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Audiobooks Narrated by Janice Ryan
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From strange behaviour to interesting prey-vs.-predator relationships to fantastical creatures, the animal world is full of fascinating facts about our furry, feathered and scaly friends:
The wood frog burrows into the leaf litter in winter; its heart, brain and eyeballs freeze, and they defrost again in the spring.
In 2006, a hunter shot and killed a hybrid of a grizzly and a polar bear, dubbed a grolar or pizzly bear, the first to be found in the wild.
The bombardier beetle protects itself by expelling a boiling hot chemical spray from its rear end.
A woodpecker’s tongue is so long that it rolls up in the bird’s skull like a tape measure in its case.
Rabbits produce two kinds of stool: one that the animal eats, which is rich in vitamins and nutrients, and another that is waste matter.
Some clever crows drop nuts onto roadways so that passing vehicles drive over them and break the shells open.
The horned lizard defends itself by squirting blood from its eyes.
Canada was home to 2.5-metre-long giant sea scorpions 400 million years ago.
And so much more…
Muskoka is a beloved region for summertime frivolity—a popular destination for tourists and cottagers.
The region is also home to a remarkably varied and interesting history.
This book explores stories that most people, residents included, likely know little about.
Meet Dangerous Dan, a two-fisted brawler who fought his way into legend though countless lumber camps and booze-soaked taverns.
Learn how one man’s vision and hard work transformed Bala into the “Cranberry Capital of Ontario.”
Explore the history of Bigwin Inn, a lavish resort that was once the most luxurious hotel in Canada and that experienced a tragic and sad demise.
Venture aboard steamships, into logging camps and elegant resorts, and through dense forests to the remains of ghost towns to unearth tales so much a part of the Muskoka experience…but overshadowed by the beautiful lakes and the endless opportunities for carefree enjoyment.
Niagara is rich with fascinating stories, from daredevils to heroics.
From the horrors during the War of 1812, to murder, to technological innovation and the birth of the modern tourist industry, Niagara has seen it all:
In 1901, Annie Taylor was the first person to go over the falls in a barrel…and survive.
It is said that the former Houdini Hall of Fame was cursed by the dead escape artist himself, and that he was responsible for its demise.
For two weeks in 1952, Niagara Falls shared the spotlight with another attraction, Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe.
Maria Spelterini was the first and only woman to cross Niagara on a tightrope…and then she disappears from history.
Adulterer Arthur Hoyt Day decided to rid himself of one wife by throwing her into the Niagara gorge; he paid the ultimate price for his crime.
Nikola Tesla, an eccentric but brilliant inventor, tamed the falls and revolutionized electricity forever.
In 1913, a barge ran aground at the precipice of the falls, creating a landmark and a tale of heroic rescue that endures to this day.
And so much more…
This delightful compendium presents all that is weird and wonderful about Canadian gardens.
Did you know we used to think tomatoes were poisonous?
Did you know radishes are related to cabbage, broccoli and mustard? Discover all sorts of odd gardening facts.
Known for her series of true ghost stories, Barbara Smith is back, this time with a collection of fictional ghostly tales set in real Alberta locations. So light the fire and prepare to be spooked by these delightfully eerie stories, including:
- A young man trying to get home to Edmonton from Fort McMurray has a brush with death when he takes a ride in a phantom van
- Three friends having brunch in Red Deer are joined by the ghost of a woman from a time gone by
- The angry spirit of a woman killed on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River gets vengeance on the Edmonton man who caused her death
- Kindly spirits give two lonely young people in Lethbridge a nudge in the right direction, forever changing their lives for the better
- A well-meaning constable in Lloydminster inadvertently tries to help the ghost of a local hermit in his search for the money he was forced to leave behind when he died
- Two soulmates, separated at birth, are reunited in death at the Okotoks Erratic
- And more.
Kids encounter all kinds of animal ghosts in this spirited debut volume. Some involve pets, others involve wild animals, but all are based on fact and very, very scary!
When a fishtank comes mysteriously to life, a boy struggles to convince his parents of the danger...
The ghost of a dead puppy reminds a preteen of her special childhood bond...
While on a European tour, a group of foolhardy kids chide the locals for their superstitions - only to be attacked by a swarm of ghostly birds of prey...
Houses are often considered the most haunted of places. In this book you'll meet some young people who live in haunted houses and you'll explore some of the spookiest spaces on the planet.
