BETHAN STEVENS – författare

'Do you want to improve the world? I don't think it can be done. The world is sacred. It can't be improved. If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it. If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it.' Stephen Mitchell's translation of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way) has sold over half a million copies worldwide. In this stunningly beautiful edition of the fundamental modern Taoist philosophy text, Mitchell's words are set against ancient Chinese paintings selected by Asian art expert, Dr Stephen Little.

Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, Best Illustrated Book Category in 2021.Deep in the darkest forests, under rustling leaves, live the fairies. You probably think that fairies are good, kind and sweet. Well, a lot of them are. These helpful fairies take care of the forest and they're happy to do it. But I'm sorry to tell you that some of the fairies, particularly the littlest ones, are GRUMPY.I meanproper grumpy. I mean foot-stompy, frowny, bottom-lip-sticking-outy kind of grumpy.I mean ‘it’s just one of those days’ grumpy.But these grumpy fairies better watch out. There's a goblin about, and grumpy fairies happen to be a goblin's favourite food…Characterful illustrations transport readers to the animal-filled world of the fairy's forest, and easy to read text is perfect for young readers.This wonderful, funny debut will bring a smile to the smallest (and grumpiest) of children.

This clever and funny inversion on a classic fairytale from award-winning author Bethan Stevens tells the laugh-out-loud story of a damsel who does not need saving!Once upon a time, hidden deep in a valley in a magical land far away, there was a very tall tower.And trapped at the very top of that very tall tower there was a damsel . . .In distress!The only problem is, the damsel is not in distress. She keeps telling the narrator that she's perfectly fine. The "terrifying beasts" in the moat are a family of ducklings. The "prickly brambles" are her rose garden. And the "wicked old witch" is actually her grandma!But the narrator just won't listen. When a scary, fire-breathing dragon comes to visit, it's up to the damsel to take charge of her story and save the day for everyone. Characterful illustrations transport readers to the magical world of the damsel's kingdom, and easy to read text is perfect for young readers.This funny follow-up to the prize-winning Grumpy Fairies is perfect for any young damsel—or prince charming—who wants to be the hero of their own story.

*Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, Best Illustrated Book Category 2021*On the sleepiest of nights, when the air is still and the moon is full, the conditions are just right… for WITCHES TO TAKE FLIGHT!And among all these terribly wicked, cackling witches, is one… who is actually, surprisingly quite nice!This little witch doesn’t enjoy being wicked like the others. Not one little bit. She doesn’t like creating mischief, she doesn’t like making a mess and she definitely doesn’t like any naughtiness!The other witches decide that the littlest witch needs rescuing from all this icky, gooey goodness! It’s time for some lessons in wickedness, and the best way to do that is by making a completely terrible and utterly awful potion…!Will our little witch leave her kind and gentle ways behind her and join in the wickedness? Or will she persuade her fellow witches that actually, being wicked isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?This playful take on spooky witches from the award-winning Bethan Stevens takes readers to a magical world of wickedness and kindness. This is the wonderfully funny follow-up to the prize-winning Grumpy Fairies and the fairytale twist A Damsel Not in Distress.