Showing titles in Biological Sciences

"To devour others and to avoid being devoured oneself,that is life’s end and aim." This is the fascinating and exciting story of a girl pike named Grimm from her early life as an innocent fish to the wily and wise Pike she ultimately becomes. But many are the perils and dangers she must avoid to get there. Translated by John Muir. (Summary by Phil Chenevert)

Uncle Remus' stories feature a trickster hero called Br'er Rabbit ("Brother" Rabbit), who uses his wits to slide out of trouble and gain the advantage over the slower witted other animals, many of whom are trying to eat him. Br'er Rabbit stories were mostly collected directly from the afro-american oral story-telling tradition and are said to be a direct interpretation of Yoruba tales of Hare. This book contains 11 unique stories and was the last one published before the author's death. (Introduction by Phil Chenevert)

A humorous book, hitting off the many writers who have returned to nature and made intimate friends in the Animal World. The author describes the super-human intelligence to be found by the discerning among our kindred of the wild. All those who love gentle humor will be entertained by the whimsical story of “Little Upsidaisi” and no reader can fail to laugh at the antics of “Jagg, The Skootaway Goat”. (from advertisement in the back of the book)

The fifth of the Series of First Books of Natural History, embraces that branch of our subject which treats of the Mollusca, or soft animals, and consequently, includes the Elements of Conchology. In the beauty and singularity of their forms, the variety and brilliancy of their colors, shells only yield to flowers…. Limited as this little volume is, it may prove a key to stores of information, even more interesting to many than the numerous fictions of the day. “Truth is stranger than fiction,” has been often said; and the beautiful truths brought to us by a study of animal life, in its ...

He was able to draw a deep breath again as they reached the field of red clover, where Peppery Polly Bumblebee settled quickly upon a clover-top and began sucking up the sweet nectar with her long tongue. For some time she worked busily without saying a word. And indeed, how could she have spoken with her tongue buried deep in the heart of a clover blossom? (From The Tale of Freddy Firefly)

The Exeter Book (Codex Exoniensis). This book was presented to his Cathedral by Leofric, the first Bishop of Exeter, about the middle of the 11th century. It is preserved in the Cathedral Library at Exeter; the first leaves are missing, and the last leaves are injured; the handwriting of the MS belongs probably to the first half of the 11th century.In the catalogue of Leofric’s donations to his cathedral, this volume is entered as 'one great English book on various subjects, composed in verse'.The Exeter Book is the largest extant manuscript of Old English literature and containing ...

Black Beauty is Anna Sewell’s first and only novel. The story is told in the “first person” (or first horse) as an autobiographical memoir of a high-bred horse named Black Beauty, from his carefree days as a foal on an English farm, to his difficult life pulling cabs in London, to his happy retirement in the country. Along the way, he meets with many hardships and recounts many tales of cruelty and kindness. Each short chapter recounts an incident in Black Beauty’s life containing a lesson or moral typically related to the kindness, sympathy, and understanding treatment of horses. (...

This is a delightful tale about a bull frog who lives in Rainbow Valley, amid by bulrushes, lilies, and forest trees. The usual denizens of the pond can be expected - ducks, larks, robins, and crows; Woolly Worm and strange visitors. What is Bully's narrow escape? How does this frog learn about courage, friendship, and respect for nature? - Summary by Larry Wilson

This is the second book in this series of three which include The Adventures of a Dog and of a Cat. British author and philologist, Alfred Elwes, gives very human qualities to this great bear and his adventures. - Summary by Larry Wilson

"Little Mrs. Ladybug was a worker. Nobody could deny that. To be sure, she had to stop now and then to talk to her neighbors, because Mrs. Ladybug dearly loved a bit of gossip. At the same time there wasn't anyone in Pleasant Valley that helped Farmer Green more than she did. She tried her hardest to keep the trees in the orchard free from insects." - Summary by the author and phil chenevert

MIss Kitty Cat lives on a farm with the human family that she has adopted. Little Johnny Green is her favorite even though sometimes he plays trickson Miss Kitty. The many other animals, from the dog to the little mice all have adventures with with her but she always finds time to do what a cat is best at; taking a nap. Join in reading a delightful chapter of this book; they are all fairly short and fun to do. - Summary by phil chenevert

A short story about a boy who befriends a cat and then sets off on an adventure to rescue a dragon.

Uncle Remus, that genial old storyteller, knows how to spin these wonderful tales about the 'criteers' that the little 6 year old boy (and many of us adults!) love to listen to. Yet the 'Brer Rabbit and 'Brer Fox and the others sound a lot like the people all around us. They tell stories about personalities and faults and virtues in a way that is unique to Uncle Remus. As the shadows grow longer outside, draw up a rocking chair next to the little boy, settle back and listen to the wise old man tell these stories. These 17 stories were specially chosen from Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings ...

Is Santa Claus real? Six year old Elinor thinks so as she sends her letter, and persuades her friend Bill to do likewise. On the other side of town, a stray kitten adopts a lonely bachelor. As the two worlds come together, the magic of Christmas is kept alive for all ages in this heart-warming tale.( Lynne Thompson)

One day, ever so long ago, it struck me that I should like to try and write a book about Cats. I mentioned the idea to some of my friends: the first burst out laughing at the end of my opening sentence, so I refrained from entering into further details. The second said there were a hundred books about Cats already. The third said, “Nobody would read it,” and added, “Besides, what do you know of the subject?” and before I had time to begin to tell him, said he expected it was very little. “Why not Dogs?” asked one friend of mine, hitting upon the notion as though by inspiration. “...

The Living Animals of the Natural World, subtitled "a popular Natural History", proposed to present the most updated version of the wonders of the Animal World in a new and clearer form. It used photography instead of the traditional illustrations of the life of beasts, birds, fishes, insects, corals, and the subjects photographed were obtained from every part of the world, many of them from the most distant islands of the Southern Ocean, the great barrier reef of Australia, the New Zealand hills, the Indian jungle, the South African veldt, and the rivers of British Columbia. But not only the ...

The stories of the ten kittens told in this book are true to life. They have been gathered from here and there over the country. All the kittens have lived and played their little parts in the life history as told in each chapter. The purpose of this collection of stories is to create more interest and love for kittens on the part of our boys and girls. If these stories help someone to be kinder to little kittens, then the author’s purpose will not have been in vain. - Summary by G A Puckett

Drawing on childhood days spent at his grandparents' New England farm, the author tells of a community of animals who gather around the old trysting tree, led by Nimrod, the old crow, with Cock-Robin, Bob the Rabbit, squirrels Frisk and Frolic, and many others. Stories of bright summer days and the camaraderie of friends are mixed with tales of danger and fear as the little foresters live out their lives in the woods. (Summary by MaryAnn)

Combining beast fable with natural history, this is a highly engaging and informative account of some of the prehistoric mammals that once roamed across North America. Each short story tells us something about a different era of natural history, from the Eocene to the Pleistocene era. Entertaining and easy to understand stories, featuring early ancestors of squirrels, horses, camels, tapirs, elephants, and even manatees, will appeal to people of all ages. (Devorah Allen)

Silvertip the Fox isn't the only one up to mischief! There are the plots of the bad little owls and even Tommy who almost loses his temper. But learn how Nibble Rabbit rescues Red Cow, and the secret he has. Whit Cow has a story of her own, and there are games of tag. Always adventures among our favorite animals. - Summary by Larry Wilson