Merlin has the power to shape the future - if the King doesn't kill him first. Action packed first instalment of a series plotting Merlin's journey from his youth to his mastery of magic. Merlin's always known that he is different - his mother tells him he is special and he makes the townspeople nervous, they think there is something odd about him. So, when Merlin is summoned by the King, he feels that this must be his time to fulfil some great destiny. But not even Merlin imagined that he would befriend a dragon and be entrusted to save the kingdom from the Saxons. Thrilling retelling of a classic myth. With a reading age of 8, it is particularly suitable for reluctant, struggling and dyslexic readers.

First Stories: Hansel and Gretel is the perfect introduction for young children to this classic fairy tale. Push, pull and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce the main characters: Hansel and Gretel and the witch in the woods - not forgetting the delicious gingerbread cottage! This well-loved fairy tale is beautifully imagined for a new generation by children's illustrator Dan Taylor.

There are lots of First Stories to collect: Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Rapunzel, The Jungle Book, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs and Sleeping Beauty.

Young slave Milon starts his journey at home in Athens. When he sets sail on a ship bound for Italy his adventures really begin. He narrowly escapes with his life in Pompei as the great volcano Vesuvius erupts and destroys the town; he experiences the colourful life of the metropolis of Alexandria in Egypt, and he faces a battle for life and death in the Colosseum in Rome. When he meets a small community of Christians in Rome, he finally gains his freedom and finds a purpose in life. At the centre of the story is Milon's relationship with a wounded lion who he bravely helps. Will the lion remember him and return the favour when Milon faces death at the hands of the mighty Roman emperors? This classic story presents the world of the early Christians in an engaging way for children. It is ideal for use in Steiner-Waldorf Class 6 (age 11-12).

Hans Christian Andersen Medalist Robert Ingpen brings classic stories to life in a collection that serves as his magnum opus to the imagination. Featured in New York Times Book Review "8 Picture Books About Books" World-renowned illustrator Robert Ingpen begins his magical journey through the world of classic children's stories with a mural he worked on for years, inspired by the great storybook characters. The original mural is more than 20 feet long, but Mr. Ingpen knew he had to find a way to turn that work into a book in its own right. This book contains some of his favorite quotations from the stories that inspired him, as well as an eye-popping fold-out centerpiece with a reproduction of the full mural. This book is an eye-popping illustrated celebration of the power of imagination.

This delightful children's book - the first to be written by local children in Dominica - tells the story of the myth of the Kalinago snake. The Kalinago people were the island's first inhabitants but gradually lost their land to colonization. Now they live by the sea in a mountainous and rain forested part of the islands known as the Kalinago Territory. This is where, according to the myth, a great snake, known in our story as Bakwa, came out of the sea, slithered on to the land - the rocks are the marks his belly left - and went up to his cave. He will stay there sleeping, as you will read in our story, until the world is at peace again. Ages 7 and up.

My Stars: Aries is a perfect gift for children born between 21st March and 19th April. Children will learn all about their star sign, including: Science: Children will discover their constellation in the night sky and a die-cut finger trail to trace. Myth: Each star sign has roots in Greek myth, which is retold for young readers, along with the classic symbol for the sign. All About You: Little ones will find out about the personality traits associated with their sign, along with the colour, gemstone and flowers! With wonderful illustrations by bestseller Lizzy Doyle, My Stars is an innovative series of board books that make beautiful and personal gifts.

The Welsh Fairy Book is the finest example of Welsh book illustration to have been produced in the ferment of the early twentieth century. Published originally in 1907, the stories collected here were set in prose by the Welsh folklorist W. Jenkyn Thomas, editor of classical texts and of the poetry collection Penillion Telyn (1894), and illustrated by the Hungarian graphic artist Willy Pogany in the art nouveau idiom that was at the height of its popularity in the first decade of the twentieth century. This edition includes an introduction by Juliette Wood, chronicling and contextualising changing attitudes towards the work of folklorists and Welsh folk studies, to present again this important example of illustrated text from Wales

Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair . . . lots of hair, when Disney "Tangled" comes to theaters Holiday 2010 This Little Golden Book retelling will thrill young children with its beautiful full-color illustrations.

Darren Shan's Demonata series continues with more shocks, demons and thrilling twists in the chilling Bec. As a baby, Bec fought for her life. As a trainee priestess, she fights to fit in to a tribe that needs her skills but fears her powers. And when the demons come, the fight becomes a war. Bec's magic is weak and untrained, until she meets the druid Drust. Under his leadership, Bec and a small band of warriors embark on a long journey through hostile lands to confront the Demonata at their source. But the final conflict demands a sacrifice too horrific to contemplate...

