Maggie Downer – illustratör

This is a magical Hans Christian Andersen tale is retold for younger readers in this beautiful boardbook. Lift the flaps to see the bears and all their animal friends in their houses, and open a living room door for an even greater surprise! Special sparkly glitter on details such as lamplight, snow, Christmas toys and the decorations on the tree itself add to the festive feel. With bright illustrations to look at, and an advent calendar to open, this is sure to be a treasured gift. Follow the adventures of the little Christmas tree as he grows up in the middle of the forest and wonders where the taller trees go when they get chopped down. Just before Christmas, a family of bears find the little tree. They carefully dig him up, put him in a pot, and carry him to their home. There he is decorated with glistening glass ornaments, twinkling tinsel, and a shiny star on top. All of these details are highlighted with sparkly glitter. Open the living room door to see little tree surrounded by presents - he is a proper Christmas tree now! But what will happen when the decorations come down...? This version of The Fir Tree (1844) has been specially adapted for younger children.The original ending has been given a heartwarming lift with the addition of friendly bears and a valuable environmental message: that a Christmas tree isn't just for Christmas.

This special padded boardbook will bring the people and the animals involved in the Biblical flood to life for every young reader. The attractive pictures and straightforward narrative retell how Noah, his wife and his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth escape the deluge in a huge wooden ship. See all the wildlife they take with them on the Ark, including parrots and toucans, snails and dragonflies, rabbits and deer, foxes and wolves, and lions and tigers. This book is perfect for reading aloud to little ones, or for more confident readers to enjoy by themselves.