Sophie does not want to do her homework, a research report on polar bears. Bor-ing. They're big. They eat things. They're mean. What else is there to say about them anyway? As it turns out, plenty. And when a polar bear named Olafur swoops her away to the Arctic, she soon learns all about the playful bear's habits and habitat--from glacier mice to the northern lights--and, despite her first reservations, she finds herself not just interested but excited about the Arctic. When the two are swept out to sea on an iceberg, Sophie's new knowledge and knack for creative thinking pay off in a big...

Nia loves Alfie, her pet turtle. But he's not very soft, he doesn't do tricks, and he's pretty quiet. Sometimes she forgets he's even there That is until the night before Nia's seventh birthday, when nAlfie disappears Then, in an innovative switch in point of view, we hear Alfie's side of the story. He didn't leave Nia--he's actually searching for the perfect birthday present for his dear friend. Can he find a gift and make it back in time for the big birthday party?

From the author-illustrator of Fraidyzoo and The Bear Report comes a warm and funny ode to...