Age 9 plus
The Castle of Tangled Magic
Sophie Anderson
and Saara Söderlund
WHEN you have spent all your life in a centuries-old castle topped
by dreaming, shimmering domes, magic is never very far away.
Turn on the lamp and snuggle into your favourite armchair for
a fabulous, fantastical journey into a dazzling world of secrets, wonders, doom
and danger as Lake District author Sophie Anderson returns with a story just
made for autumn nights.
Inspired by Slavic folk tales and the stories of her
Prussian grandmother, this exciting writer is bewitching us all with her
sublime and lyrical storytelling, a gift which allows her to sweep readers away
to soaring, evocative landscapes where magic, folklore and realism blend
together in memorable mesmerising adventures.
And after winning critical acclaim for her thrilling books, The
House with Chicken Legs and The Girl who Speaks Bear, Anderson is back with
more stunning storytelling in an enchanting
fairy tale adventure about the power of love and courage.
Thirteen-year-old Olia lives with her parents in in Castle
Mila, a gorgeous place with gleaming pine-log walls, roof domes that sparkle like
silver and a five-hundred-year history that has been seasoned with myth and
legend down the generations.
Her grandmother, Babusya, claims the castle was built from
magic and when Olia follows a mysterious cat to one of the ancient castle’s hidden
roof turrets, she finds herself stepping through a doorway into a magical land
filled with wonders.
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But everything is not quite as it seems. This is a land tangled
by magic, where hope has been lost, scheming magician, Chernmor holds all the
power, and the magic is fading away.
Soon Olia learns that she is destined to save this land, but
time is running out and with her enchanted band of new friends and her family
in danger, she must search for the magic within herself… to save her home, the
land of forbidden magic, and all those she holds dear.
Brought to vivid, vibrant life by the atmospheric
illustrations of Saara Söderlund, The Castle of Tangled Magic is a triumph.
Filled with rich and descriptive detail, nail-biting suspense, important life
lessons, a pulsing sense of danger, and all set against a lush and breathtaking
backdrop full of mysticism and magic, this is just the sort of book that makes
youngsters want to read.
Faced with perilous challenges, and what might seem to be an
impossible mission to save the world, Olia is an inspirational heroine whose
love for her family is a shining example to all, and whose adventures are as
remarkable as the world she inhabits. Emotional, evocative, gripping… and unmissable!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £6.99)
Age 3 plus
Poppy and Sam’s
Wind-Up Train Book
Based on stories by Heather Amery and illustrated by Stephen
Cartwright
THE adventures of farmer’s children, Poppy and Sam, have
been a family favourite for over 30 years and now little ones can get hands-on
with the fun-loving duo in an exciting wind-up train book.
Over 20 million copies of the Poppy and Sam books have been sold worldwide and for the last few years, Usborne have been giving the enchanting series a bright and colourful makeover for a new generation of little ones… without losing the magic of the original titles. And this innovative, chunky board book, with the original artwork of the late Stephen Cartwright, features a wind-up model steam train and three tracks to bring to life three delightful Farmyard Tales train stories.
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Little ones will love winding up the train, putting put it
on the embedded track on each sturdy page, and watching it chugging around the
countryside on a school trip, a whistle-stop family visit to the seaside, and
touring the little town of Apple Tree on a hunt for a lost puppy.
This exciting book and toy format – with a beautiful colour
illustration by Simon Taylor-Kielty – is full of that special child-appeal
which has made the Poppy and Sam stories so popular, and the good news is that
there is still the added fun of finding the hidden Little Yellow Duck on every
page!
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £19.99)
Age 2 plus
Poppy and Sam’s Fairy Stories
for Bedtime
Based on stories by Philip Hawthorn, adapted by Kate Nolan and
illustrated by Stephen Cartwright and Simon Taylor-Kielty
AS day turns to night, join Poppy and Sam for a beautiful
selection of cosy, cuddly bedtime stories which are guaranteed to whisk away
your youngsters to the blissful land of nod!
After a busy day on Apple Tree Farm, farmer’s children Poppy and Sam love to have stories read to them before bedtime. They snuggle up together and lose themselves in magical tales of fairies and adventures. So curl up with your little ones and enjoy seventeen of Poppy and Sam’s favourite fairy stories in this gorgeously illustrated, glossy-paged book, which includes The Hairy Boggart, The Tooth Fairy, The Brave Shepherd, The Disobedient Dog and The Nose Tree.
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Based on stories by Philip Hawthorn, but adapted by Kate
Nolan, and featuring the classic illustrations of Stephen Cartwright, these
timeless stories are perfect for sharing with little children. With additional illustrations by Simon Taylor-Kielty, and the
hidden Little Yellow Duck to find on every page, this compendium of fairy land
magic is destined to take the sting out of bedtime!
(Usborne Publishing, hardback, £9.99)
Sticker Dollies: Mermaid in Trouble
Zanna Davidson and Kat Uno
INSPIRED by Fiona Watts’ multi-million copy selling Sticker
Dolly Dressing books comes the third book in a sparkling series full of magic,
adventure… and amazing clothes!
Ideal for independent new readers, these beautifully
produced and creative stories are fully illustrated throughout and include a
page of colourful sticker clothes to dress the Magic Dolls who care for the
Magical Creatures of the Enchanted Isle, and that includes everything from
unicorns to fairies and mermaids.
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In this super new adventure, the Magic Dolls – Grace, Holly
and Lily – are called out on a secret mission on the night of the Undersea Gala
on the Enchanted Isle. Nerissa the mermaid is in trouble. She can’t find the
grand prize… the Shining Pearls. Have they been stolen and who would do such a
thing? It’s up to the Magic Dolls to find out!
These exciting Sticker Dollies stories come in enchanting,
accessible chapter books which are ideal for youngsters eager to start reading
on their own, and with stickers to dress the dolls and fire up imaginations,
this series is a hands-on winner!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £5.99)
Age 5 plus
Sticker Dolly Dressing Halloween
Fiona Watt and Non Figg
CHECK out what the best-dressed girls are wearing this Halloween and then choose your favourite, magical outfit! There are hours of fashion fun to be enjoyed in this super-spooky Sticker Dolly Dressing book which is simply bursting with a fabulous range of brilliant, brightly coloured Halloween clothes and costumes, stylish accessories and decorations to complete the magical scenes.
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Young fashionistas will love dressing up the dolls as they
go trick-or-treating, prepare for Halloween parties, bake cakes, make
decorations, and dance like witches! With hundreds of stickers to choose from and lots of spooky,
spidery fun to share, this is a Halloween dream for girls who love dressing up!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £6.99)
Age 3 plus
Little First Colouring Halloween
Kirsteen Robson and Jenny Brown
EVERYONE wants to join in the spooky fun of Halloween! Pre-schoolers will be spellbound with this bewitching easy-to-use colouring book which comes packed with everything from bats, cats and spooky spells to wizards’ hats, a sparkling wand and wriggling worms.
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With its charming text and simple, bold outlines and
engaging illustrations by Jenny Brown, this entertaining Halloween-themed colouring
book is the perfect way to help young children develop their pencil control and
colouring skills. Guaranteed to cast a spell!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £4.99)
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