Most Popular Books by Brian Sibley

Author Brian Sibley explores how Pooh got his name, how A.A. Milne came to write the stories, and how Ernest H. Shepard came to draw them.

Two veteran writers collaborate on this fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the journey that took the “practically perfect” nanny from the pages of P. L. Travers’s beloved novels to the stage. Well-known British writer and radio personality Brian Sibley tells Mary Poppins’s story, from her obscure origins in Travers’s Australian childhood and her progress through the series of books Travers began to write in 1934, to her incarnation by Julie Andrews in one of the most successful Disney films of all time, to her long-awaited landing onstage in London’s West End. A long-time friend of Travers and co-writer with her of an unproduced sequel to the film, Sibley offers unique insights into the idiosyncratic author’s complex relationship to her heroine, and the decades-long series of proposals and negotiations that finally resulted in Disney Theatrical Productions joining forces with the Cameron Mackintosh Theatrical Group to realize Travers’s stories as a spectacular work of musical theater. Sibley’s details the entire development process of the show’s script, music, choreography, and design, culminating in a glorious opening night on December 15, 2004 in London’s Prince Edward’s Theatre, as Mary Poppins is met by cheering sold-out houses and critical raves. In the book’s second half, Michael Lassell gives a fascinating backstage account of the show’s transfer to Broadway, including the show’s American casting and important changes to its book, lyrics, and designs, as the creative team strives to “plus” Poppins to perfection.

Discusses the making of the movie trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien''s "The Lord of the Rings," covering topics including filming locations, special effects, costumes, battle scenes, characters, and music.

The stories of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends have delighted generations of children and adults, but what do we know of the man who created them? A devoted pastor and family man, the Reverend W Awdry first started telling the stories in order to amuse his own children, with no idea that the characters would lead to a global phenomenon that now, seventy years after their first appearance, shows no signs of waning. In this fascinating and warm biography, prolific author Brian Sibley brings to life one of the most eminent children''s writers of the twentieth century, tracing his story from his Edwardian childhood through his time at University and into World War 2. A convinced pacifist, Awdry was thrown out of one curacy and denied another, because of his beliefs. Never afraid to fight for what he thought was right, he argued with his publishers and his illustrators, demanding the best for his favourite creations - the trains and their friends.

The first complete story of Mickey Mouse, from his conception in 1928 to the present, covering all aspects of his life and career. 100 color and 50 black-and-white illustrations.

This is an exploration of the life of C.S.Lewis and his writing of the Narnia books. It looks in detail at the geography and creatures of Narnia and the theme behind the stories, and the illustrations provided for this book by the Narnia illustrator, Pauline Baynes, are accompanied by the original map and frontispieces.

Authorised and fully illustrated insight into the life and career of the award-winning director, from his childhood film projects up to King Kong, together with Jackson''s revealing personal account of his six-year quest to film The Lord of the Rings.

An authorized introduction to the forthcoming film trilogy includes production stills, star and filmmaker biographies, and a behind-the-scenes examination of the making of the Tolkien world.

Experience the unlikely love story of C.S. Lewis, an Oxford scholar and distinguished author, and Joy Davidman, a Jewish-American divorcee, mother of two, and converted Christian.

Packed with behind-the-scenes photographs and exclusive interviews with cast and crew, and personally signed by author Brian Sibley, this limited edition hardback of only 1,500 copies worldwide tells the detailed story of the making of the final film in the award-winning Hobbit trilogy.Journey deeper into the magical world of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, through exclusive interviews with director Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom and principal filmmakers and cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch, who reveals film-making secrets about playing both the evil Necromancer and the dragon, Smaug.Richly illustrated with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos of the actors, locations, creatures and costumes, this special collector''s edition hardback is an essential guide to the final film in the award-winning trilogy.''In our adaptation of The Hobbit we have done something that Tolkien didn''t succeed in doing in print and, hopefully, this will come fresh to people who will have never seen the full story playing out in chronological order.''PETER JACKSON

This guide covers the making of all eight of the Harry Potter films. It is packed with information about the cast, crew, props and locations of each film, together with behind-the-scenes photographs and pullouts such as the marauder''s map and the Weasleys'' Wizard Wheezes product catalogue.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS AND THE MAKING OF THE CLASSIC FILM

For the 90th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, a sequel featuring new stories and a new character from the Hundred Acre Wood. Now a New York Times Bestseller. The Trustees of the Pooh Properties have commissioned four authors to write in the timeless style of A.A. Milne to create a quartet of charming new adventures for Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall: take a trip back to the Hundred Acre Wood with a collection of tales sure to delight year-round. One story finds Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet on a quest to discover the "Sauce of the Nile" (they suspect it''s apple). And in another, all the animals rally around poor Eeyore when he thinks he sees another donkey eyeing his clover. The winter story features a new penguin character, based on a stuffed toy owned by Christopher Robin Milne himself. Readers of all ages will love rediscovering old friends and making new ones in this essential new volume of Pooh stories. The book feature beautiful color artwork in the style of Ernest H. Shepard by Mark Burgess.

