A Hot, Dry Spell On that hot afternoon, songbirds sat on overhead wires and tree branches — panting delicately — and discussed the muggy heat, before taking dust baths in the dry flowerbeds. Crow, who had flown away in the late morning, returned carrying...
Book-Fair Books (part 1) The first week of summer vacation had been dry and sunny and, since they each had a new-favorite or two from the book fair, most of the chipmunk and squirrel children spent every day that week in the meadow, lying in the sun and reading...
The Book Fair (part 1) Throughout the long spring, Mr. Owl had been gathering books. Nearly everyone gave him their spares they no longer had room for; the birds, coming home from long journeys, had each brought two or three stuffed in their backpacks; Squirrel...
The Teacup Collection (part 1) At the dusky tail end of a cool, rain-drenched day, after everyone else had gone home to their dinner, Old Possum lounged in the tea shop’s giant purple-upholstered chair, sipping the last of his pot of tea, and chatting with Rabbit....
The Luncheon As a late-spring treat, Raccoon had organized a small luncheon, which Old Possum was hosting in his formal dining room. Mama Chipmunk had ironed Possum’s favorite tablecloth, and she and Rabbit had washed five place-settings’ worth of Possum’s best...
The Knitting Lesson The cats had set platters of cheese and crackers on the coffee table, and the three of them perched on the couch and nibbled on snacks while Squirrel pulled several balls of multicolored yarn and three sets of knitting needles from his backpack....
