Maybe it's the king who spills honey, and then says it is not his problem until it causes a war. Or maybe it's some sandpipers and whales who get into a foolish fight that almost destroys their homes. Perhaps it's the man who thinks that a gun makes him strong, or the monkeys who follow their leader into water that's too deep.

An anthology of twenty specially commissioned stories from top children's authors, each story set against the background of one of the last twenty centuries. Twenty specially commissioned stories by the best contemporary writers for children to celebrate the last 2000 years: Michael Morpurgo, Henrietta Branford, Vivian French, Jean Ure, Robert Swindells, Mary Hoffman, Annie Dalton, Melvin Burgess, Gillian Cross, Alan Durant, Theresa Bresling, Bernard Ashley, Jenny Nimmo, Geraldine McCaughrean, Pete Johnson, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeremy Strong, Adele Geras, Malorie Blackman and Margaret Mahy. Each story is fictional but set against the background of one particular time and place in one century. Settings are worldwide, and include England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, China, America and Africa. Story themes range from the Crucifixtion to Space Exploration; Romans in Britain to the Mongols in China; Irish saints to medieval monks; the Vikings, Saxons as well as elves, fairies and giants. A range of genre from humour to fantasy make this a brilliantly balanced collection with something to suit every taste. Gripping -often scintillating, sometimes uncrompromising - aimed at the 10 plus age group, by today's finest authors. Specially commissioned by Wendy Cooling, a highly respected and well-known anthologist. This collection promises to be around for years to come and will be a treasured gift for adults and children alike.

This primer, first published in 1910, is intended for early readers, and for those who teach them. It has a relatively small vocabulary of just over 200 words, and presents nine classic stories: The Little Red Hen, The Ginger bread Boy, The Old Woman and the Pig, The Boy and the Goat, The Pancake, Chicken Licken, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Little Tuppens, and Little Spider's First Web. Charming black and white illustrations accompany each story.

Join Saucir on his quest for flight in the magnificent town of Waxley. The young, long-haired boy seeks guidance and carries with him a "never-quit" attitude. After countless negativity and lack of support, Saucir finds wisdom with the help of a friendly dragon named Brax. The boy's adventures and teachings feature many valued morals for young readers. From his daring attempt at flight, not allowing others to tell him what he can and can't do, to his inspirational rescue of an injured eagle, Orix, Saucir's vividly painted tale will remain in the reader's thoughts.

Presents traditional stories about the Middle Ages along with tips for storytellers.

The ninth book in Andrew Lang's Fairy Books series, The Brown Fairy Book, published in 1904, contains myths and fairy tales from around the world. The tales-many from Native American and South American sources, others from Australia, Iceland, and India-include: . "The Ball-Carrier and the Bad One" . "The Wicked Wolverine" . "How the Little Brother Set Free His Big Brothers" . "The Lion and the Cat" . "The Story of Yara" . "The Bunyip" . "Asmund and Signy" . "The Story of Wali Dad the Simple-Hearted" Scottish journalist and author ANDREW LANG (1844-1912), a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, produced a stunning variety and number of volumes, including books of poetry, novels, children's books, histories, and biographies, as well as criticism, essays, scholarly works of anthropology, and translations of classical literature.

A classic collection of tales to tell children of about four, featuring beloved characters and lively stories, by Michael Bond, Jill Barklem, Anne Fine amongst others, chosen by children's book expert, Julia Eccleshare. Paddington Bear has a magical moment, the animals of Brambly Hedge are struggling at the dusty mill: Lara's godmother sorts out a noisy lion and Rapunzel is rescued from the tower... These classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.

When twelve-year-old Reid DeBurgh finds a book with a curious symbol on the cover in her upstairs attic, she doesn't realize it holds a powerful mystery. Soon, a family trip takes Reid to the misty and magical land of Ireland, where a kind old seaside shopkeeper gives her a rare bloodstone in a small velvet pouch.

Reid doesn't think much of the bloodstone until a boat she is in capsizes. But Reid doesn't drown; she suddenly finds herself in the weird and wondrous underworld of Elddim. While her family frantically searches for Reid, hoping she hasn't been lost to the depths of the sea, the young girl meets Damien and learns that she isn't the only one with a bloodstone-and that the gem may be far more than just beautiful.

If she is ever to return to her family, Reid needs to find four treasures. With the help of her newfound friend Damien, Reid must fight evil creatures and release the spell the land has been under for far too long.

Filled with all the enchantment and fantasy of a fine Irish folk tale, Dena Blossey's "Under the Bainin Rock" is a charming story that explores the meaning of heroism and true friendship.

A choice collection of favorite fairy tales, to delight children of all ages. The 86 stories selected for this collection include folk tales from England, Norway, and India, as well as the best fairy tales from Grimm, Andersen, and Perrault. The volume also contains a handful of fables from Aesop and several tales from the Arabian Nights. Attractive black and white illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith complement the text. Suitable for ages 5 and up.

The Camosun Bog has existed for 2000 years but, like wetlands everywhere, it has been encroached on by the expanding urban landscape. This diary chronicles one child's encounter with the bog and the 'Crazy Boggers' who are working to protect and restore it.

