Duckling is curious and excited about the new egg that Mommy laid. When the quacking begins, the egg cracks open to reveal their new baby duck. Read by Jeff.

It's Quaking Time. Text copyright 2005 by Martin Waddell. Illustrations copyright 2005 by Jill Barton. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA, on behalf of Walker Books Ltd., London.

A girl leaves Small Bear, her teddy bear, on the train, but he manages to find his way home after a number of adventures. Read by Libélula.

Small Bear Lost. Text copyright 2005 by Martin Waddell. Illustrations copyright 2005 by Barbara Firth. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA, on behalf of Walker Books Ltd., London

Baby Brains sure is smart right from the beginning of life, but he soon learns that sometimes everyone needs their mommy. Read by Miss Lydia.

Baby Brains. Copyright 2004 by Simon James. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA, on behalf of Walker Books Ltd., London

Baby Duck doesn't like the rain, but grandpa has just the thing to change her mind. Read by Ella.

In the Rain With Baby Duck. Copyright 1995 by Amy Hest. Illustrations copyright 1995 by Jill Barton. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA, on behalf of Walker Books Ltd., London.

A cheeky lobster thinks it's hilarious to tell his undersea neighbors that they are being followed by a shark. But, of course, the joke is on him when a self-satisfied shark really does show up. Read by Annie.

"Only Joking!" Laughed the Lobster. Copyright 1995 by Colin West. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA, on behalf of Walker Books Ltd., London.

Gecko may be small, but he has a giant-sized problem. Every night he is awakened by the fireflies outside his window. And when Gecko doesn't get his rest, he gets a little grumpy. Read by Annie.

Go To Sleep, Gecko! retold by Margaret Read MacDonald. Illustrations by Geraldo Valério. Copyright 2006. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, August House, Inc.

There is an old saying that “good things come in small packages.” In this story from Italy, storytellers Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss show us that good things also come in “furry” packages. When a merchant finds himself in a land that is overrun by rats, he realizes that he has the most “priceless gift” in this country, namely his ship’s cats. In this classic tale, we learn that one man’s cats are another man’s treasure and vice versa. Read by Miss Lydia.

Priceless Gifts by Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss. Illustrations by John Kanzler. Copyright 2007. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, August House, Inc.

When the dollmaker creates Zigzag from scraps, she promises him, "Some child will love you." This gives the strange-looking doll hope. But the other dolls and stuffed animals in the shop don't want such an ugly toy around. They force Zigzag to leave. Clinging to the promise that a child will someday love him, little Zigzag sets out to find a home. Read by Miss Lydia.

The Denver Public Library would like to thank August House for joining our podcasting family. Look for more enchanting stories from this publisher in the future.

Zigzag by Robert D. San Souci. Illustrations by Stefan Czernecki. Copyright 2005. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, August House, Inc.

A monster from outer space is soooooooo hungry, but can't find anything to eat until he meets a little girl. Will the girl be his next meal or does she have something up her sleeve? Read by Mary Palmer.

The Hungry Monster. Copyright 1996 by Phyllis Root. Illustrations copyright 1996 by Sue Heap. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA, on behalf of Walker Books Ltd., London.

Oliver the owl stays up so late one night that he sees the sun come up, but when he goes to share the sight with his nighttime friends, they are all asleep. Read by Ella.

Oliver's Wood. Copyright 1996 by Sue Hendra. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA, on behalf of Walker Books Ltd., London.