Tammi Sauer

When a boy's long-awaited pet arrives, a note on the crate reads, "Congratulations on your new lion! We know you ordered a kitten, but we ran out of those." Fortunately, the big cat comes with instructions-- like, try very hard NOT to look like a zebra. Or a gazelle. And order ten pizzas for dinner. Caring for a lion is hard work, but could the king of the jungle end up being the purrrr-fect pet?

Bear settles down for his long winter nap, but his friends have other ideas.

A group of friends become less enthusiastic about their fishing trip the longer they go without catching a fish--and when they finally hook a fish it is too big and scary!

The farm animals are ready when the seasons change--except for Cow, who's always wearing the wrong outfit.

"Mary had a little glam that grew into a lot. And everywhere that Mary went, she wasn't hard to spot. But on the day she started school, she caught some by surprise. Sweet Mary shrugged and hugged her mom. "I must accessorize."'--Page 4 of cover.

Mia discovers the joy of community and friendship when she and Mama share the delicious fruit from their mango tree with their new neighbors.

Beaver is good at making just about everything...but not friends. One winter day, Beaver sees some snowflakes in the sky and gets a great idea: he'll make a friend. Yes! A snowman will be a great friend! Raccoon passes by as Beaver sets to work and offers a helping hand. The two work side by side to give their snowman everything a friend needs. But when the snowman proves to be a little cold, Beaver discovers that he may have unknowingly "made"...

When Cave Boy wants a pet, he tries a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, and a dodo bird, but none seems suitable.

"Fashion-forward Mary is known for adding flair everywhere she goes. When she spots an abandoned lot in her neighborhood, Mary knows she can use her stylish talent to spruce it up. Soon she's rallying neighborhood shops and calling on her friends to help. With Mary leading the way, this group carries out her little plan that has a big impact on her community!" --

The scarecrow from Old MacDonald's farm narrates an Animal Theater production of "The House that Jack Built," but animals that do not belong on a farm keep upstaging him.