Classic Nature

On 20 July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon. The local newspapers were awash with news of this triumphant achievement and of course, Mooty had to be the first mouse on the moon!

The arrival of Mooty's son completes Mooty's little family and I saw it as a fitting conclusion to the series. However, it slipped my mind that mice have litters when I wrote the story until a friend pointed it out to me long after the stories were published. It was too late by then!

Five tales which range from the jungles of India to the frozen emptiness of the North... In all of them, Kipling's extraordinary powers of description and ability to identify with human aspiration and animal survival are vividly shown. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi must battle with Nag, the cobra, in his territory; Toomai has a unique glimpse of the elephant world, Kotick, the White Seal, searches for sanctuary, while Kotuko has to find food for his starving Eskimo village. Above all, Kipling's love of life in all its variety shines through.

A little bunny keeps running away from his mother in this imaginary game of hide-and-seek. Children will be profoundly comforted by this lovingly steadfast mother who finds her child every time. The Runaway Bunny, first published in 1942 and never out of print, has indeed become a classic. Generations have fallen in love with the gentle magic of its reassuring words.

Christmas is coming and Marty and his rescued pup, Shiloh, are sure glad about that - for their town is low on love and understanding, and they hope that the joy of the holiday will bring with it the generosity of spirit that's so lacking. It's been a year since Marty Preston rescued Shiloh from Judd Travers and his cruel ways, and since then, Marty and Shiloh have been inseparable. Anywhere Marty goes, the beagle's at his side, and Marty couldn't be happier about that. Even Judd has been working to improve his reputation.

This is a selection from the "just so" stories. Just So Stories for Children is a collection of highly fantasized origin stories that are among Kipling's best known and, arguably, best works.

Presented by actor/author Geoffrey Giuliano, here is an exciting "listen while you learn" audio production which promises to entertain, enlighten, and enliven the listener. Icon productions offer a daring, fresh perspective on the hundreds of perennial favorite tales which have inspired generations and imbued a deep love of literature and art in millions over time.

A charming tale of the peddler whose stolen caps mean all kinds of monkey business.

Six-year-old April is very sad. She dearly loves her silky black cat, Sheba, and its three newborn kittens. But April and her parents live in a small New York apartment where there is room for only one cat. Which one should she choose? Listeners of all ages will be delighted by the gentle solution to April’s problem. A wonderful antidote to the sharp edges of everyday life, Clare Turlay Newberry’s award-winning book is filled with tenderness, longing, and joy. Narrator Barbara Caruso’s warm tones convey all the spirit and love of this unforgettable tale.

No thanks to his naughty cat Simpkin, the tailor of Gloucester has no more twisted silk thread to finish the coat he has promised the mayor for his wedding on Christmas day. With the help of some special friends, the tailor finds that a kind favor is returned.

When Black Beauty is just a foal, his mother tells him to be gentle and good, hard-working and obedient to his humans always. Beauty's first job, as carriage horse to Squire Gordon, rewards his good behavior. But when the Gordons fall on hard times, Beauty is sold to an estate whose mistress insists on the bearing rein, a device that forces a horse's head into an uncomfortable but chic position. After scarring his knees in a fall, Beauty is sold once again, to a hard life in a livery stable.

Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Nature" is perhaps the greatest original work of philosophy written by an American. This specially-prepared edition includes a foreword on the origin and significance the book.

Little Joe Otter is playful and full of surprises. Peter Rabbit is curious. Peter is curious why he has not seen Little Joe Otter in the Smiling Pool? Wait! Did Peter just see two Little Joe Otters in the Smiling Pool? While Peter is trying to determine if there is indeed more than one Little Joe Otter, he learns some other lessons from the times "when the world was young" from Grandfather Frog and others.

With over-the-top fun and humor, this scrumptious story features Tom Watson’s trademark laughs, adventure, and hilarious stick-figure drawings, perfect for fans of the Stick Dog, Big Nate, Timmy Failure, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Stick Cat is going somewhere he’s never been before—his best friend Edith’s apartment. It’s got everything: donut crumbs in the sink, a fire escape, and a window with a great view of the big city. While admiring the view, Stick Cat sees trouble. Hazel, the bagel maker, is in serious danger in the building across the alley. Stick Cat will use his smarts—and Edith’s appetite—to devise a rescue plan. But can Hazel hang on long enough for this dynamic duo to save her? Even reluctant readers gobble up the Stick Cat and Stick Dog books!

Read by Geraldine McEwan. This classic story has been loved by millions of children since it was first published over 40 years ago.The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don't expect to see at the door is a big furry, stripy tiger!

Generations of young readers continue to fall in love with Marguerite Henry’s “horse stories.” In one of her most famous, King of the Wind, the author traces the ancestry of the great Kentucky Derby winner, Man o’ War, whose mysterious pedigree is linked to the noble line leading from the Godolphin Arabian.

With winter coming, orphaned bear cub Glee is looking for a place to nap. He finally finds a cozy corner in an empty railroad car. Glee is rudely awakened and discovers that he has taken a ride on a traveling circus train! The performers who find him adore him and try to find an act for him. That is the only way the ringleader will let him stay. Will Glee be able to find his talent in time, or will he end up back out in the cold?

Black Beauty is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she remained in her house as an invalid. The novel became an immediate best seller, with Sewell dying just five months after its publication, but having lived long enough to see her only novel become a success.

"Goldilocks and the three bears" is a family-friendly variation of an old tale in which a woman enter the house of three bears, eats their food, sits on their chair, and sleeps in their bed. This very old nursery tale is one of the most popular stories in the English language. It suggests the importance of respecting property and the consequences of just 'trying out' things that do not belong to you. As such, it will spark important interrogations from children: was Goldilocks right to come into the house? Were the bears really scary, or just helpless victims? What would have been the best thing to do?

Meryl Streep reads this enchanting tale by Beatrix Potter. The curious and disobedient Peter Rabbit learns that indeed he should have listened to his mother's warning about Mr. McGregor's garden. Ages five and up will appreciate why this story has captured the imaginations of children around the world for years. It comes packaged with a second story, The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, which is also read by Meryl Streep.