From acclaimed author Barbara Smith comes this long-awaited series of children's books. Based on true accounts of hauntings, and told with a master storyteller's eye for detail, these collections will scare, astound and instruct kids of all ages.
This book is the perfect spine-chilling companion for young readers on long journeys. This collection of chilling ghost stories takes place on highways, byways and aboard a variety of types of transportation.
A mysterious model plane flies in circles over an eerie pit, warning a passerby of a strange situation below.
Goaded by a creepy bus driver, a boy gets on a weird school bus and realizes the passengers are from another time.
More devilish delights for fireside reading by the Connoisseur of Creepy himself, A.S. Mott. An ideal stocking stuffer!
- A beautiful young widow is shocked to discover, upon her own accidental death, that her late husband has chosen to spend his afterlife haunting another woman...
- After a 16 year-old girl dies from a botched operation, her spirit decides to remain with her family. During the year that follows, the young ghost records what she sees in her diary...
- In order to win his girlfriend's father's approval, a nervous young man agrees to go on a hunting trip, only to learn - too late - what the older man is really hunting for...
- A group of cynical contestants on a reality game show wander through a haunted insane asylum, completely unaware of what is happening to the show's crew...
First Nations peoples and Native Americans in North America have long believed in the power of spirit animals or totems. They believed that these animals had lessons to teach and healing or inspirational powers:
- One of the strongest spirit animals, the bear is known as the grandfather for many peoples; they are seen as strong, powerful creatures that can never die. Bears also mean leadership, confidence and courage.
- The buffalo/bison is a symbol of strength and power but also of life because for many peoples it was the major source of food, hides, etc. White Buffalo Woman is also a strong spirit, teaching people to walk through life in a sacred manner.
- Trickster and the creator in one is the coyote, and some say that humans descended from the coyote. Legends tell that the coyote brought fire, knowledge of herbs and food to the humans but at the same time brought death.
- The lizard is a gateway animal to the dream world.
- Many peoples call North America Turtle Island because the turtle carried the earth on its back. Turtles carrying the earth must have peace and balance, so turtles are symbols of these attributes.
- The wolf is known to many as the Great Teacher. Wolves taught many humans how to form communities and to hunt. The medicine of a wolf is very strong and can offer much but also demands full participation and sincerity.
Wayne Arthurson delves into the world of spirit animals and shows the meanings of these animals to Native peoples and how nature has made its mark on their world.
Animals have extraordinary minds capable of exceptional acts of perception, generosity, bravery and kindness. Their connection with humankind gives us a glimpse into their world and their desire to share it with us. Here is a collection of fascinating, heartwarming and humorous tales about some of the animal kingdom's amazing inhabitants and their often mysterious connection with us:
- After being attacked by a great white shark while surfing, Todd Endris was saved from sure death by a pod of dolphins that encircled him and kept the marauding shark away until he was able to ride a wave back to shore.
- An orphaned black bear cub and a 10-year-old boy become best friends, napping together, and even tumbling and wrestling.
- When a three-year-old boy toppled into the gorilla enclosure at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo, Binti Jua, a young female gorilla, rescued the child and delivered him safely to the zookeepers.
- African grey parrots are capable of speaking at least 350 words, but Harvard avian researcher Dr. Irene Pepperberg and her African grey parrot, Alex, proved that birds have cognitive abilities and are capable of more than just mimicking words.
- A pride of three lions rescue an injured Ethiopian girl from her attackers and watch over her until her family finds her.
- And many more.
Below the mist-shrouded mountains of the West Coast lie the stories of how we came to be. It is through the myths of the people who have lived with this spirit of place for thousands of years that we uncover the mystery of our homeland. The mythical creatures Raven, Thunderbird, Bear and the Great Spirit become a path to rediscovering the spiritual landscape of culture. These are the stories of the Pacific Coast that tell of gods and demons, good and evil; things unimaginable brought to life. More than just tales of magic and the supernatural, the legends follow the traditions of the peoples of the Pacific Northwest and illustrate their profound relationship to the natural environment. The legacy of a vibrant and prosperous culture, these stories reveal the essence of their collective wisdom. The legends of the creation of The People emerging from the ocean depths, the formation of the landscape and the origins of fire, thunderstorms and the wind affirm the harmony with which our ancestors lived with nature.
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