Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a small town deep in a forest. On the edge of town was a park with a beautiful, magical carousel. This carousel was different from most carousels. This one didn't have horses to ride. As a matter of fact, there were no horses on this carousel. The animals were wild animals, such as polar bears, koalas, and cheetahs. What made the carousel magical? Every month on the night of the full moon, something very exciting and unusual happens. Stanley, the caretaker of the carousel, had magical powers that allowed him to send the animals on a real-life adventure. Each of the animals got the chance to see what it was like to be alive-to be free to move instead of being stuck in one position and just going around and around and up and down all day. When the animals were finished with their real-life adventure, they returned to the carousel and shared their experience with their friends. They learned a lot about one another, and you, the reader, can learn about the animals too.