This series of themed short story collections will appeal to new readers. Easy-to-read type, engaging stories by popular authors, and appealing drawings provide just the right balance of challenge and support for young readers who are ready for the short story format. A lively menagerie of ten animal adventures takes readers around the world on a journey to discover what happened when the crocodiles fell asleep, how the hot hippos cooled down, and how a slow and steady sloth saved the day! This fun mix of traditional tales and original stories features contributions by favorite writers such as Joyce Dunbar, Dick King-Smith, and Michael Rosen.