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Books in Wild Life! series

  • Big Bear Hug

    Nicholas Oldland

    Paperback (Kids Can Press, Aug. 1, 2014)
    A huge bear is wandering through the forest - but wait a minute! Who's that he's hugging? A beaver? And a moose? And a bird? And a tree?Welcome to the world of Big Bear Hug, a contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight - even creatures that bears have been known to eat. One day, the benevolent bear meets up with a human. This human proceeds to do something the bear cannot understand: he raises his axe and begins to cut down a tree. Suddenly the bear doesn't feel like hugging anymore and must make a difficult decision on how to stop this destruction in his forest.The environmental message of Big Bear Hug is both funny and powerful, while simple enough to engage very young children and show them the awesome power of a hug.
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  • Up the Creek

    Nicholas Oldland

    Paperback (Kids Can Press, April 4, 2017)
    ?There once was a bear, a moose and a beaver who were the best of friends, though they often disagreed.? So when the three friends go canoeing together one sunny day, it doesn't take long for them to start quarreling with one another. First, they can't decide who should get to steer the canoe. Later, they debate how best to get across a beaver dam that blocks their way. But when they can't agree on the proper course for maneuvering through the white-water rapids they suddenly find themselves in, the consequences become truly perilous. It takes a long, uncomfortable night spent stranded on a rock to remind the bear, the moose and the beaver what they often forget: everything turns out better when they work together as a team. As with his other popular books in the Life in the Wild series, featuring these three lovable animal characters, author-illustrator Nicholas Oldland has created a funny romp of a picture book adventure for young children that will be a favorite choice in the classroom. Oldland's distinctive, simple and playful artwork tells much of the tale on its own, with lots of visual humor in the characters' facial expressions and the numerous asides throughout. At its core, this is a fun, contemporary fable that champions the importance of teamwork, cooperation and communication while also promoting the joys to be found in nature, specifically the wilder parts of the outdoors. This book could serve as an introduction to discussions on animals and their environments in the early grades as well.
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  • The Busy Beaver

    Nicholas Oldland

    Paperback (Kids Can Press, April 5, 2016)
    The busy but careless beaver spends his days following random impulses, rarely thinking things through and leaving in his wake a devastated forest filled with stumps, half-nibbled trees and injured, homeless animals. But then one day the beaver finds himself on the wrong side of a falling tree, which as it turns out, is just the thing to knock some sense into him. After reflecting on his behavior, he decides to make some changes. Soon, the now wiser and gentler beaver is getting down to the business of making things right, much to the delighted surprise of his forest friends. This charming story from the creator of Big Bear Hug and Making the Moose Out of Life gently teaches youngsters how to take care with others, as well as the world around us.
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  • Big Bear Hug

    Nicholas Oldland

    Board book (Kids Can Press, April 7, 2020)
    A huge bear is wandering through the forest - but wait a minute! Who's that he's hugging? A beaver? And a moose? And a bird? And a tree?Welcome to the world of Big Bear Hug, a contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight - even creatures that bears have been known to eat. One day, the benevolent bear meets up with a human. This human proceeds to do something the bear cannot understand: he raises his axe and begins to cut down a tree. Suddenly the bear doesn't feel like hugging anymore and must make a difficult decision on how to stop this destruction in his forest.The environmental message of Big Bear Hug is both funny and powerful, while simple enough to engage very young children and show them the awesome power of a hug.
    K
  • Walk on the Wild Side

    Nicholas Oldland

    Hardcover (Kids Can Press, March 1, 2015)
    This clever picture book tells readers right away what to expect. ?There once was a bear, a moose and a beaver who loved adventure. But sometimes their competitive natures got in the way of having fun.? One day, the three set off to climb a mountain together. But on the way there, they decide to make it more exciting by turning the climb into a race to the top. It's only after being sidelined by a series of mishaps --- a boulder tumbling down the path, the moose hanging off the side of the cliff, the bear hanging off the moose hanging off the side of the cliff --- that the three friends realize competitions don't always make for a good time. ?At the end of the day, the bear, the moose and the beaver agreed that reaching the top of the mountain was great, but enjoying the journey together was even better.? This funny, contemporary fable is from Nicholas Oldland's popular Life in the Wild series. The wonderful fun here is the comedy that highlights the adventure, in both the dry humor of the text as well as the simple, earth-toned illustrations that provide a humorous visual play-by-play of the action. This would make a terrifically entertaining storytime title, easily promoting the importance of teamwork, kindness and friendship. It could also be used in the early grades as part of a classroom discussion of woodland animals and their habitats. Another lesson here is the pleasure of getting outdoors for recreation.
    M
  • Goats

