New Releases by Dodie Smith

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction. I Capture the Castle, a Level 4 Reader, is A2+ in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, introducing more complex uses of present perfect simple, passives, phrasal verbs and simple relative clauses. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear regularly. The poor Mortmain family move to an old castle. Mr Mortmain''s daughter Rose wants a rich husband. Her sister, Cassandra, wants to be a writer like her father. But when the Mortmains meet their two rich neighbours, Simon and Neil Cotton, both Rose and Cassandra have their lives changed forever.

A gift edition of this classic tale of pups and villains, with vibrant illustrations by the award-winning Alex T Smith, creator of Claude. ''As comforting as hot buttered toast'' - Guardian THE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS When dastardly Cruella De Vil steals a whole litter of Dalmatian puppies to make a new fur coat, the puppies'' parents, Pongo and Missus, lose no time in mounting a daring rescue mission. Will they be in time to thwart Cruella''s evil scheme, or have they bitten off more than they can chew? THE STARLIGHT BARKING There''s a Dalmatian in Number 10 Downing Street. But when strange things start happening, Pongo and his family are in a race against time to save London ... and the world.

The long-forgotten sequel to The Hundred and One Dalmatians, the classic adapted by Disney, presents a thrilling adventure for Pongo and his family. As the story opens, every living creature except dogs is gripped by an enchanted sleep. One of the original Dalmatian puppies, all grown up since the first novel, is now the Prime Minister’s mascot. Relying on her spotted parents for guidance, she assumes emergency leadership for the canine population of England. Awaiting advice from Sirius, the Dog Star, dogs of every breed crowd Trafalgar Square to watch the evening skies. The message they receive is a disturbing proposition, one that might forever destroy their status as “man''s best friend.” Includes lavish illustrations by the same artist team as The Hundred and One Dalmatians.

"Während ich das hier schreibe, sitze ich im Spülbecken", lautet ein Eintrag in Cassandra Mortmains Tagebuch. Die 17-Jährige lebt mit Vater, Stiefmutter, Schwester und Bruder in einem heruntergekommenen Schloss auf dem Land und langweilt sich. Zum Zeitvertreib übt sie sich im Schreiben, und das am liebsten über ihre unkonventionelle verarmte Künstlerfamilie: den Schriftsteller-Vater, dessen erster Roman sich grandios verkauft hat, der aber seither unter einer Schreibblockade leidet und sich in Kriminalromane vergräbt, die einst glamouröse Model-Stiefmutter, die mit Vorliebe nackt durch die Landschaft spaziert, die schöne, aber meist missmutige Schwester Rose und den kleinen, aber schlauen Bruder Thomas. Dann stirbt überraschend der Schlossbesitzer, und als die Erben, zwei amerikanische Gentlemen, auftauchen, nimmt das Leben der Familie eine unerwartete Wendung.

Celebrate the festive season with your favourite Disney and Disney Pixar characters! This beautiful storybook collection brings the magic of Christmas to life with 160 pages of full-colour illustrations. Follow Bambi as he discovers joy amidst the wintery forest, and join Mickey and Pluto as they lend Santa a helping hand. Fly downhill on a sledge with Lightning McQueen and Mater, and hear how Rapunzel and Flynn spend their first Christmas together. This enchanting volume of eight yuletide stories is perfect for reading aloud at Christmastime.

Conhecida e renomada pelo filme da Disney, Os 101 dálmatas é uma história clássica de 1956 que ainda tem muito a contar. A aventura se inicia quando os dálmatas Pongo e Missis – cachorros dos humanos de estimação sr. e sra. Clemente – partem em busca de seus filhotes perdidos. Enquanto o sr. Clemente anuncia o desparecimento em jornais e acalma a esposa e as duas babás, Pongo fareja o sequestro de seus filhotes. Astuto, ele suspeita de Cruella DeMonyo. Nessa história, a habilidade, a lealdade e a amizade caninas dão provas de que não só os humanos são racionais.

Get a first look at the books coming this fall from Wednesday Books! Includes sample chapters from beloved authors Lily Anderson, P.C. Cast, Amanda Hocking, and more!

