Classic Nature

In this classic children’s fable, three little pigs set out on their own. Each builds a house to stay safe—one builds his house of out of straw, the second uses sticks, and the third pig spends a little more time and builds a house of bricks. When the Big Bad Wolf arrives to huff and puff and blow their houses down, which pig will be safe? This is a story children will want to hear again and again!

Lad: A Dog is a novelized version of twelve short stories about a fantastic collie named Lad. Lad is a noble creature, risking life and limb in defense of the vulnerable. Many people believe Lad: A Dog was the basis for the highly popular "Lassie" series which gripped the imagination of children and adults alike, as has this book for generations past.

"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?

After a tumultuous year in New York City, the Austins are spending the summer on the small island where their grandfather lives. He's very sick, and watching his condition deteriorate as the summer passes is almost more than Vicky can bear. To complicate matters, she finds herself as the center of attention for three very different boys.

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.

Friar Tuck, a big golden Labrador, is young Helen’s inseparable companion. She still remembers the sunny day three years ago when her father dumped the fat, wriggling puppy into her surprised arms and said, “All yours, Helen.” Since then, her dog has grown into a wonderful friend for the lanky, red-haired girl. No one knows exactly when Tuck began to go blind. By the time Helen and her parents notice the symptoms, the dog is knocking over chairs and can no longer chase squirrels.

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?

Listening goes to the dogs in this timeless beginner book edited by Dr. Seuss. From big dogs and little dogs to red, green, and blue dogs, dogs going up and dogs going fast.... Who knew dogs were so busy? And laughter will ensue at the repeated question “Do you like my hat?” Like P. D. Eastman’s classic Are You My Mother?, Go, Dog. Go! has been a go-to favorite for over 50 years, leaving audiences of all breeds wagging their tails with delight.

Winnie-the-Pooh is a loveable bear with a forest full of friends: Piglet, Kanga and Roo, Tigger, Eeyore, and many more. This well-known cast of characters was inspired by the toys belonging to author A.A. Milne’s son Christopher Robin, himself a character in Milne’s writing. Join Pooh as he goes in search of Eeyore’s lost tail, which looks suspiciously like Owl’s new bell-rope. Cheer on little Piglet as he ventures into the woods to trap a Heffalump. Take a snack break with Winnie-the-Pooh, who is always in search of honey to satisfy the “rumbly” in his tummy.

One of the most beloved characters in children's literature, Peter Cottontail is up to his long-whiskered nose in rib-tickling escapades in this delightful classic. With gentle charm and humor, famed storyteller Thornton W. Burgess draws young listeners into the timeless world of the Green Forest, the Smiling Pool, and the Purple Mountains.

Owl lives by himself in a warm little house. But whether Owl is inviting Winter in on a snowy night or welcoming a new friend he meets while on a stroll, Owl always has room for visitors!

When Mr. Gruber shows Paddington an outdoor painting exhibition he is inspired to take up a new hobby… After attending an Outside Exhibition, Paddington is inspired to take up painting himself. He gets busy with his own paints and holds his own exhibition, but is discouraged by the problems of self-portraiture – forgetting what he looks like in the mirror! Then a mystery art collector buys up his entire works. This is just the boost he needs, and he’s soon busily trying his first family portrait!

Valuable lessons can be learned from the mischievous and disobedient Peter Rabbit as he ignores his mother’s warning about Mr. McGregor and his vegetable garden. As Peter gets into trouble, he’ll have to ask for help to find a way home. Explore the other characters in Beatrix Potter’s enchanted world with several other stories about Peter’s animal friends. These timeless children’s classics provide kids with tales about values, morals, and virtue.

Shy reporter Mr. Tibble is close to losing his job because he only writes about cats. But when an act of kindness brings him into contact with the unusual Miss Minou, his luck suddenly begins to change. Minou provides Tibble with juicy news. But it's who is giving her the gossip that's newsworthy. Minou claims that the tips come from her local feline friends, who are the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. Tibble is appreciative but can't help wondering: How could this be? And why is Minou so terrified of dogs and so skilled at climbing trees and rooftops?

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.

"There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, No bears, no bears at all..." Or so young Jonathan is told by the grown-ups as he sets out alone over Hemlock Mountain. But as Jonathan discovers on that cold winter night, grown-ups don't always know...And there are bears on Hemlock Mountain!

For Paddington, one of the nicest things about being a bear and living with the Brown family is being able to share their lovely garden. And though he may not have “green fingers”, the fact that paws and marmalade are never far apart leads to some unexpectedly colourful results during National Garden Week!

Paddington is delighted to discover that the Browns are throwing him a birthday party. But when the magic trick he performs goes awry, Paddington needs something more than a tap of his wand to set things straight.

On the Origin of Species is one of the most important and influential books of its time and remains one of the most significant contributions to philosophical and scientific thought. The theories Darwin sets out here had an immediate and profound impact on the literature and philosophical thought of his contemporaries and continue to provoke thought and debate today. Written for the general public of the 1850s, On the Origin of Species laid out an evolutionary view of the world which challenged contemporary beliefs about divine providence and the fixity of species.

Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, and all their friends have been delighting children, and grown-up children, for a long, long time, since about last Friday! He may be a Bear of Very Little Brain, but he certainly has A Lot of Pluck and a Big Heart.