Recommendations based on "The Reluctant Farmer of Whimsey Hill"

A New York Times Bestseller!A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!“Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful examination of how loneliness can be transformed, cracked open, with the slightest touch from another living thing.” -- Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See HereFor fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopusAfter Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

A Stunning Collection Of Twelve Stories That Unfolds A Series Of Portraits Of The Lost And Unsettled Of America, And With A Trademark Humor That Fuels Each Story With Pathos And Understanding. Willing -- Which Is More Than I Can Say About Some People -- Dance In America -- Community Life -- Agnes Of Iowa -- Charades -- Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens -- Beautiful Grade -- What You Want To Do Fine -- Real Estate -- People Like That Are The Only People Here -- Terrific Mother. Lorrie Moore. First Published In The United States By Alfred A. Knopf--t.p. Verso.

Whether he's teaching his pet pig to dance, being chased by a mad cow or wrestling a robber, Emil's adventures never stop. Hens, dogs, little sisters - and adults - all flee his path. But Emil doesn't mean to be bad, it's just that trouble - and fun - follow him wherever he goes. A collection of utterly engaging tales from one of the world's best-loved children's authors.

A thrilling and moving novel about an extraordinary animal caught up in a very human war, for anyone who loved The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips or The Butterfly Lion! By the award-winning former Children's Laureate and author of War Horse. Dresden, 1945. Elizabeth and Karli's mother works at the zoo, where her favourite animal is a young elephant named Marlene. Then the zoo director tells her that the dangerous animals -- including the elephants -- must be shot before the town is bombed. Unable to give Marlene up, their mother moves her into the back garden to save her! and then the bombs start to fall. Their home destroyed, the whole family must flee the bombed-out city and through the perilous, snow-covered landscape, all the while avoiding the Russian troops who are drawing ever closer. It would be hard enough to do, without an elephant in tow!

The third volume in the multimillion copy bestselling seriesReaders adored James Herriot's tales of his life as a Yorkshire animal doctor in All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful. Now here's a third delightful volume of memoirs rich with Herriot's own brand of humor, insight, and wisdom.In the midst of World War II, James is training for the Royal Air Force, while going home to Yorkshire whenever possible to see his very pregnant wife, Helen. Musing on past adventures through the dales, visiting with old friends, and introducing scores of new and amusing character--animal and human alike--Herriot enthralls with his uncanny ability to spin a most engaging and heartfelt yarn.Millions of readers have delighted in the wonderful storytelling and everyday miracles of James Herriot in the over thirty years since his delightful animal stories were first introduced to the world.

Two friends investigate foul play at a magical zoo when a dragon is accused of murder in this “hilarious” fantasy adventure sequel(Kirkus Reviews). From the New York Times–bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series, Tui T. Sutherland, and her sister, Kari Sutherland, comes the second exciting adventure in the Menagerie trilogy! Combining the magic of Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series and the charm and humor of Carl Hiaasen, it’s perfect for young readers who love myths, fairy tales, and fantastic creatures . . . Zoe Kahn is no stranger to the risks that come with caring for mythical creatures. But even feeding deadly basilisks and tracking down missing griffins didn’t prepare her for the crisis that is unfolding at her family’s Menagerie. The goose who laid the golden eggs has been murdered—and all the evidence points to a dragon named Scratch. Now that he’s part of the secret Menagerie, Logan Wilde is determined to help. He and Zoe are sure that the dragon is being framed, but unless they can prove he is innocent, Scratch will be executed. Worse yet, the Menagerie will be forced to shut down—which Logan and Zoe are starting to fear is exactly what someone wants . . . “This second volume in the silly, lighthearted series is just as full of madcap adventures, animated magical creatures, and crackerjack detective work from the cast of well-rounded, multicultural kids as the first. Fans will be thrilled at the promise of deeper mysteries in subsequent volumes.” —Booklist

Dot, her best friend Beans and her dog McClusky all love sniffing out a good mystery and together they will solve the case and save the day . . . It's the last week of school term and the children are looking forward to the School summer fair. Dotty and best pal Beans will be looking after pet's corner, starring McClusky and his two canine pals: Geoffrey and the little sausage dog puppy, Chipolata. But just days before the fair disaster strikes - Chipolata has gone missing. Dotty and Beans get on the case. Can they solve the mystery of the missing puppy?

Something weird is going on at Natalie's house, and "Detective Nat" adds up the clues and thinks she's finally getting a puppy. But when she learns that instead her parents are adopting a baby from another country, Natalie isn't so sure she'll like being Not Only Natalie.

Hold on to your hats, everybody! Donna Andrews is taking us on another ride into the wonderful world of Meg Langslow, a world filled with laughter as well as the knotty problems Meg always seems to encounter and---somehow---solve. Okay, maybe there are people in Antarctica with penguins in their basements, but in Virginia? Only Meg's dad could manage that one. A body down there---well, that's somewhat more likely.It turns out that explaining the penguins' presence is easy---Meg's dad volunteered to take care of the birds until the future of the bankrupt local zoo could be determined. But identifying the body in the basement proves a harder task---could it be, as Meg fears, that of the vanished zoo owner?In the small southern town of Caerphilly, rumors fly quickly, and all the other well-meaning citizens who have agreed to take in zoo animals are now worried that they might be stuck with their guests indefinitely. So when Meg's dad generously offers to help out anyone who can no longer care for their four-legged charges, a parade of wild creatures begins to make Meg and Michael's newly renovated house look more like Noah's ark.Meg and Michael have been planning to elope in order to avoid the elaborate wedding their mothers have begun to organize---a plan that's threatened by both the murder investigation and the carnival of animals. The only way to set things right, Meg decides, is to identify both their uninvited visitor and the killer who put him in their basement. The award-winning Donna Andrews has demonstrated her immense talent by creating and nurturing a series that continues to delight and surprise with each new book.

Welcome a new friend to the farm with the #1 New York Times bestselling Little Blue Truck! Beep! Beep! Have you heard the news There is someone new on the farm! All the animals are nervous and excited about meeting a new friend--what will he be like Does he neigh like a horse or oink like a pig Does he have fur or feathers Does he swim Does he fly Making new friends can be scary at first but being kind and helping others feel welcome is always the right move. Luckily, Blue knows just the thing to help his friends, old and new, feel at home! Little Blue's "Beep!" was loud and clear: We are very glad you're here!