New Releases by Sarah COURTAULD

A classic collection of twelve stories, with stunning illustrations, which will whisk you away to the magical world of ballet. Soar with the Firebird, dance with the Nutcracker Prince, and thrill at the drama of Romeo and Juliet. A delightful gift to enchant and inspire any ballet lover. Stories included are: Cinderella, Coppelia, Giselle, La Sylphide (the Sylph), Swan Lake, Firebird, Don Quixote, La Fille Mal Gardée (The Wayward Daughter), Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Ondine and Sleeping Beauty.

A beautiful introduction to the story of western painting, with over 100 stickers. From cave paintings to modern masterpieces, each double page includes fascinating facts and stories about the pictures and artists, plus internet links to specially selected websites to find out more. Published in association with The National Gallery, London. Illustrations: Full colour throughout

Find out the amazing stories behind the world''s most famous paintings and the artists who created them in this beautifully illustrated book. Includes fascinating information about the artists, their techniques, inspiration and their lives. Produced in association with The National Gallery, London.

For budding aficionados of art, children will learn about the most popular works of art and their artists as they go thanks to this amazing picture book. Each frame and painting is accompanied by a plaque of fascinating facts about the piece and its creator. Each charmingly illustrated double spread is based upon a simple theme such as painting outdoors, colour and everyday life. Also available in paperback, with stickers - 9781409522881.

A charmingly illustrated book packed with the best-loved paintings in the National Gallery, London. Includes amazing stories behind the paintings, about the lives of the artists and how they worked, and internet links to find out more. Fantastic for budding art critics. This lovely haardcover picture book is also available in paperback, with stickers to recreate the artworks (ISBN 9780746099995)

A highly illustrated picture book featuring photographs and portraits of British kings and queens from the 10th century to the present day. Children can wander through a gallery of monarch-themed pages, which include the Tudors, Stuarts, Hanoverians, Queen Victoria and Britain''s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

"From Romeo and Juliet''s star-crossed love, to the dark ambitions of Macbeth, the characters from Shakespeare''s plays are famous throughout the world. This collection of stories from all the plays, with beautiful illustrations and quotations, is the perfect introduction to Shakespeare." -- Back cover.

A fascinating glimpse into the secret world of owls, following a baby owl as it grows up and learns to fly. Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton, specially written for children just starting to read alone. This book includes audio and internet links to find out more. "Crack reading and make confident and enthusiastic readers with this fantastic reading programme." - Julia Eccleshare

The magic of the Wombles is brought to life in this fresh new series for younger readers. Great Uncle Bulgaria is planning an acrobatic Womble extravaganza: Bungo will perform the tight rope, Alderney will learn the trapeze and Orinoco can be a clown! But Tomsk would rather practise his climbing skills than rehearse for the show. If only climbing wasn''t such a dangerous sport ... Luckily, Great Uncle Bulgaria always knows how best to rescue a Womble in need. This Womble story, full of colourful costumes, high-flying acrobatics and an amazing rescue, is perfect for today''s younger readers.

The sequel to Buckle and Squash and the Monstrous Moat-Dragon by Sarah Courtauld - winner of the 2014 Sainsbury''s Children''s Book Award. A funny quest adventure featuring two very different sisters, a magical snail and a giant who loves to play with dolls'' houses . . . Here begins a tale of Eliza, who wants to become a swashbuckling hero, and Lavender, who dreams of being a fairy-tale princess. When Lavender casts a spell to make herself tiny, becoming a giant''s birthday present was never part of her plan. Unfortunately, this giant loves dolls'' houses and isn''t letting her new toys out of her sight. Can Eliza and Lavender come up with a cunning plan to escape? Where have all the gentle giants gone? Is the Holy Snail really magical? How many socks can their goat, Gertrude, actually eat? And what''s for dinner? This book might answer these questions, but then again it might not . . . A brilliantly funny quirky story for fans of How to Train Your Dragon and Mr Gum.

Here begins a tale of Eliza, who wants to become a swashbuckling hero, and Lavender, who dreams of being a fairy-tale princess. When Lavender casts a spell to make herself tiny, becoming a giant''s birthday present was never part of her plan. Unfortunately, this giant loves dolls'' houses and isn''t letting her new toys out of her sight. Can Eliza and Lavender come up with a cunning plan to escape? Where have all the gentle giants gone? Is Lavender really magical? How many socks can their goat, Gertrude, actually eat? And what''s for dinner? This book might answer these questions, but then again it might not . . . A brilliantly funny quirky story for fans of How to Train Your Dragon and Mr Gum.

This funny fairy-tale adventure from debut author Sarah Courtald is the story of two very different sisters-Eliza, who longs to ride into battle against villains and dragons, and Lavender, who would give anything to be a pampered princess. Before the end of the story both of them have had a chance to fulfill their dreams, though not quite in the way they intended... Accompanied by their depressed goat, Gertrude, with their granny''s warnings about the Black Death ringing in their ears, they head out into the forest and come face to face with an evil count who definitely does not have their best interests at heart. Buckle and Squash: The Perilous Princess Plot was the winner of the Sainsbury''s Children''s Book Award for Fiction Ages 5-9

It''s the Middle Ages, and an ill-matched band of strangers is setting off on a pilgrimage to Canterbury. To amuse themselves along the way, they hold a storytelling competition. But the tales soon turn from ripping yarns to slanging matches... With a cast of unforgettable characters, from the blue-blooded Knight and the merry Wife of Bath to the shifty Pardoner, the story is as much about the riotous pilgirims as the weird and wonderful tales they tell. Clearly written in a modern, approachable style to introduce young readers to this much-loved classic story.

