A treasury of inspiration for every August baby... Find out why you might give your August baby a name to do with peace, what is meant by a gift of a nosegay of ferns, balsam, snapdragons, sage and bitter-sweet nightshade, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Alfred Hitchcock, Mary Shelley or Napoleon? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A beautiful hardback edition of the beloved children's classic BALLET SHOES, with a vibrant new cover - the perfect gift for all children's book or dance enthusiasts. BALLET SHOES is the story of Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil, three very different girls, each adopted as an orphaned baby by the eccentric explorer, Gum. All three girls are left in the care of Gum's niece Sylvia in London. At first, the girls lead privileged and sheltered lives. But after five years go by and Gum fails to return, Sylvia's money starts to run out. The multi-talented Fossil girls hit on an inspired idea: they will take to the stage. Posy, daughter of a ballerina, couldn't be happier than she is in dance classes or on stage. Pauline also loves to tread the boards as an actress, but Petrova would rather be dismantling engines in a garage. It's not long before all the Fossils learn that there's more to being a star than they thought. Originally published in 1936, Noel Streatfeild's BALLET SHOES is a beautiful story about growing up and loving the family you choose. It has stood the test of time and is adored by generations.

A treasury of inspiration for every October baby... Find out why you might give your October baby a name to do with wine; what is meant by the gift of a bunch of marigolds, persicaria and meadow saffron; and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Mahatma Gandhi, Christopher Wren or Picasso? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A treasury of inspiration for every November baby... Find out why you might give your November baby a name to do with champions, what is meant by a gift of a bunch of laurel, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Monet, William Blake or Winston Churchill? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A treasury of inspiration for every July baby... Find out why you might give your July baby a name to do with meadows, what is meant by a gift of a bunch of white lilies, marigolds and yellow jasmine, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Julius Caesar, Emmeline Pankhurst or Rembrandt? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A treasury of inspiration for every July baby... Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A treasury of inspiration for every June baby... Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.,

A treasury of inspiration for every January baby... Find out why you might give your January baby a name to do with wolves, what is meant by a gift of snowdrops wrapped in moss, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Richard II, A. A. Milne, or Mozart? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A treasury of inspiration for every February baby... Find out why you might give your February baby a name to do with water, what is meant by a gift of cinquefoil, violets, and primroses, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Charles Darwin, Abraham Lincoln, or Renoir? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A treasury of inspiration for every September baby... Find out why you might give your September baby a name to do with hunting or home, what is meant by a gift of a bunch of agrimony and mallow, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Elizabeth I, George Gershwin or Euripides? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A treasury of inspiration for every May baby... Find out why you might give your May baby a name to do with messengers, what is meant by a gift of a posy of blue violets, daisies and apple blossom, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Fred Astaire, Florence Nightingale or Queen Victoria? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A treasury of inspiration for every March baby... Find out why you might give your March baby a name to do with war, what is meant by a gift of a nosegay of crown imperials and a bunch of violets, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Albert Einstein, Robert the Bruce, or Michelangelo? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign - famous babies who share your baby's birthday - quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood ... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.

A 1945 novel by the famous author of Ballet Shoes about what happens to a family during WWII. Preface by Jeremy Holmes.

Ballet Shoes is the much loved classic by Noel Streatfeild

'I wonder . . . if other girls had to be one of us, which of us they'd choose to be?'

Pauline longs to be an actress.

Petrova is happiest playing with cars and engines.

And if she could . . . Posy would dance all day!

But when their benefactor Great-Uncle Matthew disappears, the Fossil girls share a future of a dazzling life on stage, where their dreams and fears will soon come true . . .


Noel Streatfeild once said that Ballet Shoes was 'really a fairy story with its feet half-way on the ground' - a magical description for a magical book.

Noel was born in Sussex in 1895 and was one of three sisters. Although she was considered the plain one she ended up leading the most glamorous and exciting life! After working in munitions factories and canteens for the armed forces when WWI broke out, Noel followed her dream of being on stage and went to RADA where she became a professional actress.

