Publications
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult
Two families and a handful of strangers gather on a private Italian island for what should be the perfect destination wedding.
But before the celebrations begin, the news breaks that a doomsday comet will soon crash into Earth. With no way home, no phone signal and no hope, the guests are left to face the unthinkable: the end of everything. And just each other for company.
As the hours count down, love and fear collide as twelve people face themselves, each other and the fragile grace of being human when time itself runs out. With humanity stripped to its rawest form, they’re faced with the ultimate questions: what we cling to, what we let go of and who we truly are.
One asteroid and one small planet collide for a world-ending, yet life-affirming, event.
Author: Emily Hourican
Genres: Fiction, Genre Fiction
Set in January 1965, A House in Winter tells the story of the visit of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden to his sister's home in Abbeyleix, Ireland, when they faced local opposition and IRA petrol bomb attacks that confined them, without electricity, for 48 fraught hours.
As well as the conflict outside the walls, there's plenty within, with Margaret's difficult mother in law gleefully contributing to her disintegrating marriage. Meanwhile in the nearby village local woman Cait has struggles of her own, unable to escape family responsibilities and small town life.
Inspired by real events, A House in Winter is an atmospheric and richly observed novel about duty, marriage and the different forms of captivity. Blending royal intrigue with compelling Irish community drama, it will appeal to readers of The Crown, Wendy Holden's The Duchess, Daisy Goodwin's Victoria and the warm, character-driven storytelling of Maeve Binchy.
“This a beautifully crafted and poignant book.”
- Alison Weir“Resonant and compelling, it brings its complex subjects vividly to life. I loved it.”
- Irish Times“Glittering, gripping and sharply observed, A House In Winter is a riveting page-turner. I devoured it!”
- Evie Woods“Atmospheric, evocative and beautifully told”
- Louise O'Neill
Author: S.J.A. Turney
Genres: Genre Fiction
This thrilling Roman adventure novel from Simon Turney sees Agricola return to the scene of his greatest exploits, but to achieve glory he must vanquish his greatest foes yet.
Following years of distinguished military and political exploits, Agricola has been rewarded with control of Aquitania by the Emperor Vespasian.
But Agricola's greatest glories have always come in that rainy northern corner of the Empire: Britannia. When Vespasian sends him back to Britannia, this time as governor, he has a chance to cement his place in Roman history.
To conquer Britannia completely Agricola must overcome its many Celtic tribes. The Ordovices have massacred a Roman cavalry unit. The Selgovae and Damnonii resist Imperial rule fiercely. And he must take them on with ever fewer troops due to a series of changes at the heart of Roman power.
Failure will mean disgrace or death, but if he should succeed, Agricola will be forever lauded among the pantheon of Rome's heroes.
“'You should be reading Simon Turney”
- Anthony Riches
Author: Kevin Quinn
Genres: Literary Fiction
A lyrical, polyphonic debut about a brother and sister growing up in a Black Pentecostal Church in Detroit, exploring themes of revelation and concealment; desire and its sublimation; and the ultimate cost of belief from a major new literary voice
Here is the perfect godly family: a stoic father, his dutiful wife, and their two children, a daughter and a son. On the surface, they are a shining example within their church—a beacon of God’s many promises. But the sister, older and more knowing than anyone suspects, quietly resists their religious context while the younger brother, not yet in middle school, appears destined for unwavering devotion—that is, if he can excise those parts of himself he fears God will not accept.
Told in tight, alternating narratives—Him, Her, and Them—Child and God captures both the intimacy of their individual selves and the fraught terrain of their shared world. What emerges is a haunting meditation on the American Black church—a testament to the beauty and terror of belief, the sanctity of family, and the profound psychological toll of devotion. At the novel’s heart is the child who is told he must be "trained in the way he should go," and the perilous cost of such training on the soul. In the literary tradition of James Baldwin and Douglas Stuart, Child and God is a searing, transcendent treatment of faith, identity, class, and sexuality.
