Life Underground: A Mouse Family StoryThe Garden: Stories From Around the Rock Ring - Book ThreeBeneath your garden, a family is preparing to survive the longest winter of their lives.When the September air turns crisp and sharp, Thistle knows what's coming. She has weeks - not years like old Julius the ninebark - to gather seeds, ready the tunnels, and keep her young family safe. Under the wooden porch, deep in the soil beside the creek bank, a whole hidden world is about to face the freeze.Follow Pip the brave young scout, Whisker the ancient advisor, playful young Squeak, and Thistle the devoted mother as they race against the first frost. Outwit a red fox hunting the creek. Discover secret snow tunnels. And when the February cold turns brutal, huddle in a warmth cluster of twenty beating hearts, sharing stories in the dark until spring.A year in the life of one small - and extraordinary - family15 chapters through four seasons: from the Great Gathering of autumn to the miracle of New Life in springUnforgettable characters: meet Clover, Moss, Berry, Bramble, Buttercup, and Acorn - a new generation born into the tunnelsReal science woven into story: frost lines, warmth clusters, and how mice truly survive the deep coldBonus back matter: Mouse Facts for Curious Readers, discussion questions, and hands-on activity ideas for young nature loversTold with tenderness and true-to-life detail, this quiet epic of endurance celebrates every small creature who survives the long winter beneath the snow - because your home matters too.The perfect gift for young readers who love animals and natureIdeal for ages 4-12, families reading aloud, classrooms exploring ecosystems, and anyone who has ever wondered what happens in the garden after the snow falls.About the seriesLife Underground stands alongside Shadow and Patch: The Garden Guardians as a companion story to Edward Dogwood and Julius Ninebark - three books, one remarkable property, seen through the eyes of every creature who calls it home.From M. Edward Norris and Odd Number Books - a story of fear and hope, of loss and renewal, and of underground lives lived bravely against enormous odds.
