Oscar Otter

Oscar Otter is a young otter who loves to play on an otter slide, which leads into the water where he lives with his family. One day a busy beaver chews down a tree that falls and blocks the slide. Oscar is annoyed. His father tells him to build another slide, but to stay close to the water so that other animals won't catch him.

Ignoring his father's advice, Oscar builds a secret slide way up to the top of the mountain; but when Oscar decides to explore, he gets lost and attracts the attention of a fox, a wolf, a mountian lion, and a curious moose. Thankfully he finds his slide in time to slide down the mountain, all the other animals following behind, and he makes it back to the water before he is caught.

This short, funny story will have children laughing as they learn the importance of following their parents' advice.

Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble

Three short stories come to life in this book about everyone's favorite boy and dog, Henry and Mudge.

In "Snow Glory," Henry finds a flower growing outside. He wants to pick it, but his mother tells him to let it grow. He watches the flower every day, and the temptation to pick the Snow Glory soon becomes too much to bear. Befroe Henry can pick the flower, Mudge steps in in a surprising way.

In "Puddle Trouble," Henry and Mudge venture out into the rain without asking permission. They find a huge puddle and immediately jump in and start splashing around. Henry's father goes outside to look for them, and finds Henry and Mudge covered in mud and soaking wet. How will Henry's father react?

Finally, in "The Kittens," the cat next door has a litter of five kittens. Mudge is fascinated by the kittens and treats them gently. When a new dog shows up in the neighborhood, Mudge senses danger. Can he rescue the kittens before the new dog hurts them?

Other titles by Nathaniel Benchley:
Oscar Otter
Sam the Minuteman