Booklists

Some of Aesop's best-loved stories are retold simply in this easy-to-read, language-rich and delightfully illustrated book. The hare, tortoise, crow, ant, dove, fox, stork, mouse, dog and lion, all have lessons to teach us.

Two traditional tales from Europe and North America retold in simple language.

Billy's mum says he must never go out through the garden gate and explore the dark forest beyond. So, one day, that's exactly what he does!

The Church Mice are involved in one of their madcap schemes to earn money by entering Sampson in cat shows. Unfortunately, Sampson gets kidnapped by a couple of criminals on a tandem bike and the mice have to go to his rescue.

The church mice become stowaways but things go wrong when they find themselves stranded, alone, miles from home. The weather breaks and they almost give up hope of getting back until they find a fossil which holds the answer.

A beautiful collection of twelve, well-known classic fairytales from a wide range of cultures.

Feisty typically describes one who is relatively small, lively, determined and courageous. Girls can rescue themselves - just watch Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Thumbelina use their talents and brains to problem-solve their way out of some tricky situations.

The retelling of eight popular fairy tales, with colourful illustrations, including Jack and the Beanstalk, The Princess and the Pea, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Puss in Boots to name just a few.

A twist on a traditional fairy tale a princess of colour who saves the prince.

Two traditional tales that combine humour and horror.

The classic fairytales retold using modern, colloquial language that is descriptive and interesting.

Little Frisky Mouse finds room for everyone in his house until Rumbling-Bumbling Bear comes along. Someone has stolen Hare's house and Hare can't find anyone to help him get it back. A children's classic.

Classic Dr Seuss rhyming book with an environmental message. The Lorax tries to warn the Once-ler of the dangers of destroying all of the truffula trees.

With his attempts at home decorating, detective work and photography, the Brown family soon find that Paddington causes his own particular brand of chaos.

Mowser, the cat, lives at the far end of England in a town called Mousehole, with Old Tom, the fisherman. They lead a very pleasant life until the day they have to brave the Storm-Cat to bring food to the children at Christmastime.

Eccentric Mr Bliss, a man notable for his immensely tall hats and the girabbit in his garden, takes the whimsical decision to buy a motor car. But, his first drive to visit friends quickly becomes a catalogue of disasters. Some of these could be blamed on Mr Bliss's style of driving but even he could not anticipate being hijacked by three bears.

The story of a clever but unlucky Greek hero who just wants to get home. But, fate has other ideas.

Lively retellings of sixteen famous myths for young readers.

Two traditional tales retold.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

When Paddington starts to make a list of all the nice things he can think of about being a bear and living with the Browns he is sure to include the garden.

A modern adaptation of the little mermaid's story translated from the Japanese and beautifully illustrated by award winning animation director, Hayao Miyazaki. Sosuke, a young boy, lives high on a cliff overlooking the sea and rescues a little fish he calls Ponyo. Ponyo becomes a real girl and they are firm friends until her sorcerer father forces her to return to the sea. But, Sosuke's heart is pure and true and brave.

Picture book version of Twain's classic, the fictional account of England's Edward VI and his adventures when he swaps roles with a poor boy.

The Quangle Wangle Quee is a tree-dwelling creature obscured by an enormous hat. He is lonely, but not for long. One animal after another sees the hat as a possible home in this classic poem.

Deep in the Australian bush, Bottersnikes live in rubbish heaps along dusty roadsides. They have green, wrinkly skin, cheese grater noses and long, pointy ears that go red when they're angry, which is most of the time. Giggling Gumbles are cheerful little creatures who can be squashed into all sorts of shapes. They can't pop back into their proper shape unless helped. This makes the friendly Gumbles useful to the lazy Bottersnikes, who have some very nasty tricks planned.

A magical watery world is created for the princess, a hippopotamus, to fall asleep in, in this revised classic.

Two traditional tales retold.

A quirky anthology from playground rhymes to Shakespeare, including new, old, multicultural, funny, sad, thoughtful, short, long and classic poems.

Thor, son of Odin and god of thunder and lighting might be the bravest warrior in all of Asgard but there are many that will still challenge him. In these retellings of three classic Thor stories, Thor must use all of his wits and his strength to defeat an angry giant, a sea serpent, dangerous frost giants and on top of all that, contend with his mischievous step-brother Loki's tricks. A great first introduction to Norse mythology for young readers.

Ping, the hero of this classic, is a rebellious little duck. On a day almost like any other, Ping is accidentally left behind. Undaunted, Ping heads out onto the Yangtze in search of his family, finding friends and adventures around every bend.

The first adventure in a series of children's classics, tells of Babar, elephant extraordinaire. We discover how Babar lost his mother, lived among men and was crowned King of Elephants.

Ferdinand is mistaken for a fierce bull when he is stung by a bee. In this classic tale, it turns out that Ferdinand would much rather smell the flowers than take on the bullfighter.

A whimsical, ancient tale that clearly reveals the agony and ecstasy of pasta power. It has become a children's classic.

A retelling of the Chinese folk tale about a boy who falls down a well and nearly drowns because his brother struggles with his tongue-twister name. It has become a children's classic.

By the time the Velveteen Rabbit is dirty, worn out, and about to be burned, he has almost given up hope of ever finding the magic that will make him real. A classic about the miracle of love.

Thirty selections from Aesop's classic fables presented in a way that shows the tales are entertaining in their own right, and not merely for the message that shines out from between the lines.

A superb adaptation of Dorothy's adventures for newly independent readers. Enjoy Dorothy's journey in Oz, as she travels along the yellow brick road with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion, before coming safely home again.

The Yark eats children. But not any old children. He only likes to eat the good, sweet ones. Naughty children make him terribly ill. But one night he meets Madeleine and even though she is delightfully well behaved, he finds he would rather be her friend. Can The Yark avoid eating Madeleine?