Geraldine McCaughrean Books In Order

The Odyssey

This book describes the epic journey of Odysseus, the hero of Ancient Greece…
After ten years of war, Odysseus turns his back on Troy and sets sail for home. But his voyage takes another ten years and he must face many dangers Polyphemus the greedy one eyed giant, Scylla the six headed sea monster and even the wrath of the gods themselves before he is reunited with his wife and son.

Greek Myths

A collection of sixteen favorite Greek Myths includes the adventures of Jason, Theseus, Odysses, Icarus, King Midas, Atalanta, Arachne, and others.

The Silver Treasure

A treasury of myths and legends contains tales of such well loved figures as King Arthur, William Tell, and Babushka, and includes the Japanese folktale about a girl who falls for a lighthouse keeper and the Alaskan story, ”The Raven and the Moon.”

The Bronze Cauldron

This bronze cauldron of 27 myths and legends from around the world contains a diverse assortment of tales such as the Indian legend of the young Buddha, the Mayan myth of the monster with emerald teeth, and the German legend of Dr. Faust. Full color.

The Crystal Pool

As Geraldine McCaughrean writes: ‘Once upon a time, our ancestors told stories to explain to each other how the world began, or how a mountain or a lake came into being, or the wind or the sun. Then they told stories about their own forebears: legends of half remembered heroes of ancient times, or of ordinary people whose lives were changed by some mystery or who performed some great deed.’ The Crystal Pool is the fourth of Geraldine McCaughrean’s glorious collections of such myths and legends. It contains her retellings of twenty eight tales, including stories from Japan, Siberia, Norway, China, Egypt, ancient Greece, Ghana, Australia, the United States, and elsewhere. Bee Willey has painted remarkable pictures full of magic and mystery that reflect and enhance the tales. Like The Golden Ho*ard, The Silver Treasure, and The Bronze Cauldron, The Crystal Pool combines the great gifts of Geraldine McCaughrean and Bee Willey in a book that will delight and enrich everyone who loves a story.

Stop The Train

‘There will be no Florence Station on the Red Rock Railroad Line…
. From here on out the trains won’t be stopping at Florence. Ever.’In 1893 Oklahoma’s northwest is opened up to settlers by government decree, and Cissy Sissney and her family rush to join the tens of thousands of land runners intent on staking a new claim to their future. The Sissneys and two dozen other folk are the first settlers to arrive at the map born town of Florence nothing but a double plot of sun baked land, an empty space waiting to be filled. Night has scarcely fallen when the trouble begins. A slick, oily haired man drifts from campfire to campfire, offering on behalf of the Red Rock Railroad Company to buy out claims for $50 dollars apiece. Several weeks later, after all settlers but one refuse to sell, the president of the railroad lowers the boom. There’ll be no more trains stopping at Florence. And without the railroad the town can’t survive. So it’s up to Cissy and her friends, family, and neighbors to come up with ways fair or foul to Stop The Train before they are all forced to abandon their homes forever. From the incredibly versatile Carnegie medalist Geraldine McCaughrean comes a rollicking, beguiling tale of clever shenanigans and heartwarming faith in the promise of a new land.

Hercules

Geraldine McCaughrean brings the same flair for action, suspense, and humor that characterizes all of the books in the acclaimed Heroes series to perhaps the most beloved and famous of all Greek myths, Hercules and his twelve labors. Readers learn about Hercules, the human with superhuman strength, born of a mortal and the king of gods, Zeus. When the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, discovers her husband’s mortal son Hercules, she vows to destroy him. Thus begins Hercules‘s legendary and epic journey in which he is forced to take on a series of seemingly impossible tasks. He battles an array of both amazing and terrifying beasts, including the mighty Cretan Bull, the many headed Hydra, the ferocious Nemean Lion, and the three headed guardian of hell, Cerberus. With the help of the gods Athena and Apollo, can Hercules triumph in the end?

McCaughrean s striking descriptions and taut prose draws even the most reluctant young readers into the fray.

