Bonny Becker

A small but effervescent overnight guest tries the patience of a curmudgeonly bear who needs absolute quiet to fall asleep.

Bear does not like birthdays. He doesn't like parties or balloons, cards or candles. In fact, Bear does not like anything to do with birthdays at all. He would much rather spend his birthday alone cleaning his house, but Mouse, small and gray and bright-eyed, has other ideas. Previously published as a first reader -- now in a new picture-book format, with all new artwork.

Although he sees no need for more books to read, Bear agrees to accompany Mouse to the library.

The students in Ms Plum's third grade class soon learn that there is something very special about their teacher and her classroom's mysterious supply closet.

While Johnny waits for his mother to finish her shopping, he feels that so much time has passed that he has become an old man.

"When Alice Jayne finds a crocodile under the tree on Christmas Eve, her family goes into an uproar! The Christmas Crocodile doesn't mean to be bad, not really, but soon he is eating up Christmas--from the dinner roast to the left stove-top burner...even the Christmas tree! Everyone has an opinion about what to do with him. Uncle Theodore suggests they send him to Africa, Father recommends the zoo, and Aunt Figgy mentions an orphanage. But Alice Jayne...