From the acclaimed author of The Old Ways & Landmarks -- an essay on the joy of reading for anyone who has ever loved a book Every book is a kind of gift to its reader & the act of giving books is charged with a special emotional resonance It is a meeting of three minds (the giver the author the recipient) an exchange of intellectual & psychological currency that leaves each participant enriched Here Robert Macfarlane recounts the story of a book he was given as a young man & how he managed eventually to return the favour though never repay the debt From one of the most lyrical writers of our time comes a perfectly formed gem a lyrical celebration of the transcendent power & humanity of the given book ...

The job of the skin is to keep things in On the buttoned-down island of Here all is well By which we mean orderly neat contained & moreover beardless Or at least it is until one famous day when Dave bald but for a single hair finds himself assailed by a terrifying unstoppablemonster! Where did it come from? How should the islanders deal with it? & what most importantly are they going to do with Dave? The first book from a new leading light of UK comics The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil is an off-beat fable worthy of Roald Dahl It is about life death & the meaning of beards (We mean a gigantic beard basically) ...

This hilarious retelling of the huge turnip grown in a cottage garden will be enjoyed by small children The old man & his wife tug & heave at the giant turnip to be joined by various animals & birds until it finally comes up ...

Gloriously silly comedy from Booker prize winner & bestseller Roddy Doyle If adults are mean to children they get the Giggler Treatment It's smelly It's squishy & it sticks to your shoe But sometimes just sometimes the Gigglers make a mistake Can Robbie Kayla Jimmy & Rover the dog come to Mr Mack's rescue before the poo hits the shoe? Look out for more cheeky runaway comedies starring the Mack family & Rover the wonder-dog ROVER SAVES CHRISTMAS (9781407139739) & THE MEANWHILE ADVENTURES (9781407139746) ...

The Gilded Stage is a comprehensive tour of the world of opera From its origins in the courts of northern Italy to its internationally recognised position in modern culture Snowman explores the social history of opera houses & impresarios composers & patrons artists & audiences Even the most flamboyant composers could scarcely have imagined the global reach of opera in our own times More opera is performed financed seen heard filmed & broadcast than ever before & the world's leading performers are worshipped & paid like pop stars Yet the art form is widely derided as 'elitist' & parts of the classical recording business appear close to bankruptcy Pinpointing the scandals forgotten history & key revolutions in the form with light erudition & a brilliant anecdotal eye Daniel Snowman reveals that the world of opera has always known crisis & uncertainty
- & the resulting struggles have often proved every bit as dramatic as those portrayed onstage
...

The classic story of The Gingerbread Man retold with simple text & delightful illustrations When the Gingerbread Man runs away from the old lady's oven the whole village is soon chasing after him First Reading Level Three titles help beginner readers develop reading stamina & include character sheets or maps & the main story Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton ...

This delightful picture book is based on the beloved classic tale & retold for younger children Run run as fast as you can you can't catch him he's the Gingerbread Man! But although he may be able to out-run everyone can the Gingerbread Man outwit the cunning fox? This title features vibrant illustrations taken from the popular First Reading series ...

Run run as fast as you can You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man! A fresh retelling of the well-loved story complete with a baby-friendly ending & charming illustrations by Raffaella Ligi throughout 24 pages full colour throughout Sims Lesley ...

In this classic fairy tale a little old woman makes a gingerbread man
- but then he runs away! Is there anyone who can catch the
...

Step into the magical world of Child's Play fairy tales Traditional tales are a well-established part of all cultures These lively stories will captivate readers with their delightful illustrations & fun lift-up flaps The flaps encourage prediction & discussion & well-known stories will give young readers confidence 24 pages 24 Illustrations color ...