Perseus

What does the future hold in store? Is it ever a good idea even to ask? There was a time once when the Three Fates sat in the corner of the young world and knitted like grandmothers for each newborn infant. They wove and worked and patterned each day of a man’s life, from the first stitch to the last casting off. And in those days, there were oracles, too, fortune tellers so sharp eyed that they could see into the future, so unkind that they were prepared to say what they saw there.

In this second of four books in Geraldine McCaughrean’s Heroes series, following the acclaimed Odysseus, readers follow Perseus as he lives the fate the oracles have declared, an impossible quest to kill the hideous, snake haired Medusa to save his mother from marriage to an evil king. A power struggle among the gods both hinders and helps him along the way, and Perseus manages to find true love when he rescues the breathtakingly beautiful Princess Andromeda from the horrors of a bloodthirsty sea monster in this entrancing retelling of the classic myth.

Theseus

Humble country boy Theseus sets off to meet his father, the king of Athens, and claim his right as heir to the throne in this classic story. Along the way, his intelligence and strength help him surpass all obstacles, including battles with giants, trolls, and the vicious Crommyonian Boar. With each triumph, his pride grows, as does a dangerous sense of immortality. When he makes the mistake of killing the giant bull that was a favorite of the sea god Poseidon, he brings a plague to Athens. In order to appease the gods, Athens is forced to provide a gruesome meal for the Minotaur, the son of Poseidon’s bull and a mortal woman. Will Theseus be able to defeat the Minotaur and bring peace back to Athens?In this action packed retelling, Theseus struggles to understand the timeless concepts of trust and true love, making this tale strikingly relevant for young people.

Odysseus

One of the greatest legends in world mythology comes to life in this retelling of the adventures of Odysseus after the fall of Troy. Cunning and wise, Odysseus is the son and successor of King Laertes of Ithaca, and led the Greek army during the Trojan War. Author Geraldine McCaughrean’s taut prose brings a modern, thriller like immediacy to the ancient story while still retaining the characters, details, and even some of the rhythms of the epic poem. This superb retelling includes all the great adventures of Odysseus, including his encounters with the evil Cyclops, the monsters Scylla and Charybdis, the beautiful sorceress Circe, and the vengeful god of the sea and protector of all waters, Poseidon. Filled with excitement, romance, and the timeless power of myth, Odysseus makes a perfect companion for young readers interested in learning more about the Greek heroes.

A Little Lower Than the Angels

Gabriel has no idea what the future will hold when he runs away from his apprenticeship with the bad tempered stonemason. But God Himself, in the shape of playmaster Garvey, has plans for him. He wants Gabriel for his angel…
But will Gabriel’s new life with the travelling players be any more secure? In a world of illusion, people are not always what they seem. Least of all Gabriel. BLGeraldine McCaughrean is considered an exceptional writer of our time. She has won the Carnegie Medal, the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the Whitbread Award twice and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

A Pack of Lies

Ailsa doesn’t trust MCC Berkshire, the mysterious man helping out in her mother’s antique shop. He tells wonderful stories about all the antiques, and his stories persuade the customers to buy the items he talks about, but everything he says is A Pack of Lies. Isn’t it? The story of Ailsa and MCC is interwoven with the stories MCC tells the customers, which range: from romances to adventure stories; from crime dramas to pirate stories; from stories set in modern day Ireland to stories set in ancient China.

Gold Dust

Inez and her brother are amazed to find a huge hole being dug right outside the front door of their father’s shop. Then suddenly more holes appear all over the main street and before long the cars can’t use the road and everyone has to walk around balancing on planks of wood. It can only be a matter of time before the foundations give way and the whole town collapses. People are traveling from all over the country the word on everyone’s lips is Gold.

The Quest of Isis

General Editor: Sue Palmer Fiction Editor and Language Consultant: Wendy Body ‘The Longman Book Project’ for ages 4 11: Inspires children with an unparalleled variety of fiction by significant children’s authors and illustrators such as Anne Fine, Beverley Naidoo, Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson and Geraldine McCaughrean. Offers at a glance NLS teaching support in a literacy grid at the back of every book highlighting text, sentence and word level work for easy access by teachers, teaching assistants and parents. Specific materials for progress monitoring and as*sessment for teachers and children in the Teacher’s Books including reading and writing as*sessment task copymasters, test passages and reading records. Provides gradual, age appropriate progression and supportive clusters of shared, guided and independent reading books based around common themes for Key Stage 1/P1 3. Presents a wide range of different titles to stimulate all readers at Key Stage 2/P4 7. Covers a huge range of NLS fiction genres including plays and poetry to promote speaking and listening. Promotes valuable awareness of community and citizenship through many titles based around issues of community, environment and health.

