Jessica Courtney Tickle – illustratör

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.

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.

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.

A tender, moving and joyous story from one of our nation's premier poets, John AgardFrom above earth, from above sky,from below earth, from under water,come all you little personscome exactly as you are.Come little bird person, come little bee person, come little tree person - little persons from all over the world join together to celebrate the dance of life and love in this stunning poem from John Agard. Stunningly illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle, this is a book that both little persons and big persons will treasure and pore over for a lifetime, and is a true poem of our time.'A lyrical collaboration . . . a joyful, tender dance, celebrating people, places and the glory of existence.' Guardian'This book is a celebration of childhood and the natural world in all its rich diversity.' BookTrust

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.

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.

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.

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 title, 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 series 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!

*GOOD HOUSEKEEPING USA BEST KIDS BOOK AWARD 2023 WINNER*Discover the spellbinding magic of The Planets in this musical reimagining of one of Holst’s most famous suites.Push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Holst’s score.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.

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.

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.

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.

Discover the spellbinding magic of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in this musical reimagining of Mendelssohn’s most famous suites – push the button in each scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Mendelssohn’s score.This story takes us to Athens where the Duke and Queen are to be married. However, not everyone is as happy, and on one midsummer's night, mischievous fairies, lively actors and young lovers get caught up in a series of pranks and events in the nearby woods. As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes of Shakespeare's most beloved and comedic play, press the buttons on each page to hear 10 excerpts from the incidental 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, Felix Mendelssohn, with details about his composition of A Midsummer Night's Dream. 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 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), The Planets and Peter and the Wolf.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.

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.

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.Guardian: ‘a lively retelling, enriched by Jessica Courtney Tickle’s luscious illustrations – each spread is like an illuminated garden’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.

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 NutcrackerGrandfather’s DanceClara’s DreamWaltz of the SnowflakesRussian DanceDance of the Reed FlutesWaltz of the FlowersDance of the Sugar Plum FairyFinaleReaders should press firmly on the pages to activate the keys, encouraging them to explore the possibilities of making music!

Step into a forest filled with music and magic in this thrilling retelling of Hansel and Gretel, inspired by the enchanting sounds of Humperdinck’s opera. With the push of a button, hear the real orchestra play as the story unfolds across the pages!On the edge of the woods live little Hansel and Gretel with their parents. One day, they are sent into the woods to pick strawberries, but what they discover is far more exciting than berries. Deep among the trees, they stumble upon a house made entirely of sweets. It looks delicious... but someone is watching from inside! Can the siblings outwit the clever old woman who lives there and find their way home?  Discover what happens next in this magical retelling of the famous Grimms' fairy tale. This interactive musical adventure features ten sound buttons that bring the story to life with real orchestral music. At the end of the book, discover more about the composer, learn how each piece of music works, and dive into a fun glossary filled with musical words and ideas.With its irresistible mix of storytelling, music and discovery, The Story Orchestra: Hansel and Gretel is a magical gift for curious children and a joyful way to explore the wonder of classical music.--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), The Planets, Peter and the Wolf and A Midsummer Night's Dream. 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.

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.