She began writing children's books in 1931 and Ballet Shoes was published in 1936. She quickly became one of the most popular authors of her day. When she visited Puffin exhibitions, there were queues right out of the building and all the way down The Mall. She was one of the first winners of the Carnegie Medal and was awarded an OBE in 1983. Noel Streatfeild lived in London. She died in 1986.

Margaret Thursday, the unforgettable heroine of Thursday's Child stars in this classic children's adventure from Noel Streatfeild, the beloved author of Ballet Shoes. When Margaret Thursday lands a role as a child actress at a well-known London theatre, becoming famous almost overnight, news of her success reaches her bitter enemy, the matron of her old orphanage. Margaret knows that Matron is set on revenge, but she keeps her head held high, focusing on the play. But Matron's evil plans are well prepared, and Margaret is going to need her wits about her - and the help of her friends - if she is to escape unharmed...

A perfect companion to Ballet Shoes, Circus Shoes, Theatre Shoes and Tennis Shoes, this family war-time story was first published in 1946, reissued now in A Puffin Book. There's great excitement when an unexpected parcel arrives for Selina. A beautiful long evening-dress and shiny satin party shoes - the best present a girl could ever wish for! She can hardly wait for a special occasion to wear them, but there's still a war on and all the grown-ups are far too busy to arrange a party. So Selina and her cousins decide to organize a pageant with acting, singing, dancing and dressing-up. Will Selina find the perfect role in which to put on her amazing new clothes?

'The wonderful Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories collects, for the first time, nine festive stories originally written for annuals and magazines in the 1940s and 1950s . . . As ever, Streatfeild's children always feel utterly real and relatable. A beautifully produced treat' Anna Carey, Irish Times In this captivating collection of stories by the author of Ballet Shoes, there are auditions on stage and antics on ice, trips to the pantomime, holiday adventures, and laughter shared with family and friends. Charming, heartwarming and funny, this collection will bring joy to readers of all ages. Originally written in 1940s-60s for annuals, magazines and the radio, these stories have never been collected before. With enchanting line drawings by by Peter Bailey. Stories include: The Audition The Bells Keep Twelfth Night The Moss Rose Thimble The Princess The Chain Christmas at Collers The Pantomime Goose Skating to the Stars

A NEW COLLECTION OF HOLIDAY STORIES BY THE BELOVED AUTHOR OF BALLET SHOES. PERFECT READING FOR LONG SUMMER DAYS.

In this captivating new collection, there are stories for every reader to enjoy: unforgettable holidays and unlikely friendships, crime-solving adventures and dancers in the spotlight for the very first time.

Originally written for annuals and magazines from the 1930s-70s, these newly discovered stories will be treasured by Noel Streatfeild fans of all ages.

Reissued in 'A Puffin Book' series of best-loved children's classics, this is a sharp and funny story that follows in the footsteps of Ballet Shoes, Theatre Shoes, Circus Shoes and Party Shoes by Noel Streatfeild. In TENNIS SHOES the Heath children area found to have tennis in their blood. Their grandfather and father before them had been top players, and the twins are champion material. Then Nicky - cheeky, rebellious Nicky - starts to practise in secret, but talented at tennis as she is, the ambitious Nicky first has battles to win with herself - on and off the tennis court.

A wonderful story of music and family and finding home, from the beloved author of Ballet Shoes. The Forums are a musical family, and one child, Sebastian, shines out as a prodigy. He is a brilliant violinist and when his talent is recognised, he is wanted the world over. Myra, Wolfgang (named after Mozart) and Ettie thought it was wonderful at first, but after four years of touring the world with their brilliant brother they've changed their minds. Now, what they long for, is a home of their own, not a hotel in Vienna or Venice or Moscow. But to their mother and father, a life of travel is exciting - all any child could want. How can the children make the grown-ups see sense? Myra makes a plan - 'Operation Home' - and is determined to make it succeed.

