Rudyard Kipling's classic 'Just So' story, retold for young readers. According to this much-loved fable, whales used to be able to eat anything they wanted — find out what happens when the whale finds out that a man tastes very nice indeed. Part of the Usborne Reading Programme.

A sunny garden hums, buzzes, creeps and crawls with life. Lift the flaps and peep through the delicate laser-cut holes to discover a whole host of butterflies, birds and bees, caterpillars, squirrels, frogs and other garden wildlife. A delightful information book for the very young.

Rudyard Kipling's classic 'Just So' story, retold for young readers. According to this much-loved fable, elephants didn't always have long trunks — that is, until one day when the elephant's child could contain his curiosity no longer, stepping closer than he should have to the Crocodile. Part of the Usborne Reading Programme.

Woolly the sheep is always escaping: running around Apple Tree Farm and eating Mrs. Boot's flowers. But when she runs all the way to the Show, something unexpected happens. This simple story is part of the Usborne Reading Programme — over 300 books across seven levels, for children who are learning to read. With quizzes and activities at the end.

Poppy and Sam help Mr. Boot to make a scarecrow and call him Mr. Straw. But when Mr. Straw starts moving, they don't know what to think... This simple story, set on Apple Tree Farm, is part of the Usborne Reading Programme — more than 300 books across seven levels, for children who are learning to read. With extra quizzes and activities at the end.

Peep into nests and inside burrows to see baby animals and where they live in this flap book for young children. A brilliant introduction to an amazing variety of animal homes, including nests, warrens, hives, dens and dams.

A picture story book that introduces the concepts of size and scale. Pipkin the inquisitive penguin wants to know how high the sky is and so, with a friendly albatross, he flies past a hot-air balloon, a space rocket and the moon — but the sky is still much too high to him to reach the top.

A very simple non-fiction, lift-the-flap book for small children, packed with holes to peep through, flaps to peep beneath and snippets of factual information about what happens when night falls.

Peep Inside is the very young children's lift-the-flap information book series, the younger cousin of the Look Inside series which is, in turn, the younger relative of the bestselling See Inside series. With flaps and holes to peep underneath and through, life at the zoo is revealed. Snippets of information are combined with intriguing and stylish pictures.

A gloriously illustrated collection of the most enchanting stories from 'The Thousand and One Nights', in a luxurious, traditional cloth binding. From the adventures of Sinbad and Aladdin, to tales of genies and magical lands, children will be enchanted by these stories of magic and wonder. Perfect for reading aloud to younger children too. A brilliant gift that is sure to become a family heirloom. Beautifully bound in a traditional style with real cloth, head and tail bands, a ribbon marker and foil blocking. Shrink-wrapped for protection.

Follow the adventures of a wriggly tadpole in this captivating picture book that peeks into the depths of a cool, dark pond. The simple and engaging text is accompanied by vibrant illustrations as young readers encounter enormous fish, fluffy ducklings, and shimmering dragonflies.

This title features delightful illustrations and simple text that take young children on a fascinating journey to the centre of the earth. It is a fabulous way to discover the world beneath our feet, from plants and animals to underground trains, and through to the earth's core past fossils, caves and gold mines. It is presented in classic paperback picture book format, with delicate illustrations showing all the captivating details of life underground.

This picture book takes the reader on a journey all the way through the sea from one shore to another far across the world. From a bustling bright coral reef (by day and by night), out into the open sea to swim alongside giant whales, and diving down and down to discover what lives in the deepest darkest part of the ocean. This book introduces a child to the wonders of the sea and all kinds of sealife. The stunning images and lyrical text will leave a lasting impression, and can be treasured again and again.

This is a continuation in the series. Pipkin the very small penguin is always asking very big questions. As always, Pipkin goes on an adventure to find the answer to his question, and returns home in time for bed. Gently presented information for very young children about where babies come from, explored through an engaging story. When Pipkin the penguin's baby sister hatches, he finds out that baby penguins come from eggs. On chatting to a seal cub, he learns that not all babies come from eggs, so he sets out to find where other kinds of babies come from. He encounters a whale, baby turtles and a little boy, and learns there are lots of ways for babies to be born. He returns home for bedtime, to tell his baby sister everything he knows. There is a giant poster in an envelope at the back of the book, with pictures of all kinds of animals with their babies, and extra information. This is the very first investigation into where babies come from, introducing lots of different animal babies and how they are born or hatch, rather than dealing with details of reproduction. It features beautiful soft watercolour illustrations with charming animal characters.

This is a new paperback edition of this charming title in the popular and expanding Usborne Picture Books series, which introduces very young children to key subjects in a friendly and informative way. It is a story with lots of gently presented information that explores different aspects of a sunny day. Readers will delight in a sunny walk with three children and a dog, discovering the effects of sunshine on flowers, butterflies and cherries, along with an interesting look inside a bee hive. The delicate, charming illustrations evoke the beauty of a sunny day, while the simple accompanying text both engages and informs with a lyrical tone that makes the book delightful to read aloud.

This is a new edition of this artist-led picture book that begins with the question 'Have you ever wondered what clouds are made of?' This title includes fabulous watercolour paintings and evocative text that lead very young children through the effects of a rainy day; from cloudy skies to the 'splish, splash, splosh' of puddles and a beautiful rainbow. It also includes a simple story for very young children filled with Sarah Gill's atmospheric illustrations of stormy skies, leaping frogs, and wispy clouds. It also describes some of the creatures who need and enjoy rainy days, such as frogs, birds, worms and snails.

This is a new title in the fantastic First Reading series, part of the Usborne Young Reading Programme. It is aimed at children who are beginning to read. Let your imagination fly — soar into space and take a trip to the moon. This title features photographs with real images of the moon and fun puzzles after the story to consolidate learning. It is developed in consultation with Alison Kelly, who is a Principal Lecturer in Education and an early reading specialist from Roehampton University. Every title in this series features clear and compelling text accompanied by highly appealing illustrations. It is designed to motivate children as they learn to read.

This is a new title in the fantastic First Reading series, part of the Usborne Young Reading Programme. It is aimed at children who are beginning to read. Step back in time to the excitement of life in a castle, with jousts and banquets and daring deeds. After the story, there are fun puzzles to consolidate learning. It is developed in consultation with Alison Kelly, who is a Principal Lecturer in Education and an early reading specialist from Roehampton University. Every title in this series features clear and compelling text accompanied by highly appealing illustrations. It is designed to motivate children as they learn to read.

WARNING! Not suitable for children under 36 months because of small parts. Choking Hazard A gorgeous sticker book with beautifully decorated rooms just waiting to be filled with furniture and accessories. Children will have hours of fun arranging the house just as they want it, with objects ranging from chandeliers to china, as well as toys, ornaments and even food.

This title presents seven new titles in the award winning Very First Reading series, designed for children who are learning to read. It is based on the principles of synthetic phonics as recommended by the DCSF (now DfE)'s 2006 Rose Report on the Teaching of Early Reading. Most schools now incorporate phonics in teaching beginner readers. It provides inspired rhyming stories on themes children love, including ships and sailors, magic and mix-ups, exploration and adventure, not to mention animals and pets (some distinctly spooky ones!). It contains superb artwork by world-class illustrators in a brilliant range of styles. It is designed for a child to read together with an adult, with the child taking a greater share of the story in each book to achieve confident, independent reading. It includes stories that are followed by fun puzzles to test comprehension and provide further practice. It provides guidance notes for parents in each book, with further extensive support for parents and teachers on the Usborne Quicklinks Website.