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Naughty Toes is narrated by a little girl called Trixie. At the start of the story she compares herself to her sister, Belinda, who is, we are told, a ballerina. Trixie, however, is not. And we go on to discover Trixie's anti-ballet tendencies in the dancewear she picks out at the shop, the dismay her unconventional technique elicits from her stern teacher, Madame Mina, the way she does her hair, eats an ice-cream, and the part she is given in the end-of-term show - a rock! But Trixie does have talents, even if they don't quite fit the rules of a ballet class, and it's the class pianist, Mr Tiempo, who can see that Trixie would rather be doing a toe-tap than a twirl. Trixie is full of free-spirited energy and she knows her own mind. At the end of the book, we discover how the contents of a mysterious box - left backstage for Trixie after the end-of-term show - allow her to step out and shine . . . as a tap dancer!
It is Pocket's first Christmas. When he goes out into the snow to play with his brothers and sisters, he discovers a sparkling snow angel. It has been left by some children and their footprints wind away from the snow angel's skirt. Pocket asks the snow angel if she knows the meaning of Christmas but, of course, she does not answer. So Pocket decides that if he follows the footprints, they will surely lead him to discover the meaning of Christmas and he hops off. As Pocket followsthe footprints his senses are filled with cheer-seeing his happy brothers and sisters playing on the frozen pond, hearing a little bird's joyful song, smelling the fresh wintry scent in the air, tasting the cold snowflakes on his tongue, feeling soft pine needles under his paws-but it is only when hereaches the children's cottage, and a carrot is placed on the doorstep for him, that he comes to an understanding of the meaning of Christmas. For, in sharing the carrot with a hungry wood mouse, Pocket knows the gift of giving.This is a gentle story that captures the real spirit of Christmas and celebrates those sentiments cherished by readers of all ages, particularly during the festive season.
Hugo is in no doubt as to what he and Bella should go as to the Hippo-Bird Fancy Dress Party. They will go as the princess and the pea and he will be the princess (of course!) leaving poor Bella to be the pea. Indignant, Bella refuses. She has a better suggestion - they will go as a mermaid on a rock and she will be the mermaid (of course!) leaving a huffy Hugo to be the rock. Hugo is not happy. But neither is Bella. They just can't decide on a costume and things reach a crisis when they both flounce off saying they don't want to go to the party at all. After time to consider, both Hugo and Bella calm down and (privately) both choose to dress as a pea as a gesture of making it all up to each other. So when they both arrive at the party as peas, Hugo and Bella announce proudly that they are 'two peas in a pod, just as it should be' underlining the message of the book that friendship is all about give and take. With wonderfully absurd illustrations from new talent Simon Rickerty and a great read-along
Bear just isn't in the mood to play with Bug. She lumbers off to her cave for a nap but Bug buzzes after her as he thinks they are playing 'chase'! Bad-tempered Bear gets increasingly huffy and decides to hide from Bug instead. Of course Bug finds her and thinks it's an invitation to play hide-and-seek. And so it goes on. Each time Bear tries to shake off Bug, Bug - in his enthusiasm to play - gets the wrong end of the stick, and so each time adds to Bear's exasperation. Then Bear snaps. She tells Bug to go away and finally she gets to have her nap. But Bear feels bad for being mean so she comes back out of her cave to look for Bug and finds him floating and forlorn on a water-lily pad. Bear wades out into the lake and brings Bug back to the shore. 'You are my very best friend. Would you like to play now?' said Bear. 'I'm too tired to play,' said Bug, shaking the water from his wings. 'I think I'd like to have a nap.' And so they did. Together. A story that celebrates the resilience of real friend
Every member of the Frazzle family is disastrously forgetful. Mr. Frazzle forgets his trousers. Wags the dog can't find his bone, and Annie and Ben bring fishing poles and towels to school instead of their homework. Not even Aunt Rosemary with her organizational tips can help. But one day Annie has an idea that combines rhyme, recall, and song into a melodic way to remember in this warmheated tribute to compensating for weaknesses.
In this beautifully lyrical bedtime picture book, young readers will be whisked to a land where mermaids sleep and pirates snore; where fairies slumber on flower petals and a giant's sleepy sighs make the valleys rumble. Featuring dream-like illustrations by Society of Illustrators Gold Medal recipients Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, When Mermaids Sleep is an ideal addition to the bedtime canon.
6 stories that encourage a love of reading and are perfect for your classroom or libary.
Hugo is in no doubt as to what he and Bella should go as to the Hippo-Bird Fancy Dress Party. They will go as the princess and the pea and he will be the princess (of course!) leaving poor Bella to be the pea. Indignant, Bella refuses. She has a better suggestion - they will go as a mermaid ona rock and she will be the mermaid (of course!) leaving a huffy Hugo to be the rock. Hugo is not happy. But neither is Bella. They just can't decide on a costume and things reach a crisis when they both flounce off saying they don't want to go to the party at all. After time to consider, both Hugoand Bella calm down and (privately) both choose to dress as a pea as a gesture of making it all up to each other. So when they both arrive at the party as peas, Hugo and Bella announce proudly that they are "two peas in a pod, just as it should be" underlining the message of the book that friendshipis all about give and take.With wonderfully absurd illustrations from new talent Simon Rickerty and a great read-aloud text, this is a made-for-sharing picture book.
Winner of Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2013 Two little creatures + one monkey nut = big trouble! Is it a hat? Or a boat? Or a drum? Whatever it is, everyone wants it - and they DON'T want to share! One little monkey nut causes big trouble in this bright, funny and original book. Praise for Monkey Nut: "With brio and inventiveness he fills the pages with splashes, squabbles, contrast and laughter." Michael Rosen "A bright and cheerful picture book that will have young readers laughing out loud from beginning to end." The Bookbag "Who would have thought that one little monkey nut could make such a hilarious and imaginative book?... Bright and colourful, this is a lovely story about sharing." Parents in Touch "Bold images brilliantly convey this witty story about how much trouble one monkey nut can cause!" Julia Eccleshare for Lovreading.co.uk "Anyone would find looking at this book an exhilarating experience." Books for Keeps
Join a variety of animals as they settle in for the night.