Description

Puss in Boots tells the story of a lowly man who has a talking cat, who has no name, and when the poor man has spent all his money, and has no further chance of getting a job, the talking cat comes to his rescue. The cat asks the man to use the money he has left, and to get him a pair of boots. Once the cat puts on his boots, Puss travels about with his master. He makes a gift of a rabbit to the king, and pretends it is from his master; the cat says his master is the Duke of Carabas. Determined to make his master's fortune, the cat also tricks a giant and manages to get rid of him. The king decides he wants his daughter to marry the cat's owner, and the cat persuades his master to remove his clothes, and dive into the river. When the king stops to help, the cat explains that the Duke had been bathing when robbers took his clothes. The king dresses the Duke in fine clothes, and the princess sees him. You need to read the book to find out if it is a happy ending! As the story is so old and well known, you probably know what happens. Puss in Boots was a European cat story and first written down by an Italian. The story has been a favourite in the western world for centuries, and is seen as the first main story where an animal and pet helps a human. 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.

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.