Cynthia Lord

When second-grader Suzannah arrives to volunteer at the animal shelter she finds that the newest arrival is Merlin, a mischievous ferret with a talent for hiding and stealing shiny things, so the Shelter Pet Squad needs to find a home that is a perfect match for a ferret.

On the last night of summer, Emma and her Maine game warden father rescue a small domestic rabbit stuck in a fence; the very next day Emma starts fifth grade after years of being home schooled, excited and apprehensive about making new friends, but she is paired with Jack, a hyperactive boy, who does not seem to fit in with anyone--except that they share a love of animals, which draws them together, because of the rabbit.

During their trail ride on all-terrain vehicles, Hot Rod Hamster and his friends stop to help Grandpa Dog and two puppies, whose vehicle has tipped over and gotten stuck in the mud.

A group of sato puppies, homeless dogs of various breeds from Puerto Rico, has arrived at the animal shelter, and second grade volunteer Suzannah immediately falls in love with one puppy, Paloma--but it is her job to get the puppy ready for adoption, a separation that could easily break her heart.

On a trip to the water park, Hot Rod Hamster partners with Holly Hamster to race down the water slide against two large dogs.

Mia and her mom visit Grandma in Maine every summer, but this year Mia is going alone. Her mom will stay behind to get their house ready to sell. It’ll be a new start, she says, after the divorce. Mia doesn’t want a new start. She’d rather everything just stayed the same! At least things will be the same at Grandma’s, though. Mia will walk to town for ice cream, and wait by the water, watching for birds, just like always. Then Mia meets Grandma’s...

"Marco Polo is a retired Christmas ornament, but in his mind he is a great mouse explorer. Because he's tiny and likely to be lost, he is the least-borrowed of the Book Buddies--toys that children can check out of the library just like a book--and he almost never leaves the library. But the little mouse finally meets the right match in Seth, a boy who is about to attend his first sleepover. If Seth were to bring the stuffed bunny he usually sleeps...

A hamster, with the help of a canine junkyard dealer and his mouse assistants, builts a hot rod and drives it in a race against some very large dogs.