Plundering Paradise/The Pirate’s Son

14 year old Nathan dreams of fighting pirates in faraway lands. Then his father dies, leaving Nathan penniless. When Tamo, the son of a famous pirate, invites Nathan to join him in Madagascar it seems as if Nathan’s daydreams are coming true. Nathan, his sister Maud, and Tamo seem to find adventure and danger everywhere.

King Arthur and the Round Table

A splendid retelling of the greatest legend of all time, by Geraldine McCaughrean, winner of the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Award, and the Guardian Prize.’Who pulls the sword from out this anvil is the true and rightful King of England.’ In this skillful retelling of King Arthur and the Round Table, multi award winning author Geraldine McCaughrean weaves a dramatic and powerful spell of Arthur, his knights, Merlin, and the sword in the stone Excalibur. Among Geraldine McCaughrean’s retellings are The Canterbury Tales and One Thousand and One Arabian Knights; her other books include My Grandmother’s Clock.

Casting The Gods Adrift

In this authentically detailed illustrated story of ancient Egypt, award winning author Geraldine McCaughrean draws the reader into both the court of the great pharaoh Akhenaten and the heart of a troubled boy, Tutmose. Tutmose and his blind brother, Ibrim, and their animal collector father, Harkhuf, are delivering a shipment of animals to the new pharaoh when their boat capsizes in the Nile. Their rescuer is none other than Akhenaten himself. The pharaoh finds places for all three in the royal court Harkhuf will continue to collect animals, Ibrim will play his lyre, and Tutmose will learn to be a sculptor. But Akhenaten turns out to be a new kind of ruler who rejects the traditional Egyptian gods. When Harkhuf discovers this, he plots a deadly revenge, putting not only his own life but also those of Ibrim and Tutmose in mortal danger.

The Stones Are Hatching

After centuries of undisturbed slumber, the Stoor Worm the World Eater is waking. A creature of monstrous proportions and unimaginable evil, the Stoor Worm must be destroyed. Already its murderous hatchlings are bringing terror and destruction to every corner of Britain. And an odd trio a Fool, a Maiden, and a Horse is desperately trying to convince one quite ordinary boy that he alone can save the world. Drawing upon the centuiries old lore of Britain’s Old Magic, acclaimed novelist Geraldine McCaughrean has created a bold, original fantasy. Richly textured, this gripping tale of perilous adventure is filled with unforgettable scenes of terror, heroism, and treachery in the timeless fight between good and evil. It was from out at sea that Phelim got his first glimpse of the Stoor Worm: Alexia pointed it out to him. A mass of land thrust out into the sea, interrupting the smooth curve of the coast. Within it and behind it, the land was far higher than round about, and it had a reddish tinge to it. There was no eye, no ear, no claw, no thorn*y tail. It was simply a piece of land. How can you be afraid of a piece of land? Phelim, who had been expecting the fright of his life, felt absolutely nothing. The Stoor Worm was simply a morsel of legend, untrue. ‘It doesn’t even look like a dragon,’ he said, half laughing with relief.’Well, that is only the snout,’ Alexia said.

The Kite Rider

Up and up the wind drew him. Haoyou looked about him and saw the wholeworld beneath him. And it was his. He couldbreathe! Today Haoyou was a kite, awindhover riding on spread wings. The great Miao master of the Jade Circus, offers twelve year old Haoyou the amazing chance to change his life to escape from his family’s poverty and the pain of his father’s recent death by becoming a kite rider!Strapped onto a beautiful scarlet and gold kite, Haoyou is sent into the sky to soar perilously among the clouds and entertain the awestruck crowds below. Traveling the Empire as part of the Jade Circus, Haoyou earns freedom, money, and unexpected fame as he skillfully performs for local villagers who believe he can bring back messages from lost loved ones whose spirits haunt the sky. Miao even plans for Haoyou to perform before the Mongol conqueror Kublai Khan himself!But what about the duties that bind Haoyou to the ground his duties to his family, especially to his widowed mother? And is the Great Miao all that he seems, or could he be using Haoyou in a treacherous plot?From incredibly versatile Carnegie Medalist Geraldine McCaughrean, author of The Stones Are Hatching, comes this dazzling story of adventure, betrayal, family, and sacrifice set in the dramatic, dangerous world of thirteenth century China.

