Kingfisher comes a collection of fairy-tale retellings for adults. By turns funny and dark, sad and lyrical, this anthology draws together in one volume such stories as "The Wolf and the Woodsman," "Loathly," and "Bluebeard's Wife," along with an all-new novella, "Boar & Apples."Author's Note: Many of these stories have appeared in various forms on the author's blog.

    In just a few weeks it will be Legacy Day when they will sign the Storybook of Legends and commit to live out their fairy-tale destiny, repeating the famous stories of their parents.This volume collects together for the first time 12 short tales, including five BRAND-NEW stories. For the first time, find out what Dexter and Darling Charming, Cedar Wood, Lizzie Hearts and Kitty Cheshire were doing just before school started. This collection also includes the stories of Apple White, Raven Queen, Madeline Hatter, Briar Beauty, Ashlynn Ella and Hunter Huntsman, and the fairy tale The Tale of Two Sisters, which were previously only available online.Don't miss this Once Upon a Time special edition of enchanting stories by bestselling and Newbery honor-winning author Shannon Hale.

    This visually dazzling live action film explores the origins of one of the most iconic Disney villains: Maleficent, the infamous fairy who curses Princess Aurora in Disney's animated classic Sleeping Beauty. This 'origin' story is told from Maleficent's perspective, intersecting with the classic in both familiar and unexpected ways. The movie stars Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, and is directed by two-time Oscar-winning production designer Robert Stromberg ( Avatar, Alice in Wonderland). The film co-stars Elle Fanning ( Super 8) as the Princess Aurora, and features Sharlto Copley ( District 9), Imelda Staunton ( Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), and Juno Temple ( Atonement).

    . . Bloody murder? It’s the Annual Ambassadorial Ball in Glause, and Lady Isabella Farrah, the daughter of New Civet’s Ambassador, is feeling pleasantly scintillated. In the library is Lord Pecus, a charming gentleman whose double mask hides a beastly face, and who has decided that Isabella is the very person to break the Pecus curse. In the ball-room is young Lord Topher, who is rapidly falling in love with an older woman. And in the card-room, lying in a pool of his own blood, is the body of one of Isabella’s oldest friends: Raoul, Civet’s Head Guardsman. The papers sewn into his sash seem to suggest espionage gone wrong, but Isabella is not so certain. Lord Pecus, as Commander of the Watch, is of the opinion that Isabella should keep out of the investigation and out of danger. Isabella is of the opinion that it is her murder to investigate, and that what a certain Beast-Lord doesn’t know won’t hurt him. . . . Will Isabella find the murderer before Lord Pecus does, or will she end her investigation as a bloody spatter on the parlour floor?

    While their personalities are very different, they bond over not quite fitting in with the other Royals. Lizzie, however, has one thing that Duchess doesn't: a happily-ever-after at the end of her story. While Lizzie and the other princesses train for the day when they will rule their kingdoms, Duchess is torn between her role as the perfect, dutiful princess and her rebellious ambition to be a queen. When both girls are selected to attend General Villainy class, Duchess sees an opportunity to be a rebel while following the rules. But can she play a prank on her roomie to ace the class? Find out if Duchess' desire to change her destiny will make her Ever After High's Next Top Villain!

    Wolf just can’t catch a break! Ever since the three little pigs started teaching everyone Ninja skills, huffing and puffing just hasn’t been enough to scare up a good meal. His craving for meat sends Wolf to classes at the dojo, and soon he’s ready to try out his new moves. A little girl and her tiny granny should be easy targets--right? Not if Little Red has anything to say about it! Kiya!

    Cinda's totally evil stepsisters are out to make her life miserable. The Steps tease Cinda, give her terrible advice about life at the academy, and even make her look bad in front of her new friends, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel! But when Cinda overhears the Steps plotting a villainous deed that could ruin Prince Awesome's ball, Cinda, her new friends, and a pair of magical glass slippers have to stop them--before the last stroke of midnight!

    Children story - all time lovable.

    Sybille Schenker’s evocative and exquisite illustrations bring a unique beauty and graphic excellence to this beloved favorite.

    Somehow, while trying to escape an evil stepmother, Princess Rosamund ends up falling asleep. For a long time. But when she's awakened by handsome Viking Siegfried, things don't follow any predictable path...BEAUTY AND THE WEREWOLFTradition predicted that Isabella Beauchamps would go bad. But fiercely practical Bella doesn't do anything crazy--until she's bitten by a werewolf. Now she must stay in Duke Sebastian's castle until she finds out if she's going to grow fur as well. But Bella won't meekly accept anyone else's plan for her life....

    In its pages, you will find science fiction: from near-future, sociological soft SF, to far-future, star-spanning hard SF—and fantasy: from epic fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, and contemporary urban tales, to magical realism, science-fantasy, and folktales. Funded as a stretch goal of LIGHTSPEED’s Women Destroy Science Fiction! Kickstarter campaign, this month we’re presenting a special one-off issue of our otherwise discontinued sister-magazine, FANTASY, called Women Destroy Fantasy!: an all-fantasy extravaganza entirely written—and edited!—by women. Here’s what we’ve got lined up for you in this special issue: Original fantasy—edited by long-time FANTASY editor Cat Rambo—by Kate Hall, H.E. Roulo, T. Kingfisher, and Julia August. Reprints—selected by legendary editor Terri Windling—by Delia Sherman, Emma Bull, Carol Emshwiller, and Nalo Hopkinson. Nonfiction articles—edited by LIGHTSPEED managing editor Wendy N. Wagner—by Kameron Hurley, Galen Dara, Sandra Wickham, Shanna Germain, Sofia Samatar, Kat Howard, and Wendy N. Wagner. Plus an original cover illustration by Elizabeth Leggett.

    While their personalities are very different, they bond over not quite fitting in with the other Royals. Lizzie, however, has one thing that Duchess doesn't: a happily-ever-after at the end of her story. While Lizzie and the other princesses train for the day when they will rule their kingdoms, Duchess is torn between her role as the perfect, dutiful princess and her rebellious ambition to be a queen. When both girls are selected to attend General Villainy class, Duchess sees an opportunity to be a rebel while following the rules. But can she play a prank on her roomie to ace the class? Find out if Duchess' desire to change her destiny will make her Ever After High's Next Top Villain!Don't miss the companion Destiny Do-Over Diary, General Villainy, for interactive fun!