In his latest book, fairy tales expert Jack Zipes explores the question of why some fairy tales "work" and others don't, why the fairy tale is uniquely capable of getting under the skin of culture and staying there. Why, in other words, fairy tales "stick." Long an advocate of the fairy tale as a serious genre with wide social and cultural ramifications, Jack Zipes here makes his strongest case for the idea of the fairy tale not just as a collection of stories for children but a profoundly important genre.

Why Fairy Tales Stick contains two chapters on the history and theory of the genre, followed by case studies of famous tales (including Cinderella, Snow White, and Bluebeard), followed by a summary chapter on the problematic nature of traditional storytelling in the twenty-first century.

Deep in the forest, there lived a beautiful little fir tree who longed to see the world. When the tree is taken to town at Christmas, it feels like all his dreams have come true. But what will happen the day after? Find out in this beautifully illustrated modern retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's festive tale. When he was surrounded by the splendour of nature, the little fir tree could only think about what he wasn't and what he didn't have and couldn't see. After the initial excitement of venturing out, though, he finds that the world isn't quite what he expected. As the story of the little fir tree unfolds - brought to enchanting life with the colourful, folk art-inspired artwork of acclaimed author/illustrator Christopher Corr - so does a touching lesson on appreciating what we already have and a hopeful message of rebirth.

A new Little Golden Book all about Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast!

This new Little Golden Book celebrates everything that is special and unique about Disney Princess Belle, the star of the beloved Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. The Beast, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Belle's father, Maurice, her horse, Phillipe, and even the village brute, Gaston are all featured in this beautifully-illustrated Little Golden Book. With a unique art style, this book is a must-have for children ages 2 to 5, plus Beauty and the Beast fans—and collectors—of all ages!

The queen is dead, and someone must pay. When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn the skills she'd need as the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm. But before Asya's training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which can mean only one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned. As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they'll discover who they can trust, who they can love--and who killed their mother. "As dark, lush, and captivating as the best fairy tales." --Nina Varela, author of the Crier's War duology "All the elements I love: lyrical prose, a unique spin on folklore, and the complicated relationship between sisters." --Mara Rutherford, author of the Crown of Coral and Pearl duology "A beautiful story of sisterhood, court intrigue, and ancient magic." --Kalyn Josephson, author of the Storm Crow duology

In his latest book, fairy tales expert Jack Zipes explores the question of why some fairy tales "work" and others don't, why the fairy tale is uniquely capable of getting under the skin of culture and staying there. Why, in other words, fairy tales "stick." Long an advocate of the fairy tale as a serious genre with wide social and cultural ramifications, Jack Zipes here makes his strongest case for the idea of the fairy tale not just as a collection of stories for children but a profoundly important genre.

Why Fairy Tales Stick contains two chapters on the history and theory of the genre, followed by case studies of famous tales (including Cinderella, Snow White, and Bluebeard), followed by a summary chapter on the problematic nature of traditional storytelling in the twenty-first century.

Sir Simon de Canterville has been haunting the residents of Canterville Chase for 300 years - and then the Otis family moves in. No matter how hard he tries, they won't be spooked, and soon the Otis family turns their attention to getting rid of him... This collection contains all seven of Oscar Wilde's stories for children: The Canterville Ghost The Selfish Giant The Nightingale and the Rose The Devoted Friend The Happy Prince The Remarkable Rocket The Young King

Book Band: Brown, ideal for ages 7+ A gripping retelling of the classic Greek myth by bestselling author Jenny Oldfield. Daedalus can see how much his impulsive, restless son Icarus longs to escape their island prison. When his cunning plan to get them across the sea fails, Daedalus comes up with an even more dangerous invention: wings to take them to the skies. This accessible retelling of the renowned Greek myth has appealing black-and-white illustrations by Bee Willey and is perfect for children who are developing as readers. The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com. 'Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed ... Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.' Books for Keeps

Enjoy a whole summer of fun with this fantastic collection of 30 short stories - the perfect holiday read for children aged 7 and up.

From picnics in the sunshine to daring outdoor adventures, celebrate the excitement and magic of summertime with these fun-filled short stories by Enid Blyton. Ideal for newly confident readers, these entertaining tales are the perfect length for reading aloud at bedtime or in the classroom.

Enid Blyton remains one of Britain's favourite children's authors and her bumper short story collections are perfect for introducing her to the latest generation of readers.

When Zoe visits Unicorn Island she mistakenly opens the Box of Winds, unleashing a terrible storm over the island. Can Zoe and her best friend Astra, the fairy unicorn, stop the winds before it's too late? An exciting story from the Usborne Young Reading series, ideal for newly fluent readers who are ready for longer stories.