Två dalmatiner och så kanske några valpar, det var vad herr och fru Dearly hade tänkt sig från början. Missis och Pongo är ett stiligt hundpar, och valparna är bedårande när de anländer, trots att de är hela femton stycken! Och så är det ju Perdita förstås, den övergivna dalmatinertiken som fru Dearly tagit hand om. Så nu är det allt som allt arton hundar hemma hos Dearlys. Det är då den ondskefulla Cruella de Vil knackar på. Hon som alltid bär päls, sover i hermelinlakan och vars make är pälshandlare. I samma stund som hon får syn på de vackra hundarna så får hon sin fruktansvärda idé att man kan tillverka unika pälsverk av dalmatinernas skinn! När Cruella helt fräckt stjäl alla femton valpar ger sig Pongo och Missis ut på en farlig jakt efter sina små ungar. Det är en kamp mot klockan. Runtom i hela England har det försvunnit dalmatinervalpar och panikslagna mattar och hussar letar desperat, precis som Dearlys. Det gör i sin tur Cruella desperat om det ska bli några pälsar, måste valparna dödas innan någon hittar dem! Boken utkom första gången 1956 i England, och har sedan dess tryckts i många upplagor.Historien har också blivit både animerad film och spelfilm. B. Wahlströms moderna klassiker är både älskade böcker som kanske fallit i glömska och böcker som aldrig riktigt lämnat läsarnas medvetande. De riktar sig till både de äldre och yngre bokslukarna, till de som läser på egen hand och de som läser tillsammans med en vuxen.

From the author of I Capture the Castle comes a delightful, funny tale of complicated sibling relationships, friendship, and forbidden love, set in 1970s England Suspecting her husband, George, of dalliances in the city, May decides it is high time the family moved to the country. Determined to create the perfect home there, she finds an idyllic country house set in a lilac grove and sets about furnishing it properly and cooking enormous meals. She even manages to convince her less well-off sister, June, to move into a cozy cottage on the grounds with her husband Robert. This new set-up is very much a family affair as June''s husband Robert just happens to be George''s brother: the two sisters are married to two brothers. At first both families seem to be settling in well, sharing delicious meals and having fun times together. Their grown-up children, Hugh and Corinna, visit from London and there even seems to be a hint of romance in the air for them, while the surviving grandparents from both sides of the family move into the big house and forge new friendships. But the arrival of a cantankerous great aunt will reveal the cracks in the family''s tangled relationships and will even threaten to unveil the greatest secret of all—while May thought moving George to the country would put a stop to his affairs, he has begun to fall in love with his sister-in-law, June. The death of a beloved character will, however, turn the tables again and lead to the ultimate, happy, denouement.

Un régal de lecture à ne surtout pas manquer, un livre qui se vit autant qu''il se lit! ''Cassandra, un des personnages les plus charismatiques que j''aie jamais rencontrés'' (J. K. Rowling). ''Irrésistible de drôlerie et de sensibilité'' (Tatiana de Rosnay). ''Adolescente, je l''ai dévoré comme un plaisir défendu. Le relisant à l''âge adulte, je vois tout le génie qu''il y a derrière cette narration si fluide et simple, cette voix si captivante'' (Penelope Lively).

Cassandra ha diciassette anni e da grande farà la scrittrice. Intanto si esercita tenendo un diario, custode dei segreti di una famiglia stravagante. I Mortmain vivono in un incantevole castello in rovina. Sono praticamente sul lastrico. Il padre è un eccentrico scrittore in crisi d''ispirazione, sposato in seconde nozze con Topaz, modella che ha la passione del nudismo. Rose, sorella grande di Cass, è molto bella e molto decisa a sposare un uomo ricco. Poi ci sono i ragazzi: Thomas, il fratello piccolo, e Stephen, il bellissimo figlio della governante, innamorato di Cass. La vita dei Mortmain cambia per sempre all''arrivo dei vicini di casa, che sono anche i proprietari del castello: americani, ricchissimi, allegrissimi. Per Rose è un''occasione da non perdere; per Cass l''inizio di una straordinaria avventura di sentimenti nient''affatto ragionevoli

Pongo lives happily with his human pets Mr and Mrs Dearly in a large house in Regent''s Park. When his wife Missis produces a litter of fifteen beautiful pups, life seems wonderfully complete. But the mysterious disappearance of the puppies suddenly throws everything into turmoil. Pongo, one of the keenest brains in Dogdom, quickly realises that he and Missis are the only hope for their youngsters'' survival. And so the fearless pair set out on a bleak winter''s journey into great dangers, helped along the way by the gallant Colonel, a sheepdog of the Old School. Dodie Smith''s canine classic brought pleasure to millions as a Disney film. All its original charm and warmth are fully evident here in this full-cast dramatisation which stars Patricia Hodge as Cruella de Vil, along with Joan Sims, Brenda Blethyn, Nicky Henson and Polly James.