    Rendered in Mary's signature style, this enchanting selection of childhood classics has been specially chosen from Mary Engelbreit's Nursery Tales and Mary Engelbreit's Fairy Tales.With so many delightful illustrations to pore over, readers of all ages will be enchanted by the magical world created here. The full list of stories included in the collection: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, The Emperor's New Clothes, Hansel and Gretel, The City Mouse and the Country Mouse, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Gingerbread Boy, The Little Red Hen, The Ugly Duckling, Cinderella, Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Frog Prince, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel, Thumbelina, Rumpelstiltskin, and Sleeping Beauty.

    What's more, at the end of the night, two students are crowned Thronecoming Queen and King!What if you were attending Thronecoming? Use this book to dream up your float for the parade, design your Thronecoming dress (we know you have hexquisite taste), don accessories from your crown to your slippers, and transform the Grand Ballroom for the big dance! Don't forget to add jewels to your crown before getting your manicures!

    She loves to explore the beautiful woods surrounding her quaint cottage. She even likes living with her bumbling yet well-meaning aunts. But when Aurora discovers a dark secret about her past, her whole world turns upside down. Will she be able to save herself from an imminent curse?This beautiful novel filled with whimsical illustrations tells Aurora’s story in the upcoming Disney film, Maleficent.

    In the process, she'll discover that there's more to the magic pen than meets the eye and will have to journey to a mysterious land filled with familiar--and dangerous--characters. This volume contains the last three episodes of the series: Episode 10: The Black Towers Death has come again, and this time he's claimed a loved one of hero Alice Goodenough. While she reels in the aftermath of a heartbreaking loss, those around her are forced to cope with the terrible consequences of a world without a hero. Alice has learned a terrible lesson: the hero is not safe. Her loved ones are not safe. So long as the Corrupted walk the earth, death will stalk her like a shadow. In her dreams, she's plagued by a golden boy and a statue with a terrible thirst for darkness. The boy believes he is the key to saving the human race and calls to Alice while she sleeps. But can Alice pull herself from the abyss and sally forth, or will she end up in the heroes' graveyard? Episodes 11 and 12: A Dance With Death The hero's journey comes to a close in this epic two-part adventure! Alice Goodenough has passed through Death and now finds herself in a strange land with only her nemesis Sam Grayle for company. Their presence doesn't go unnoticed ... soon, they find themselves in the middle of a war between the good and the Corrupted. Old foes return. New allies are made. Lines are drawn and then crossed as the Corruption spreads, threatening to destroy the land itself and cover this strange world in darkness forever. Alice and her allies must stop it. But to do that, they'll have to find the source of the Corruption: an old enemy whose power has only grown stronger. And this time, the Golden Dragon has an army ... Like Katniss in The Hunger Games and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hero Alice Goodenough is going to need to use more than her fists if she hopes to survive this nightmare!

    In a world where the lines between good and evil blur, Norah struggles to find her place. When her actions throw off the balance of the fairy tale world and happily ever afters, enemies surface, ready to destroy her at any cost.

    Defying the head of her order, she sets out to kill the beast she believes responsible. The King of the Weres-- But there are worse things in Wolvenglen Forest than the wolves. Adrian, reluctant heir to the throne of Wolvenglen, and his band of wolf brothers are bound to protect the humans; especially the Sisterhood. Finding Redlynn unconscious in his woods, awakens in him a passion he's never before experienced and a protective instinct that has him ready to turn on his own men. Problem is, a female is the last thing Adrian needs complicating his life. But all is not as it seems in Wolvenglen Forest and to save the missing girls before time runs out, Redlynn and Adrian must move past their inner demons and learn to trust each other. In the search for vengeance however, sometimes you must give up what you desire most. Red The Were Hunter won 2nd Place in the Hook, Line and Sinker Contest and is a current finalist in the Great Beginnings Contest.

    After yet another bad night on the job, Cory quits to explore other things—like babysitting an adventurous Humpty Dumpty, helping Suzy organize seashells by the seashore, and attempting to finally rid the spiders that plague Marjorie Muffet. But it isn't until Marjorie asks Cory to help set her up with a boy that Cory taps into a power she never knew she had. As she tries to understand her new-found romantic visions, will Cory finally discover her own true path?

    A gaggle of witches, a hoard of black cats, Count Dracula, werewolves, trick-or-treaters, and a flock of ghosts all chase after the Pumpkin Pie Man. Everyone tries, but no one can catch this holiday sweet until he slams smack dab into a mini-van! Playful and fun, this fall-themed book is sure to satisfy your Halloween sweet tooth. Adorable illustrations bring the Pumpkin Pie Man to life, complete with whipped cream eyebrows! The humorous details added to the characters will have the reader flying through the pages after a delicious runaway treat!

    Visit Canada, China, Egypt, and France, and find out whose glass slippers are made of red silk, and whose fairy godmother is a fish.

    Today, it found him. Caught in a chilly October storm, he ducked into a tavern, hoping to escape the rain. What he found, was a room teeming with pirates. Shanghaied by the most elderly of the lot, Archie found himself serving on a ship captained by the fiercest pirate ever to sail the seven seas— the man known as Blackbeard. Through a series of thrilling twists, Archie finds himself captain of another of Blackbeard's ships, the Jolig Roger. In an attempt to flee danger, his ship becomes lost under stars never before seen. Determined to save both his crew and the woman he loves, Archie will make decisions that will forever seal his fate. Discover the untold story of the man who became Captain Hook.

    And they were told the story of a fierce fairy knight who now guarded the woods for the fairy queen. But Janet didn't believe in fairy stories and Janet didn't like being told what to do.

