A children's illustrated version of this remarkable book, about a cabin by a German lake and the five families who live there during the course of the C20th, and what happens to them. Ages 6... read more
An early introduction to the eco-gothic world (see Gardens)... there's a mischievous ivy plant, and people keep disappearing. Cheerful illustrations and story for ages 4-6.
An amiable tale of a tidy person and an untidy one; the tidy one gets a cat, who baffles his owner by preferring to curl up in the mess of his neighbour's house. What can they do? Lovely, fu... read more
Charming tale of old Lisette and the birthday party her animals throw for her. A reissue of a Swiss classic, long out of print, with Fischer's engaging illustrations. Ages 3-6.
A re-issue of this treasure, in its original small format with Ardizzone's lovely drawings. It has inspired every child who has ever read it, and made them laugh and stretch their eyes visua... read more
This is a new edition of V S Vernon Jones's translation, first published by Gregynog Press in the 1930s. The woodcuts are marvellous. Almost more for parents than children.
The alternative is to learn Tom Lehrer's song by heart: "There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium / And hydrogen and oxygen and nitrogen and rhenium..." Even more have been discarvered ... read more
A small girl sets out to find her father and pursue a perilous giant. Particularly lovely, both text and illustrations, incl. a charming domestic scene of a knight in shining armour reading ... read more
The inimitable QB, a delightul book about the Meadowsweet family, a bird called Octavia and a seed the saves the day; we didn't include this in our last list as it was stuck in a warehouse, ... read more
New edition of this delightful book about Mowzer the cat, old Tom the fisherman, and a dreadful storm, with Bayley's soft, rich illustrations. Ages 3-6.
A wonderful introduction to gene theory for the young. ES is one of our foremost illustrators, with an eye for detail and lavish colour, all with a rather old-fashioned appeal. Ages 5-8.
Aztec, Viking, Japanese, Olympian, Cretan, possibly even the West Country sport of cheese-rolling but, equally, perhaps not. Volant has done several other good books of non-fiction for child... read more
Magnolia is nine years old, with all the curiousity and good sense that entails. She is good with secrets, and knows that her garden contains walramingos. Buffadillos too, perhaps. A 'chapte... read more
A boy runs away to the woods and finds another boy, injured, and wearing deerskin clothes. When he tries to find his way back to the town to get help, he recognises nothing - the classic chi... read more
On a night so cold that it bites, five children run away from the Little Tulip Orphanage and embark on a moonlit caper... Lively, funny and exciting adventure set in C19th Amsterdam. Ages 7-... read more
First published in 1950, with hints - not surprisingly - of LB's delightful 'Madeline'. A music school, a music teacher, her dastardly landlord and a lot of umbrellas... A charming book for ... read more
A new edition with illustrations by the Children's Laureate whose scratchy style is well-suited to the story, especially for those who don't have Tenniel's hookah-smoking caterpillar as the ... read more