The sun is rising higher into the sky every day. Summer has come and Farmer John builds a great pile of wood for the Midsummer's Eve festival taking place on his land. Tom Nutcracker and June Berry's whole school is coming to celebrate. June Berry forgets a basket (with a cookie inside) by the oak tree when they are helping their dad build the wood pile. A small detail to us, perhaps, but one which leads Jeremy Mouse on a merry dance as Jemima Mouse tries to preserve the cookie for the festival. Meanwhile, Pine Cone and Pepper Pot are not opening their door to anyone other than Tiptoes (and even then only reluctantly). Their beards, it seems, are entangled. Hopelessly entangled. This sends Tiptoes all over the forest to find a way to get pine resin out of beards. Then there is the problem of Ompliant the Elephant. What are Tom and June to do with him? How will they keep him out of sight? But the clever kids come up with a wonderful idea to hide a pachyderm in plain sight. Finally, the Summer Queen begins to appear here and there, and in the end joins the festival and tells 'The Tale of Turana' before mysteriously vanishing before the crowd.

"The Midsummer Mouse" is a summer tale, full of midsummer mirth, misadventure, mystery and delight. It will bring sparkles to children's eyes, and laughter to adults, too. Suitable, as always with Tiptoes Lightly tales, for family reading from kindergarten through age ten or so.

From the author of "The Tales of Tiptoes Lightly" and twelve other children's books comes a collection of forty-two stories for children. Inside you'll find nature tales, riddle tales, fables, fairy tales, poems, and creation myths both serious and sanguine. With scores of illustrations and drawings, this book is a must-have for family reading whenever a story is needed - which is at least once a day Suitable for children from kindergarten through grade four.

Tiptoes Lightly lives in an acorn high in the branches of a Great Oak Tree. Her tiny house has no furniture-except for two downy feathers Lucy the Goose gave her to sleep on. Her friends, Pine Cone and Pepper Pot the gnomes, decide to make her a birthday present of one table and three chairs. They search the forest for the perfect branch and enlist the help of forest folk to make the furniture: Ompliant the Elephant to carry the wood, Carpenter Ants to shape the branch and Spinalot the Spider to spin the webbing for the chairs. Unfortunately, Pepper Pot sits down on one of the chairs while the spider web is still fresh and becomes hopelessly flyed. When, at last, he is freed Pine Cone and Pepper Pot row down Running River to collect wax from the bees to finish the table and chairs. Hauling the table and chairs up the Tiptoes' oak tree presents a host of unexpected difficulties. Finally, at a surprise birthday party arranged by Jemima Mouse, Tiptoes receives her beautiful presents. At the request of the Mouse children she tells the tale of how she was born from Mother Wind and Father Sun.

The book is rounded out with a short separate story, "'The Tale of None'," in which little None (a ladybug with no spots, none at all ) goes to India, America and Africa to find her spots. These she receives from a spotted cow, a freckled girl and the king of spottiness himself, the leopard.

"'The Magic Knot and other tangles '" is lavishly illustrated by the artist-author. The stories are humorous and sanguine. They are innocent and magical tales suitable for reading to young children or for young children to read.

Tiptoes Lightly is a fairy who lives in an acorn high in the branches of a Great Oak Tree. "Big-Stamp Two-Toes the Barefoot Giant" follows her adventures, and those of her friends, through springtime at Farmer John's. On the way Ompliant the Elephant has his leg pulled by Chit-Chat the Chipmunk; Tiptoes sails down to the sea and brings Spinner the Dolphin back with her to see flowers for the very first time; Tom Nutcracker tracks giant footprints into the forest but gets himself treed, and Meadow Mouse almost gets eaten by Tiger the Cat.

Many tales and legends are also told: Miranda the spring pixie remembers how the little blue and yellow forget-me-not came to be; a rock spirit reveals how his rock ended up lying in the middle of the forest so far away from the Snowy Mountains (because of Big-Stamp Two-Toes the Barefoot Giant, of course ), and Mr. Rabbit tells the Jeremy Mouse and his mouselings the Legend of Oak Knoll Warren.

"Big-Stamp Two-Toes the Barefoot Giant" is lavishly illustrated by the artist-author. These stories are reverent, humorous, sanguine and even, at times, spiritual. They are innocent and magical tales, suitable for reading to young children or for young children to read.

Tiptoes Lightly lives in an acorn high up in the branches of a great oak tree. "The Festival of Stones" follows her adventures, and those of her friends, through the festivals of Michaelmas, Halloween, Martinmas, Advent and Christmas. At Michaelmas a real dragon appears, as does St. Michael, and Farmer John tells the story of 'The Most Beautiful Dragon in the Whole World' to his children.