    A unique twist on traditional rhymes of everyone's youth, "Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes" presents a more sinister approach to these childhood classics, and yet the sing-song nature of the poems renders them playful and jovial at the same time. Little Witch Muffet is not frightened by a silly, little spider; she simply adds him to her stew!Rotten zombies, giants, dwarves, and goblins mingle with werewolves, centaurs, and fauns. Follow along the skeleton stepping stones, scale up a palisade, claw at the window of a tasty child and bake him into a pumpkin shell. Monsters cook up delicious elvish pie, too! Every kid who has an eensy weensy bit of sense wants a pet with feathers white as snow, who flies like an eagle and bleats like a goat-a hippogriff, of course!Six forest sprites with four times as many pixies escape from a loaf of bread atop the elaborate table of the fey queen; her feast has flown away! If you enjoy mischief and have a penchant for the morbidly hilarious, the Herzs' rhymes will satisfy your mythological curiosities.Larson's illustrations give new life to these ancient figures, and her artistic style employs the bold lines and colorful movement of an action-packed comic book. The author also includes a "bestiary" with information about the book's legendary creatures, which hail from Scotland, Germany, Italy, Persia, Haiti, and Scandinavia.

    It’s a true masterpiece from the master!

    I shall tell you a tale such as sister Scheherazade could have scarce imagined. A tale of wonders, of deeds both great and grievous, of courage that defies description, and above all, Child of Adam, I shall tell you a tale of love. The night is for the telling of tales to which the morning may bear Truth. In the oldest of days and ages and times, there was, and there was not, a great evil that reached across the desert and beyond…In the Nejd there is nothing at all…except secrets. A band of thieves wish such secrets to remain hidden. In England, far from his desert home, Ali bin-Massoud serves as apprentice to the famed Charles Babbage. One night a mysterious box is delivered by a clockwork falcon and Ali’s world is never the same again. Heartache, danger, and thieves mark his journey as Ali is summoned home at the death of his father.It will take faith, knowledge, and yes, love to realize his destiny, and more than a little skill with steam-driven technology. Can he unravel the mystery of the puzzle box and the clockwork djinn before it is too late? An ancient legacy and Ali's very life depend on his success. Hear you the tale of Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn.

    Now they must flee their Wyoming home to escape the increasing wolf hunts caused by Kyle. With James, her alpha and intended mate, she finds refuge in the remote area of Crouch, Idaho. Now that she's settled in to her new home with the man of her dreams by her side, Tayla wonders if she’s finally found some peace, but it doesn't take long for enemies to find her. They taunt her with secrets from James’ past, and revenge stalks the pack at every turn. When James is severely wounded with an unknown poison, it is up to Tayla and her best friend, Chel, to solve the mystery of the poison’s origin and find a cure. Will they be strong enough to handle the truth they discover and defeat their enemies? Or will time run out and werewolves die?Coming soon July 19, 2014!

    The story was first published by Charles Perrault in 1697. Perrault's vision of the ageless, enchanted princess slumbering in her vine-encrusted tower has fascinated readers and artists for more 300 years three times as long as the heroine slept. This heavily-illustrated book will trace the history of that fascination, which has manifested itself in literature, fine art, poetry, music, and film.The most celebrated cinematic version of Sleeping Beauty is Walt Disney's, the glorious finale of the animated fairy tales he began in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Although Briar Rose/Aurora was the most beautiful and beautifully animated of the Disney princesses, the film was dominated by Maleficent: Perrault's shriveled old fairy was transformed into the epitome of the lovely but terrible sorceress of fantasy literature. The book will conclude with the development and creation of Maleficent, including interviews with Angelina Jolie, Imelda Staunton, Linda Woolverton, Sean Bailey, Joe Roth, Don Hahn, and director Robert Stromberg (Oscar-winning art director of Avatar and Alice in Wonderland); behind-the-scenes details and photography; costumes, props, and makeup; and plenty of movie magic!

    Lisbeth Zwerger’s edition of The Wizard of Oz was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year and the Washington Post Book World called it “the loveliest edition imaginable.”

    The village folk no longer see her as repulsive and stinking of fish—they now perceive her as magnetically beautiful—which does not help her in her village. A young local lord saves her, but it soon becomes apparent that Coddie’s destiny may be far greater than anyone ever imagined. Caustic and flamboyant, this fairy tale offers grownups an engrossing take on the nature of beauty.

    Jones turns well-known fairy tales upside-down in this humorous new series!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!In the Land of Fake Believe, Princess meets a strange girl named Moldylocks. When Princess's stomach grumbles, Moldylocks takes her to the home of the Three Beards. The girls sit in their chairs, eat their chili, and jump on their beds. The Three Beards are not happy when they get home--and they are very, very hungry! Will Moldylocks and Princess go into the chili pot? With easy-to-read text and engaging full-color artwork throughout, kids will be drawn right into this very funny land of fractured fairy tales!

    She is also a procrastinator who stinks at the violin. Life gets a little better for Haley when she becomes acquainted with Juniper Hagglesworth - language arts teacher by day, fairy godmother by night. Ms. Hagglesworth helps Haley get out of a few jams, but Haley will learn that Ms. Hagglesworth’s help comes at a very expensive price.Can Haley get a grip on this magical mayhem before it’s too late? Or will her situation take a strange and surprising turn? Find out in this humorously enchanting new book, specifically geared towards young readers in elementary and middle school grades

    She doesn't have a cook or a gardener, and she certainly isn't interested in a prince in shining armour. But one day a mysterious young man arrives to help at the castle, offering to help the princess in any way he can. Who could he be?A witty and romantic tale of love and mistaken identity from the creators of the bestselling The Princess Who Had No Kingdom.

    Fight evil villains, transport with innocent souls, and glimpse into that final portal awaiting us all.Authors, bloggers, song writers and poets collaborate to bring you stories sprinkled with ethereal prose, whimsical humor, and heart pounding thrills. Through the Portal beckons you to unlock the adventure.Including the works of Annie Adams, Andrea Asay, J.S. Bailey, LaDonna Cole, Katie Cross, Laura Custodio, Rob Holliday, S. R. Karfelt, Kelsey Keating, D. M. Kilgore, Emily Ogle, Natalie J. Pierson, and Kimberly Robertson.RWM will donate $1 per book sale to a cancer related charity for one year.

