Explains the history and customs of Mardi Gras, the significance of the holiday, the many ways in which it is celebrated, and how the celebrations vary according to location....

A lone cheetah sits on a termite mound in the grassy African savanna. Her amber eyes spot a herd of gazelles a mile away. Unaware of her presence, they come closer. As one of the fastest land animals in the world, she sprints in their direction at 70 miles per hour and catches one by the windpipe. Dragging the gazelle to the shade, she can relax and enjoy her kill. But with poachers desiring her spotted coat and the booming human population encroaching on her territory, how calm should this endangered cheetah be? ...

Provides background on the people and events that are commemorated on two important Mexican holidays, Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo, and describes how these holidays are celebrated....