    Jessica Cohn

    Paperback (Children's Press, Feb. 4, 2020)
    These animals are super helpful to humans. They can carry gear and clear out weeds from a garden - and they make the world's most popular milk.Meet the gifted goat - one of the greatest climbers on four feet. Wild Life LOL! introduces young readers to some of the most amazing animals on the planet in a surprising and laugh-out-loud-funny way. Each book is brimming with colorful photos, bite-sized text, wacky facts, jokes, and riddles that will entertain every child who picks it up.
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  • Making the Moose Out of Life

    Nicholas Oldland

    Paperback (Kids Can Press, Aug. 1, 2015)
    From the creator of Big Bear Hug comes the comic-adventure story of a mild-mannered moose who learns how to take life by the antlers. This moose may live in the wild, but he doesn't act it --- he watches from the sidelines as his friends have fun. Every now and then, he wonders if he's missing out on anything.When the moose finally takes a chance and goes on a solo sailing trip, a raging storm carries him far from everything he knows. Will he curl up in a ball and cry, or make the most of it? The moose's unlikely hero-journey is a lighthearted, contemporary fable that celebrates living life to the fullest.
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  • Making the Moose Out of Life

    Nicholas Oldland

    Hardcover (Kids Can Press, Aug. 1, 2010)
    From the creator of Big Bear Hug comes the comic-adventure story of a mild-mannered moose who learns how to take life by the antlers. This moose may live in the wild, but he doesn't act it --- he watches from the sidelines as his friends have fun. Every now and then, he wonders if he's missing out on anything.When the moose finally takes a chance and goes on a solo sailing trip, a raging storm carries him far from everything he knows. Will he curl up in a ball and cry, or make the most of it? The moose's unlikely hero-journey is a lighthearted, contemporary fable that celebrates living life to the fullest.
    P
  • Sloths

    Lisa M. Herrington

    Paperback (Children's Press, Feb. 4, 2020)
    This adorable animal may spend its entire life in one tree. Some have even been found holding onto branches after they die!Meet the sensational sloth - the world's slowest mammal. Wild Life LOL! introduces young readers to some of the most amazing animals on the planet in a surprising and laugh-out-loud-funny way. Each book is brimming with colorful photos, bite-sized text, wacky facts, jokes, and riddles that will entertain every child who picks it up.
    M
  • Up the Creek

    Nicholas Oldland

    Hardcover (Kids Can Press, Sept. 1, 2013)
    ?There once was a bear, a moose and a beaver who were the best of friends, though they often disagreed.? So when the three friends go canoeing together one sunny day, it doesn't take long for them to start quarreling with one another. First, they can't decide who should get to steer the canoe. Later, they debate how best to get across a beaver dam that blocks their way. But when they can't agree on the proper course for maneuvering through the white-water rapids they suddenly find themselves in, the consequences become truly perilous. It takes a long, uncomfortable night spent stranded on a rock to remind the bear, the moose and the beaver what they often forget: everything turns out better when they work together as a team. As with his other popular books in the Life in the Wild series, featuring these three lovable animal characters, author-illustrator Nicholas Oldland has created a funny romp of a picture book adventure for young children that will be a favorite choice in the classroom. Oldland's distinctive, simple and playful artwork tells much of the tale on its own, with lots of visual humor in the characters' facial expressions and the numerous asides throughout. At its core, this is a fun, contemporary fable that champions the importance of teamwork, cooperation and communication while also promoting the joys to be found in nature, specifically the wilder parts of the outdoors. This book could serve as an introduction to discussions on animals and their environments in the early grades as well.
    M
  • Llamas

    Mara Grunbaum

    Paperback (Children's Press, Feb. 4, 2020)
    These animals are known for their beautiful fur and for their tempers. An angry llama can spit more than 10 feet - and it has very good aim! Meet the lively llama - a pack animal with a lot of personality.Wild Life LOL! introduces young readers to some of the most amazing animals on the planet in a surprising and laugh-out-loud-funny way. Each book is brimming with colorful photos, bite-sized text, wacky facts, jokes, and riddles that will entertain every child who picks it up.
    J
  • Big Bear Hug

    Nicholas Oldland

    Hardcover (Kids Can Press, Sept. 1, 2009)
    A huge bear is wandering through the forest - but wait a minute! Who's that he's hugging? A beaver? And a moose? And a bird? And a tree?Welcome to the world of Big Bear Hug, a contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight - even creatures that bears have been known to eat. One day, the benevolent bear meets up with a human. This human proceeds to do something the bear cannot understand: he raises his axe and begins to cut down a tree. Suddenly the bear doesn't feel like hugging anymore and must make a difficult decision on how to stop this destruction in his forest.The environmental message of Big Bear Hug is both funny and powerful, while simple enough to engage very young children and show them the awesome power of a hug.
    K