Gogol`s classic, uproarious folktale, presented in a beautiful hardcover edition perfect for giving as a gift. Written in 1831, this dark tale relates the adventures of Vakula, the blacksmith, in his fight against the devil, who has stolen the moon above the village of Dikanka & is wreaking havoc on its inhabitants, all to win the love of the most beautiful girl in town. The basis for many film & opera adaptations, & still a story traditionally read aloud to children on Christmas Eve in Ukraine & Russia, The Night Before Christmas is the best holiday tale by the man whom Vladimir Nabokov called `the greatest writer Russia has yet produced`. Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852) was the son of a Ukrainian gentleman farmer. He attended a variety of boarding schools, where he proved an indifferent student but was admired for his theatrical abilities. In 1828 he moved to St. Petersburg & began to publish stories, & by the mid-1830s he had established himself in the literary world & been warmly praised by Pushkin. In 1836, his play The Inspector-General was attacked as immoral, & he left Russia, remaining abroad for most of the next dozen years. During that time he wrote two of his best-known stories, ` The Nose` & ` The Overcoat, ` & in 1842 he published the first section of his masterpiece Dead Souls. Gogol became increasingly religious as the years passed, & in 1847 he became the disciple of an Orthodox priest who influenced him to burn the second part of Dead Souls & then abandon writing altogether. After undertaking an extreme fast, he died at the age of forty-two. ...

This elegant cut-paper edition of the celebrated Christmas poem evokes the snowy magic of the season through moonlit silhouettes. With the turn of each page the scenes transform to reveal the fine details & surprises of a festive family home. Open up the house to see the characters within, peer through the doors & windows to catch a glimpse of St Nick`s arrival & witness the spectacular pop-up finale. All the excitement & anticipation of Christmas Eve is captured here, making this a book to delight in & to treasure. ...

Exquisite silhouettes & a spectacular pop-up finale bring this popular Christmas poem magically to life. This elegant cut-paper edition of the celebrated Christmas poem evokes the snowy magic of the season through moonlit silhouettes. With the turn of each page the scenes transform to reveal the fine details & surprises of a festive family home. Open up the house to see the characters within, peer through the doors & windows to catch a glimpse of St Nick`s arrival & witness the spectacular pop-up, laser-cut finale. All the excitement & anticipation of Christmas Eve is captured here, making this a book to delight in & to treasure. It boasts exquisite illustrations, die-cut holes that transform the pages throughout & an amazingly intricate laser-cut scene showing St Nicholas & his reindeer in the sky. Stylish jacket design & gold printing make this opulent novelty book the ultimate Christmas gift! ...

Revel in the thrill & excitement of Christmas eve & Clement C. Moore`s timeless poem with this lavish edition of the well-loved classic. Feel the warmth of the house & the tingle of anticipation as Robert Ingpen`s award-winning illustrations bring the story of the most magical time of year to life. ...

A brilliantly funny Christmas picture book from the bestselling author of Oi Frog!` Twas the night before the night before Christmas (That`s Christmas Eve Eve). & Santa was wiping his brow on his sleeve. Green elves were sewing, Blue elves were counting, Red elves were carving, The pressure was mounting! It`s the day before Christmas Eve & Santa is ever so busy.. . he`s got presents to wrap, reindeer to wake & a sleigh to start. But has he forgotten something? &, more importantly, will he be ready in time? Inspired by Clement C. Moore`s classic festive poem, this hilarious, rhyming picture book is sure to have you ho ho ho-ing! ...

An enchanting bedtime story about a small boy who is the custodian of night, from talented new picture book author & poet, Louise Greig, with beautifully atmospheric illustrations by Ashling Lindsay. Max has a key & a box of midnight blue. When he turns the key in the lock
- WHOOSH! Day slips inside as Night sweeps out. Darkness tumbles into the air. It dances & whirls around the room. It goes under the bed, under the chair
- everywhere! Louise Greig`s lyrical voice & Ashling Lindsay`s warm, endearing illustrations hold a candle up to the magical nature of night-time in this soothing picture book. Perfect for cosying up to read & share before bedtime, The Night Box is an original bedtime tale that sits perfectly alongside classics such as The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark
- great for reassuring little ones who have a fear of the dark & calming down lively children before bedtime!


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In the spirit of ` Goodnight Moon` & ` The Curious Garden` comes a stunning debut picture book filled with whimsy & creativity ...

In an isolated house on the New South Wales coast, Ruth
- a widow whose sons work abroad
- lives alone. Until one day a stranger

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`A gorgeous tale brimming with the magic of Christmas. A sheer delight for all kids both big & small.` Ruth Jones, award-winning writer & comedian ` Enchanting, funny & intriguing in equal measure` Philip Ardagh, bestselling author ` You can always tell when a children`s book has been written by a brilliant father because there`s a particular intimacy, warmth & mischievous humour that bubbles through it.. . irresistible` Alexander Armstrong, presenter, comedian & writer Jackson knows all about the flying reindeer, he knows about the elves & the secret North Pole workshop, he knows about the magic that allows Father Christmas to deliver presents around the world in just one night, but there`s one thing he doesn`t know.. . how did Father Christmas become Father Christmas? That all changes when, one Christmas Eve, Jackson meets Father Christmas & hears his incredible story. So begins an enchanting fairy-tale into a magical snowy landscape, where Torvil, a mean-spirited & miserly elf, is about to discover the true meaning of Christmas. This might not have been the story Jackson was expecting but, as Father Christmas tells him, no good story ever is... Get ready for a Christmas classic in the making from actor & comedian Ben Miller with beautiful illustrations throughout from emerging talent Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini, that will remind everyone of the true spirit of Christmas & prove once & for all that Father Christmas really does exist! ...

A year of war. A year of terror. & a year of loss. Twelve months have passed since the invasion. Ellie has lost friends, she has taken many lives & she is still as disgusted by violence as she is determined to stand up to the invaders. Now the friends find themselves back in their sanctuary of Hell, caring for a band of feral children whose lives have been destroyed by the war. Meanwhile, the conflict intensifies & the enemy draws closer... ...