King Canute, Lady Godiva, Guy Fawkes, Bonnie Prince Charlie, Grace Darling and other famous names live again in these 101 tragic, comic, stirring tales of adventure, folly and wickedness. Spanning nearly three thousand years, and including stories as up-to-date as Live Aid, the Braer Oil Tanker disaster and the Hadron Collider, each story includes a note on what really happened.

Celebrating the 21st birthday of this highly-respected introduction to the best-loved Greek stories, this new edition is generouslyl reformatted and has a beautiful new cover. Geraldine McCaughrean's elegant retellings continue to keep children captivated. Combined wiht Emma Chichester Clark's glorious illustrations, this collection will form an essential part of every child's library.

Retold by renowned children's writer, Geraldine McCaughrean, here are all the best-loved fairy tales and more. Favourites such as Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, the Little Mermaid, and the Princess and the Pea are accompanied by other treasures such as the Three Gifts of the North Wind, Cap-of-Rushes, and the Tinderbox. As ever, Geraldine's writing style is original and dramatic, and she weaves magic into her world of knights, witches, frogs, and princesses. Sophy Williams' delicate and atmospheric colour illustrations throughout the collection complement the text beautifully to make this a perfect gift. This beautifully designed book will stand the test of time and give pleasure for many, many years. Booktrust. A sumptuous collection of fairy stories retold by Geraldine McCaughrean, who has an exceptional ability to spin out the magic of any story.'The Guardian.

The glittering Nutcracker fairytale is retold by award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean in this magical novelty book. A beautiful retelling of the story of Marie, who is given a special nutcracker doll for Christmas. The nutcracker comes alive, turns into a handsome prince, and the marvellous adventures begin. Turn the pages and watch as each enchanting scene springs to life in this lavishly illustrated Christmas gift book. The die-cut cover reveals exquisite cut-paper layers and a pop-up character in an enchanting interior backdrop.

When Pepper Roux was born his aunt foretold that he would not live past 14 years of age. Throughout his childhood his parents haven't bothered with him much, knowing that his life would be short-lived. So when Pepper wakes up on his 14th birthday he knows this will be the day that he'll die. But as the day wears on, and Pepper finds himself still alive, he decides to set off to sea in an attempt to try and avoid death for as long as possible. As time goes on Pepper steps into many roles and persons and has numerous outrageous adventures. But can he stay one step ahead of death? Or will fate catch up with him? And, if he does live, which of his many lives will he choose to adopt? This riot of a story is a wonderful adventure, and Pepper is an unforgettable character who stays with you long after his story has been told.

Neverland is calling again. Something is wrong in Neverland. Dreams are leaking out-strangely real dreams, of pirates and mermaids, of warpaint and crocodiles. For Wendy and the Lost Boys it is a clear signal-Peter Pan needs their help, and so it is time to do the unthinkable and fly to Neverland again. But back in Neverland, everything has changed-and the dangers they find there are far beyond their dreams... Specially commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children as the winner of their competition to write the official sequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, Peter Pan in Scarlet is a thrilling adventure that you will never forget. Proceeds from every copy sold will go to benefit Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. This new version brings the adventure to new life with full colour illustrations throughout by David Wyatt, and a new version of the text by Geraldine McCaughrean, to make the story accessible to younger readers. A beautiful book to share and to treasure.

Cyrano de Bergerac is a flamboyant character and a skilled swordsman, not in the least afraid of drawing attention to himself in public — for he can be highly amusing, even at his own expense, with jokes about his enormous nose. But he has a weakness: he has fallen in love with his beautiful cousin Roxane, and because of his own appearance is too ashamed to declare his love. Meanwhile Roxane is besotted with a handsome, but foolish young man, Christian, in the same company of guards as Cyrano. Cyrano is devastated by this, and horrified by her request that he should protect the young man and encourage him to write her love letters. Writing letters is something Christian can't do — but Cyrano generously offers to help, even if it means breaking his own heart. Soon Cyrano pours out his feelings in the most romantic letters ever. The question is will Roxane discover the truth? And if she does will it be too late for Cyrano?