Other tales are told too. An angel tells the story of 'Martin's Light' at Martinmas, at the Festival of Animals Tiptoes recounts how the animals were sung into the world in 'The Myth of Ella-jah', and Farmer John reads 'The Burden Bull of Scotland' to his children on Christmas day. On the way Jeremy Mouse has a frightening encounter at Halloween (with a you-know-what-kind of vegetable ) and almost drowns while sliding on ice (luckily he is saved by Mr. Owl the Vegetarian).

At the farm, the children meet the Borodat who lives in the barn, and on Christmas night June Berry dreams of her mother who has passed over the threshold. In the last chapter the world's first snow-mouse is made by Jeremy Mouse - helped by Tiptoes and the house fairies, Pins and Needles.

"The Festival of Stones" is lavishly illustrated by the artist-author. The stories are reverent, humorous, sanguine and spiritual. They are innocent and magical tales, suitable for reading to young children or for young children to read.

Alf's parents loose their home in the great financial downturn of the early twenty-first century. They take Alf and his friend, Siggy, to a visiting carnival to have a bit of fun. Alf and Siggy get stuck in a dilapidated Hall of Mirrors and end up miles away with the beer belly owner and his amply x-sized mum. That's when Alf discovers a portal in the Hall of Mirrors. It leads to a world turned completely inside out to ours. In Instar, the sun lies at the center of a great sphere, waxing and waning during the day, and vanishing at night. They meet the slim and beautiful Mia, who takes them into her tilting-the tall, slender buildings that rise above the forest and sway with the wind. The tiltings, however, are surrounded by a high defense wall with vicious spikes on top. Living in the day is fine, or so it seems to an outsider, but when night comes the gates are shut against the darkling beasts that rage outside.

Filled with drama and humor, "The Darkling Beasts" is a cautionary tale; it addresses some of the great issues that we and the upcoming generation will have to face.

Suitable for grade 7 into adulthood.

Jayne is a cat, raised as a dog. Found as a new-born she is brought up with a litter of puppies. Jayne does not turn out to be just any kind of dog, she is the top dog, the main-man dog, the king-of-the-castle dog. She holds her tail up straight when she walks and brooks no nonsense. When they go for a stroll everyone has to stay behind her: her brothers and sisters, her doggy-daddy and doggy-mommy, even the human she keeps as chief backscratcher and can opener. Jayne is a tough cookie-as tough as nails and as cool as cucumbers come-as she proves in (almost) all her adventures: with Big-Bad and Bengal Bob, flying and skydiving, as lifesaver extraordinaire and later as mayor of the great city of New Philawashingyork.

"The Adventures of Jayne" is a fun tale for family reading or for children to read themselves. Suitable for grades 1 to 5.

Adam and Sophia are twins. Sophia has wings and Adam doesn't. One day their parents leave. "Don't go into the forest," they said, but Adam did. Adam gave his word, and broke it. Now he is lost and alone, and his voice is gone. Sophia flies overhead and drops a piece of paper. It flutters into the forest. Except for a lock of hair the paper is blank. Immediately, adventures and experiences unfold for Adam, some common, some extraordinary, some unearthly and beautiful. Letters appear on the paper as Adam wakes up to his 'alphabet'. Slowly, painfully, joyously Adam wins his word back.

"Adam's Alphabet" is an alphabet tale unlike any written before. Multilayered and broad, it reads as a children's tale, but underneath run deeper waters that adults can plumb for profit and pleasure.

"Adam's Alphabet" is suitable for children aged 7 to 12.

Hrothgar, king of the Danes, builds a great mead-hall called Heorot, in which he hopes to feast his liegemen and to give them presents. But the monster, Grendel, is seized with hateful jealousy and cannot brook the sounds of joy that reach him in his fen-dwelling. He comes, bent on direful mischief, and thane after thane is ruthlessly carried off and devoured.

Thus begins the greatest Anglo-Saxon epic poem. Beowulf the warrior-hero and aristocrat is the finest example of the Anglo-Saxon heroic spirit. Dating back to the end of the first millennium this poem's influence is still felt today.

Originally published in 1892, this classic verse translation has been freshly typeset, formatted and edited. It has updated footnotes for Old English or uncommon words, plus notes on the characters as they appear in the poem. These are derived from the fuller glossary of terms and names at the end of the book. In addition, there are side notes which follow and illuminate the text itself.

