Matt Phelan

Every day at the Athensville Zoo the peacocks are allowed to wander freely among the visitors, delighting and guiding kids and grownups alike, and kind, curious Plum is the peacock most proud of their responsibility.

In 1783 France, ten-year-old Emile works as Benjamin Franklin's caretaker, but after he finds himself in the middle of a sinister plot, he helps France's undercover guardians, a sheep, a roster and a duck save the world.

"On a crisp, fall day and evening, rambunctious bear cubs turn getting dressed into an adventure"--

The scene: New York City. The dazzling lights cast shadows that grow ever darker as the glitzy prosperity of the Roaring Twenties screeches to a halt. Enter a cast of familiar characters: a young girl, Samantha White, returning after being sent away by her cruel stepmother, the Queen of the Follies, years earlier; her father, the King of Wall Street, who survives the stock market crash only to suffer a strange and sudden death; seven street urchins,...

Challenged with circling the world at the end of the nineteenth century, three very different adventurers--avid bicyclist Thomas Stevens, fearless reporter Nellie Bly, and retired sea captain Joshua Slocum--embark on epic journeys.

When an unexpected blizzard strands the animals of the Athensville Zoo in a seemingly empty elementary school overnight, Plum the peacock must overcome his anxiety to save his friend Itch, who gets lost in a snowdrift.

"A pig experiences adversity but in the end enjoys a perfect summer day"--

When a big wind blows her annoying little brother away, Flora decides to save him despite the many tempting offers she gets for him from, among others, a cloud, an eagle, the man in the moon, and the wind itself.

Portrays George Washington as a shy boy who wasn't afraid of anything except talking to people, but who grew up to lead an army against the British and serve as president of the new nation.

A lot of Marilyn's friends have monsters. It's the latest thing. Each one is just right for its boy or girl. Marilyn really wants a monster, too, but despite her efforts to be the kind of girl no monster could resist, hers just doesn't come. What could be taking it so long? Everyone knows you just have to wait for your monster - but the spunky and determined Marilyn things there may be other ways that things can work.