Emberley, Michael

After finally finding the perfect gift for his nephew's birthday, a handyman wrestles with the temptation to keep the present for himself.

While taking cheese pies to her Granny, Ruby, a small but tough-minded little mouse, forgets her mother's advice not to talk to cats.

Ruby the mouse investigates the possibility of burglars in the upstairs apartment, but finds some generous but overwhelming new neighbors instead.

During "murketiden," the dark months between September and March, a Norwegian girl and her family try to hasten the arrival of spring.