This book presents 15 tales that bring the animal world into the classroom. The stories in this book are divided into two sections: stories from aquatic ecosystems (both fresh- and saltwater systems), and from terrestrial systems, including desert, meadow, woodland, mountain, Arctic tundra, savanna, pine forest, and jungle ecosystems. All predator and prey behavior, traits, biology, and relationships presented in these stories are typical of other documents traits of the species involved and are based on extensive documented field and laboratory studies; the characters in these stories were created to be representative of the normal behavior of their species and typical of their environment. Three brief sections follow each story: "Thinking about this Ecosystem,""Thinking about this Predator," and "Additional Reading." The questions, answers, and suggested activities and research in these sections are designed to help teachers and students explore the concepts and information presented in the story. These sections are also used to include significant and interesting predator information that is not included in the body of the story. Children's and adult listings are included in the bibliography for both species-specific references for the main predator of the story and the ecosystem as a whole. (Contains an index.) (AEF)