BY THE AUTHOR OF BALLET SHOES with beautiful illustrations by Edward Ardizzone 'A joyous, sunlight book. For me, the best Noel Streatfeild of all' HILARY MCKAY '"You have a whole wing of the house to yourselves. The glorious world outside to play in. All that the earth brings forth to feed you, and you stand there asking foolish questions until my head reels. Help yourselves, children, help yourselves." Then, flapping her cloak as if to shoo off a clutter of chickens, Great Aunt Dymphna was gone.' Summer will be different for the Gareth children this year. Their father, an epidemiologist, is ill abroad, and their mother must go to help him. So Alex, Penny, Naomi and Robin are sent to Ireland to stay with an eccentric distant relative. Great Aunt Dymphna is like nobody they've ever met. She lives in a ramshackle house, quotes swathes of poetry and flits about like a great bat. And, to the children's consternation, she expects them to fend for themselves. Despite tears and many mishaps, they learn something new every day, and living with Great Aunt Dymphna becomes an adventure.

A thrilling, classic children's adventure with a courageous heroine, from the beloved author of Ballet Shoes. Margaret Thursday was named after the day she was found on the church steps as a baby. But she isn't really an orphan - each year a bag of gold coins is left at the church for her keep. However, when Margaret is eleven years old, the money suddenly stops and her guardians have no choice but to send her away to an orphanage. The orphanage is worse than they could have imagined. The children are poorly treated and barely fed, and fearless Margaret soon makes herself the enemy of the evil matron who runs it. Vowing to protect her new friends, Peter and Horatio, Margaret plans their daring escape . . . but she'll have to outwit Matron at every turn. Margaret's action-packed adventure, set in turn-of-the-century England, takes her from orphanage to canal boat to the world of the theatre. Through it all, Margaret is propelled by her unwavering sense of self and determination.

Christmas with the Chrystals is a gorgeous short story about how an influx of cheery young cousins at Christmas warms the heart of a haughty grandmother and lights up her chilly home. This very special Yuletide story is accompanied by several Streatfeild Christmas extracts from her many children's novels, including an (almost) never-before-seen sequel chapter to her bestseller Ballet Shoes. There are also recollections of the author's own childhood Christmases (taken from the Noel Streatfeild Christmas Holiday Book).

Published in the 'A Puffin Book' series of best-loved classics, along with BALLET SHOES, THEATRE SHOES, TENNIS SHOES and PARTY SHOES. In CIRCUS SHOES by Noel Streatfeild Gus the clown is Peter and Santa's only living relative and escape to the circus seems a better idea to them than an orphanage. But Gus will keep the children only if they make themselves useful - and they have to fight hard to become a genuine part of the circus. Noel Streatfeild was born in Sussex in 1895 and was one of three sisters. Although she was considered the plain one she ended up leading the most glamorous and exciting life! After working in munitions factories and canteens for the armed forces when WWI broke out, Noel followed her dream of being on stage and went to RADA where she became a professional actress. She began writing children's books in 1931 and Ballet Shoes was published in 1936. She quickly became one of the most popular authors of her day. When she visited Puffin exhibitions, there were queues right out of the building and all the way down The Mall. She was one of the first winners of the Carnegie Medal and was awarded an OBE in 1983. Noel Streatfeild lived in London. She died in 1986.

*'Classic Noel Streatfeild at her warm-hearted best. I absolutely loved it' Hilary McKay, author of THE SKYLARKS' WAR *'Such rewarding reading' Daily Telegraph There are stories for every reader in this delightful collection - exciting crime-solving adventures; nervous young actors in the spotlight for the first time; unforgettable holidays and unlikely friendships. Featuring beautiful illustrations by PETER BAILEY Stories include: The Plain One; Devon Mettle; Chicken for Supper; Flag's Circus; The Secret; Coralie; Ordinary Me; Cows Eat Flowers; Andrew's Trout; The Old Fool; Let's Go Coaching; Howard; The Quiet Holiday; Roberta; Green Silk Originally written for annuals and magazines from the 1930s-70s, these newly discovered stories make captivating reading for Noel Streatfeild fans of all ages.