Gilgamesh The Hero

A major publishing event – two of the UK’s outstanding prize-winning artists working together for the first time The legend of Gilgamesh is the oldest written story, pre-dating both The Bible and The Iliad. An epic story about a quest for immortality, it also includes a legend of the Flood that is remarkably similar to the story of Noah. BLGeraldine McCaughrean has won every major prize for children’s literature in this country, including the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Award, the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, and, most recently, The Blue Peter Best Book to Keep Forever Award. BLDavid Parkins is a highly acclaimed artist, and has been shortlisted for the Kurt Maschler and Smarties awards. He received many critical accolades for God’s Story with Jan Mark

The Jesse Tree

‘What are you doing, mister?’ The old man ran a creased hand over his half completed woodwork. ‘I’m carving a Jesse tree, if you must know. Now run along out of here. A church isn t for playing in.’ ‘Is that your name, then? Jesse?’ The carpenter was impatient to get back to work. ‘Of course not. A Jesse tree is a very ancient tradition. A thousand years ago, every church had a Jesse tree. A stained glass window or a carved wooden screen…
Nowadays, it’s a lost art.’As Mr. Butterfield carves a Jesse Tree in an old dusty church, a curious young boy distracts him, asking about the various symbols on the tree. Against his better judgment, the old man finds himself retelling the familiar Biblical tales that trace the lineage of Christ, from the Garden of Eden to Jesus birth. Under the carpenter s skilled hands, The Jesse Tree grows and an unlikely friendship begins to take root as well. Geraldine McCaughrean’s fresh retellings of familiar Bible events and Bee Willey s whimsical and striking illustrations create a rich and contemporary tale, perfect for reading during Advent or anytime. The Jesse Tree will captivate readers who know and love the Bible stories as well as those who are reading them for the first time.

Dog Days

Clay and his brother, Hal, rescue a struggling dog from the icy River Thames. But father refuses to take her in the new Dog Tax means she’s too expensive to keep. As skinners sharpen their knives, ready to make money from pelts just like hers, the boys determine to save her at any cost.

Jalopy

Jalopy is a brand new, shiny red car won in a competition by Mrs Ethel Thomas, but Mrs Thomas can’t drive, so sadly she puts Jalopy up for sale. Before she can sell Jalopy, petty crooks Masher and Spud, who need a get away car for their next bank robbery, steal the car.

Smile!

When Flash’s plane crashes in the wilderness, he finds himself injured and alone, armed with nothing but a cheap instant camera. Then out of the sunlight appears a girl in a scarlet dress. Sutira and her brother take Flash home to their remote village, where the people have never met a photographer or seen a photo. Flash has ten pictures left, but what should he take a picture of? The most beautiful girl in the village? An irreplaceable piece of art? A cow? Flash has always known the magic of photography, but not until he takes those last ten pictures does he realize just what wonders can be worked with light, love, and a camera. From the Hardcover edition.

Not the End of the World

What was it really like when the heavens opened and the world drowned?

Everyone knows the story of the Flood: The man called on by God to build an ark. The animals that came on board two by two. The rain that fell for forty days and forty nights.

But what about the rest of the story? What about Noah’s wife and daughters in law? And what if there was a daughter as well? How would it feel to head into the unknown, with only each other and all those animals? What would it be like to turn away friends and neighbors struggling in the water? Could all of it really be part of God’s Plan the hunger and pain and fear?

Carnegie Medalist Geraldine McCaughrean transforms the familiar story into a provocative new tale that is told through the voices of Noah’s family, and even the animals. At the heart is a daughter who questions her father when no one else will.