    Many of the poems retell the tales of the Brothers Grimm from the perspectives of minor characters, such as the huntsman from Little Red Riding Hood, the witch from Rapunzel, and the woodcutter’s wife from Hansel and Gretel. Others look at the stories of popular characters in a fresh light."Who knew that a poet would come by one day and reanimate the ancient, tragic fairytale figures of Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel? And that she would not only reanimate those uneasy ghosts stalking the roots of memory, but also the ghostly plants and animals of the world that devoured and mourned them? Well, she has: it’s Mary McMyne, with her flute of life, blowing healing air into archetypal pain. One by one her ancestral victims rise from the cannibal fog of our oldest past to live in these marvelous prose-poetry stereopticons. Stories to be truly chilled by, wolf hair by wolf hair."Andrei Codrescu, author of So Recently Rent a World: New and Selected Poems, 1968-2012"In these poems, at the nexus of science and mythology, Mary McMyne delicately dissects wolf, butterfly and crocus with the same careful intensity. Wolf Skin entrances even as it invites us into a world of princes-turned-hedgehog, mothers who disappear, and characters skeptical of their stories. One poem begs, 'Huntsman, leave us, like stones in the wolf’s belly, without memory…' but this is a collection you will return to and remember."Jeannine Hall Gailey, author of Unexplained Fevers and Becoming the Villainess"'Enter the wood, dark and wild, the trees that bend,' sings a voice from Mary McMyne’s quiet, powerful poems, and the enchantment begins. In the rich textures of her work dwells the terrible beauty of trapped things—a butterfly behind glass; a daughter within her mother’s memory; and a girl, always a girl, in a tower, in a wood, in a wolf. As these figures say their names, they tell, too, the price of liberation from—and into—story. Enter these poems, and know their hungers. Some of them will call to you, like the red-capped child in 'The Girl Who Came Before' who says, 'It is time for us to drown./ It is time for us to touch the moon.' Some of these poems you may never leave."Sally Rosen Kindred, author of No Eden and Book of Astershttps://dulcetshop.myshopify.com/prod...http://www.marymcmyne.com

    Visit Albania, Germany, Mozambique, and Turkey, and find out who meets 40 dragons instead of seven dwarfs, and on whose forehead a bright star shines.

    “Angel, the word you’re looking for is pirate.”Strange things are happening in Neverland…Although Angelina McFarland loves reading fairytales, she never dreamed of falling right into one herself. Literally! But who is this flying boy who saved her? And why doesn’t he want to grow up?Desperately trying to find a way off this cursed island, Angelina runs into a ruthless pirate. Hook captures her and keeps her trapped on his ship, the Jolly Roger, to lure the flying boy out of his hiding. But is Hook really the heartless man she heard about? The more time Angel spends with him, the more she starts to wonder. Her growing feelings for him are as intense as shocking, and soon she can’t stop thinking about how soft his lips felt on hers when he kissed her under the stars. As time passes, an old train ticket to London is all she has left to remind her of her former life and why she can’t give up trying to find a way home.Or is staying in Neverland forever the better choice after all?Grab a happy thought and follow Angel on an adventure that will keep you breathless and smiling long after you read the last page…Mind the cliffhanger! (I’m sorry!)The sequel PAN’S REVENGE is already available.

    A fully illustrated collection of classic fairy tales, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and lots more traditional tales from around world.

    What's her special power?"Cat says, "She doesn't have any special powers. It's not that kind of a story."And then the fun ensues!The zany, fun back-and-forth of Dog and Cat celebrates the joy of reading -- and questioning. Young children will cheer Dog's persistent questions as well as Cat's dedication to keep telling the story.

    Her Bad-Boy Prince Charming is a renowned mercenary, and their Happy Ending plays out like a bad movie. However, she is determined to breakout from her tower prison-love be damned-and do it in a fabulous pair of heels. *** Gunned down by the Mercenary, the deadliest assassin in The Badass Archives, isn't exactly Rapunzel's end-game. Falling for him isn't either, but his Rated-R demeanor is strangely charming. Even though most girls wouldn't fall for their captors, Rapunzel isn't like most dames. Her major girl-boner for the Mercenary is so pathetic it verges on clich�. Yet, in spite of his appeal, Rapunzel must escape before she's locked away in the Ch�teau de Immortelle's highest tower-forever.

    There she meets Prince Henry of Fallund, a neighboring kingdom on the brink of war. Meanwhile, Prince Henry's brother Duncan discovers a vicious beast imprisoned for murder. Captivated by her, he works to free her from both the prison bars she's locked behind and the ones surrounding her heart and mind. Sleeping Beauty and the Beast reinvents and seamlessly intertwines the classic fairy tales Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast.

    This time the beast, the dwarves, Dame Gothel, the fairies, and the frog take center stage and share their points of view. Think Snow White was the most perfect girl ever? Wrong. She had a mind like a leaky bucket. Sleeping Beauty? A beautiful klutz. And Rapunzel? Such an ungrateful creature! Settle in, and take a listen. Time for ANOTHER Other Side of the Story!

    It’s junior year, and Alex and her friends are just trying to survive high school: boring homework, detention, crushes…and a fateful journey through a portal to another planet—you know, the usual. Despite being average California teenagers, this group of six finds themselves on a return trip to the strange land of Cantelia, where their Spirit Guide, Goden, has sent them. This time, they appear near the Alfaran Forest: a place, where, once again, many inhabitants claim these kids are the Chosen Ones and that they will help to find a solution for ridding the forest of a new kind of horror.Will the teens have the courage to fight the real enemy? Or will they be forever trapped on Cantelia?

    The wizards carved hideous gargoyles out of stone, bringing them to life using the magical Heart of Rock, to defend their city.Now the Heart of Rock is needed to save another kingdom, and one brave cobbler must find it.But the gargoyles cannot live without their talisman; will the cobbler's quest to save his kingdom doom theirs?Two kingdoms. Two heros. One talisman."Heart of Rock" is three interconnected short stories that look at the question: when one questing hero finds a magical amulet, what happens to those who've lost it?

