Description

The hare in the forest is always boasting, and on this day he says he can run the fastest of all the animals in the forest, and challenges the other animals to a race. None of the others will race him, except the tortoise. The gentle and sensible tortoise sets off in the race, and the hare rushes off, laughing at the tortoise. Most people know how this story ends, and Judy Hamilton tells the story charmingly in this edition. This classic fable is originally by Aesop who lived in Ancient Greece in 620 BC. The story has changed through time, and has many re-tellings, but today we interpret the story as one of using ingenuity and skill to overcome boastful, or difficult people and bullies. The Tarantula Tales are much-loved traditional fairy tales and fables, retold for today with friendly and humorous illustrations, for any time and bedtime. The series is ideal for reading aloud and sharing with 2-4 year olds, and perfect for new readers to tackle alone.

Bibliography

Judy Hamilton is a writer and the mother of three children. Lindsay Duff is an illustrator.

Description

Listen! Listen to the birds and trees! Listen in the park and in the street! Listen! What a lot there is to hear! This small book explores the idea of paying attention to our surroundings. The First Steps series has 12 books. Each book is engagingly illustrated and explores pre-school early-learning topics.

Bibliography

Judy Hamilton is a teacher and has written many books for children. Sue King is an illustrator.

Description

Once upon a time in a land far away lived a king and queen who had a baby princess. They invited twelve good fairies to come to the christening, and they would help with magic gifts such as beauty and kindness for the baby. But a thirteenth fairy that had been forgotten for years, also showed up. She brought bad wishes and said that when the baby was sixteen, she would prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. The twelfth fairy stepped forward and gave her gift, which was to change the bad fairy's wish into the princess sleeping for 100 years, instead of dying. On her sixteenth birthday, the princess slipped away and in the castle found an old woman spinning, and sure enough, the princess approached, pricked her finger, and fell into a deep sleep. The twelfth good fairy was there too, and cast a spell on everyone in the castle and put them to sleep for as long as the princess slept. And after many years, so it happened that a prince appeared, and cut down the brambles and thorns, and went into the castle where he found the sleeping servants, and princess. And then? You have to read the book to read the ending. The Sleeping Beauty is based on a very old fable, and takes many forms. The Brothers Grimm recorded it in writing, and the story has been adapted for poems, music, songs, films, plays, novels and ballet. The Tarantula Tales are much-loved traditional fairy tales and fables, retold for today with friendly and humorous illustrations, for any time and bedtime. The series is ideal for reading aloud and sharing with 2-4 year olds, and perfect for new readers to tackle alone.

Bibliography

Judy Hamilton is a writer and mother of three children. Lindsay Duff is an illustrator.

Description

Stop! Stop when you reach the road. Stop when you've eaten enough. Stop spinning when you get dizzy. Stop! This small book explores the idea of how and when we should stop, with a little help. The First Steps series has 12 books. Each book is engagingly illustrated and explores pre-school early-learning topics.

Bibliography

Judy Hamilton is a teacher and has written many books for children. Sue King is an illustrator.

Description

Three billy goats live by a river and they are brothers, called by everyone the Billy Goats Gruff. Each billy goat looks different to his brother, but they are happy goats. One day they realise they have eaten all the grass in their field, and want to cross the bridge to get to the other side where there is plentiful lush green grass, but a big green troll lives by the bridge, and fights anyone who tries to cross it. When the Three Billy Goats Gruff decide to cross the bridge, to get past the Troll, an exciting day takes place. You need to read the book to find out what happens next. The Tarantula Tales are much-loved traditional fairy tales and fables, retold for today with friendly and humorous illustrations, for any time and bedtime. The series is ideal for reading aloud and sharing with 2-4 year olds, and perfect for new readers to tackle alone.

Bibliography

Judy Hamilton is a writer, with three children. Lindsay Duff is an illustrator and artist.