With a focus on building phonics skills, this collection includes twelve fun stories with colourful illustrations. It is ideal for children who are taking their first steps in reading. Discover what life is like being small with Bob Bug, find out if Top Cat becomes king of the garden and learn how to make tasty buns! Tips for reading together explain the sounds that each story focuses on and identify any words children may find tricky, helping you to get the most out of the collection. Former Children's Laureate and author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson, has captivated children all over the world with her lively and engaging stories. Songbirds is a phonics programme carefully created by Julia to support children who are learning to read and is used in schools to inspire a love of reading. There are eight Songbirds story collections for you to enjoy. Featuring much-loved characters, great authors, engaging storylines and fun activities, Read with Oxford offers an exciting range of carefully levelled reading books to build your child's reading confidence. Find practical advice, free eBooks and fun activities to help your child progress on oxfordowl.co.uk. Let's get them flying!

The much-loved classic story by L.M. Montgomery, specially retold for children ready to tackle longer and more complex stories. From the day red-headed 'Anne-with-an-e' unexpectedly arrives at Green Gables, life is never the same again... Includes a short biography of the author and beautiful watercolour illustrations throughout. Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts.

This story is about a brave and kind Anglo-Saxon princess called Frideswide who lived in Oxford a long time ago and just happened to be brilliant at climbing very tall trees. Her talent came in useful one day when a wicked king tried to kidnap her. How did she and her friends escape, and what happened to the king and his soldiers? With stunning illustrations by award-winning artist Alan Marks, Saint Frideswide's legend is retold for young children as a tale of adventure, courage in the face of danger, friendship, and kindness, with a few surprises along the way. The church Frideswide founded in Oxford was on the site of what is now Christ Church, and her medieval shrine can still be seen inside the Cathedral. This beautiful picture book is sure to be treasured by any child who loves tales of adventure. It will appeal to children learning about the Anglo-Saxons, to readers who like feisty heroines and to visitors to Oxford, as a meaningful souvenir of their visit.

With a focus on building phonics skills, this Read with Oxford Stages 1-2: Songbirds Story Collection contains 12 fun phonics stories to provide perfect practice for beginner readers. Read what life is like being small with Bob Bug, find out who is top cat and much more! The kit also contains colourful stickers, and an alphabet chart to reward, motivate and build confidence. Tips for reading together explain the sounds that each story focuses on and identify any words children may find tricky, helping you to get the most out of the collection. Former Children's Laureate and author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson, has captivated children all over the world with her lively and engaging stories. Songbirds is a phonics programme carefully created by Julia to support children who are learning to read and is used in schools to inspire a love of reading. Featuring much-loved characters, great authors, engaging storylines and fun activities, Read with Oxford offers an exciting range of carefully levelled reading resources to build your child's reading confidence. Find practical advice, free eBooks and fun activities to help your child progress on oxfordowl.co.uk. Let's get them flying!

One of the most loved and enduring wartime novels, Carrie's War is a modern classic. WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY MICHAEL MORPURGO AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALAN MARKS 'A touching, utterly convincing book' JACQUELINE WILSON 'Poignant and realistic . . . Carrie's War captures the true reality of war for a child, and it doesn't sentimentalise war' SHIRLEY HUGHES, GUARDIAN 'I did a dreadful thing, the worst thing of my life, when I was twelve and a half years old, and nothing can change it' It is wartime and Carrie and her little brother Nick have been evacuated from their London home to the Welsh hills. In an unfamiliar place, among strangers, the children feel alone and find little comfort with the family they are billeted with: Mr Evans, a bullying shopkeeper and Auntie Lou, his kind but timid sister. When Carrie and Nick visit Albert, another evacuee, they are welcomed into Hepzibah Green's warm kitchen. Hepzibah is rumoured to be a witch, but her cooking is delicious, her stories are enthralling and the children cannot keep away. With Albert, Hepzibah and Mister Johnny, they begin to settle into their new surroundings. But before long, their loyalties are tested: will they be persuaded to betray their new friends? This collection of the best children's literature, curated by Virago, will be coveted by children and adults alike. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie's War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Little Princess,The Secret Garden) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children's Classics.

