No. 001HorseThe Standing SleeperThe horse stands quiet in the dark field. It can doze standing up, legs tall and still. Hrrrmm, a soft, sleepy breath.
Can you stand very still, like a sleepy horse?
- Lives in
- Farms, fields and grasslands all over the world
- Size
- Its back is about as high as a grown-up’s head
- Eats
- Grass
- Did you know?
- Horses can doze standing up, and they take lots of short naps. For their deepest sleep, they lie down.
In the app, the horse rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 002BearThe Winter SleeperWhen the days grow cold, the bear finds a cozy den. It curls up deep in sleep, all winter long. Shhh. Big bear, soft breaths, in and out.
Can you curl up small, like a bear in its den?
- Lives in
- Forests and mountains of North America, Europe and Asia
- Size
- Longer than a grown-up is tall
- Eats
- Berries, nuts, fruit, leaves and roots, and some fish
- Did you know?
- A brown bear can sleep in its den for four to six months. That is almost half a year!
In the app, the bear rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 003RabbitThe Evening NibblerAll day, the rabbit rests in its burrow underground. In the evening, it hops out to nibble grass. Hop, hop, nibble. Then back home, snug and safe.
Can you do a soft rabbit thump with your foot?
- Lives in
- Grassy fields and burrows; first from Spain and Portugal, now in many lands
- Size
- About as long as your arm
- Eats
- Grass, leaves, buds, bark and roots
- Did you know?
- Rabbits live together in big burrow homes called warrens. They thump their back feet to warn each other.
In the app, the rabbit rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 004DuckThe Pond PaddlerAt the pond, the duck tips its head under the water. Its tail points up to the sky. Then it paddles home. Quack, quack, goodnight.
Can you say one loud quack, then one soft one?
- Lives in
- Ponds, rivers, marshes and city parks across the northern world, and on farms
- Size
- About as long as your pillow
- Eats
- Water plants, seeds and tiny water creatures
- Did you know?
- The loud “quack” is the mother duck’s sound. The father duck makes soft, reedy notes instead.
In the app, the duck rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 005CatThe Purring FriendThe cat curls up in a warm, round ball. Its eyes close slowly. Purrr, purrr, purrr. That soft rumble often means it feels happy and safe.
Can you purr softly, like a happy cat?
- Lives in
- Homes all around the world
- Size
- Nose to tail, a little longer than your pillow
- Eats
- Cat food made with meat
- Did you know?
- Cats cannot taste sweet things at all. Sugar is simply not exciting to a cat.
In the app, the cat rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 006DogThe Loyal FriendThe dog turns around once and settles in its bed. Its tail wags, thump, thump, on the floor. Then a long, happy sigh. Goodnight, good dog.
Can you wag a pretend tail, slow and happy?
- Lives in
- Homes all around the world
- Size
- Many dogs are about as tall as your waist
- Eats
- Meat and plant foods, like dog food
- Did you know?
- The tiny Chihuahua and the giant Great Dane are the same kind of animal. They are all dogs!
From the Farm pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the dog rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 007CowThe Meadow MuncherThe cow lies down in the soft grass. It chews and chews, slow and steady. Mmmoo, slow and low. Goodnight, gentle cow.
Can you chew slowly, like a cow, and say mmmoo?
- Lives in
- Farms and fields all over the world
- Size
- About as tall as a big schoolkid
- Eats
- Grass and hay
- Did you know?
- A cow’s tummy has four parts. It chews its food twice to get all the goodness out.
From the Farm pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the cow rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 008PigThe Snuffling SnoutThe pig noses through the soft ground. Sniff, sniff, its round snout is great at smelling. When night comes, the pig snuggles down with its friends. Oink, goodnight.
Can you sniff, sniff, like a pig with a busy snout?
- Lives in
- Farms around the world
- Size
- About as high as your chest. Small kinds reach your tummy.
- Eats
- Grass, hay, grains and vegetables
- Did you know?
- Pigs are busy in the daytime and sleep at night, just like you.
From the Farm pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the pig rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 009SheepThe Woolly FriendThe sheep walk slowly home together, one by one. They like to stay close, side by side. Baa, baa, softly now. Time to count sheep.
Can you count five sleepy sheep with me?
- Lives in
- Farms and grassy pastures
- Size
- About as high as your chest
- Eats
- Grass
- Did you know?
