The Runt Farm books are illustrated middle readers for ages 6–10 that feature a nontraditional family of animals. A young, tough-guy cat and his baby duck sidekick take over an old abandoned barn, then two extra-smart mice named Tooth and Cletus arrive, having recently escaped from the evil NAARF lab. In Book 2 a brave, bossy bunny and a squirrel with impeccable flair join the family ranks. The mice engage in vocabulary-building banter as they seek to provide stability and safety for their adopted multi-species brood. Strange inventions emerge from Cletus’ workshop as the animals pull together to fend off wily weasels and nefarious NAARFers. Readers will appreciate how this motley group gets through tough times, enjoys their differences, encourages the underdog, and grows closer with each new adventure.