The 46 stories in this collection are as varied as their origins--Poland, Morocco, Yemen, and Spain, to name a few--yet all possess a unifying element: a uniquely Jewish flavor, "an emphasis on doing the right thing, on surviving by cleverness and kindness--and the need for keeping a good sense of humor".

Tales of outlaws and desperados are one of the few types of folklore that are peculiarly American. The myths and legends surrounding such characters as Belle Starr, Frank and Jesse James, and Wild Bill Hickok grip the national imagination just as tightly as they did a century ago. This well researched book highlightes tales both thrilling and humorous about hangings and burials, shootouts and practical jokes, the Hole in the Wall and Boothill Cemetery. The authors searched archival records, visited outlaws' homesites, and even interviewed descendants to bring this interesting look at the characters of the American West.

A collection of folktales from around the world, selected for their "tellability.

A beady-eyed varmint crawls through the floor of a lonely old mans cabin. A boy spends the night in a haunted house, complete with a grinning skeleton in the chimney. A girl foolishly taunts a giant owl-woman. A young mans prom date has a spooky secret. The Hairy Man will catch you unless you can fool him three times. Graveyard ghosts and creatures from swamps and riverbanks slink through ten creepy tales presented by master storytellers Tim Tingle and Doc Moore. Guaranteed to send shivers down the spines of younger readers, each of these stories comes with its own eerie illustrations. Some humorous, some haunting, these tales guarantee thrills and chills for youngsters from any state.

Colby Sharp invited more than forty authors and illustrators to provide story starters for each other; photos, drawings, poems, prose, or anything they could dream up. When they received their prompts, they responded by transforming these seeds into any form of creative work they wanted to share. The result is a stunning collection of words, art, poetry and stories by some of our most celebrated children book creators. A section of extra story starters by every contributor provides fresh inspiration for readers to create works of their own. Here is an innovative book that offers something for every kind of reader and creator! With contributions by beloved writers and artist such as Tracey Baptiste, Sophie Blackall, Peter Brown, Lauren Castillo, Kate DiCamillo, Margarita Engle, Adam Gidwitz, Chris Grabenstein, Jennifer L. Holm, Victoria Jamieson, Grace Lin, R.J. Palacio, Linda Sue Park, Dav Pilkey, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Dan Santat, John Schu, Laurel Snyder, Javaka Steptoe and more!

Our relationship to the natural world is at the heart of the single largest problem we face today. We have a choice: hurt the earth and we hurt ourselves

Award-winning anthologists Jane Yolen and Patrick Nielsen Hayden have combed through a year's worth of books and magazines and websites to find the most outstanding fantasy and science fiction stories of 2004--and collected them into a single volume aimed specifically at teens and young adults.
Many of today's most popular authors are represented here, including:
* Garth Nix, author of "Sabriel," "Lirael," and "Abhorsen," who presents an unforgettable tale of two swords, two daughters, and two endings....
* S. M. Stirling, author of "Island in the Sea of Time," sends a likeable young barbarian across the Channel to Alba, for a confrontation with a wizard from faraway Nantucket that will change his life forever...
* David Gerrold, creator of "The Trouble with Tribbles," who takes you to a remote countryside surrounded by a mysterious darkness, whose secret has yet to be revealed...

What happens when your mother feeds you more roughage in a week than a health farm dishes out in a year? How will Macca "iron gut" Mactavish's mates make him throw up? How will Gumby Mason score a boogie from his football Coach? If you're a fan of cockroaches, vomit, boogie, and turds - then SO GROSS is the book for you. A hilarious collection of seven of the funniest and most revolting stories ever, this book is not for those with a weak stomach. Ages 9+

"The words one first meets in nursery rhymes will always have a special magic," writes Iona Opie in her foreword to this book. "Hey Diddle, Diddle", "Humpty Dumpty", "Jumping Joan", "Wee Willie Winkie", passed on from generation to generation, these rhymes learnt in infancy remain with us forever. Divided into four enticing sections, My Very First Mother Goose contains more than sixty of the most colourful and best-loved nursery rhymes. But what makes it so special are the wonderful watercolour pictures by Rosemary Wells, who has created an engaging and exuberant world filled with distinctive characters - rabbits and cats and mice - guaranteed to delight the youngest child. This is indeed a very first book, a book to be encountered at the earliest possible moment and savoured for an entire lifetime.

A story for every bedtime - a collection of stories, poems and illustrations from favourite classic Puffin books and brand new talents. Perfect for reading aloud or reading independently at bedtime, this wonderful collection features brand new stories, poems and illustrations from well-loved and exciting new Puffin talent including Jacqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman, Anne Fine, Jamie Littler, Jeremy Strong, Tom Fletcher, Sam Copeland, Ed Vere, Nadia Shireen and many, more! Plus, rediscover carefully curated extracts from Puffin's classic family favourites like Eric Carle, Beatrix Potter, Allan Ahlberg, Michael Morpurgo, Julia Donaldson and Roald Dahl. And with quotes and motivational pieces from brilliantly inspiring leaders, scientists and actors on their own big dreams there is something magical for everyone to enjoy. 5% of the RRP from this book will go towards helping the National Literacy Trust continue their life-changing work - from carrying out vital research, to delivering transformational programmes on the ground. This includes Puffin World of Stories, a programme funded by Puffin which aims to give primary schools the tools they need to help re-vitalise their school library as a hub of creativity and imagination.