"If you could only choose one kind of life, what would you choose?" Pearson asked. "One with quills living like every other porcupine or one that's trailblazing a new path in the vast wilderness?" Mattie, the first porcupine born without any spines, is banished from her clan for being different. She's quickly picked up by the circus due to her commercial potential. At first, she loves the attention, but soon an emptiness grows deep within. That's when Pearson convinces her they belong in the wilderness instead of being enslaved under a ringmaster's control. Will her heartache finally end by escaping from the golden prison of performing, producing, and perfecting? Follow Mattie and Pearson's fantastical journey as they face their painful pasts only to discover their differences are their superpowers. It's an unforgettably rare story that speaks to every age because it's about what we all desire: to feel comfortable in our own skin.

Drumroll, please: Judy Moody is about to become a poop-scooping, hinny-riding, one-girl band extraordinaire as she takes on her very own Bucket List. Judy is visiting Grandma Lou one day when she accidentally finds an uber-mysterious list of activities — a Bucket List! Which gives Judy an idea: How rare would it be if she made her own way-official bucket list of all the things she wants to do—before she starts fourth grade? Pretty soon Judy is off and running trying to cross off all her items: learn to do a cartwheel, invent something rad, go to Antarctica (the real one), ride a horse—the list goes on. But what happens if Grandma Lou achieves everything on her list? Does that mean she’ll be ready to . . . kick the bucket?

Kenya settlers, of European extraction, performed enthusiastically in a variety of roles in the Emergency Forces: Serving in Kenya Regiment companies; serving as patrol commanders attached to the Kings African Rifles with African troops, and with British regiments as guides, tracker handlers and advisers; as District Officers with the Kikuyu Guard as leaders and instructors in military skills; as pseudo Mau-Mau terrorists; as policemen; as pilots with the Kenya Police Air Wing; as criminal investigation and intelligence officers. They participated with good humor and enthusiasm at all levels and gave their expertise freely. Many were extraordinarily effective and many served in isolation from their superior officers, who relied on their initiative. Generally, the Kenya Regiment personnel received the cooperation of the local African populace, who accepted them as disciplined, reliable troops, keen to rid the country of the scourge of terrorism. There was a mutual respect between the Africans and the settler soldiers and their cooperation in anti-terrorist operations strengthened the bonds of comradeship and widened understanding between the races. After eighteen months military service as a patrol commander in the field I had gained special skills. The Mau-Mau terrorists had suffered heavy losses from desertions as well as casualties. The dwindling numbers of hard-core terrorists remaining in the forests had to be hunted down and this necessitated increased hunting skills. I had learned tracking skill from Ngalu, but there were areas where my knowledge was weak. I was pleased when I was sent to the Tracker School at Nanuki. The instructors had been picked from Kenya Regiment personnel whose civilian jobs were with the Game Department and the National Parks. I felt sure, under their instruction my skills would be augmented.

Encyclopedic in its coverage, this one-of-a-kind reference is ideal for students, scholars, and others who need reliable, up-to-date information on folk and fairy tales, past and present. Folktales and fairy tales have long played an important role in cultures around the world. They pass customs and lore from generation to generation, provide insights into the peoples who created them, and offer inspiration to creative artists working in media that now include television, film, manga, photography, and computer games. This second, expanded edition of an award-winning reference will help students and teachers as well as storytellers, writers, and creative artists delve into this enchanting world and keep pace with its past and its many new facets. Alphabetically organized and global in scope, the work is the only multivolume reference in English to offer encyclopedic coverage of this subject matter. The four-volume collection covers national, cultural, regional, and linguistic traditions from around the world as well as motifs, themes, characters, and tale types. Writers and illustrators are included as are filmmakers and composers—and, of course, the tales themselves. The expert entries within volumes 1 through 3 are based on the latest research and developments while the contents of volume 4 comprises tales and texts. While most books either present readers with tales from certain countries or cultures or with thematic entries, this encyclopedia stands alone in that it does both, making it a truly unique, one-stop resource.

The definitive full-color field guide to Arctic wildlife The Arctic Guide presents the traveler and naturalist with a portable, authoritative guide to the flora and fauna of earth's northernmost region. Featuring superb color illustrations, this one-of-a-kind book covers the complete spectrum of wildlife—more than 800 species of plants, fishes, butterflies, birds, and mammals—that inhabit the Arctic’s polar deserts, tundra, taiga, sea ice, and oceans. It can be used anywhere in the entire Holarctic region, including Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, Siberia, the Russian Far East, islands of the Bering Sea, Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, and Greenland. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, size, habitat, range, scientific name, and the unique characteristics that enable these organisms to survive in the extreme conditions of the Far North. A color distribution map accompanies each species account, and alternative names in German, French, Norwegian, Russian, Inuit, and Inupiaq are also provided. Features superb color plates that allow for quick identification of more than 800 species of plants, fishes, butterflies, birds, and mammals Includes detailed species accounts and color distribution maps Covers the flora and fauna of the entire Arctic region

Set in India and South Africa, The Wedding joins Ismet Nassin, a clerk of modest prospects from Bombay, and Khateja, a village beauty he marries on the very day he spies her from the window of his train. Matrimony happens fast, love lags behind. Khateja is willful, difficult, and misanthropic—in short, highly desirable. Ismet is in for the battle of his life. Based upon the story of his grandparents and his own upbringing in Durban, South Africa, Imraan Coovadia has written a brilliantly funny and tender first novel—an alternately poignant and hilarious story about the choices we make and the homes that we build. The Wedding is a witty and wonderful subcontinental The Taming of the Shrew.

Lazy Porcupine wastes away his summer enjoying the lazy warm air, while his friends prepare for winter, never realizing what the fuss is about, until it is too late. Fortunately, this time, he has good friends to save the day. The porcupine learns a lesson never to be forgotten. Always plan ahead and never put off what can be done today. A story with bright illustrations, and values. Easy reading. What they look like: The porcupine is a medium-sized rodent, which is related to mice, rats and beavers. An adult porcupine is about 50 cm long (20 inches), not counting the tail. They can weigh from 4.5 to 13 kg (10 to 28 pounds). Long black and brown guard hairs and quills cover its body. The sharp stiff quills are actually modified hairs. Where they live: Porcupines live throughout most of the western United States and parts of the Northeast. They are also found throughout forests in Canada. Found from sea level to tree line, in the forested areas of every county except San Juan and Island. In the unfrosted areas, they are found along riparian corridors with trees or large shrub growth, including lush sagebrush. It needs trees or shrubs large enough to provide bark and cambium for winter feeding. What they eat: Porcupines like munching on a variety of trees including fir, hemlock, and pine, as well as maple, beech, birch, oak, elm, cherry and willow. They also eat several kinds of woody shrubs. Nesting: When not in trees, porcupines prefer the protection of a den. The dens can be found in rock crevices, caves, hollow logs, or under houses and barns. Behavior: Porcupines are nocturnal, which means they are active primarily at night. Porcupines like to sit quietly in trees, so if you spot one, you're should be able to get a good look at the animal. When porcupines are on the ground, they shuffle and waddle along. The long sharp quills provide protection from predators. The fisher is the most formidable predator of the porcupine. Great horned owls, coyotes, bobcats, cougars, and wolves also prey on porcupines.