The White Darkness

I have been in love with Titus Oates for quite a while now which is ridiculous, since he’s been dead for ninety years. But look at it this way. In ninety years I’ll be dead, too, and the age difference won’t matter. Sym is not your average teenage girl. She is obsessed with the Antarctic and the brave, romantic figure of Captain Oates from Scott’s doomed expedition to the South Pole. In fact, Oates is the secret confidant to whom she spills all her hopes and fears. But Sym’s uncle Victor is even more obsessed and when he takes her on a dream trip into the bleak Antarctic wilderness, it turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival that will challenge everything she knows and loves. In her first contemporary young adult novel, Carnegie Medalist and three time Whitbread Award winner Geraldine McCaughrean delivers a spellbinding journey into the frozen heart of darkness.

Cyrano

A gallant solider, a sharp wit, and a man of letters, Cyrano de Bergerac seems like the obvious romantic hero. He has just one noteworthy flaw: an improbably large nose. And after a lifetime of loving the beautiful Roxane from afar, Cyrano must find a way any way at all to express his feelings for her. Romantic, funny, and action packed, this adaptation is sure to win a whole new legion of fans for Edmond Rostand’s lovable soldier.

Peter Pan in Scarlet

The first ever authorized sequel to J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan! In August 2004 the Special Trustees of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, who hold the copyright in Peter Pan, launched a worldwide search for a writer to create a sequel to J. M. Barrie’s timeless masterpiece. Renowned and multi award winning English author Geraldine McCaughrean won the honor to write this official sequel, Peter Pan in Scarlet. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer and set in the 1930s, Peter Pan in Scarlet takes readers flying back to Neverland in an adventure filled with tension, danger, and swashbuckling derring do!

The Death-Defying Pepper Roux

Pepper’s fourteenth birthday is a momentous one. It’s the day he’s supposed to die. Everyone seems resigned to it even Pepper, although he would much prefer to live. But can you sidestep Fate? Jump sideways into a different life? Na ve and trusting, Pepper sets a course through dangerous waters, inviting disaster and mayhem at every turn, one eye on the sky for fear of angels, one on the magnificent possibilities of being alive. New York Times bestselling and Printz Award winning author Geraldine McCaughrean has created a gripping tale filled with dark humor and daring escapades, where the key to a boy’s life lies in facing his own death. Join him on the run if you can keep up.

One Thousand and One Arabian Nights

Day after day King Shahryar marries a new wife, only to have her put to death the following morning. Hundreds of wives have died before Shahrazad comes along. On the night of her wedding, Shahrazad begins to tell the king a story. But she hasn’t time to complete it, she says. She’ll tell him more the next night, and then there is another story after that. Night after night. Can Shahrazad tell stories so wonderful that the king will want to listen to them instead of cutting off her head? This is a completely new version of the Arabian Nights: many of the stories are told here for the first time in a collection for children. They include fables, romances, jokes, and fairy tales, and they are linked together by the king and queen’s own love story. Geraldine McCaughrean’s style is clear and poetic, conveying the flavor of the original, and the context of a magic, jinni ridden desert world.

The Canterbury Tales

They set off on an April morning with the rain dripping from the branches. Priests, nuns, tradesmen, men from the city all pilgrims on the road to Canterbury. To pass the long journey they told each other stories of magic and trickery, of animals with blazing eyes, of people with pants on fire, of love and death and the devil. Geraldine McCaughrean retells The Canterbury Tales for children in a lively and humorous style that captures the original flair of Chaucer himself. She introduces us to the characters who told these tales: the shy, battle hardened Knight, the Summoner whose breath smells of onions, the Widow of Bath who likes a happy ending. The stories and characters are brought to life by the brush of Victor Ambrus, with pictures of wild chases, exciting battles, and the English countryside.

The Orchard Book Of Stories From The Ballet

‘In this attractive book, ten of the world’s best known ballets, includingThe Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, andCinderella, are introduced to young readers. The essence of a balletproduction is successfully captured by the full color illustrations, whichexuberantly portray each story’s setting, and the writing style, whichmaintains the original flavor of both the tales and ballets. Children who loveto attend ballets, take ballet lessons, or like to read fairy tales willdelight in this treasury.’ Booklist There is no more elegant orcomprehensive introduction to the ballet than this enchanting book.

