Enter an incredible world of magical beasts, dare to draw near to their captivating powers, and discover the spellbinding stories of 16 favourite mythical creatures from around the world. Venture into this world and you'll discover why griffins collect a gem called agate, how to put out dragon fire, how mischievous elves can cause terrible nightmares, and much, much more. A Miscellany of Magical Beasts is a beautiful, luxurious gift book showcasing a fascinating menagerie of creatures from the world's timeless mythologies and legends. Presented in an incredible package with spectacular cover finishes, it is sure to be treasured by fantasy enthusiasts. Each beast is beautifully illustrated with rich, enchanting artworks, accompanied by amazing facts. Five feature spreads take a different approach to each particular beast - including a gleaming guide to the world's dragons and an enchanting introduction to elf spells and tricks. Imaginative flourishes such as cutaways showing constellations (see where Pegasus's story ends), and a die-cut linking the lustrous feathers of the phoenix with those of the terrifying harpies, make this a truly inspiring exploration of some wonderfully strange creatures. List of beasts included: phoenix, harpy, griffin, Pegasus, dragons, elves, unicorn, centaur, mermaids and mermen, werewolf, troll, sphinx, basilisk, Cerberus, giant, chimera

Dyan Sheldon's poetic, rhythmic text and Gary Blythe's haunting oil paintings tell how a small girl believes the whales will come - if only she can find the secret of how to call them. This book won the 1990 Kate Greenaway Medal.

When Anna's mum Kerry gets sick and faces big hospital bills, her dad Rex says they need to sell off their most valuable horses. Anna knows her own horse Blue Moon is the best on the ranch, and so she and her best friend Lee hide him in an abandoned barn. Rex is horrified that Anna would ever think he would sell the horse but when they go to retrieve Blue Moon, the horse is gone. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Everyone in the Yorkshire town of Greenall Bridge knows Lassie, the prize collie of miner Sam Carraclough and his son Joe. But when the family falls on hard times, Sam is forced to sell his dog to the Duke of Rudling, who takes her hundreds of miles away to his estate in Scotland. Undeterred by the distance and driven by instinctive love, Lassie escapes from her new owners and embarks on an epic journey to be reunited with her young master Joe. Will she survive the hardships of the long journey and the various dangers along the way? Based on the author's own childhood memories and filled with adventure and suspense, Lassie Come-Home - Eric Knight's best-loved novel and a huge best-seller, famously adapted into a 1943 Hollywood movie - is a timeless classic and one of the greatest dog stories ever written.

From the author of the international phenomenon War Horse comes a moving story of unity and inspiration in the face of war.

A moving story about unity and inspiration in the face of destruction, by the 2003–2005 Children's Laureate and author of the internationally acclaimed War Horse. Tomas hates school, hates books and hates stories. Forced to visit the library, he stops to listen to magical tales that the Unicorn Lady spins. These tales draw him in and are about to change the course of his life for ever... Set against the backdrop of war-torn Europe, I Believe in Unicorns explores the power of stories to transform lives.

Huge, magnificent, and solitary, a polar bear moves through the frozen Arctic. Powerful hunter, tireless swimmer, tender mother, gentle playmate -- she is superbly adapted for surviving, even thriving, in this harsh and icy climate. Written in poetic language interspersed with fascinating facts, Nicola Davies' breathtaking tale of this massive, stark white animal is brought to life in striking paintings by Gary Blythe. Just as the Inuit people have watched and learned from this amazing creature for generations, readers are invited to witness the majesty of Ice Bear.