And now, Master Harker, now that the Wolves are Running, perhaps you could do something to stop their Bite?' A magical old man has asked Kay to protect the Box of Delights, a Box with which he can travel through time. But Kay is in danger: Abner Brown will stop at nothing to get his hands on it. The police don't believe Kay, so when his family and the Bishop are scrobbled up just before Christmas, he knows he must act alone ... John Masefield's classic children's book is considered to be one of the great works of modern children's fiction. Magical, fantastical and filled with vivid, rich characters - brought to life in this edition by Quentin Blake's stunning artwork - The Box of Delights and its sequel The Midnight Folk are a must-read for any child. A genuine fantasy classic in the tradition of Peter Pan, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. If you like Harry Potter, you'll love this. A wonderful book for early readers aged 8 and up. Recently adapted for the stage by Piers Torday, bestselling author of The Last Wild. 'Two of the greatest children's books ever written' - The Times on The Box of Delights and The Midnight Folk.

And now, Master Harker, now that the Wolves are Running, perhaps you could do something to stop their Bite?' A magical old man has asked Kay to protect the Box of Delights, a Box with which he can travel through time. But Kay is in danger: Abner Brown will stop at nothing to get his hands on it. The police don't believe Kay, so when his family and the Bishop are scrobbled up just before Christmas, he knows he must act alone ... John Masefield's classic children's book is considered to be one of the great works of modern children's fiction. Magical, fantastical and filled with vivid, rich characters - brought to life in this edition by Quentin Blake's stunning artwork - The Box of Delights and its sequel The Midnight Folk are a must-read for any child. A genuine fantasy classic in the tradition of Peter Pan, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. If you like Harry Potter, you'll love this. A wonderful book for early readers aged 8 and up. Recently adapted for the stage by Piers Torday, bestselling author of The Last Wild. 'Two of the greatest children's books ever written' - The Times on The Box of Delights and The Midnight Folk.

FAILED s a new edition of a classic text - with stunning illustrations from a much-loved illustrator.'You ought to know about the treasure, Kay...for until it is restored or traced, no man of our name ought to rest.'Determined to recover the long-lost family treasure, Kay finds himself in a race against the evil Abner Brown.Abner has his witch friends and his dark magic to help him, but Kay has the very special Midnight Folk.In a breathtaking, magical quest, which side will find the treasure first?

'Sea Fever' remains one of the most popular poems of the last century, and John Masefield one of the most popular poets, a superb spinner of yarns and ballads of tall ships, exotic seas, of the deep-rooted life of rural England, and of the great narratives of Troy and Arthurian legend. This book his most popular poems and a few previously uncollected rarities. All share Masefield's love of particular lives: he draws the reader into his stories with incomparable music of language. This is a representative selection of the poems, in chronological sequence spanning his long career. The editor also provides a full introduction to his work.

"The Midnight Folk" introduces readers to Kay Harker, the orphaned boy who is also the hero of John Masefield's classic Christmas fantasy, "The Box of Delights." Kay lives in a vast old country house, and is looked after by an unpleasant duo: the oily and egregious Sir Theopompous and the petulant and punitive Sylvia Daisy Pouncer. In her zeal to educate Kay on the finer points of Latin grammar, Sylvia Daisy has even taken away all of Kay's toys. Life seems very dull, until out of an old family portrait steps Kay's great-grandfather, a sea captain, who, if legend is to be believed, made off with a fabulous treasure.
Soon Kay is engaged in a thrilling quest that begins each night as the clock strikes twelve, taking him into the enchanted and dangerous world of the Midnight Folk: pirates, highwaymen, talking animals, and a gang of witches led by none other than Sylvia Daisy (in cahoots, as in "The Box of Delights," with the arch-villain Abner Brown). In the end, it is that ragtag team of old toys that rallies to support Kay and save the day.
A book to set beside C.S. Lewis's "Narnia" tales and Joan Aiken's "Wolves of Willoughby Chase"--not to mention the Harry Potter series--"The Midnight Folk" is a wonderful and enthralling contribution to the great English tradition of children's literature, beloved by adults and children alike.

The National Book League was a precursor to the current Booktrust, and was set up in 1924 by the Society of Bookmen in order to promote reading, particularly among the young. To that end, the NBL issued Reader's Guides on a variety of subjects, each written by an author with expertise in that field and containing an annotated bibliography of recommended titles on the subject. Originally published in 1946, this book contains a catalogue of an exhibition of children's books held that year at the NBL's headquarters. The books range in date from the sixteenth century to the early twentieth and include a number of works by celebrated authors and illustrations such as John Calvin and Randolph Caldecott. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of children's literature.

'Right Royal' is a racing ballad, written by former Poet Laureate John Masefield, about a dream which turned into a feat of madness: a vice familiar to many in the world of gambling.

When Kay Harker meets a mysterious Punch and Judy man on his way home for Christmas, he little realizes that he is about to be plunged into adventure. The old man entrusts Kay with a strange puzzle box - the Box of Delights - before suddenly disappearing. Kay soon discovers two things: the box can transport him through time and space, and there is a plot to steal it. He must battle heroically against terrifying forces of evil in order to win the day... This thrilling BBC Radio adaptation boasts a stellar cast, including Donald Sinden, Lionel Jeffries, Spike Milligan and Celia Imrie. 3 CDs. 3 hrs.