Hoffmann's tale of the Nutcracker has enchanted readers, inspired artists and composers, and delighted audiences around the world. In cities and towns everywhere, children thrill to annual performances of Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet about a girl named Marie who helps a wooden nutcracker defeat an evil army of mice, and is rewarded by a visit to the magical dream world, the Land of Toys.Lisbeth Zwerger's stunning, all-new interpretation on "The Nutcracker," adapted from the original Hoffmann tale, rounds out the story depicted in the ballet, exploring the background of the feud between the Nutcracker and the seven-headed Mouse King, the true role of the mysterious Drosselmeier, the tragic fate of Princess Pirlipat, the spell cast by Mistress Mousie that is finally broken by loyal Marie, and the satisfying, happily-ever-after conclusion to the great battle and fantastic journey. In pictures filled with wit and whimsy, drama, mystery, and magic, Lisbeth Zwerger transports us to the darkest reaches and brightest beauty of this fairy-tale world.

    The sun is not yet up when a small elephant named Raju embarks with his mother on a special outing. As they meet a slithering snake in the forest, snapping crocodiles in the river, even a tiger in the tall grass, Raju’s mother shoos the scary creatures away and keeps her little one safe. Holding tight to his mother’s tail, Raju follows her up a high mountain—and what they find at the top takes his breath away. Timothy Knapman’s story of trust and tenderness between mother and baby is beautifully matched by Patrick Benson’s expressive and atmospheric illustrations.

    An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals in the barnyard before he grows into a beautiful swan.

    Good for new chapter readers. Someone has been stealing Adam's underwear. He knows exactly who- a blue, furry monster! The monster then begins stealing other things. Adam knows the monster must be stopped. But how do you trap a monster that can appear and disappear in an instant? It doesn't quite end how Adam thinks it will!

    And that trash keeps building up and up until a horde of rats overruns the town. In this lively retelling, a spunky street kid narrates the age-old tale of a piper who offers to rid a town of its rats for a single gold coin, then lures away the town's children when the greedy mayor reneges on the deal. With a nod to contemporary social and environmental themes, former British Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo and illustrator Emma Chichester Clark team up to charm readers with a compelling--and ultimately hopeful--new take on a timeless story.

    Different as this new country is, however, it is far from ideal. In this new, gray world, the lack of freedom is felt in the simplest things, such as the colors one can and cannot wear.Yara Kono was born in Brazil. Her first drawings were made on the wall of her family's living room. Her mother wasn't pleased, but eventually embraced the artistic talents of her daughter.Henriqueta Cristina was born in Portugal into a family of many brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, and stories. She graduated Porto University and has been a teacher for over thirty years.

    But the time comes when he must venture out into the world to get a job. Soon, he befriends a king and queen who ask him to stay and work for their family. Through his adventures, Giant John learns what it means to care about people and for them to care about him.This heart-warming tale of friendship is as fresh today as it was when originally published in 1964. The child-friendly illustrations, complete with the detailed, crosshatching lines, reveal Arnold Lobel's great talent as an artist and, most of all, as a storyteller.

    (Meanwhile, her poor beleaguered parents experience an adventure of their own.) It's a trip youngest animal lovers (and dreamers) will want to take again and again.

    Yes, even the postman. She has everything a child could want, but not the one thing every child - and every grownup, too - needs. Love. Desperate for a friend, Emmeline makes a wish upon a magical star. It is a wish that will change the lives of everyone she knows forever.

    Business was bad. "Don't give up so easily," advised the cat. "Make me some beautiful boots, and I will do the rest!" This clever cat can deal with anything, even a shoe-loving monster.Ayano Imai's delightful twist on the classic Puss in Boots story, sees the loyal cat taking on a terrible monster-and winning.

    A perfect way for Royals fans, and baseball fans everywhere, to share that magic night with their children and commemorate it themselves with beautiful illustrations and clever rhymes.

    At the turn of eighteenth-century England, a spirited young woman copes with the suit of a snobbish gentleman as well as the romantic entanglements of two of her four sisters.

    Then, as the play begins, the perspective shifts and reader becomes the real audience to this unique performance.

    When it came time for them to marry, the tsar called the princes to his side and said: "String your bows with the strength of ten men, and shoot an arrow as far as you can into the heart of Russia. Whoever finds your arrow shall be your pride."

    She wonders why her friends have pretty small eyes, shiny green backs, or nice fluttery wings. The ugly bug thought that if she looked like her friends, then she would be more beautiful. So she made herself a disguise. But her new costume made her even tastier looking to the birds! When a bird swoops down to gobble up the disguised ugly bug, something strange happens... The big scare made the very ugly bug even uglier! So ugly in fact, that the bird was scared away. The ugly bug learns that just being herself is the best defense. Liz Pichon's witty text and colorful artwork highlight this story about self-acceptance.