Author: Clíodhna O’Sullivan
Genres: Young Adult Fiction
The second book in the No 1 bestselling romantasy series (Her Hidden Fire, 2)
The second book in the searing HER HIDDEN FIRE romantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of S. F. Williamson, Lynette Noni and Samantha Shannon.
What happens when a girl escapes her fate?
The hunt begins.
Éadha has narrowly escaped the cruel grip of the Master Channellers on the back of a dragon. Forced to the very edge of the world she knows, to a place of long-held secrets, she must create a new life for herself - in ways she'd never imagined.
Ionáin must come to terms with the fact that he has no power, nor did he ever. Deep into the Fodder holds, he faces the stark reality of what it means to be an enemy of the Masters, and tries to make sense of what happened with Éadha.
Gry must walk the careful balance between protecting his Family's secret legacy and being true to his feelings. With his newly revealed abilities, he must train with the Masters he despises and hope to find some way to undo the very system that makes him elite.
Told from these three perspectives, HER RISING FLAME is a whirlwind sequel of world-shattering secrets, heartache, and the terrible consequences of power.
What would you sacrifice for love?
Author: Clíodhna O’Sullivan
Genres: Genre Fiction
THE NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER!
The first book in a searing new romantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS and THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE.
If he has the ability to wield magical powers, everyone will rejoice – especially the girl who loves him. But what happens when they realize she has the gift?
Éadha (A-ya) has grown up in a deeply flawed society. In Domhain, power is drawn by elites from the life force of other, “lesser” people called Fodder. Those with this innate ability, the Channellers, have reshaped society to ensure their own high status and obscure the exploitative nature of their powers. Éadha, a lowly servant girl, is in love with her close childhood friend Ionáin, the son of the keep’s ruling family. But the fate of his family’s position rests on whether Ionáin has inherited a Channeller’s ability – everyone is tense, waiting to see the result of the assessment on his 17th birthday.
However, in a twist of fate, Éadha discovers that she herself contains this power … and Ionáin doesn’t. It’s unheard of – and dangerous – for a servant, especially a woman, to be a Channeller.
Instead, Éadha tricks everyone into believing her to be gifted only as a Keeper, a Channeller’s assistant who is less powerful but can manipulate the threads of power from Fodder. She is allowed to attend the Channeller training academy alongside Ionáin, who is – unbeknownst to him – being empowered by Éadha’s own gift. Here, she is caught up in a whirlwind of patriarchy and heartache, torn between her lifelong devotion to Ionáin and her undeniable attraction to the enigmatic Gry. She also learns a devastating lesson: the human cost of the Channellers’ power – and the lengths they will go to keep it.
“A thrilling fantasy about power and patriarchy”
- The Bookseller, featured as Book of the Month“Riveting, romantic and thought-provoking”
- The Guardian“A complex web of magic, feminism, sexual desire, Irish folklore and, of course, dragons – this will leave fans desperate for the next in the trilogy.”
- Daily Mail
Author: Miriam Mulcahy
Genres: Memoir
I want to walk through time, for days, for nights, I want every kind of walk, walks under sunsets and stars, walks of rain and storms, through howling winds and the most susurrating of breezes. I want to see, I realise, not just this kind of landscape of trees and fields and fences, I want to walk on top of mountains, over endless expanses of moor, wild reaches and spaces, I want to escape all people, I want to walk alone, I look at the horizon, and realise the foolhardy extent and scale of my ambition that has taken root and now grows within me and will not be silenced, suffocated or hemmed in - an ambition to walk completely to the edge. I need to burst through all the walls, to rise past all limits, to go right to the foot of the sky.
When she first set foot on the Beara Breifne Way, Miriam Mulcahy expected a long-distance hike that would take her across some of the most beautiful scenery in Ireland. What she found instead was a living tapestry past and present: ancient landscapes where myth and memory linger; pilgrim routes and rebel roads; quiet villages, wild coastlines, hidden valleys, and the ghostly thread that ties them all together.
Following in the footsteps of Domhnall Cam O'Sullivan Beare's fateful march in 1603, she begins her journey uncertain - of the path, of herself, of what she hopes to find. But as the miles unfurl, something shifts, and she begins to carve a line of connection in time.
