While Harry's third-grade class is studying birds, the cold winter weather keeps them cooped up inside during recess and Harry gets restless.

Feeling neglected, Nora makes more and more noise to attract her parents' attention.

"A lively exploration of animal behavior in all its glorious complexity, from tiny wasps to lumbering elephants-and humans. Marlene Zuk asks the question: How does behavior evolve, and how is that process similar-and different-in people and animals? Drawing from a wealth of research, she explores how genes and the environment work together to produce cockatoos that dance to rock music and ants that heal their injured companions. She follows the different...

Cary imagines a special day at the library when she invites only animals and birds to browse.

It's the night before Christmas, and Splat wonders if he's been a good enough cat this year to deserve a really big present. Just to make sure, he offers some last-minute help to his mom and, in typical Splat fashion, he messes up completely! That night Splat stays awake hoping to see Santa Claus. But when Splat misses him, he's sure his Christmas is ruined—along with his hopes for a really big present. . . .

Everyone's favorite furry

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Ben refuses to play with his sister, Alice, because he likes robots and she likes dolls but when her birthday wish is for a robot that Ben really wants, he opens it first, accidentally breaks it, then tries to cover up his deed.

The easily distracted Bug makes a list of all the things he shouldn't do after a series of choices land him in a heap of trouble.

Daredevil Nate's quest to achieve greatness lands him in the hospital with a broken bone, and while his family and friends are eager to help him cope, they soon tire of his increasingly ridiculous demands.