Kingdom: Savage Safari

Africa is home to some of the animal kingdom’s most ferocious hunters and savages. Whether screeching through the rainforests, prowling the wide savannas, or lurking along rivers, these brutes make shrot shrift out of all who dare cross their paths. To dominate their realms and evade attackers, some beasts use massive strength and vicious claws while others rely on impressive speed and cunning tricks. What equipment and skills would you need to survive? Jump in and find out!

Fossa: A Fearsome Predator (Uncommon Animals)

For years, people on the secluded island of Madagascar told scary stories about a mysterious creature called the fossa. According to some, this vicious killer crept out of the forest at night to steal babies from their cribs. Few people, however, had actually seen this rare animal. Were the stories true? Scientist Luke Dollar was about to find out. In 1996, he set up camp in Madagascar to study these mysterious and misunderstood creatures– and finally learn the truth. In Fossa: A Fearsome Predator, kids follow Dollar as he discovers the secrets of this fascinating, uncommon animal. Large, full-color photos and a narrative format will keep readers turning the pages for more.

Tortuga In Trouble

Yum! Tortuga is bringing a delicious supper to his abuela of ensalada, tamales, and flan. No wonder his amigos–Iguana, Conejo, and Culebra–are following him. But they aren’t the only ones after the tortoise. Coyote has his own dinner plans for Tortuga and his grandmother. Can the three amigos warn them in time, in this variation of Little Red Riding Hood? A companions to Mañana, Iguana; Fiesta Fiasco; and Count on Culebra.

El Tigre y El Rayo: The Jaguar and the Lightning

A folktale about a boasting jaguar who is humbled by lightning.

A Small Nativity

Well known for the charm, humor, and beauty of his writing, Aquiles Nazoa was one of Venezuela\’s most famous poets. Here he delightfully retells the Christmas story, while young Venezuelan artist and designer Ana Palmero Cáceres provides enriching, marvelous paintings laden with symbolism and pathos. Presented as a series of altar pieces and richly decorated with gold leaf, Cáceres\’s paintings use symbols and animals native to the Americas as frames for the story of how simple, humble Mary and Joseph sought a place for the birth of their son.

The Umbrella

A walk through the Costa Rican cloud forest provides a wonderfully lush setting for Jan Brett’s beloved animal illustrations. When Carlos drops his umbrella to climb a tree for a better view of the animals, they all cram into the banana-leaf umbrella as it floats by–from the little tree frog to the baby tapir to the big jaguar and more. It gets so crowded in the umbrella that there isn’t even enough room for a little hummingbird! So over the umbrella tumbles, everyone falls out, and poor Carlos comes back wondering why he didn’t see any animals all day.
In the spirit of Jan Brett’s The Mitten and The Hat, this cheerful tale of escalation will have readers poring over every illustration for the world of details Jan packs in. With its classic story, exotic jungle setting, and brilliantly colorful menagerie, The Umbrella is sure to take its place among Jan’s many family favorites.

My Little Polar Bear

A polar bear reassures a cub by describing what a polar bear is and does, and promising to lovingly teach such necessary skills as hunting and walking securely on ice.