This is an extraordinary story of landscape and legacy, of attention and endurance, of losing sight of yourself and finding something far better: renewal. Lyrical, reflective and quietly radical, it captures what happens when you give yourself over fully to a journey - and how, in doing so, you return changed.
“A captivating odyssey”
- Richard Nairn
Illustrator: Steven Lenton
Genres: Children’s
Join Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam for adventures full of bravery and baking... Three hilarious and highly illustrated read-aloud stories following the hijinks and sleuthing of our favourite baker dogs!
These much-loved picture book pooches appear in a new black-and-white illustrated format, ideal for children growing in confidence as readers and beginning to read alone.
Halloween at St Spectre's school brings out the cheekiest of ghosts! And who is to blame when the weather goes crazy? A power-grabbing red panda, maybe? Certainly not the raccoon gang fixing the museum's toilets ... they've got dastardly plans of their own!
Brilliant stories hilariously told by Tracey Corderoy and beautifully brought to life by Steven Lenton's illustrations.
Translator: Sung Ryu
Genres: Genre Fiction in Translation
The genre mash-up you've been waiting for - from the award-winning Korean author Cho Yeeun comes a new novel where a young girl and a teddy bear team up to enact revenge!
A poisoned city - A grieving daughter - A boy trapped in a bear's body.
When the fledgling coastal town of Yamu was rocked by a mass-poisoning attack at The Seaview Parc, the luxury high-rise meant to revitalise the city, Hwayoung was one of many who lost family members. Except she has never believed that her mother was poisoned. Now, fuelled by grief and a desire for revenge, Hwayoung spends her time hustling to save every penny and bring those responsible to justice.
Across town, Doha wakes up in a teddy bear and realizes something sinister has taken him over. When fate brings Hwayoung and Doha together, the two team up for a revenge quest that will shake the city's glittering façade to its rotten core.
This time, revenge is not just personal - it's supernatural.
Translated from the Korean by Sung Ryu.
“The perfect mix of horror and heart”
- Kylie Lee Baker, author of Bat Eater“Cho Yeeun is amazing. Insanely amazing”
- Bora Chung, author of the Midnight Timetable“The epitome of Cho Yeeun's hallmark style”
- Anton Hur, author of Toward Eternity“A grotesque, hilarious and heart-felt romp”
- Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow“Absolutely singular”
- Megan Bontrager, author of The Sea Hides its Dead“A savagely entertaining revenge tale”
- Jinwoo Park, author of Oxford Soju Club
Illustrator: Clare Vacha
Genres: Children’s
A debut picture book from outstanding new talent Clare Vacha, Joy is guaranteed to bring you just that.
Meet Joy, a mischievous little elephant, who is ‘helping’ make a cake for Nanny’s birthday. But, as is often the case with little elephants, it’s not quite that straightforward. First, she eats all the strawberries, so they have to go to the supermarket. But on the way she sees the duck pond . . . and then the park . . .
An utterly charming story about how, when little ones are involved, the smallest moments become the biggest adventures! Certain to elicit a wry smile from many a long-suffering parent or carer while it delights their young reader.
Illustrator: Steven Lenton
Genres: Children’s
Join Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam for a spooky Halloween adventure.
The dog detectives are baking for a party at a posh hotel. But a ghost thief has been robbing the hotel guests, and there's something FRIGHTfully familiar about that phantom. Can Shifty and Sam solve the mystery and save Halloween?
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
From the The Story Orchestra series, a beautifully illustrated first piano sound book! Press the keys to learn 8 famous classical tunes from the story books.
While other books in the series play famous pieces of classical music, in this new Story Orchestra format, young readers can now play the tunes themselves!
Colour and shape codes correspond to the 14 keys, so kids can learn easy 8-bar, one-finger melodies, so even the youngest child can learn to play music with this simple method. For best results, playing readers the original piece first is recommended so children can familiarise themselves with the pacing of the tune.