    And that was all it took for Hector and his band of merry friends to go in search of a real giant. There was a rumor that a new, enormous, shadowy stranger was living in the Forbidden Marsh beyond the forest . . . and since it was not a bear it must be a fairytale giant! With twists and turns and a capsized boat, the five friends venture far from home and make a surprising discovery — a huge discovery!Hector Fox and the Giant Quest is the first in a series of books that follow the delightful adventures of Hector and his charming band of unique friends: Mo Marten, Charlie Chipmunk, Jeremiah Rabbit, and Lucy Skunk. Join the gang as they seek adventure, hunt giants, solve mysteries, and build friendships in modern-day tales reminiscent of the famed The Wind in the Willows.

    . .The Stories included are...The Selkie's Toes * Tam Linn * The Ring of Brodgar * The Witch of Lochlann * The King of the Dark Arts * The Monster of Raasay * School for Heroes * the Loch Fada Kelpie * Whuppity Stoorie * The Three Questions

    in the eastern Roman Empire. A soldier named Marcellus takes a leave of absence to visit his father and get married. Then he meets a dragon, an alluring beast that seems ready to fulfill his dreams of wealth, family, military success, and a secure Empire. But is this alluring beast everything it claims to be? And what about the Christians on his father’s estate who show Marcellus a way of life that is both strange and attractive? And why does the dragon view these Christians as a threat to the Empire? As he tries to answer these questions, Marcellus comes to realize that he may have to choose between a life of Roman prosperity and becoming an outlaw in the Empire he loves.

    You no doubt have stumbled upon this book due to a great need, whether realized or otherwise. You are a very select individual, placed in a very exclusive position of responsibility. Dragon keeping is not for the faint of heart.Aubrey Goodknight is alone. Orphaned at a young age, she long ago stopped believing in the fantasies and mythical creatures she had so loved as a child. When she’s diagnosed with breast cancer, she’s certain things couldn’t be more desolate. That is, until she stumbles across The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keeping, which changes her life completely. Raising a baby dragon in a modern, non-magical world isn’t a challenge she’s sure she’s up to. Now, Aubrey must learn that seeing isn’t always believing, but believing can be the most powerful kind of magic.

    The original collection of 86 stories (which later expanded to multiple volumes totalling 170 tales) has evolved over the years, through the founding of Western culture, and through various adaptations and illustrations, passed on from generation to generation with widespread influence. Now, these five selected children’s tales are brought back to life with original Don Daily illustrations, reproduced in the highest quality yet: • The Frog Prince • Hansel and Gretel • Rapunzel • The Old Woman in the Forest • Brier Rose

     Praise for the series from Amazon Top Reviewers: "Julia Gousseva has done an excellent job here in writing a great story and one that I can recommend. This book serves as an excellent read but more so than that, as an introduction to a genre of literature that is satisfyingly refreshing. I am most definitely looking forward to reading more stories like this one." -- Dennis Waller, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer "The interaction of the children with the book opens the idea of taking part in the story, which encourages us to get involved and make the connection to our own life and choices; but it may also spurn on the talented reader to think about writing stories themselves." -- ChristophFischerBooks, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer "Highly recommended for parents who are looking for a fun, exciting adventure to read to their children and grandchildren." -- EbooksReloaded Reviews "Firebird by Julia-Gousseva is an admirable undertaking, striving to update one of the most fascinating fairytales in literature, and make it accessible to young readers." -- Uvi Poznansky, Amazon Reviewer "This is a brilliant idea: take an old fairy tale and update it in such a way that it would be interesting for kids to read it. Let's face it, kids today won't sit through most of the classic fairy-tale stories. So, the author takes this: 'Once upon a time, there lived a father with three sons. The father had a garden where golden apples grew. One night, the apples started disappearing. The father ordered his sons to catch the thief. The oldest son stood guard the first night, but fell asleep and did not see the thief. Etc. etc etc.' And turns it into this: 'Are you ready for a little adventure? If you are, you can go in. Rule One: Come back as soon as you get the feather. Rule Two: Don't talk to old ladies. They can be dangerous.' There's also a little hint of The Chronicles of Narnia in this book, which would make kids relate to the story much more readily; and some humor for a good chuckle: '...we got a little lost.' 'And now you may get a little eaten!!' -- Oleg Medvedkov, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer

    Children ages 3 to 7 will have a jolly, happy time reading this beautiful hardcover Big Golden Book picture book based on the timeless holiday classic Frosty the Snowman!

    When Mrs Rabbit is called to the castle, Red gets the chance to prove how responsible she can be by taking cupcakes to her Granny. But Mr Wolf has other ideas. He hasn't eaten for days, and will do almost anything to get his hands on one of Mrs Rabbit's famous cupcakes. Can Red deliver the cupcakes safely and show her mother how grown up she is – or will the devious Mr Wolf get those delicious cupcakes all to himself? The Fairy Tails series are beautifully illustrated chapter books ideal for 6-9 year old readers. They are also perfect for teachers and parents to read aloud, in the classroom or as a bedtime story.

    A story of creation and the power that binds and protects a family.  The Heartsmith's Daughters originally appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

    Stories featured in Classic Bedtime Stories...The Country Mouse and the City MouseSleeping BeautyThe Tortoise and the HareThe Story of Little Sambha and the TigersThe Bremen Town MusiciansThe Three Billy Goats GruffThe Lion and the MouseJack and the Beanstalk

    What if your first kiss resulted in your date turning into a toad? What if you went on a date with a centaur? Follow Cindy Eller and her family as they tell the stories of their first kisses... and near misses. Enjoy this collection of ten short stories by Elizabeth A Reeves plus two bonus stories from authors Rebekah Leeson and Peg Lewis.

    Intricate, lace-like, die-cut pages make this a beautiful gift that any child will cherish.

    . . or so she thinks. But when Dandelion ends up trapped in a forest, and surviving on, well, dandelions, she must rethink everything she's ever known to be true about herself. This 21st-century retelling of Rapunzel revisits themes from the original fairy tale through the lens of the modern world.