- Sheep feel safest together. A group of sheep is called a flock, and they like to move as one.
From the Farm pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the sheep rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 010FoxThe Bushy-Tailed WandererOn a cold night, the fox curls up small. It wraps its bushy tail around itself like a blanket. Snug and warm. Shh, the fox is sleeping.
Can you wrap your arms around you, like a fox’s cozy tail?
- Lives in
- Forests, fields, mountains and even towns, in many parts of the world
- Size
- About as long as a pillow, plus a fluffy tail
- Eats
- Fruit, berries, worms and small animals
- Did you know?
- A fox’s tail is called a brush. It uses it as a warm cover, and to send signals to other foxes.
From the Forest pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the fox rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 011OwlThe Quiet Night FlyerWhen you go to sleep, the owl wakes up. It flies through the dark woods without a sound, because its feathers are soft at the edges. Hoo, hoo, whisper it.
Can you turn your head slowly, like an owl?
- Lives in
- Woods near open fields in North America, Europe and Asia
- Size
- About as tall as a big picture book
- Did you know?
- An owl cannot move its eyes. It turns its whole head to look around instead.
From the Forest pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the owl rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 012DeerThe Spotted WoodlanderIn the quiet woods, the deer steps softly, tip, tap. It nibbles grass where the trees meet the meadow. Then it folds its long legs and rests.
Can you tiptoe quietly, like a deer in the woods?
- Lives in
- Woods and meadows, first from lands around the Mediterranean Sea, now in many lands
- Size
- Almost as tall as you
- Eats
- Grass, acorns, nuts and leaves
- Did you know?
- Many fallow deer keep their white spots even when they are grown up. Usually only the males grow wide, flat antlers.
From the Forest pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the deer rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 013HedgehogThe Prickly Garden FriendAt night, the hedgehog trundles through the garden. Sniff, sniff, sniff. When it feels shy, it rolls into a round, prickly ball. By day, it naps in a nest of leaves.
Can you curl up into a tiny, round hedgehog ball?
- Lives in
- Gardens, parks and woods across Europe
- Size
- About as long as a grown-up’s hand
- Eats
- Beetles, worms, caterpillars, slugs and snails
- Did you know?
- A hedgehog has thousands of spines, up to about 5,000. It cannot shoot them. They just keep it safe.
From the Forest pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the hedgehog rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 014ElephantThe Gentle GiantThe elephant family walks home slowly, with the oldest mother leading the way. They flap their big ears to keep cool. Flap, flap. Rumble, rumble, goodnight.
Can you make a long trunk with your arm and trumpet?
- Lives in
- Savannas and forests of Africa
- Size
- Much taller than a grown-up
- Eats
- Grass, leaves, fruit, roots and bark
- Did you know?
- An elephant’s trunk is its nose. It uses it to smell, to drink, and even to give itself a shower.
From the Savanna pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the elephant rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 015GiraffeThe Treetop NibblerWhen the stars come out, the giraffe barely sleeps. It takes tiny naps, just a minute or two. Sometimes it lies down and rests its head on its back. Shh, tiny nap.
Can you stretch up tall, like a giraffe reaching for leaves?
- Lives in
- Open, tree-dotted plains of Africa
- Size
- As tall as three grown-ups standing in a tower
- Eats
- Leaves, especially from acacia trees
- Did you know?
- A giraffe’s neck has seven bones, just like yours. Each one can be longer than your whole hand.
From the Savanna pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the giraffe rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 016ZebraThe Striped Night WatcherAt night, the zebra family lies down to rest. One zebra stays standing, keeping watch for the others. Whuff, whuff, soft snorts in the dark. Everyone is safe.
Can you make a soft zebra whuff, whuff?
- Lives in
- Grasslands and woodlands of East and southern Africa
- Size
- About as tall at its back as a big kid
- Eats
- Grass, and a few leaves
- Did you know?
- No two zebras have the same stripes. Each pattern is special, like your fingerprints.
From the Savanna pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the zebra rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 017LionThe Grassland NapperAfter a long, sunny day, the lion family flops down together. One lion yawns a big yawn. Then another yawns, and another. Aaah, sleepy time.
Can you do a big, slow lion yawn?
- Lives in
- Grasslands and open woodlands of Africa
- Size
- About as long as a grown-up lying down, plus a tail
- Did you know?