Each song includes an enchanting illustration and description of the part of the story that the music is telling, along with playing tips. All the favourite characters from The Nutcracker story are there to encourage young musicians as they play their first notes with the sound of a piano.
I Can Play:
The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)
The Dance of the Reed Flutes – The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)
Flight of the Swans – Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)
Dance of the Cygnets – Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)
Royal March of the Lions – The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saëns)
The Elephant – The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saëns)
The Swan – The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saëns)
Spring Dawn Chorus – The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the keys, encouraging them to explore the possibilities of making music!
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
From the The Story Orchestra series, a beautifully illustrated first piano sound book! Press the keys to learn 8 famous classical tunes from The Nutcracker as you follow the story.
While other books in the series play famous pieces of classical music, in this new Story Orchestra format, young readers can now play the tunes themselves!
Colour and shape codes correspond to the 14 keys, so kids can learn easy 8-bar, one-finger melodies, so even the youngest child can learn to play music with this simple method. For best results, playing readers the original piece first is recommended so children can familiarise themselves with the pacing of the tune.
Each song includes an enchanting illustration and description of the part of the story that the music is telling, along with playing tips. All the favourite characters from The Nutcracker story are there to encourage young musicians as they play their first notes with the sound of a piano.
I Can Play: The Nutcracker
Grandfather’s Dance
Clara’s Dream
Waltz of the Snowflakes
Russian Dance
Dance of the Reed Flutes
Waltz of the Flowers
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Finale
Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the keys, encouraging them to explore the possibilities of making music!
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Who says you need lessons to start making music? With The Story Orchestra: I Can Play: Swan Lake, every child can be the star of the show. Discover the enchanting world of Swan Lake in this interactive musical storybook – just press the keys to play Tchaikovsky’s spellbinding score!
The Story Orchestra: I Can Play: Swan Lake invites children to step into the story and make the music themselves – no lessons needed, just a sense of fun. With a built-in keyboard that sounds just like a piano and colour-coded notes on every page, children can play along as they follow the scenes from Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet.
Using a simple one-finger method, budding musicians can learn 8 short, memorable melodies from Swan Lake, building confidence as they go. With a clear colour and letter-coded system, even the youngest players can follow along independently. And when they’re ready, there’s space to get creative and compose their own tunes using the full 14-key piano.
This interactive musical book brings the world of classical music to life in a way that’s playful, imaginative and completely child-led. With storytelling at its heart, The Story Orchestra: I Can Play: Swan Lake is the perfect first piano book for children who want to explore sound, story and creativity all in one.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
From the internationally bestselling series, this board book with 6 sounds is the perfect introduction for babies and toddlers to classical music.
Discover the spellbinding magic of Swan Lake in this retelling of the classic ballet story about a swan who transforms into a graceful dancer. Children will love pressing the button on every page to hear the exceptional quality music as the story unfolds.
The My First Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for little children through illustrated retellings of classic ballets, operas and musical stories paired with 6 10-second sound clips of real orchestras playing the music.
Also available from the My First Story Orchestra Series: The Nutcracker.
Manufacturer's note: Open the white battery-case door on the back of the book. Flick the battery switch to the 'ON' position. To conserve battery, turn 'OFF' between use. Push the mesh button on each page to hear a noise. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
From the internationally bestselling series, this board book with 6 sounds is the perfect introduction for babies and toddlers to classical music.
The My First Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for little children through illustrated retellings of classic ballets, operas and musical stories paired with 6 10-second sound clips of real orchestras playing the music.
Listen to the changing seasons and watch the leaves change colour in Vivaldi's Four Seasons in One Day. Children will love pressing the button on every page to hear the music, as the story unfolds.
Also available from the My First Story Orchestra series: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Carnival of the Animals.
Manufacturer's note: Open the white battery-case door on the back of the book. Flick the battery switch to the 'ON' position. To conserve battery, turn 'OFF' between use. Push the mesh button on each page to hear a noise. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
From the internationally bestselling series, discover the magical world of Carnival of the Animals with 6 sounds – the perfect introduction to classical music for babies and toddlers.