Stories from Shakespeare

These stories are intended as a way of introducing Shakespeare to lower secondary students. The language provides a flavour of the plays yet remains accesssible to a wide ability range.

God’s People

In this beautiful and distinguished retelling of the beloved stories from the Old Testament, each tale reflects the poetry and character of the King James Version. Full color.

The New Windmill Book of Greek Myths

This selection of 16 Greek myths provides tales of adventure, courage and mystery. Geraldine McCaughrean’s re telling makes them accessible for Key Stage 3 pupils.

The Orchard Book of Starry Tales

What do you see when you look up at night? T his book is a sumptuous collection of 15 myths from around t he world about the sun, the moon and the stars. ‘

Greek Gods and Goddesses

Here are fifteen wonderful stories about the Greek Gods and Goddesses Zeus, the most powerful; his wife Hera; and their large, extended family. In the splendid retellings, Geraldine McCaughrean vividly recreates the world of these powerful characters who also possessed human attributes and failings. The collection includes favorite stories such as how Paris judged who was the fairest goddess of all, how the city of Athens was named, and how Phaeton defied his father, the sun god Helios. It also tells some of the lesser known ones: how the dolphins were created and how Hephaestus won Aphrodite for his wife. The magic and drama of Geraldine McCaughrean’s retellings are beautifully matched by Emma Chichester Clark’s lively illustrations, in which she brings the characters strikingly to life.

Golden Myths and Legends of the World

These are the stories our ancestors told to explain how the world began, or they are legends of half remembered heroes or people whose lives were changed by magic. Brilliantly retold in the sparkling, energetic prose of one of the great names in children’s books, Golden Myths and Legends and its companion volume Silver Myths and Legends make an outstanding collection of wonderful tales, many of them unavailable anywhere else.

The Orchard Book of Roman Myths

A wonderfully rich and varied collection of fifteen stories from Roman mythology, retold for today’s young readers. Here are all the famous myths from the birth of Venus, to the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus. The great gods and goddesses, including Jupiter, Mars and Diana, are brought vividly to life by Emma Chichester Clark’s beautiful illustrations that perfectly reflect the liveliness of Geraldine McCaughrean’s gripping retellings.

Britannia: 100 Great Stories from British History

King Canute, Lady Godiva, Guy Fawkes, Bonnie Prince Charlie, Grace Darling and other famous names from 3000 years of history live again in these 100 tragic, comic, stirring tales of adventure, folly and wickedness. These stories, many of them virtually forgotten, are Britain’s heritage, told and illustrated with such verve and colour that they are the perfect way to give present day children a sense of the excitement of history.

My First Oxford Book Of Stories

My First Oxford Book Of Stories is a perfect introduction to the magical world of the fairy tale. Perennial favorites are retold by award winning author Geraldine McCaughrean. Including plenty of fun and humor specifically designed for this very young age group, the author never loses sight of the traditional shape and feel of the original classics. The illustrations by Robina Green are a delight finely detailed and handsomely colored, they recreate the imaginary world of the fairy tale with all its magical power.

Starry Tales

For thousands of years, all around the world, people have seen shapes and pictures in the night sky and created stories to account for them. What one culture sees as a plow, another sees as a saucepan, another as a bear; what to one is a circle of chiefs sitting at powwow, another calls a bride’s crown of flowers. Starry Tales brings together fifteen of these myths about the sun, the moon, and the stars from different cultures and countries. Here you can read about how night was created, about the Giant who stole the sun, and about the ‘saucepan’ in the sky…
One of today’s most talented storytellers, Geraldine McCaughrean brings these myths to fresh life. With Sophy Williams’s glowing illustrations, this is a book to enjoy, to share, and to treasure.

Knights, Kings and Conquerors

The founding of London, the Glastonbury Thorn, the Romans, Boudicca, King Arthur, Hengist and Horsa, King Alfred and much more, in a selection from Geraldine McCaughrean’s BRITANNIA: 100 STORIES FROM BRITISH HISTORY. These wonderful stories each followed by a note explaining the historical facts are a great read and are illustrated with black and white versions of Richard Brassey’s exciting illustrations to the orignal book. The first of five attractive paperbacks which will cover the entire 100 stories many of which can be found nowhere else.