Tiptoes Lightly loves the sea, and when Farmer John and his children, Tom Nutcracker and June Berry, drive to the seaside for Thanksgiving she goes along with them. Tom and June discover a freshly uncovered cave in the bluffs that run along the shore. They call it their Treasure Cave just for fun, but then find seven beautiful pearls and a finely wrought golden chain buried in the sand. Tiptoes sets out to find the story behind the pearls, and soon a delicate web of tales begins to unfold. Stretching back to the creation of the world, they weave together until Tiptoes and the children are caught up in the ongoing drama between the Sea King and his lovely daughter.

This Tiptoes Lightly book is the 'oldest' of her tales and is best suited for children from grade one through grade four.

In what was announced as a lecture Rudolf Steiner tells instead an extraordinary tale. It begins with two women standing in a stark and frozen landscape: one experiences the bitter cold, the other the extraordinary beauty. Both fall asleep, but while one falls into a sleep on the verge of death, the other is approached out of the sunset by a youth who says: 'You are art'. She then undergoes a powerful set of experiences. Today we might call them vivid dreams, but that would be too passive. They are more than dreams; she performs deeds and becomes the bearer of mighty, creative impulses for the future.

This tale, told in 1909, has lost none of its originality and vividness. It is as relevant and powerful as when it was first told. It presents the reader with a series of images and beings drawn directly from the spiritual world, but in such a way that, through art, a bridge is built between the spiritual and earthly worlds.

This edition is freshly translated, with a foreword and endnotes containing illustrations and photographs of subjects and works of art mentioned in the course of the tale.

Padraic Colum is one of the most acclaimed storytellers of all time. Author of "The King of Ireland's Son, The Children of Odin" and "The Children's Homer," his stories are bigger than life, sparking children's imagination and carrying them through the world of myths and legends.

"The Boy apprenticed to an Enchanter" is filled with intrigue, mystery and adventure. It tells the tale of Eean, the fisherman's son, who vanquishes the evil Zabulun with the aide of Merlin the Magician, Bird-of-Gold and the King's horses. His quest takes Eean to the Tower of Babylon where he defies his master, and he and Bird-of-Gold flee to Chiron the Centaur and Hermes Trismegistus in a desperate search of a helpmeet. Finally they come to the magical Island of the White Tower which rises into sight out of the western ocean on midsummer's day, there to meet Merlin and to confront Zabulun in a final battle.

As an assist for grade school children this edition has been freshly typeset in a contemporary font and complemented with footnotes for rare words, references to mythological personalities, and countries past and present. Included in the addendum is a map showing the cities and countries referred to, a brief biography of the author, Padraic Colum, and an illustration of an uncommon bird mentioned in the text.

This book has depth, artistry and drama with a strong and clear storyteller's voice. It needed, in my opinion as a teacher, a helping hand to make it more accessible to contemporary children - especially North American kids. So I gave it a fresh editing with grade 4-8 students in mind. In addition to editing for clarity and pronounceability (Celtic spellings are sometimes impossible ), I refreshed the original illustrations, inserted footnotes where a word was uncommon or seldom used, added a map to show where countries and mountains mentioned in the book are located, added a section with characterizations and drawings of all the birds which appear in the book, included the Celtic Ogham alphabet referenced in one tale (plus examples for students to decipher and encouragement for them to write their own Ogham), and finally, added a brief biography of Padraic Colum, with a description of his dramatic life and times in Ireland and his arrival in the land of hope, America. This book really is a gem and well worth the reading for both students and adults alike. Reg Down: editor.

The best, most powerful recounting of the Norse myths by the master storyteller, Padraic Colum. Filled with drama, intrigue, humor and adventure, this collection of tales begins with the building of Asgard, home of the gods, and ends with the final battle of Ragnarok when the world is deluged in water and made anew. In between we meet Iduna and her golden apples, Freya of the ill-gotten necklace, Odin the Wanderer, Sigurd the Dragon Slayer, the mischievous, clever but vindictive Loki, and the whole Norse pantheon from giants to dwarves. For richness, cultural wealth and sheer grandeur the Norse myths stand alone and unique in the world-and this edition for children has yet to be bettered.

Padraic Colum, award winning author, poet and dramatist was part of the Irish literary revival before coming to live in America. Willy Pagany worked on many of Colums' books, complementing them with numerous elegant line drawings and illustrations.

This edition has been freshly typeset and edited for clarity, with footnotes added for unusual words the contemporary child might not know. A brief biography is included in the back, telling of Colum's life in Ireland and his arrival in the land of hope, America.