    In this companion to Volume I, published in fall 2013, acclaimed children’s book illustrator Ian Wallace once again reinterprets the famous tales with luminous art, bringing Kipling to a new generation of young readers.Many of the tales are origin stories, explaining, for example, how an animal came to be, or the how the alphabet and writing began. They all display Kipling’s vivid imagination, inventive vocabulary and engaging word play. And once again Ian Wallace makes intriguing connections between the stories in his richly imagined illustrations. The second volume, as visually breathtaking as the first, includes “The Beginning of the Armadilloes,” “How the First Letter Was Written,” “How the Alphabet Was Made,” The Crab That Played with the Sea,” “The Cat That Walked by Himself” and “The Butterfly That Stamped.”The first edition of Just So Stories was published in Great Britain in 1902, along with black-and-white illustrations by Kipling himself. The stories have remained in print ever since, delighting young readers in many countries. This new edition, published more than 110 years after the original, has been edited to remove a few references now understood to be offensive.Inspired by these remarkable stories and the fact that they are set all over the world, Ian Wallace has chosen to make an annual donation to the International Board on Books for Young People’s Fund for Children in Crisis (www.ibby.org).

    These three modernized fairy tales appear in one collection for the first time.Beastly: Kyle was the cutest guy at school—and the most heartless. Kendra's spell turned him into a beast, but can Lindy's love turn him back into a boy? After winning a VOYA Editor's Choice award and spending over 22 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, Beastly became a major feature film starring Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary Kate Olsen, and Neil Patrick Harris.Beastly: Lindy's Diary: This novella lets readers peek into the journal Lindy kept while she was getting to know—and love—her beast.Bewitching: Kendra shares her other schemes that have gone wrong . . . no matter how hard she tries! These tweaked fairy tales take readers all through history and all over the world.

    Against the darkest and most perilous backgrounds, the blaze of desire burns even brighter. This is erotica at its fiercest and most breathtaking! This book is part of Janine Ashbless's Enchantment collection, which includes Cruel Enchantment and Dark Enchantment. Each of the Enchantment books is a standalone collection, and readers need not have read prequels or sequels to fully enjoy any book in the collection.

    When her escape attempt is nearly thwarted again, she finds herself racing through underground tunnels towards her freedom with the help of a friend that she had thought was lost to her forever. With help from the Federal Bureau Grace and Ethan fight their way from captivity and discover the lengths that her captors are willing to go to keep her. Through vast forests and raging tides, she fights her way back. Will she make it to freedom, or will the secrets she holds be lost with her forever?How far would you go... for your freedom?

    I knew I was young at heart...." -- 5-Star Amazon Review "Was I dreaming? I would have LOVED this book as a child. I was pleasantly surprised by how well written it is, as well as how intriguing the story turned out to be. It is a very cleverly done story about an old man, a leprechaun and a little beast that organizes lost socks into an army. The illustrations are really cool...black and white sketches...." -- 5-Star Amazon Review "CONSPIRATORS OF THE LOST SOCK ARMY AND THE LOOSE CHANGE COLLECTION AGENCY is a delightful story for children of all ages! I loved the illustrations as they really brought the story to life...." -- 5-Star Amazon Review Have you ever wondered where your loose change went? The missing sock that disappears without a trace: where could it be? Robert has seen it all. He spends his days watching awful daytime television and taking extended naps on his plush couch. One day, a strange little man appears beneath his couch, a leprechaun named Colin. Together, they hatch a plan to reclaim Colin's lost fortune and defeat an army of lost socks and an evil gremlin. Carefully illustrated by the talented Steve Ferchaud, it reminds us that you’re never too old to have one more adventure. Loved by adults and children, this illustrated fairy tale is meant to be read aloud. "I can easily recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fairy tales and adventures. If you have kids or grandkids, this is a great book to read to them...." -- 5-Star Amazon Review "This is a short story which is very well written and illustrated. It really hooked me from the start...." -- 5-Star Amazon Review "A children's story even adults will enjoy!" -- 5-Star Amazon Review Keywords: fantasy books male protagonist, magic realism urban fantasy, fairy tale retelling, magical creatures, mythical creatures, short ebooks, adventure books for kids ages 9 12

    Pieter has grown up in a town without joy, without hope, without music. Yet his heart is full of songs and tunes he cannot express. He often escapes to the side of Koppelberg Mountain, the very spot where the children disappeared, and there he can hear what he thinks no one else can—the notes of the Piper’s song still floating on the air. But there is another who hears: Old Simon, who as a boy, was left behind. Pieter’s musical gift creates a connection with the piper of legend, but will Pieter be able to control the magic of his music or will it control him, as it did the Pied Piper?

    Each story contains a shushin, or moral that will teach your child about respecting and helping others. Through imaginative, enchanting tales, More Japanese Children's Favorite Stories brings all the flavor and wonder of Japan to a new generation of English-speaking readers. This 60th Anniversary Tuttle edition is proof that good stories never wear out.Florence Sakade, a pioneer of English-language publishing in Japan, has compiled so many enchanting stories that readers will have a difficult time deciding which is their favorite. The lively illustrations by Yoshio Hayashi are a visual treat that readers of all ages will enjoy! His dazzling watercolors bring to life the fascinating tales of magic mortar, rolling rice cakes, and red elves, among many others. They paint a wonderful portrait of the Japanese countryside, with its steep mountains and verdant hills. This treasure trove of Japanese stories shines on every page, and is sure to captivate your family as it has so many others over the years. The Children's Favorite Stories series was created to share the folktales and legends most beloved by children in the East with young readers of all backgrounds in the West. Other multicultural children's books in this series include: Asian Children's Favorite Stories, Indian Children's Favorite Stories, Indonesian Children's Favorite Stories, Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, Singapore Children's Favorite Stories, Filipino Favorite Children's Stories, Favorite Children's Stories from China & Tibet, Chinese Children's Favorite Stories, Korean Children's Favorite Stories, Balinese Children's Favorite Stories, and Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories.

