Squirrel hates to miss a party—whether or not he's been invited. So one cold day he decides to visit Cuddles the dog inside his house. He slides down the special squirrel entrance into a pile of cut-up tree branches (how thoughtful the humans are!), takes some of the food they've clearly made for him, and buries it in the pots of dirt they've left out. What a warm welcome! But when Cuddles catches sight of him and mayhem erupts, the smallest of the humans takes the blame for causing trouble. No one but Twitch the squirrel notices when the boy runs out into the snow. . . Or when he trips and hurts his ankle. Can the dog and squirrel put aside their differences, and figure out how to let the humans know their littlest one needs help? And is there more of that party food to celebrate with after? With short, funny chapters and lively pen-and-ink illustrations, the Twitch the Squirrel books are perfect to share and read aloud, or for young readers beginning to seek out longer books on their own. Told from the animals' point of view, they make a great introduction to narrative perspective—and most importantly, they're always hilarious. For more of Twitch's adventures, check out 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos and Squirrel in the Museum.

Flaps, slots, and a movable paper squirrel enable young readers to help a hungry squirrel look for the nuts he stored to help him through the winter.

Pandemonium breaks out at the science museum when Twitch the squirrel tags along on a school trip in this hilarious chapter book. When Twitch hears that the school children are taking a field trip to the science museum, he decides he wants to join in the fun--so he stows away on the school bus and hides in a backpack to get in. But as always, not everyone is glad to see a squirrel in their midst. Pursued by security guards, Twitch turns the exhibits into his own private carnival rides--swinging on a Foucault pendulum, riding a model Mars Rover, and skittering across the Bernoulli air pressure table. Just when it seems like there's no escape, Twitch's chaotic romp turns up some surprises for the museum staff. . . and a friendly boy in a wheelchair saves the day for the squirrel, sneaking him back out. With more than 50 energetic illustrations accompanying the short, hilarious chapters, Squirrel in the Museum is a perfect pick for young readers just starting to seek out longer texts--or a great read-aloud. For aspiring scientists, Squirrel in the Museum also includes an explanation of the scientific exhibits Twitch encounters--as told by the friendly science lab geckos.

Comedian and star of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Ellie Kemper delivers a hilarious, refreshing, and inspiring collection of essays “teeming with energy and full of laugh-out-loud moments” (Associated Press). “A pleasure. Ellie Kemper is the kind of stable, intelligent, funny, healthy woman that usually only exists in yogurt commercials. But she’s real and she’s all ours!” —Tina Fey “Ellie is a hilarious and talented writer, although we’ll never know how much of this book the squirrel wrote.”—Mindy Kaling Meet Ellie, the best-intentioned redhead next door. You’ll laugh right alongside her as she shares tales of her childhood in St. Louis, whether directing and also starring in her family holiday pageant, washing her dad’s car with a Brillo pad, failing to become friends with a plump squirrel in her backyard, eating her feelings while watching PG-13 movies, or becoming a “sports monster” who ends up warming the bench of her Division 1 field hockey team in college. You’ll learn how she found her comedic calling in the world of improv, became a wife, mother and New Yorker, and landed the role of a bridesmaid (while simultaneously being a bridesmaid) in Bridesmaids. You’ll get to know and love the comic, upbeat, perpetually polite actress playing Erin Hannon on The Office, and the exuberant, pink-pants-wearing star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. If you’ve ever been curious about what happens behind the scenes of your favorite shows, what it really takes to be a soul cycle “warrior,” how to recover if you accidentally fall on Doris Kearns Goodwin or tell Tina Fey on meeting her for the first time that she has “great hair—really strong and thick,” this is your chance to find out. But it’s also a laugh-out-loud primer on how to keep a positive outlook in a world gone mad and how not to give up on your dreams. Ellie “dives fully into each role—as actor, comedian, writer, and also wife and new mom—with an electric dedication, by which one learns to reframe the picture, and if not exactly become a glass-half-full sort of person, at least become able to appreciate them” (Vogue.com).

Miss Suzy, a squirrel, interrupts her Easter preparations to become a temporary mother to four little orphan squirrels.

Running into the school to escape a hungry owl was easy. But with the door locked and an angry dog chasing him, how will Twitch the squirrel get back out? He'll need a hand, of course. . . . and maybe a paw, a fin, and a wing, too. Can the classroom pets—including Sweetie the library rat, a snake named Angel, and the first graders' Green Eggs and Hamster—help Twitch get back to his cozy home in the trees? Each chapter is told in the voice of a different animal as the squirrel works his way through the school, visiting each classroom and trying to stay one step ahead of the principal's menacing dog, Cuddles. The different perspectives make this a perfect introduction to narrative point-of-view—and an extra-funny read-aloud. Lively black and white illustrations add to the humor, depicting Twitch's mad dash through the school and the chaos created by a band of class pets on the loose. With short, funny chapters, young readers will race through this novel to find out what the pets do next. For more of Twitch's adventures, check out Squirrel in the House and Squirrel in the Museum.

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.