Minda is an orphan, taken in by her practical and less-than-enthusiastic Aunt Karin. Minda and her crafty goat, Stor Geta, struggle to find a place to call home-and to get the money her aunt insists she must earn for her school clothes and shoes. She tries being a servant and house-help, an entrepreneur, even a herd-girl up on the mountains, but nothing comes easy. And yet there is much joy and adventure. She meets a young widow, the Mistress of Dalstorp, and together they face the world until at last they win through and find each other.

"The Gate Swings In" captures the mood, culture and wisdom of the Swedish folk. It is a perfect complement to Nora Burglon's much loved Danish tale, "Sticks across the Chimney."

Without doubt, "The King of Ireland's Son" is the best of Padraic Colum's books. Originally published in 1916, this classic has stood the test of time and remains one of the greatest set of tales ever-full of humor, imagination and drama.

This edition has been freshly typeset in a modern font, as well as carefully edited, annotated and endnoted, allowing the reader to enter fully into all the often playful subtlety of meaning Colum gives to the names, places and objects in the tale. In addition, the pronunciation of the Irish and Celtic names and words has been noted, often with a background note or two as to their meaning.

These are no stories retold by an academic or scholar, but rousing, living tales recounted from Colum's own childhood in Ireland. There, as a boy, he heard firsthand the myths and sagas, folk and fairy tales from itinerant storytellers who wandered the roads and told their stories in exchange for a roof over their heads and a bite to eat. He was a witness to the last generation of a long tradition stretching far back into the mists of time. Colum won awards and recognition aplenty for his work in his adopted country, the United States, and for the whole of his long life he carried on the storyteller's tradition. Even now, though he is long gone from us, his voice still sounds fresh and clear and full of life through the written text.

Willy Pogany, a Hungarian artist, was a contemporary of Colum. He illustrated this volume with a wonderful sense of artistic fantasy and playfulness.

GILGAMESH is the oldest known legend. In this beautiful, full-color version, the distinguished author and artist, Bernarda Bryson, has created a richly moving interpretation of the mighty deeds of Gilgamesh, the great hero-king, part god and part man. First written down in Sumerian cuneiform 3,000 years before Christ, the story of Gilgamesh tells of a great flood and of one man, befriended by the gods, who survived by building an ark. In the feats of Gilgamesh and his companion, Enkidu, a monster-man who becomes gentle and loves and respects the King, are found the sources of the great mythological heroes, Hercules, Jason and Theseus.

In addition to its importance in the history of children's literature, GILGAMESH is an exciting, dramatic and often amusing tale-setting jealous god against jealous god, and man against man in remarkable battles of wit and strength. Bernarda Bryson has set down a stirring epic accompanied by exquisite prints which impart to the reader her own lifetime fascination with the myth of Gilgamesh.

The Golden Bird has been stolen (apparently) and Tik-Tak is sent to fetch it. The naive and dreamy youth rides southwards (it's warmer in that direction), gets kicked out of two kingdoms, meets Erce-Ma, loses his hopeless steed, gains a (much) better one, stumbles into the Undwelling and its townships, descends into Akkman's Dwell, rescues the bird (and other abductees), returns (still not fully awake) with the bird, refuses the hand of the Princess (what ), becomes a successful entrepreneur, is jailed > is released > then steals the bird (wrong order, I know, but that's the truth), returns to Spring, returns to Tansa, gets familied, assumes the kingship and unites the Three Kingdoms (well, it's a work in progress).

"The Fetching of Spring," written with a (sometimes) humorous nod to the fairy tale, has a deadly serious subtext. It is an awakening tale, the story all of us are in whether we like it or not. Setting out from the Kingdom of the Golden Bird, our (inordinately) nascent hero descends via the earthly into contemporary sub-earthly realms. The story (and it is a story in the sense of storytelling) ends with worn-shoe idealism and a peppering of satire to spice things up.

Sir Gillygad is a knight, a doughty knight who rides about on his trusty frog called Gorf. They sally forth on adventures bold and exciting: to the Twinkle, to Holey Hill, to the Plain of Dreams-even as far as World's End. Then rumors are heard, rumors of an egg, a Gruesome Egg with two leggs, a left leg and a right leg, and the leggs are bird's leggs-which makes sense in an eggy sort of way. The egg is haunting the Daark Forest, close to the Mumbly Mews and the gerwine Greneff. So off Sir Gillygad gallops (well, hoppedy-hops), there to meet and confront this unique and remarkable beast.

"Sir Gillygad and the Gruesome Egg" is an adventuresome tale, suitable for children aged 9 to 12 or thereabouts-and adults too, if they are still young at heart and open to the wonders that speak of the mystery of becoming.