Robotic pets could replace their living counterparts by 2025 as our infatuation with technology grows and more people migrate to high-density city living, scientists claim. University of Melbourne animal welfare researcher Dr Jean-Loup Rault says the prospect of robopets and virtual pets is not as far-fetched as we may think. He argues pets will soon become a luxury in an …

A crocodile sat crying By the river one fine day. His tears fell in the water And were swiftly swept away; But as he sat there crying, From the corner of his eye, He looked around most carefully To see what would pass by. Swimming in the river Was a juicy little frog, Who thought the weeping crocodile Was just …

The wheels of the bus go, Round and round, round and round; All through the day! The teacher in the bus goes sh-sh-sh. The bell in the bus goes tring-tring-tring. The horn in the bus goes pom-pom-pom. The seat of the bus goes bum-bum-bum. The children in the bus go up and down. Up and down, up and down; All …

Along by the river bank I could see, A little creature having his tea, His coat was brown and his tummy white, Did I know who he was? Not quite! As first I thought he was a stoat, Because of his lovely reddish-brown coat, But when I saw his rather long tail, I knew it was a weasel catching a …

Excessive email use may lead to increased stress levels as well as health conditions such as hypertension and heart failure, a UK scientist has warned. Professor Tom Jackson from Loughborough University has done extensive research on the impact of work email on health and mental wellbeing. He has found a direct link between email use and increased levels of stress …

They did not listen; and he prayed That He, the loving Lord of all, Who comforth the poor and weak And saveth those who sin and fall, May lead them to the path of light, And teach them how to live in peace; Or spare him in his weary age, The sight of fratricidal war. And then he fasted – …

Into a bare handful of bones and skin Pour just an ounce or so of flesh and blood; Put in a heart loveful as Sea in flood; Likewise a mind sea-deep and free from sin, Fix on two jumboo ears,… two goo-goo eyes Paint on a smile of babe at mother’s breast, In close a soul that caps Himavat’s crest; …

Two turtle doves were fighting Which is practically unknown, But they had found a wriggly worm That each wanted for his own. They argued who had found it And they squabbled all the day, Not noticing that meanwhile, The worm had slipped away. At last they said they’d share it, But then it was too late- They realized the juicy …

One night I dreamed that everywhere Were sounds of laughter in the air, And in a grassy field I saw What all this merriment was for- A funny little man stood there With wisps of straw instead of hair, And on his head a battered hat Which tickled Marmalade the cat; While, chuckling happily, a goat Was nuzzling in his …

On the top of the Crumpetty Tree, The Quangle Wangle sat, But his face you could not see, On account of his Beaver Hat. For his Hat was a hundred and two feet wide, With ribbons and bibbons on every side, And bells, and buttons, and loops, and lace, So that nobody ever could see the face, Of the Quangle …