Duck's birthday gifts from his animal friends are wonderful but cannot be used away from the water, a problem eventually solved by the arrival of his last gift.

The Bicycle Man fixes up old bicycles and offers both his friendship and the use of the bikes to the neighborhood kids.

Ten-year-old Jim and his father, who work together on a boat, use the power of love, nature, music, and the help of some dancing alligators, to outsmart a greedy stranger who tries to steal Jim's flute.

On Christmas Eve a little cricket finds its way into a house where its singing is thought to be the voice of an angel.

Anna describes the collection of natural things she keeps on the table in her bedroom.

A young girl, her parents, and their neighbors try to save an old oak tree that has been poisoned by pollution.

A conscientious mouse tries to locate the owner of a single unclaimed shoe.

One day, an egg rolled out of a nest and right into a deep pond. Now that egg is a little duck, and the water is still very scary. Jumping into the pond at all seems impossible, never mind swimming in a line with all his brothers. "You re a duck, and ducks don't sink," Big Frog points out. Practicing in a puddle helps a little, while backrubs and snacks from his mother help a little more. Big Frog offers to hold his friend's wing and dive in together,...

From skiing in January to surfing in July, two energetic piglets romp through the months of the years in this calendar in verse.

Jed tries to come to terms with the suicide of his best friend, a gifted young African-American writer.