    Visit Germany, Italy, and Taiwan, and find out whose sick grandmother is a tiger, and who is saved not by a kind hunter but by a talking river.

    In modern times, he is known as both a player and a hard-nosed businessman. When his nefarious attempts to seduce a young virgin earn him the attention of an angry enchantress, he finds himself cursed to spend his life in the rather unappealing form of a beast. Since his employees benefited from his underhanded ways, the curse also captures several dozen other residents of the town of Elmwood, none of whom are too happy about being swept away from their families and friends into Sam’s cursed world. Unfortunately, since the only way to break the curse is to find true love, and since he is now cursed to spend his life with a bunch of people who pretty much despise him, Sam quickly realizes that things don’t look so good for his return to a normal life. When Dr. Lily Ross first arrived in Elmwood, it was obvious to her that the townspeople shared some deep dark secret. But it isn’t until one Samael Boothe badly injures himself, and a call for help is made, that Lily is told of what happened in Elmood years ago. She compassionately agrees to step through an open portal into a world that revolves around a beast of a man. But Lily has her own ideas about what her life in this alternate place is going to look like, and it sure doesn’t involve servitude to a bad-tempered patient. Despite Sam's irritating personality and Lily's lack of sympathy for his whole beastly-plight thing, an unusual friendship starts to develop between them. With the support and friendship of a variety of crazy inhabitants of this alternate cursed reality, Lily and Sam slowly move toward what could be a fairy-tale ending – IF Sam’s animal instincts don’t completely screw things up along the way. Note from the author: I have always loved the story of Beauty and the Beast, ever since I was a little girl. But when I grew up, the whole Stockholm Syndrome piece of the story irritated me – did I really want a woman to fall in love with the man who imprisoned her, just because her father plucked a rose from his property? Um, no. So I took a few liberties with the story line, while ultimately remaining true to the original plot. No helpless heroine for me, no sir. I hope you enjoy Lily’s story.

    Download it for the cost of a tweet at www.explaura.net/book-giveaway/Cover artist: Margaux Kindhauser

    In this modern version of the fairy tale classic, Pinocchio, marine Levi Woodyer—known as “Woody” to his special ops team—is on a medical discharge, a man with a haunted past, a painful present and an uncertain future.His father watches, powerless to help his son, as Levi slips further between the cracks, and troubled Levi doesn’t seem to be too interested in helping himself.But when his father’s simple bribe finally gets Levi out of the house to a physical therapy appointment, his encounter with former high school sweetheart, Linnea Fey, just might put him on the path to wholeness again.

    Not hers, her father is very nice and is letting her save up for that plane ticket she wants so badly. No, she's been employed as a prince, her boss having run out of real ones, and she has dragons to fight, damsels to rescue and a usurper to dethrone. And to do it she's got the help of a witch who won't use magic, a vampire who won't terrorise the villagers(much to their annoyance) and two princesses who might have qualified as damsels in distress if only they weren't causing so much of their own. In the Otherworlds, where your species can be a job description and good is expected to win over evil without even breaking a sweat, it should have been easy. But the stories are breaking, and nothing is that simple any more. Is a plane ticket really worth all this..?

    In Disability, Deformity, and Disease in the Grimms' Fairy Tales, author Ann Schmiesing analyzes various representations of disability in the tales and also shows how the Grimms' editing (or "prostheticizing") of their tales over seven editions significantly influenced portrayals of disability and related manifestations of physical difference, both in many individual tales and in the collection overall. Schmiesing begins by exploring instabilities in the Grimms' conception of the fairy tale as a healthy and robust genre that has nevertheless been damaged and needs to be restored to its organic state. In chapter 2, she extends this argument by examining tales such as "The Three Army Surgeons" and "Brother Lustig" that problematize, against the backdrop of war, characters' efforts to restore wholeness to the impaired or diseased body. She goes on in chapter 3 to study the gendering of disability in the Grimms' tales with particular emphasis on the Grimms' editing of "The Maiden Without Hands" and "The Frog King or Iron Henry." In chapter 4, Schmiesing considers contradictions in portrayals of characters such as Hans My Hedgehog and the Donkey as both cripple and "supercripple"--a figure who miraculously "overcomes" his disability and triumphs despite social stigma. Schmiesing examines in chapter 5 tales in which no magical erasure of disability occurs, but in which protagonists are depicted figuratively "overcoming" disability by means of other personal abilities or traits. The Grimms described the fairy tale using metaphors of able-bodiedness and wholeness and espoused a Romantic view of their editorial process as organic restoration. Disability, Deformity, and Disease in the Grimms' Fairy Tales shows, however, the extent to which the Grimms' personal experience of disability and illness impacted the tales and reveals the many disability-related amendments that exist within them. Readers interested in fairy-tales studies and disability studies will appreciate this careful reading of the Grimms' tales.

    Unfortunately, it has no fairy godmother to help Anna Maria, our heroine. That doesn't bother Anna Maria. She believes Cinderella would have escaped even without her fairy godmother. She would have had to. It's called survival.Readers will love the story and the most unexpected twist. Recommended for kids and adults alike.

    A faerie. The power of a wish. This short fairy tale tells the story of a flower who longs to do more than stand reliably in her pot day after day. Instead, she wishes she could sprout wings and fly high enough to brush against the stars and sky. A passing faerie hears her wish and is willing to grant it . . . for a price. The Curious Leaf: An Adventure in Wishing is a short story (approx. 30 pages) and is a prequel for Curiosities of the Moon (release date: July 31, 2014).

    His supervisor for this job is none other than Reina, the one woman he's interested in and the one woman who wants nothing to do with him. Well, Reina better watch out, because Tiernan has decided Fairy Godmothers deserve to have Happily Ever Afters too.Loving an Ugly Beast:When a Beast gets a chance to become a Beauty, he takes it.Benton never cared what anyone thought of him until Nissa entered his life, and to win her love he would do anything, including make a wish to a Fairy Godmother for a beast to become a beauty. Now he is everything he wasn't before - handsome, charming, and ready for his Happily Ever After. But does Nissa really prefer beauty, or will she fight to get her beast back?

