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 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.

When Lavender''s magical attempt to marry a prince gets her and sister Eliza kidnapped by giants, it is up to Eliza and her amazing goat Gertrude to save the day--again.

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 has some important news - Cousin Yellowstone is coming from America to visit the Wimbledon burrow. It is his birthday and they are going to have a party. Cousin Yellowstone always has exciting stories to share and the Wombles can''t wait for him to arrive. They quickly start tidying the Common, all except Orinoco who is thinking about something much more important - the very special birthday cake that Madame Cholet is baking! But when the party starts and the giant Blackberry Magnifique is revealed, Orinoco is nowhere to be found. Where could he be? This warm and funny story featuring Orinoco, one of the cheekiest and most-loved Wombles, 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.

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.

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 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.

A beautifully ilustrated collection of one hundred of the best-loved stories ever told, from Grimm''s Fairytales to Aesop''s Fables and Arthurian Legends. Perfect for parents to read to younger children, or for older children who can discover the wonder and magic of these classic tales for themselves.

This beautifully illustrated book is packed with over 100 stickers of the best loved Impressionists paintings. Find out about the Impressionsists'' lives, the stories behind their paintings, and how they changed art forever.

With over 100 stickers, this title helps children learn about every King and Queen of Britain from the Norman conquest to the present day by matching the stickers of important artefacts to their frames on each page. Each double spread is based upon the different royal dynasties, including the plantagenets, the Tudors, the Stuarts and the Windsors.

A new title in Young Reading Series Three, which is aimed at children whose reading ability and confidence allows them to tackle longer and more complex stories.Ages 7+ The classic tale of White Fang, half-wolf, half-dog, by Jack London retold for children ready to tackle longer and more complex stories. The story of White Fang''s epic journey from cub to sled dog to fighting dog. Living in harsh surroundings with brutal owners, every day is a battle for survival. Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton.Chapters in this book include:- The cub- The camp- Beauty- The fighting wolf- To the death- A new life- The master- A broken window- The sleeping wolf

Swing into the amazing world of monkeys with this charmingly illustrated book. See monkeys leap from tree to ttree and eath up crunchy bugs. Then watch as grown-up monkeys fall asleep and their abies start to play.

"Which fish can breathe on land? Why do some crabs have to live in other animal''s shells? In this book you can find lots of fascinating facts about the seashore and the creatures that live there." -- Back cover.

A look into the world of bugs, and how they grow, feed and make their homes; Combines information with flowing text to excite and inspire beginner readers; Includes short glossary, index and internet links to selected websites; Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton.

This title provides an in-depth exploration of bird watching, including habitats and conservation, to provide a deeper understanding of the natural world. Activities are also included, such as creating a bird feeder.