The My First Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for little children through illustrated retellings of classic ballets, operas and musical stories paired with 6 10-second sound clips of real orchestras playing the music.
In Carnival of the Animals, hear lions roar and dinosaurs stomp – and more! – in these pieces from Camille Saint-Saëns’s much-loved suite. Children will love pressing the button on every page to hear the music, as the story unfolds.
Also available from the My First Story Orchestra series: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Four Seasons in One Day.
Manufacturer's note: Open the white battery-case door on the back of the book. Flick the battery switch to the 'ON' position. To conserve battery, turn 'OFF' between use. Push the mesh button on each page to hear a noise. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
From the internationally bestselling series, this board book with 6 sounds is the perfect introduction for babies and toddlers to classical music.
Follow Clara on a magical adventure to the Land of Sweets in this retelling of the classic ballet story. Children will love pressing the button on every page to hear the exceptional quality music as the story unfolds.
The My First Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for little children through illustrated retellings of classic ballets, operas and musical stories paired with 6 10-second sound clips of real orchestras playing the music.
Also available from the My First Story Orchestra series: Swan Lake.
Manufacturer's note: Open the white battery-case door on the back of the book. Flick the battery switch to the 'ON' position. To conserve battery, turn 'OFF' between use. Push the mesh button on each page to hear a noise. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Discover the spellbinding magic of The Mountain King in this musical retelling of Peer Gynt—push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Grieg’s score.
This tale of a boy’s adventure through the valleys and mountains of the Norwegian countryside begins at a wedding feast far, far away. Peer Gynt is bored and he’s longing for adventure. After sneaking off from the party he finds himself at a peaceful lake where he meets some dairy people. When he lies about his escapades riding reindeers through the sky, they dare him to go to the lair of the Mountain King, the king of the trolls.
The king’s halls are dark and spooky, and it isn’t long before Peer is captured. How will he escape? And will he learn the importance of humility and the value of friends?
As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the score. Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Edvard Grieg, with details about his composition of Peer Gynt. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Four Seasons in One Day.
Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Discover the sorcery of The Magic Flute in this musical retelling of the opera – push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing, and singers singing, from Mozart’s score.
This classic opera, reworked for the benefit of younger readers, tells a tale of a prince, a princess and a magic flute, which begins in a mountain ridge between two magical lands. Prince Tamino enters, chased by a dragon, but three brave mountain rangers gallop past on horseback to rescue him.
His cowardly friend Papageno comes out from his hiding place and they revive the prince. The rangers ask for one favour in return. Their boss, the Queen of the Night, asks Prince Tamino to rescue her daughter, Princess Pamina, from the evil Sun King. She gives Tamino a magic flute and Papageno some magic bells to help them.
The story follows Prince Tamino as he breaks into the Sun King’s palace, charms the court with his magic flute, and gets caught by the guards. Will the prince escape with the princess?
As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the opera’s music. Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Mozart, with details about his composition of The Magic Flute. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
Also available from the series: I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Four Seasons in One Day.
Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Discover the fairy-tale magic of Peter and the Wolf in this musical reimagining of one of Prokofiev’s most famous and classic compositions. Push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Prokofiev’s score.
Peter and the Wolf is a story about a young boy called Peter who lives with his grandfather.
His grandfather warns him about being outside because a wolf roams the woods. However, when the wolf threatens Peter’s animal friends – a duck, a bird and his grandfather's cat – he decides to ignore his grandfather's warning and save them.
As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the score. Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
The soothing natural scenes are illustrated impeccably, with sweeping greenery and orange, summery landscapes spreads across each page. Follow the adventurous Peter as he explores the woods for the first time.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Sergei Prokofiev, with details about his composition of Peter and the Wolf. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores.
Also available in the Story Orchestra series: Four Seasons in One Day, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Carnival of the Animals, The Magic Flute, In the Hall of the Mountain King, I Can Play (vol 1) and The Planets.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Follow Clara on a magical Christmas adventure in this musical retelling of The Nutcracker ballet – push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky’s original score.