Roman Myths

From the prize winning author and illustrator of Greek Myths and Greek Gods and Goddesses comes this wonderfully rich and varied collection of fifteen stories from Roman mythology, freshly retold and made accessible for today’s readers. Here are all the famous myths: the birth of Venus, the founding of Rome, how the sacred geese saved the city from the Gauls stories that reflect the drama and the power that was Rome. Here are all the great gods and goddesses, brought vividly to life: Jupiter, the king of the gods; Juno, his wife; warrior Mars; Mercury the messenger; Diana, the goddess of hunting; as well as many of the lesser gods and goddesses who controlled every aspect of Roman life. Emma Chichester Clark’s beautiful illustrations, inspired by Roman art and culture, perfectly reflect the liveliness of Geraldine McCaughrean’s retellings.

Rebels & Royals

Here are twenty thrilling stories from the time of the Vikings to the middle of the fourteenth century, including the stories of King Canute, Hereward the Wake, Robert the Bruce, and Lady Godiva.

Daredevils and Desperadoes

These stories from Geraldine McCaughrean’s larger work Britannia: 100 Great Stories from British History are about Dick Whittington, the Peasants’ Revolt, the Battle of Agincourt, the murder of the Princes in the Tower, the ghost of Anne Boleyn, the wooing of Anne of Cleves, Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth, the Spanish Armada, and the Gunpowder Plot. Black and white versions of Richard Brassey’s exciting illustrations make this an extremely attractive and accessible package.

Ghosts, Rogues and Highwaymen

Stories about Oliver Cromwell, the Moonrakers, the Plague, the Great Fire of London, Glencoe, the South Sea Bubble, Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Battle of Trafalgar, all taken from BRITANNIA: 100 STORIES FROM BRITISH HISTORY. These wonderful stories each followed by a note explaining the historical facts are a great read and are illustrated with black and white versions of Richard Brassey’s exciting illustrations to the original book.

Movers, Shakers and Record Breakers

Twenty thrilling stories that take us through the Victorian period and right up to the 1990s.

Oxford Treasury of Fairy Tales

This glorious collection includes all your favourite traditional stories, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Rumplestiltskin, along with some less well known stories to discover. The book is sumptuously illustrated and decorated with illustrations on every page, generous page layout, and beautiful traditional calligraphy. The story telling is outstanding. We believe this is an important book for Oxford University Press, which will become a classic to keep forever. Geraldine McCaughrean has won the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Children’s Book twice, the Guardian Children’s Book Award, and the Blue Peter Best Book Award. Her retellings of traditional stories and Ancient Myths are acclaimed throughout the world. Sophy Williams studied illustration in London. She was highly commended twice for the ‘Reader’s Digest’ Young Illustrator’s Award and was shortlisted for the Mother Goose Prize. She has worked with writer’s such as Robert Westall, Michael Rosen and Jill Paton Walsh.

Sky Ship and Other Stories

Geraldine McCaughrean’s best loved novels all have an historical theme her passion for history is evident in this collection of gripping short stories. Each of these five tales is set in the past at a moment of scientific or historical significance. Read about the book that changed the world and inspired Christopher Columbus and Da Vinci; why eleven days vanished from the English calendar in 1752 and much more besides!

The Questing Knights of the Faerie Queen

Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen was written in 1596 for Queen Elizabeth 1st. Award winning author Geraldine McCaughrean re tells this famous romantic text in a gripping and accessible way. She introduces a whole new generation of readers to Spenser’s exciting adventures of knights and dragons, sorcerers and hermits, princesses and sea nymphs. Lavishly designed and brilliantly illustrated by Jason Co*ckcroft, this is a perfect and a wonderful present.

Greek Heroes

What makes a hero different from ordinary men? Are courage and strength enough, or is there something more that’s needed for battle, whether against a fearful monster or the wrath of the gods themselves? Here are the stories of four heroes, Perseus, Hercules, Theseus, and Odysseus, who follow the path of glory in their many unforgettable adventures. Geraldine McCaughrean is a master storyteller and she excels in combining nail biting plots with a powerful portrayal of the main characters in all their complexity, their matchless strength and wit tempered by human weakness. The result is a collection of deeply satisfying and mesmerizing stories that will be an excellent addition to any bookshelf.