- Lions can rest for up to 21 hours a day. That is almost the whole day and night!
From the Savanna pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the lion rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 018MonkeyThe Playful Tree ClimberAll day, the monkeys play and climb high in the trees. At night, they sleep. Before bed, they gently comb each other’s fur. That is how monkeys say, “I like you.”
Can you gently stroke someone’s hair, like monkeys grooming?
- Lives in
- Forests of Central America and the coasts of Colombia and Ecuador
- Size
- Body about as long as your arm, plus a long, grabby tail
- Eats
- Mostly fruit, plus insects and seeds
- Did you know?
- Monkeys comb each other’s fur with their fingers. It keeps them clean and helps them stay good friends.
From the Jungle pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the monkey rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 019ParrotThe Rainbow ChatterboxAt sunset, the macaws fly home to their sleeping trees. They call to each other, squawk, squawk, to choose who sits where. Then they settle down, feather to feather, and hush.
Can you flap your wings and fly to your sleeping tree?
- Lives in
- Rainforests of southern Mexico, Central America and South America
- Size
- Beak to tail, almost as tall as you
- Eats
- Fruit, nuts, seeds and flowers
- Did you know?
- Macaw pairs usually stay together for life. They tidy each other’s feathers to show they care.
From the Jungle pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the parrot rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 020TigerThe Striped River CatThe tiger pads softly to the cool river. It likes to swim and splash, which most cats do not. Then it rests in the shade. Chuff, chuff, a friendly hello.
Can you say a soft tiger chuff, chuff hello?
- Lives in
- Forests and wetlands of Asia
- Size
- Nose to tail, longer than a bed
- Did you know?
- A tiger says hello with a soft, puffing sound called a chuff. Mother tigers chuff to their cubs.
From the Jungle pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the tiger rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 021SlothThe Upside-Down DreamerThe sloth hangs upside down in the treetops. It moves slowly, so slowly. Slooow. It curls into a ball and sleeps most of the day, then wakes at night to munch leaves.
Can you move your arm as slowly as a sloth?
- Lives in
- Rainforests of Central America and northern South America
- Size
- About the size of a small dog
- Eats
- Leaves, fruit and fresh green shoots
- Did you know?
- Tiny green plants called algae grow in a sloth’s fur. They help the sloth blend in with the leaves.
From the Jungle pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the sloth rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 022PenguinThe Huddling Snow BirdOn the ice, the penguins stand close together in a big, warm huddle. They take turns in the cozy middle. Shuffle, shuffle, snuggle. Nobody stays out in the cold.
Can you shuffle your feet, like a penguin in a huddle?
- Lives in
- The ice and icy seas of Antarctica
- Size
- About as tall as you
- Eats
- Fish, krill and other small sea creatures
- Did you know?
- Emperor penguin dads keep the egg warm on top of their feet, for about two months.
From the Winter pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the penguin rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 023Polar bearThe Snow-Bed MakerThe polar bear digs a soft bed in the snow. It curls up, and the blowing snow tucks it in like a blanket. Shhh. Big, white, cozy bear.
Can you pull your blanket up, like snow tucking in a bear?
- Lives in
- Sea ice and snowy coasts of the Arctic
- Size
- Longer than a grown-up lying down
- Did you know?
- A polar bear’s fur looks white, but each hair is clear and hollow. Fur even grows on its paws, to keep them warm.
From the Winter pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the polar bear rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 024ReindeerThe Clicking Snow WalkerAcross the snowy land, the reindeer walk together in a long line. Click, click, click go their feet. They dig in the snow with their wide hooves to find food.
Can you tap your fingers, click, click, like reindeer feet?
- Lives in
- Cold northern lands of Europe and Asia
- Size
- A little taller than you, at its back
- Eats
- Lichens, grasses, leaves and mushrooms
- Did you know?
- Reindeer make a soft clicking sound when they walk. It comes from inside their feet.
From the Winter pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the reindeer rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 025SealThe Rocky Beach NapperThe seal swims all day in the cool sea. Then it wriggles up onto the rocks to rest, snug in its thick, warm blubber. Ahhh, nap time.
Can you take a big breath, and let it out slowly?
- Lives in
- Cool coasts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans
- Size
- About as long as a grown-up is tall
- Eats
- Fish, squid, crabs and shrimp
- Did you know?