It is Christmas Eve at Clara’s house. Scents of ginger, chocolate and peppermint waft through the air. Clara’s parents are having a party, and her little brother Fritz is decorating the Christmas tree. Clara’s godfather, a toymaker, arrives with gifts, including a very special one for her – a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. After Fritz breaks it, the children are sent to bed.
The story follows Clara in her dreams as she battles and defeats a mouse king, then travels with her nutcracker-turned-prince to the Land of Sweets where she watches its enchanting inhabitants perform beautiful dances. As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet’s music, including 'The Waltz of the Flowers', 'The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', 'The Russian Dance', and the awesome 'Finale'.
Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sound board at the back of the book, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with details about his composition of The Nutcracker ballet. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and Four Seasons in One Day.
Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Discover the spellbinding magic of Swan Lake in this musical retelling of the ballet – push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky’s score.
This tale of a prince, a beautiful swan princess and an evil sorcerer begins in a woodland clearing far, far away. It is Prince Siegfried’s 21st birthday. He is playing games with his friends when his mother, the Queen, arrives to tell him he needs to stop having fun and start looking after the kingdom. Prince Siegfried dreams of running away.
He follows an enchanting flock of swans to a clearing by a lake, where four of the little cygnets begin to dance. The most beautiful swan transforms into the Princess Odette, who tells him that she has been cursed to turn into a swan by day and return to her natural form at night by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart. As the prince and Odette dance, they begin to fall in love.
The story follows Prince Siegfried as he attends his birthday party, is tricked into proposing to Von Rothbart’s daughter Odile and returns to the lake to battle the evil sorcerer. Will the prince be reunited with his swan princess?
As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet’s music. Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with details about his composition of Swan Lake. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Four Seasons in One Day.
Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Discover the enchanting world of The Sleeping Beauty in this musical retelling of the ballet – push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky's score.
Join the King and Queen as they throw a party for their new baby, Princess Aurora. But when a terrible guest arrives and places a curse on princess, the kingdom must find the one special person who can defeat it… As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes illustrated by artist Jessica Courtney Tickle, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet’s music.
Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sound board at the back of the book, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with details about his composition of Swan Lake. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Four Seasons in One Day.
Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Discover what it would be like to travel through the four seasons in one day in this musical story based on the classical masterpiece The Four Seasons – push the button in each breathtaking scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Vivaldi’s score.
Follow a little girl called Isabelle and her dog, Pickle, as they take on the adventure of a lifetime. As a sign of the changing seasons, Isabelle carries a little apple tree with her, and we see it bud, blossom and lose its leaves. As you and your little one journey through the vibrant scenes illustrated by artist Jessica Courtney-Tickle, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from The Four Seasons violin concerti.
Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sound board at the back of the book, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Antonio Vivaldi, with details about his composition of The Four Seasons. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.
Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Discover the magical world of Carnival of the Animals in this musical reimagining of this celebrated suite for children – push the button in each breathtaking scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Camille Saint-Saëns’ score.
One day, two brothers discover a magical animal kingdom behind their bookcase. They are greeted by the royal lion with his shaggy mane; ask for directions from an old lonely tortoise; take a ride on some lumbering elephants; topple a skeleton of dinosaur bones; and swim among a school of shimmering fish. If only they could take them all home...
The book includes extracts from ‘The Swan’, ‘Aquarium’, ‘Fossils’, and ‘Finale’ (From Disney’s Fantasia) along with a totally new story to link the pieces together.
As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the suite’s music. At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Camille Saint-Saëns, with details about his composition of Carnival of the Animals. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Four Seasons in One Day.
Manufacturer's note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING USA BEST KIDS BOOK AWARD 2023 WINNER
This tale is about a brother and sister who adventure deep into our solar system. Our story begins one night as Helen and Tim get ready for bed in their new space rocket bunk beds… but sleep will have to wait as they magically blast up, up, up into the glittering night sky, leaving planet Earth far below them.