    There are over 30 easy-to-read stories to enjoy in this enchanting collection - and each one fits perfectly into the beginning, middle, or end of a very busy day!

    They offer the shortest path to the age's dreams, desires, and wishes. Authors central to the nineteenth-century canon such as Thackeray, Oscar Wilde, Ford Madox Ford, and Rudyard Kipling wrote fairy tales, and authors primarily famous for their work in the genre include George MacDonald, Juliana Ewing, Mary De Morgan, and Andrew Lang. This anthology brings together fourteen of the best stories, by these and other outstanding practitioners, to show the vibrancy and variety of the form and its ability to reflect our deepest concerns.The stories in this selection range from pure whimsy and romance to witty satire and darker, uncanny mystery. Paradox proves central to a form offered equally to children and adults. Fairyland is a dynamic and beguiling place, one that permits the most striking explorations of gender, suffering, love, family, and the travails of identity. Michael Newton's introduction and notes explore the literary marketplace in which these tales appeared, as well as the role they played in contemporary debates on scepticism and belief. The book also includes a selection of original illustrations by some of the masters of the field such as Richard Doyle, Arthur Hughes, and Walter Crane.

    It isn't until a child named William sneaks into her garden that she learns boys exist. As she awakens to the knowledge of an outside world, her mother Myrtle's jealousy is aroused. As Myrtle strives to keep Amaranth from discovering the secret to her captivity, Amaranth struggles with her growing feelings for William and the urge to leave the only home she has ever known. Before Amaranth finds the answers to her mounting curiosity, William vanishes, and she finds herself at the mercy of her mother's wrath. With nothing to rely on except her limited knowledge and the hope that she will finally be united with the life she has always been denied, she realizes the only thing in her way is Myrtle, who will stop at nothing to keep her hidden -- not even murder.

    The link they forge through the pathways of time is noticed. She must escape the murderous followers of the God Set, and Rhory is hunted by their modern counterparts, the nefarious Society of Secrets.

    These extraordinary journeys into Lee's hugely popular fantasy worlds span thirty-one years of her extraordinary writing career and including four never-before-published stories: 'Clouden', 'Book Cover', 'Jade-Eye' and 'Questorday'. The tales in this anthology, saturated with magical color and light, have been compared to the writings of William Morris or Lord Dunsany. Sometimes disturbing, always beguiling, they will spirit readers into imaginary realms like no others.

    Meanwhile, despite her youth, Flóraidh continues to reveal her powerful magic and innate talents. Drawn to the call of the magical Thorn Tree, she forces the group to stop short of their destination, in Nova Scotia. There they discover the Scotti Fairies are also in need of pixie magic. The closer Stillwart gets to the Northern Fairies, the more problems she finds. It’s possible she might never make it to the Northern Fairies.

    As the pages unfold, you'll follow the stories and learn everything there is to know about your favorite Disney Princesses and their friends from the magical Disney movies. Disney Princess Enchanted Character Guide's unique format showcases movie images next to fun facts and storylines with a section on each movie allowing you to become an expert on all of the enchanting Disney Princesses, from Snow White and Cinderella to Merida and Rapunzel!

    He’ll just pluck one from the human world and gift her to him for his un-birthday.Realizing her friends were playing a joke on her, Cadence is heading home when she sees the cat smiling at her. Next thing she knows, she’s in Wonderland and in the arms of a handsome man who thinks she’s slightly unhinged upon meeting her. Intrigued by Gareth, Cadence makes an offer to act as his companion in exchange for his protection as they journey from the Tulgey Wood to the Red Kingdom—a simple solution which endangers both of their hearts as the castle looms in the distance.

    He climbs out of his four-poster bed, disappears through a hidden door in the ceiling, creeps down a long-forgotten passageway, opens a small window and leaves behind everything he’s ever known.At first, the world outside the palace seems a magical place that the King delights in exploring. But with no friends to call on, no money in his pocket, in fact nothing apart from the clothes he is wearing, it isn’t long before the young King realises that life on his own is going to be full of challenges. Meanwhile, Lord Von Dronus, the most senior of all the King’s courtiers, is determined to find the young King before anyone realises he's disappeared.Beautiful, touching and surprising, The Kingdom Revealed is about appreciating the everyday and learning what matters most.

    Moran was old enough to walk, he took a trip around the world that few people ever experience. Over the next thirty-plus years, he embarked on a journey of discovery that, although unique, many can relate to.Moran was born in Seoul, South Korea, and was adopted by an American family at the age of seven months. When he arrived at his new home in Minneapolis, he was met by an older sister, the couple’s biological child, and he later became brother to three more adopted children.Fish Heads and Folktales is Moran’s autobiographical account of growing up with dual identities as a Korean boy adopted by a Caucasian family, and the path that led him not only back to his motherland to discover his roots, but also to take a closer look at his life to discover acceptance and inner peace. A thoughtful, entertaining collection of short stories that summarize Moran’s life journey, it delves into topical issues such as race, culture, and overcoming stereotypes along with universal issues like the importance of family and falling in love.Sure to touch your heart, Fish Heads and Folktales is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt marginalized or struggled with fitting in.

    Visit Germany, Italy, and the Philippines, and find out who is guarded by a flesh-eating monster, and whose hero flies off on a magical winged horse.

    Besides, he even gave her the opportunity to renege on their agreement. Plus, he never sought revenge, but allowed her to live happily ever after. Maybe there's a whole lot more to his story than people know. The elaborate illustrations are inspired by the illuminated manuscripts of medieval times. The reading level is third grade and up but younger children will enjoy hearing the dramatic, humorous, and touching story. A book for all ages. LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE BOOK READ ALOUDhttps://youtu.be/iGpbMDBYee8Learn more about this book on the author's websitehttp://bonnieferrante.ca/

    Retold and illustrated by the renowned picture-book artist Jane Ray, The Little Mermaid and Other Fishy Tales features an international selection of captivating stories and poems: “The Fisherman and His Wife,” “Whalesong,” “Lobster Quadrille,” “The Ballad of John Silver,” and many more.