WINNER OF THE 2014 SAINSBURY''S CHILDREN''S BOOK AWARD Here begins a tale of two sisters - Eliza, who dreams of becoming a swashbuckling hero, and Lavender, whose greatest wish is to be a pampered princess. When Lavender gets kidnapped in the Forest of Toothy, Vicious and Flatulent Dragons, the sisters must face a host of deadly enemies. Hairy-faced villains. Ominous turnips. A witch called Boris. And a moat-dragon who is just a little bit peckish for a tasty child-sized snack. Will Eliza and Lavender ever escape? Why is their goat, Gertrude, so depressed? Whose side is Bonnet, the smallest giant in the world really on? And what day is it today? This book will answer some, but not all, of these questions . . . Buckle and Squash and the Monstrous Moat-Dragon by Sarah Courtauld is a brilliantly funny debut for fans of How to Train Your Dragon and Mr Gum.

This is the story of two very different sisters - Eliza, who longs to ride into battle against villains and dragons, and Lavender, who would give anything to be a pampered princess. Before the end of the story both of them have had a chance to fulfil their dreams, though not quite in the way they intended ... Accompanied by their depressed goat, Gertrude, with their granny''s warnings about the Black Death ringing in their ears, they head out into the forest and come face to face with an evil count who definitely does not have their best interests at heart ... For fans of Cressida Cowell and Andy Stanton.

A jolly picture book following a crew of not-so-scary pirates across the high seas. Children will love following the story as the swashbuckling pirates sail through a swirling storm, sing sea shanties and tally up their twinkling treasure! This is a highly illustrated ebook that can only be read on the Kindle Fire or other tablet.

Almost Naked Animals is a high-energy CITV series featuring a cast of pants-wearing animals. Now get a look behind the scenes at the Banana Cabana and see what Howie and his friends are up to ... Running a busy hotel is a tough job, particularly when you''re as bad at it as Howie is, but it helps when you have friends. Joining Howie are a gang of bottom-covered misfits including Octo, Bunny, Narwhal, Duck and Piggy ... and in a rival hotel nearby lurks Howie''s evil sister Poodle, who''s obsessed with taking over the Banana Cabana and shutting it down for ever! Howie has an urge to do Dog Stuff, but with no other dogs around but his evil sister, he''s out of luck. And Poodle has a Cunning Plan. Will Howie discover who his real friends are, before it''s too late? The author translating the Almost Naked Animals from TV to book form is a BAFTA-honoured comedy writer, and these books are in full colour throughout - with bonus stickers!

Almost Naked Animals is a high-energy CITV series featuring a cast of pants-wearing animals. Now get a look behind the scenes at the Banana Cabana and see what Howie and his friends are up to ... Running a busy hotel is a tough job, particularly when you''re as bad at it as Howie is, but it helps when you have friends. Joining Howie are a gang of bottom-covered misfits including Octo, Bunny, Narwhal, Duck and Piggy ... and in a rival hotel nearby lurks Howie''s evil sister Poodle, who''s obsessed with taking over the Banana Cabana and shutting it down for ever! Poodle has an evil plot to ruin Howie once and for all: she sends a Robot Howie to the Banana Cabana to drive all his friends away! How will Howie prove to the gang that he''s the real Howie? The author translating the Almost Naked Animals from TV to book form is a BAFTA-honoured comedy writer, and these books are in full colour throughout - with bonus stickers!

Did you know that there are only eight different kinds of bears in the world? Find out where they live, what they eat and how baby bears spend their first day in the outside world. Simply written in lively, flowing text Usborne First Reading books are designed to capture the imagination and build the confidence of beginner readers. This book includes audio, simple comprehension puzzles and downloadable worksheets and teacher''s notes. "For every parent, child and teacher weary of the monotony of the average reading scheme, Usborne''s First Reading series will offer rays of sunlight. The books are carefully levelled and offer a huge variety of accessible and fun, fiction and non-fiction." - Tamara Linke (Proprietor, Tales on Moon Lane Bookshop)

An introduction to the amazing flora and fauna to be found on the seashore, packed with facts and clues to look for to discover the secrets of seashore life. It includes practical instructions for gently picking up crabs, making a rock pool viewer and much more.

An introduction to the flora and fauna found in the countryside, packed with amazing facts and clues to look for to identify the different species of trees, birds, and wild flowers to be found all year round.

Intrepid explorer Professor Liedenbrock leads a dramatic expedition to an Icelandic volcano, where a secret tunnel leads to the very centre of the Earth.

Howie has an urge to do Dog Stuff, but with no other dogs around but his evil sister, he''s out of luck. And Poodle has a Cunning Plan. Will Howie discover who his real friends are, before it''s too late?

Welcome to the Banana Cabana, run exclusively by animals ... in pants.