An exciting story from the legend of Robin Hood, retold for for children growing in reading confidence and ability. When Much Middleton's father is arrested by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, Much seeks the help of the mysterious outlaw, Robin Hood. Beautifully illustrated by Alan Marks. Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton.

A beautifully illustrated picture book that brings the legend of the mysterious outlaw Robin Hood to life for little children. Robin makes a daring raid on the castle of the evil Sheriff of Nottingham in order to rescue the prisoners held inside. Specially rewritten for young children, the story features well-known characters including Maid Marian, Friar Tuck and, of course, Robin Hood himself!

A captivating retelling of Anna Sewell's classic novel beautifully illustrated by Alan Marks, perfect for encouraging independent reading. This title is part of Series Two of the Usborne Young Reading Programme, specially written for readers growing in confidence. The audio CD includes a dramatic listen-along recording with music and sound effects, followed by a read-along version with prompts for page turns.

"Bah Humbug " That's how Ebeneezer Scrooge feels about Christmas--until the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future decide to show the crotchety old miser the error of his ways. Together they travel through time, revisiting all the people who have played an important role in Scrooge's life. And as their journey concludes, Scrooge is reminded of what it means to have love in his heart, and what the true spirit of Christmas is all about. A timeless story the whole family will enjoy

Johanna Spyri's Heidi is beautifully retold, following the exploits of the orphaned girl sent to live in the Alps with her grumpy grandfather. Part of Young Reading Series 2 for readers growing in confidence, with clear, engaging text and stunning original illustrations. Developed in conjunction with reading experts from Roehampton University. Also available with an audio CD with a dramatic listen-along recording with music and sound effects, followed by a read-along version with prompts for page turns.

The classic Dickens story retold for children growing in reading confidence. Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean-spirited old man who hates everything - even Christmas! But when three spirits visit him one Christmas Eve, Scrooge is taken on a journey into the past, present and future that will change him forever. Part of Young Reading Series 2 for readers growing in confidence. Also available with an audio CD with a dramatic listen-along recording with music and sound effects, followed by a read-along version with prompts for page turns.

Engage your seriously struggling and reluctant teen readers with Barrington Stoke's SEN short fiction. Lights in the Mirror has been specially designed for teen readers with a very low reading age of 6 and is fully illustrated throughout: The blue Golf keeps following Max's car. It's creepy. Who is in the car, and what do they want?

A captivating retelling of Anna Sewell's classic novel beautifully illustrated by Alan Marks. Perfect for encouraging independent reading. Part of Young Reading Series 2 for readers growing in confidence. Also available with an audio CD with a dramatic listen-along recording with music and sound effects, followed by a read-along version with prompts for page turns.

Aimed at children whose reading ability is beginning to grow, building confidence and ability. "The Railway Children" is a re-telling of the beloved E. Nesbitt story following the story of three children growing up after their father is wrongly accused of spying. It is evocatively illustrated by Alan Marks. It is developed in consultation with Alison Kelly, who is a senior lecturer in education and an early reading specialist from Roehampton University.

Engage your seriously struggling and reluctant teen readers with Barrington Stoke's SEN short fiction. Lion on the Loose has been specially designed for teen readers with a very low reading age of 6 and is fully illustrated throughout: There are big paw prints in the garden. There are big paw prints in the woods. Is there a lion on the loose?

A beautiful, gripping story, perfect for children learning to read. Winner of the Carnegie Medal. Every day Annie walks by the lonely marsh from her remote cottage to school. Only in winter, when the wind howls in the trees, is Annie ever afraid. Her sister Willa is pregnant and Annie is overjoyed when she comes home to have her baby. Annie tells Willa the names of local plants and Willa tells Annie about the ghost, murdered by highwaymen, who is said to haunt the old forge nearby. Then, on a terrible night, with the phone lines down, Willa goes into labour. Annie is terrified of the ghost, but knows she must brave the storm to fetch help. As she ventures into the night, a horseman swings into view. He offers to take Annie to town. But who is this horseman? The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It's the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 3 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for fluent readers who are beginning to read exciting, challenging stories independently. Varied sentences Detailed illustrations to enjoy Chapters Interesting characters and themes A rich range of vocabulary More complex storylines to stretch confident readers All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children's reading. Book band: White.

