"For the diver Kino, finding a magnificent pearl means the promise of better life for his impoverished family. His dream blinds him to the greed and suspicions the pearl arouses in him and his neighbors, and even his loving wife cannot temper his obsession or stem the events leading to tragedy. Kino and his wife illustrate the fall from innocence of people who believe that wealth erases all problems"--P. [4] of cover.

Told in rhyming text, Pig is a greedy pug, who insists on always winning, and throws a tantrum if anything thwarts him--until one day he swallows not only all his food, but his bowl as well and when his friend Trevor saves him he learns a valuable lesson on sharing.

"The Austins have settled back into their beloved home in the country after more than a year away. Though they had all missed the predictability and security of life in Thornhill, Vicky Austin is discovering that slipping back into her old life isn't easy. She's been changed by life in New York City and her travels around the country while her old friends seem to have stayed the same. So Vicky finds herself spending time with a new friend, Serena...

Four fat sassy rats leave home and eat a wide swathe through the world, alienating everybody on the way.

Believing that he owns the stars, a greedy king hires several animals to count them each night.