- A harbor seal can hold its breath for up to 30 minutes. Underwater, its heart slows way down.
From the Winter pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the seal rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 026CarabaoThe Rice-Field HelperAfter a long day in the fields, the carabao goes for a mud bath. Splash, squish, ahhh. Then it rests by the cool water. Mmmoo, slow and low.
Can you pretend to splash in a cool mud bath?
- Lives in
- Farms, rice fields and rivers of the Philippines
- Size
- Taller than you, up to a grown-up’s shoulder
- Eats
- Grass, hay and water plants
- Did you know?
- A carabao has wide, spread-out hooves. They keep it from sinking too deep in soft, wet mud.
From the Philippines pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the carabao rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 027TarsierThe Big-Eyed Night LeaperAll day, the tarsier sleeps, holding tight to a branch. When night comes, it opens its big, round eyes. Blink, blink. Then it leaps from tree to tree.
Can you open your eyes big and round, like a tarsier?
- Lives in
- Forests of Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao in the Philippines
- Size
- About as big as your hand
- Eats
- Insects and spiders
- Did you know?
- For its size, the tarsier has the biggest eyes of any mammal. It is a specially protected animal in the Philippines.
From the Philippines pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the tarsier rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 028Maya birdThe Little City ChirperAll day, the maya hops and chirps around the houses. Chirp, chirp, cheep. When the sun goes down, it tucks into a cozy nook to sleep. Goodnight, little maya.
Can you chirp softly, like a little maya bird?
- Lives in
- Cities, towns and farms in the Philippines, Europe and Asia
- Size
- Small enough to sit in cupped hands
- Eats
- Seeds, grains and insects
- Did you know?
- The maya came to the Philippines from far away, and made our cities its home. Boy and girl mayas look the same.
From the Philippines pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the maya bird rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 029BangusThe Silver SwimmerThe bangus swims with its friends in a big, shiny group. Swish, swish goes its forked tail. When night comes, the water is calm, and the bangus glides along, slow and easy.
Can you swish your hands like a bangus tail?
- Lives in
- Warm seas, lagoons and fishponds of the Philippines
- Size
- About as long as your arm. Big ones in the sea can grow as long as you are tall.
- Eats
- Tiny green algae and small water creatures
- Did you know?
- Many Filipinos call the bangus our national fish. When a baby bangus hatches, it is smaller than a grain of rice.
From the Philippines pack. Buy any pack and the whole book opens.
In the app, the bangus rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 034Star bearThe Midwinter Star BearOn the longest night, the star bear climbs up high. It hangs a little star in the sky, then another. Twinkle, twinkle. When all the stars are lit, it yawns and curls up to sleep.
Can you point up and find a pretend star for the bear?
- Lives in
- Only in stories, up among the stars
- Size
- Just the right size for a hug
- Eats
- Honey cakes and starlight, so the story goes
- Did you know?
- There is a real star picture of a bear in the sky, called the Great Bear. Part of it is a star shape called the Big Dipper.
A Midwinter gift. Its page arrives with it in December.
In the app, the star bear rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 035RobinThe Winter SingerOn a cold midwinter night, a little robin sits on a branch. It sings a soft, silvery song in the dark. Tweedle-oo, tweedle-oo. Then it fluffs its feathers and sleeps.
Can you hum a tiny robin song, soft and high?
- Lives in
- Gardens, parks and woods of Europe, east to Iran
- Size
- Smaller than a grown-up’s hand
- Eats
- Worms, insects, seeds and fruit
- Did you know?
- Robins sing almost all year round, even in winter. Some even sing at night, near streetlights.
A Midwinter gift. Its page arrives with it in December.
In the app, the robin rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
No. 036SleighThe Midwinter Gift SleighThe little red sleigh glides over the snow. Swish, swish. It carries small gifts, wrapped with care. Jingle, jingle, soft and slow. Then it waits by the door for morning.
Can you swish your hands, like a sleigh gliding on snow?
- Lives in
- Snowy lanes in stories, on midwinter nights
- Size
- Just big enough for a few small gifts
- Eats
- Nothing at all. It is a sleigh!
A Midwinter gift. Its page arrives with it in December.
In the app, the sleigh rides the carousel. Get Hele on the App Store