A brave young girl rows out to meet her destiny in a lavishly illustrated original tale steeped in fairy lore, from a traditional Irish storyteller. A daughter embarks on a perilous journey to rescue her father in this beautiful, eerie and timeless original folktale. Eily and her father live in Ireland, three fields from the sea, within sight of the enchanted isle of Lisnashee. The fairy folk who live there cause mischief and harm to any who trespass, but once a year at Midsummer, Eily’s father, the Fog Catcher, rows out to collect magic from the fog around the island. His sole protection is a charm tucked in his pocket, and when Eily finds the lost charm in a hedgerow after he departs, she knows at once what she must do. Haunting watercolour paintings evoke the beauty of the Irish coastline in an imaginative coming-of-age tale about honouring the past and taking courage with an open heart.

There was a real pig poking its snout out of the milkman's coat pocket. It was the tiniest pig she had ever seen.' 'What's a peppermint pig?' Poll asks her mother. Johnnie was only the runt of the litter. He'd cost Mother a shilling, but somehow his naughtiness and cleverness kept Poll and her little brother Theo cheerful, even though it was one of the most difficult years of their lives. This collection of the best children's literature, curated by Virago, will be coveted by children and adults alike. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie's War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Little Princess,The Secret Garden) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children's Classics.

This book is a major publication on the natural history of southern New Zealand making, up-to-date, scientific information available to a general audience in an acessible way. With color illustrations, maps, and diagrams The Natural History of Southern New Zealand covers the area south of the Waitaki River on the east coast, and Haast on the west coast, including Stewart Island but not the sub-antarctic islands. It focuses on exploration and conservation of the biodiversity of the region. The chapters cover: geology, geomorphology, fossils, climate, vegetational history, humans and ecosystems, forest and shrublands, tussock grasslands and mountains, inland waters and wetlands, the coast, open seas, and conservation issues.

WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY EMMA CARROLL 'A touching, utterly convincing book' JACQUELINE WILSON 'What a deep, dark, deceptively simple, brilliant novel it is' EMMA CARROLL 'Poignant and realistic . . . Carrie's War captures the true reality of war for a child, and it doesn't sentimentalise war' SHIRLEY HUGHES, GUARDIAN 'I did a dreadful thing, the worst thing of my life, when I was twelve and a half years old, and nothing can change it' When the bombs rain down on London, Carrie and her little brother Nick are evacuated to a small town in the Welsh hills. Without their mother, and away from anything familiar, they must take refuge among strangers. Reluctantly, Mr Evans, the grocer, takes them in, with his kind, timid sister, Aunt Lou. But the children find little comfort in his austere home. Their fellow evacuee, Albert, is luckier, living in a rambling old mansion with Hepzibah Green and Mister Johnny. Hepzibah is rumoured to be a witch, but the children feel safe in her warm kitchen and are spellbound by her stories. Just as Carrie and Nick begin to settle into their new life, something happens that tests their loyalties: will they be persuaded to betray their friends? ILLUSTRATED BY ALAN MARKS

A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale about the wicked Snow Queen's attempt to kidnap a boy in the frozen north. Beautifully and atmospherically illustrated by Alan Marks, winner of the Carnegie Medal. Part of Young Reading Series 2 for readers growing in confidence. Also available with an audio CD with a dramatic listen-along recording with music and sound effects, followed by a read-along version with prompts for page turns.

'The hay stirred. There was a small nibbling sound. A furry head poked out. I saw its dark, beady eyes, its sharp, pointed ears ...his eyes seemed alert and inquisitive, as if he were as interested in us as we were in him' Henry is only three inches long when naughty Charlie catapults him out of his nest - a poor baby red squirrel, all ragged and skinny. He is too young to survive being released into the wild, but can a squirrel be a pet? Henry's new human family has also had to adapt to a different way of life. Evacuated from London during the Blitz, to a farm in Wales, they were upturned from their old life just as Henry was 'tipped out' of his nest. Can this mischievous little creature, who makes nests out of their clothes and runs up the children like they are trees, help them to settle into their new life? A collection that will be coveted by children and adults alike, this list is the best in children's literature, curated by Virago. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie's War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), L. M. Montgomery (The Anne of Green Gables series) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children's Classics.