Animal Emotions

Noted science writer Virginia Morell explores the frontiers of research on animal cognition and emotion, offering a surprising and moving exploration into the hearts and minds of wild and domesticated animals.

The name of Charles Darwin is known to nearly all who have had the benefit of a Western-style education. It is synonymous with the theory of evolution and due to his perspective of man as an animal, his worked ushered in a new paradigm of understanding of the physical and mental behavior of man. However, because of the immense impact of his best known theory, most know only of his work through reviews and historical reports.

It takes only one day at their new school for Parker and Sven to become mortal enemies. Parker's had a terrible summer and just wants to be invisible while Sven is desperate to make an impression and be known as anything other than 'that boy with epilepsy'. When Parker discovers her beloved dog, Alaska - whom she had to give away last year - now belongs to Sven, she's determined to steal her back. Of course, that's easier said than done.

“Christmas Bedtime Stories for Kids Ages 4-8” is the perfect holiday treat for young children, filled with fun, heartwarming stories that will capture their imagination and teach important life lessons. Twelve stories featuring adorable animals and festive themes will take your little ones on delightful journeys through snowy forests, cozy holiday celebrations, and magical winter scenes.

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla who has spent his life performing for the crowds at the Exit 8 shopping mall. He rarely misses life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly thinks about it at all. But everything changes when a baby elephant called Ruby arrives and Ivan realises he must find a new life for them both.

Mama's Last Hug opens with the dramatic farewell between Mama, a dying 59-year-old chimpanzee matriarch, and biologist Jan Van Hooff. This heartfelt final meeting of two longtime friends offers a window into how deep and instantly recognizable these bonds can be. So begins Frans de Waal's whirlwind tour of new ideas and findings about animal emotions, based on his renowned studies of the social and emotional lives of chimpanzees, bonobos, and other primates.

Polly Pecorino rescues animals, and she can talk to them, too. She spends all of her time caring for those at Happy Days Zoo, where the devious owners, Mr and Mrs Snell, will do anything to make money. One day, they steal a bear cub, certain that he will do wonders for ticket sales, but the ferocious bears living in Wild Bear Woods want their cub back. Will Polly be brave enough to stand up to the Snells and take Booboo, the bear cub, back where he belongs?

Bringing the star of smash-hit Sunday Times best-selling Alfie the Doorstep Cat to a younger readership with a brand-new Alfie story. Alfie is everyone's favourite cat. A big ball of grey fur who changes the lives of every family he meets. When the Clover family move into Alfie's neighbourhood, he soon makes friends with eight-year-old Stanley Clover. Stanley wants to be a famous explorer and takes Alfie along on his adventures.

Based on the bestselling picture book which has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide, this award-winning series features love, family, and wonderful adventures with Little Nutbrown Hare, his father Big Nutbrown Hare and their meadow friends Little Field Mouse, Little Grey Squirrel, Little Redwood Fox and Little White Owl.

Little Turtle is having a bad day! First, he had a bad dream and fell out of bed. Then, he couldn't find his favorite toy—and of course, it is rainy and gloomy outside! Watch how his friend, Little Rabbit, helps to make a bad day into a happy day for Little Turtle. Where is the missing toy and how is it returned to Little Turtle?

When 12-year-old Mira stumbles across a white stallion in a forest in Berlin, she doesn’t realise that this horse will take her on an incredible journey. Together, they’re going to ascend the starry heights of Grand Prix show jumping and sweep back in time to Poland in 1939, where another young girl is risking everything to save the horse that she loves....

As Charles Darwin suggested more than a century ago, the differences between animals and humans are of degree and not of kind. Not long ago, ethologists denied that animals had emotions or true intelligence. Now, we know that rats laugh when tickled, magpies mourn as they cover the departed with greenery, female whales travel thousands of miles for annual reunions with their gal pals, seals navigate by the stars, bears hum when happy, and crows slide down snowy rooftops for fun.

The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws. In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?

Sylvester is a rock collector. One day he finds a magic pebble that makes wishes come true. He rushes home to share his good fortune with his parents. On the way, he’s frightened by a hungry lion and quickly asks the pebble to turn him into a rock, so the lion can’t eat him. It works - but there sits Sylvester on Strawberry Hill with no way to hold the pebble to wish himself back into a donkey. Seasons come and go as Sylvester’s parents desperately search for him....

April has always marched to the beat of her own drum, but would life be easier if she learned to fit in? Now that she's in Year 8, things have got even worse. She's much more likely to be trying to rescue an animal in need than worrying about who's dating who at school, which April just finds BORING. Plus, her lessons feel like they're in a foreign language, and it suddenly seems impossible to make it through the week without landing in detention. As family worries and classroom romances ramp up, it feels like everyone around her is pulling away - even her best friend Ben.

Ash is no stranger to feeling like an outcast. For someone who cycles through genders, it’s a daily struggle to feel in control of how people perceive you. Some days Ash is undoubtedly girl, but other times, 100 percent guy. Daniel lacks control too—of his emotions. He’s been told he’s overly sensitive more times than he can count. He can’t help the way he is, and he sure wishes someone would accept him for it.

One summer's day, 10-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries - and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It's because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. And it's because of Winn-Dixie that she finally dares to ask her father about her mother, who left when Opal was three. In fact, as Opal admits, just about everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie.

Ten-year-old Ava has swapped city life for mud, wellies and animals on Whistledown Farm while her parents are working abroad. With the arrival of Autumn and as the leaves begins to fall, she rescues a tawny owl called Ruby. As she helps him learn to fly, she soon realises that learning to love means letting go as well.

Peppa and her friends have some big feelings to explore! Follow Peppa and her friends through experiences that make them cross or sad, scared or shy, and begin to talk about these emotions, too. Have you had these feelings before? Together, with Peppa and her friends we can navigate these big feelings. Learn with Peppa: Peppa and Friends explores a range of common emotions and helps children understand how they can appropriately express their own thoughts and feelings whenever they may feel overwhelmed.

Modeled after The Wizard of Oz, this enchanting story describes a young giraffe who suffers from a fear of heights. On his way to the doctor, he befriends a monkey who is afraid of climbing and a hippo who is afraid of water. What causes the three new friends to face and overcome their fears?