Enter Bilbo Baggins’ world through exclusive interviews with director Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and all the principal cast and filmmakers, who share film-making secrets and tales of what it was actually like making movie magic in Middle-earth. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos of the actors, locations, sets, creatures and costumes, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Official Movie Guide has been produced in collaboration with the filmmakers who have brought J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novel into breathtaking three-dimensional life.

Journey deeper into the magical world of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, through exclusive interviews with director Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, Orlando Bloom and principal filmmakers and new cast members, including Stephen Fry as the Master of Lake-town, Evangeline Lilly, who plays Tauriel the Elf, and Benedict Cumberbatch, who reveals film-making secrets about playing the dragon, Smaug. Richly illustrated with a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes photos of the actors, creatures and costumes, and numerous special effects scenes, this essential guide is an indispensable companion to the second film in the award-winning trilogy.

Available together for the first time in a single hardback volume, J.R.R. Tolkien''s maps of The Hobbit, Beleriand, Middle-earth and Númenor - re-illustrated by John Howe - are presented as full colour foldout posters and accompanied by a richly detailed text by Brian Sibley. This new hardback edition of THE MAPS OF MIDDLE-EARTH presents J.R.R. Tolkien''s maps of Wilderland, Beleriand and Middle-earth, together with a unique map of the island-kingdom of Númenor, as featured in Amazon Prime''s THE RINGS OF POWER. Each poster-sized foldout map has been re-imagined in full colour by John Howe, the world-renowned Tolkien artist who has worked on Peter Jackson''s Academy Award-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Rings of Power TV series as well as the forthcoming Warner Bros animated film, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The maps are accompanied by a fascinating and authoritative, fully illustrated 160-page text written by Brian Sibley, author of the Sunday Times bestselling THE FALL OF NúMENOR and leading expert on THE LORD OF THE RINGS (he adapted the work for the acclaimed 1981 BBC radio dramatisation), which recounts the story behind each map and provides a richly detailed glossary of every name, place and event. Designed to complement the growing range of hardback editions of J.R.R. Tolkien''s work, this brand new edition is the perfect companion for every fan wishing to learn more about the world of Tolkien''s Middle-earth.

This superb full-color map will take fantasy fans straight to the heart of J.R.R. Tolkien''s mythical world of Middle-Earth. Redrawn by artist John Howe, from the original map created by Christopher Tolkien, the poster-sized 28" x 29" map is decorated with scenes from The Lord of the Rings and is accompanied by a 24-page, illustrated explanatory booklet.

Before Middle Earth there was Beleriand, the setting of the great War of the Jewels which took place 7000 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings. This is a full colour, fold-out poster map of Beleriand, with a booklet about the territory

Written by the writer and broadcaster Brian Sibley, this slipcase features Tolkien''s maps of The Hobbit, Beleriand and Middle-earth. Each map is presented in a box-set illustrated by Tolkien artist John Howe, the conceptual artist employed by Peter Jackson to work on his Lord of The Rings film trilogy. The maps, presented with individual books and wallets show Tolkien''s mythical lands in detail - they are also bound with fewer folds, making them suitable for portfolios or framing.

Celebrate The Best Bear in all the World with this 100th Anniversary range''s paperback edition of the official sequel to the beloved classic children''s stories by A.A.Milne. With brand-new stories from some of the most beloved children''s authors writing today: Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Kate Saunders and Jeanne Willis - each transports you back into the Hundred Acre Wood for more adventures with Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and the rest of the beloved gang. This 100th anniversary range''s paperback edition features gorgeous illustrations by Mark Burgess, in the style of the cherished decorations by E.H.Shepard. This book will delight fans of the classic originals old and new. The short stories are perfect for bedtime reading with ages five and up. Do you own all the classic Pooh titles? Winnie-the-Pooh The House at Pooh Corner When We Were Very Young Now We Are Six Return to the Hundred Acre Wood The Best Bear in All the World Once There Was a Bear The nation''s favourite teddy bear has been delighting generations of children for over 95 years. Milne''s classic children''s stories - featuring Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin and, of course, Pooh himself - are gently humorous while teaching lessons about friendship and kindness. Pooh ranks alongside other beloved character such as Paddington Bear, and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage. Whether you''re 5 or 55, Pooh is the bear for all ages.

The story of C. S. Lewis''s life with Joy Davidman, his terminally ill wife.

Chronicles the evolution of the art, business, and output of the Walt Disney Company, also examines characters, animations, and films

This version is illustrated with 100 drawings made for a Disney animated film that never went into production, and the text itself contains revisions made by Carroll shortly before his death. A detailed afterword about the illustrations and a subsequent D