of his life! When the old pickup truck breaks down, Slim ends up with a brand-new model on loan while the old one gets fixed. But Hank is used to the simple life on the ranch and doesn't know what to do when faced with power windows and door locks.

Someone has been stealing feed out of the feed shed, and Hank knows that it's his job to do whatever he can do to help nab the culprit. So when Slim sets a live-animal trap in the shed, Hank takes it upon himself to check it in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the trap is a little trickier than Hank anticipated, and in the process of his investigation Hank manages to get himself...well...trapped.

Didi Dodo, the heroic spy, and Koko Dodo, the cookie chef, are off to solve another kooky caper! In Double-O Dodo, Koko has a big problem: His trusty assistant, the Queen, has been kidnapped! Over a frantic phone call, she tells Koko that she’s been kidnapped by a human, which is preposterous - everyone knows that humans aren’t real! Luckily, Didi is on the case. Her plan: To go undercover at the Humanland amusement park to find the Queen.

No self-respecting Head of Ranch Security would be caught dead sleeping on the job...so when Slim catches Hank asleep, not once but TWICE, Hank knows something sinister is afoot. And, if that's the case, then odds are that Pete the Barncat is involved. Later that day, the case takes an interesting twist when Hank learns that Pete has been missing for two days! Worried about her precious kitty, Sally May asks Slim and Hank to find and rescue Pete from whatever trouble he might’ve found himself in.

Who is Geronimo Stilton? That's me! I run a newspaper, but my true passion is writing adventure stories. Here in New Mouse City, the capital of Mouse Island, my books are all best sellers! My stories are funny, fa-mouse-ly funny. They are whisker-licking-good tales, and that's a promise.

The world’s shark population is in trouble for a sad, simple reason: shark fin soup. And although it’s illegal, poachers have been targeting Florida’s biannual migration of blacktip sharks. Marine biologist Doc Ford needs some assistance protecting the sharks and enlists the help of three kids - Luke, Maribel, and Sabina. Luke is brand-new to Florida from the Midwest; sisters Maribel and Sabina have only recently arrived from Cuba - and all three feel like fish out of water. It’s going to take some convincing for them to work as a team.

When the Aldens visit Peggy and Doc Firmin's farm, they're in for a treat: a behind-the-scenes look at a real teddy bear workshop! But a very rare and valuable bear has disappeared from the toy hospital. Now it's up to the children to track down the teddy thief!

From the outside, Queenie the cat and Arthur the dog appear to have a lot in common. Both pets live in the charming Blackberry Hill inn. They both love their humans, twins Harmony and Bro. They both have a fondness for sausage. But that doesn't change the fact that they are mortal enemies. Goofy, big-hearted Arthur loves everyone he's ever met...except the snobby, scheming cat who's devoted her life to ruining his.

Seventh-grader Willa is head-over-hooves when she finds a secret note inviting her to Juniper Ranch—a sleepaway camp that’s all about horses. The camp promises trail rides, horseback swims, and “ghorst” stories, plus tons of new horse-girl and (gasp!) horse-boy friends. Even better? Willa’s pals from Oakwood Riding Academy—including her sworn frenemy, Amara—are all coming along for the fun. But when Willa makes a dangerous mistake and a beloved steed goes missing, everyone at Juniper Ranch is suddenly a suspect.

After helping clean up an oil spill in Connecticut, the Aldens are heading to a much cooler climate, where scientists are working to conserve the snow leopard population. With only hundreds left in the world, the Aldens know each animal is important. Can the Aldens do their part to help save this elusive and important animal?

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are excited to see Uncle Warren's new racehorse, Whirlaway, in action. But the night before the big race, the horse disappears! Can the kids figure it out or is Whirlaway out of the winner's circle for good?

When Mercy Watson the pig goes missing, all of Deckawoo Drive is in an uproar. The Watsons are inconsolable, and the local police, fire, and animal control departments are no help whatsoever. Bossy neighbor Eugenia Lincoln is not quite as sad as she might be, but thankfully her sister, Baby Lincoln, has the idea to hire a private investigator. Granted, Percival Smidgely, PI, may be more bumbler than gumshoe, but his pigeon, Polly, is there to point the way.

At Ridgewood Wildlife Sanctuary, even the slow winter season can take a surprising turn. Fraternal twins Ginny and Gino have spent their whole lives surrounded by wild animals, helping their parents care for everything from rescued deer to injured birds. But when a string of strange events starts disrupting the quiet routine at the sanctuary, the twins know something isn’t right. Teaming up with their best friends, Caroline and Victor, they begin to track down the cause — all while managing family life, friendships, and the daily demands of caring for wild animals. Blending humor, light...

When Hank the Cowdog sticks his nose where it doesn't belong - into an old pipe behind the machine shed - he gets more than he bargained for. Before he can say "boy howdy", Hank gets a nip that sets his eyes a-watering and his snouta-throbbing.

With their Very Exciting Spy Technology and their tried-and-true, toilet-based travel techniques, the InvestiGators are undercover and on the case! And on their first mission together, they have not one but two mysteries to solve! Can Mango and Brash uncover the clues, crack their cases, and corral the crooks—or will the criminals wriggle out of their grasp?

Hank the Cowdog and his trusty partner, Drover, are just beginning their latest investigation when a pirate suddenly appears on the front porch! Has the ranch really been set upon by one-legged men of the sea? Hank and Drover soon realize that the pirate is just Little Alfred in disguise.