Usborne The World Wars

Every summer Quill and his friends are put ashore on a remote sea stac to hunt birds. But this summer, no one arrives to take them home • Surely nothing but the end of the world can explain why they've been abandoned - cold, starving and clinging to life, in the grip of a murderous ocean. How will they survive?

Dress the dolls in traditional dresses, ornate jewellery, dancing shoes and headdresses for lots of exciting festivals and carnivals around the world. There are elegant sparkly dresses, masks for a carnival in Venice, a lion costume for a New Year festival in Vietnam, outfits for Holi, Swedish midsummer, a Hungarian folk festival and much more

Little children will love seeing the world of fairies sparkle into life with the little lights in this magical novelty book. Albert the unicorn doesn't like the dark, but the fairies light the way for him and help him feel better in a heartwarming story. The number of lights gradually increases as you turn the pages, until you find ten lights at the end

Meet a girl who fights dragons, a brave warrior queen, and a daughter in search of her Samurai father... This beautifully illustrated collection brings you eight fantastic fairy tales from around the world. Full of wit, charm, compassion and courage, these heroes will inspire and empower a new generation of readers

Mysterious explosions on the surface of Mars signal the beginning of an alien invasion. Soon the ruthless creatures are terrorizing Earth with their unstoppable death rays. Can nothing prevent these merciless Martians from taking over the world? H.G. Wells' classic story of Martian invasion, vividly retold for newly independent readers

- The fascinating history of castles told for children just beginning to read growing in reading confidence and ability • - Explains in a lively way why castles were first built, what it was like to live in one, and the cunning tricks used to defend them • - Featuring the humorous illustrations of Teri Gower • - Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton • - The CD includes lively music and sound effects, and a listen along version followed by a read along version with prompts for page turns

The daring and bold adventures of King Arthur told for children growing in reading confidence and ability. When Arthur pulls a sword from a stone, he is proclaimed King of Britain. However many challenges lie ahead, including treacherous knights, a mysterious lady in a lake and a fight for his kingdom. Vividly illustrated by Peter Dennis. Usborne Young Reading has been developed with reading experts from Roehampton University • Retold by Angela Wilkes

The open door felt like an invitation, or a trap. Bastien wasn't sure which, but with no other choice, he stepped inside...and hoped he'd make it out again alive • Bastien Bonlivre is a boy with a big imagination, determined to finish the story his parents started, left to him in a red notebook • On the other side of Paris, bestselling author Olivier Odieux is struggling to complete his latest novel. Along with his villainous brothers, he is masterminding his greatest plot yet...one that will spread fear throughout the city and beyond • What connects these two stories is a dangerous secret, a hidden mystery and an unexpected race across Paris for the truth. Can Bastien and his friends Alice, Theo and Sami be brave enough to stop Olivier stealing the ending they deserve? • A classic adventure story about friendship, hope, bravery and the power of imagination

The Wind lives in the sky with his friend, the Sun. The Wind isn’t happy, and the Sun wants to help. Can the Wind learn something important? • Includes a word list, 5 pages of activities and free online audio (British English and American English)

The super funny, heart-warming adventure of three boys, one summer holiday, and a few miracles along the way, from breakout talent, Jenny Pearson, illustrated by award-winning Rob Biddulph • Freddie Yates likes facts. Just not the one staring him in the face - that his secret plan is not, in fact, secret • Because Freddie's journey wasn't meant to involve Big Trev and the onion-eating competition or the loo-exploding pear-and-potato turnovers. And Freddie definitely didn't expect to end up, with his two best friends, on national television in a supergirl costume • But journeys never take you where you think they will. And for Freddie, that fact might just have to be enough

The scarecrow would like brains, the tin man wants a heart and the lion wants to be brave, while Dorothy just wants to go home. Who can help them? The wonderful Wizard of Oz, of course! • Includes a word list, 5 pages of activities and free online audio (British English and American English)

A clear and informative account of how the Second World War began, the infamous battles and the conclusion and aftermath of the war • Illustrated with maps, evocative archive photographs and illustrations • Includes descriptions of the most famous events including Pearl Harbor, Battle of Midway, D-Day and the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki • Part of series three of the Usborne Reading Programme for children whose reading ability and confidence allows them to tackle longer and more complex information • Produced in association with the Imperial War Museum, London