The Orchard Book of Greek Myths

This wonderful collection of sixteen favourite Greek myths captures all the magic of these timeless stories. These well known tales, including the adventures of Jason, Theseus and Odysseus and the stories of Icarus and King Midas, are retold for today’s children by talented storyteller Geraldine McCaughrean, with glorious illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark.

Saint George and the Dragon

The traditional tale of the patron saint of England, retold by the author. The dragon lays waste to the kingdom and finally the princess herself has to be rescued by a knight, who fights and tames the dragon, passing into legend as St George.

Blue Moon Mountain

One bright starlit night, Joy wakes to see a glittering path of moonlight stretching off into the distance. Curious, she slips out of bed and follows the path till she reaches Blue Moon Mountain. There she discovers a strange unearthly place inhabited by all the magical creatures of myth and legend: mermaids and fairies, Cyclops and goblins even Joy’s beloved unicorns. What will Joy do amidst all these incredible creatures? Highlighted by wonderfully detailed illustrations from two acclaimed illustrators, this lyrical adventure is a lovely introduction to mythology and a treat for readers young and old.

Unicorns! Unicorns!

As the flood waters rise, Noah anxiously waits for his precious unicorns to board the ship, but while helping others find their way, the unicorns are delayed and never make it on the voyage.’

Beauty and the Beast

Through her great capacity to love, a kind and beautiful maid releases a handsome prince from the spell which has made him into an ugly beast.

Grandma Chickenlegs

Tatia knows she should follow her dying mother’s advice and stay away from Grandma Chickenlegs. But when her cruel stepmother orders her to visit the old witch, Tatia must obey. Bravely, she sets out through the woods, with her dear doll, Drooga, as her only companion. Once inside the witch’s cottage a rickety shack that stands on chicken legs Tatia is guarded by the witch’s dog, cat, and a magic elm tree. Grandma Chickenlegs clearly has terrible plans for her. To escape the witch, Tatia must be courageous and clever, and she must rely on the kindness of friends. Moira Kemp’s dramatic illustrations, sensitive and funny, make this a classic picture book to be treasured by readers of all ages.

My Grandmother’s Clock

Grandmother has a clock, of course, but she doesn t use it to tell time. I have so many other clocks, she says. A heartbeat, the blink of an eye, reading the newspaper, the length of shadows, the smell of baking, birdsong, birthdays, the moon…
. Everything in and around us speaks eloquently of the passage of time. And so does this lyrical, moving text, warmed by dreamy illustrations that perfectly capture the affection between grandparents and grandchild. An inspired discussion starter and a beautiful gift book, My Grandmother’s Clock is an exceptional collaboration of two remarkable talents.

One Bright Penny

In this clever tale, Pa gives his three children a challenge. He declares with a chuckle, ‘If one of you can fill the barn for a penny, I’ll give you the farm and go sleep in the chicken coop!’ Clearly, Pa doubts any of his children will succeed. Of course, that just makes Bill, Bob, and Penny even more determined to win. Each of the children thinks long and hard and comes up with an idea but only Penny’s plan is ingenious enough to restore harmony to the family.

Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas looked out On the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even…
Beautifully illustrated by Christian Birmingham, this lavishly produced book tells of the age old carol of Good King Wenceslas and his page, who set out on a bitter winter night to deliver the spirit of Christmas. Tje majestic images in rich, soft oil pastels are a perfect compliment to this much loved story.

The Nativity Story

A sumptuous take on the classic story, this retelling of the first Christmas features enduring prose and opulent, stylish illustrations. Perfect for reading at home by the fire, it is also an ideal format for reading aloud to groups. Beautifully presented with a foil effect dust jacket, this is a Christmas treasure for all ages.

The Nutcracker

For Christmas, Clara is given new ballet shoes and a nutcracker doll. The Nutcracker comes alive, turns into a handsome prince, and the marvellous adventures begin. Clara and her prince defeat the king of the rats and travel to the land of sweets.