The Shepherd family have set off on their usual summer holiday under a cloud of gloom at the predictability of it all. When the car breaks down, they are forced to stay the night at the nearest B&B. To their dismay they find themselves at a place where Christmas comes every day of the year, complete with turkey and Santa Claus. And they discover it's even stranger than that, with the girl in the elf costume, the mysterious Mr Angel and the police seeking a fugitive. Stranded in this bizarre environment, unusual friendships develop and the relationships that have been so set in their ways are turned upside down. Full of comic moments, tension and drama, this is a highly satisfying read.

Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-11 edited by Cliff Moon. Top children's authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that your children will love to read, banded to help you choose the right book for every child. Practical teaching notes are included at the back of each book. Three spooky tales from three peerless storytellers, perfect for telling around the fire on a dark, windy night. Darkly comical, these will send a delicious shiver down your spine. Read of Flynn, who battled with three skeletons; of Tom, who saw something so weird in the moonlight that it changed his life for ever; and of the terrifying thirteen crows who brought death wherever they went...

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 travelling from all over the country — the word on everyone's lips is GOLD. A fast-paced tale of a South American gold rush, told with all Geraldine McCaughrean's usual skill and verve.

It's 1893 and for Cissy and her family, a new life beckons on the prairies of Oklahoma and they and their fellow settlers prepare for steady business alongside the Red Rock Railroad track. But when they refuse to sell their land to the railroad company, the boss swears that his trains will never stop in Florence again. How will they ever make a living now? Cissy and her friends, family and neighbours vow that they will make the train stop — by whatever means are necessary, no matter how dangerous that may prove to be...

Haoyou knows that his father's spirit lives among the clouds above Ancient China. He also knows that to save his mother from being forced into a new marriage he must now follow in his father's footsteps and take to the skies, riding a kite through the clouds and the spirits of the dead. Then the Jade Circus offers him a chance to escape his enemies and travel throughout the empire, and maybe even perform before Kublai Khan himself. But is going with the circus really the best option? It could be that the circus master is leading him into even greater danger. This outstanding story is like nothing else you've ever read — packed with action, adventure and emotion.

Captain Titus Oates, hero of the Antarctic, has been dead for nearly a century. But not in Sym's head. In there, he is her constant companion, her soulmate, her adviser. It is as if he walked out of the Polar blizzard and into her mind. In fact, if it were not for Titus, life might be as bleak a place as the Antarctic wilderness. When she is taken on a mystery expedition by her eccentric uncle Victor, Sym can't believe her luck. Destination Antarctica-the very place she's always wanted to visit. But Victor has other plans, more sinister than Sym could possibly imagine. Stranded in the most isolated part of the world with her trust in someone she comes to realize is a madman, she must find a way to avoid a gruesome fate. But what should a teenage girl do? Could it be that Titus, the one who perished in that very place, will be the means of her survival?

Everyone knows the story of the Flood, the men God chose to survive, the animals that went in two by two. But what about the others that sailed on the Ark — the women and the children? This adventure story asks what it was really like when the heavens opened and the world drowned — and what might have happened in the days that followed. With a frighteningly zealous and single-minded Noah; Japheth and his young wife, Zillah, concerned for the welfare of the animals; the stowaway boy and baby found by Noah's daughter Timna; and the animals themselves, continuing to act as animals do, whatever their surroundings, this is an extremely compelling and at times very frightening story, beautifully written as ever by Geraldine McCaughrean.

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. Geraldine 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.

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.

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.

Phelim was the only one, they said, the only one who could save the world from the Hatchlings of the Stoor Worm. The Stoor Worm, who had been asleep for aeons, since it was vanquished by the hero, Assipattle, was beginning to waken. It was the booming of the guns, the cries of the wounded, the dreadful sounds of war that had woken it, and now its Hatchlings were abroad to terrorize the people who had forgotten all about them, forgotten all the ancient magics. But how could Phelim, who was only a boy, after all, save the world from all these dreadful monsters? And where could he find the Maiden, the Fool, and the Horse who were supposed to help him? And as Phelim leaves his home and sets out on his quest, the words of the domovoy ring in his ears: You are the one. To stop the Worm waking. To do what must be done. Geraldine McCaughrean is a best-selling author who has won the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Children's Novel Award (twice), and the Guardian Children's Fiction Award. The Stones Are Hatching is now reissued in a smaller mass-market paperback format.