Helen and Tim journey here, there and everywhere through our majestic solar system. They soar past the cold rocky surface of Mars as it rises into towering peaks and plunges into deep canyons and glide through a bumpy asteroid belt made of icy rocks. They blast deeper into our solar system, exploring the dazzling stars and astounding planets along the way.
But now it really is time to head home! As the rocket speeds towards Earth, Tim and Helen watch the sun rise over their planet.
As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the score. Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Gustav Holst, with details about his composition of The Planets. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: Four Seasons in One Day, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Carnival of the Animals, The Magic Flute, In the Hall of the Mountain King and I Can Play (vol 1).
Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
Author: A. Rushby
Genres: Genre Fiction
A gothic tale in two timelines in which the lives of two women intersect through a series of mysterious, eerily beautiful photographs of the dead
London, 1865. Minnie has been sent to Culpepper House to work as a maid. She’s been told that the Culpepper twins are odd, and odd they are. Edmund and Edith seem to do as they please, with Edmund running a laboratory from the house and Edith running about with glass plates in order to create photographs. When Minnie spies what Edith is photographing—a young woman and swan, both dead—she is horrified. But with nowhere else to go, there is nothing to do but remain and try to unlock the mystery of Culpepper House’s secrets before she becomes the victim of such a photograph.
London, present day. When Sydney-based artist Hadley is involved in an art world scandal revolving around an album of exquisite Victorian death photographs, she’s met with a flurry of media attention and the offer to create an installation centering on a heartbreaking image of a young woman and a swan. Then comes a shocking offer from the enigmatic Kit Culpepper of the Culpepper Trust…an eye-watering sum of money, with the condition that Hadley sell him the album and never speak of its contents again. As Hadley digs deeper, she begins to suspect Kit Culpepper is guarding a deathly secret…and she’s not entirely sure how far he’ll go to keep it.
Illustrator: Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Genres: Children’s
Tumble into a world of magic and music in this interactive retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. With the push of a button, hear the real orchestra play as the story unfolds across the pages!
One day, Alice catches sight of a rabbit in a waistcoat, speeding past. Intrigued, she follows it down a rabbit hole . . . into a world full of drama, wonder and magic. Join Alice as she shrinks and grows, takes part in a race and is put on trial in front of the Queen of Hearts! But is it real or just a dream?
Each page features a sound button that plays one of ten enchanting 10‑second clips from an actual Royal Ballet performance, adding atmosphere and excitement to every scene.
At the back of the book, young readers can learn about composer Joby Talbot – whose celebrated score inspired the sounds in the story – and explore a child‑friendly musical glossary filled with musical words and ideas.
This interactive sound book offers children a joyful way to experience a timeless classic through the power of music – told in the beloved, bestselling Story Orchestra style.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: Four Seasons in One Day, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Carnival of the Animals, The Magic Flute, In the Hall of the Mountain King, The Planets, Peter and the Wolf, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hansel and Gretel.
MANUFACTURER’S NOTE: Please flick the on/off button at the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
Author: Niamh Mulvey
Genres: Literary Fiction
It was almost midday on the second day of our trip by the time I started feeling truly murderous towards Mother.
For sixty-year-old crime writer Pat, her mother’s relentless cruelty and self-obsession have cast a long shadow over her life. Words are Pat’s gift, but Mother’s weapon, and Pat is reaching breaking point. She’s afraid of what she might do.
And then, suddenly, Mother is gone. The spell is lifted and Pat’s life is transformed. Graham, her devoted former lover, re-enters her life, and Cynthia, the sister Pat never knew she had, appears from nowhere. But things aren’t quite right. Graham is holding his cards suspiciously close to his chest and Cynthia remains mysterious, and bears an unsettling resemblance to Mother herself.
Desperate to make sense of the shifting ground beneath her, Pat begins to write a memoir, trying to untangle her own voice from the insistent echo of her mother’s. But in a world where everyone is carrying secrets, and no one is telling the whole story, how can she hope to get close to the truth? Words are weapons, and Mother seems to be having the last word even now . . .
Sharp as a knife and impossibly stylish, Mother Made Me is a game of hidden truths. This is not a whodunit, it’s a who-knows-whodunit.