From the author of I Capture the Castle and The Hundred and One Dalmatians, an unusual adventure in which humour and more than a touch of strangeness are inextricably blended. When Jane Minton arrives at Dome House as a secretary-housekeeper, she finds herself sharing the comfortable country home of four attractive young people. Their charming widower father, Rupert Carrington is too occupied with his London business to see very much of them. Richard, the eldest, is a composer; Clare, whose true talents (if they can be called that) have not yet disclosed themselves, dreams of courtly romance; Drew is collecting material for a novel; and Merry, still at school, has her heart set on a stage career. Jane is warmly welcomed into this happy household and feels her luck is too good to be true. However, the private world of Dome House is fated to break up as Rupert flees England under threat of prosecution for fraud. He asks Jane to break the news to the children, who must now fend for themselves, and to do what she can to help them. However, the Carringtons are extremely unusual young people and the story of the eclectic choices they make next is an absorbing and unpredictable one.

During a summer festival in an English spa town Miles Quentin, a distinguished actor, and his devoted wife become friendly with the local MP Geoffrey Thornton, and his young daughters Robin and Kit. All of these attractive, intelligent and busy people seem untroubled at first. But the surface of their lives conceals problems which start to come to light after the Quentin''s return to their London theatre world and the Thornton''s to their Westminster home. This leads to an unconventional love story in which loyalty may prove more important than love. It Ends with Revelations deals with complex issues of love and commitment, while retaining elements of the light hearted comedy of I Capture The Castle and the nostalgic charm of The Town in Full Bloom. As ever, the vivacity of Dodie Smith''s writing and the warmth of her characters will keep readers guessing until the last page.

A determined young Lancashire girl arrives in London intent on a stage career - this tale from the author of I Capture the Castle is told with the candour and authenticity that derives from Dodie Smith''s own experience of the theatre world. Mouse never did fully suit her nickname. Tiny she may have been, but timid never. After less than twenty-four hours in London she had bluffed her way into an audition at a famous theatre, infuriated its forceful young stage director, and amused its kind if quite amoral actor-manager. She had finally landed not a part but a toehold as a junior secretary. During her involvement in the engrossing affairs of the Crossway Theatre she met her friends Molly, a baby-faced six-footer; and elegant, ambitious Lilian, who was fated to clash disastrously with Mouse. Later, there was also Zelle, rich, generous, enigmatic, and responsible for an outing to Suffolk village pageant which proved a turning point for them all. Life was always surprising the fearless Mouse: when she unexpectedly got to a chance to act she made an unforgettable impression, though not the one she had intended. However, nothing prepared her for the assault of first love, highly unsuitable, but welcomed by her in a way which was to have far-reaching consequences. Only when she looks back after a reunion luncheon does she realise the full effects of that shared summer on her friends and herself. A startlingly frank yet nostalgic read, this is a charming novel about coming of age and the healing effects of time.

To mark the publication of Stop What You''re Doing and Read This!, a collection of essays celebrating reading, Vintage Classics are releasing 12 limited edition themed ebook ''bundles'', to tempt readers to discover and rediscover great books. I CAPTURE THE CASTLE ''I write this sitting in the kitchen sink'' is the first line of this timeless, witty and enchanting novel about growing up. Cassandra Mortmain lives with her bohemian and impoverished family in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere. Her journal records her life with her beautiful, bored sister, Rose, her fadingly glamorous stepmother, Topaz, her little brother Thomas and her eccentric novelist father who suffers from a financially crippling writer''s block. However, all their lives are turned upside down when the American heirs to the castle arrive and Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the first time... THE SECRET GARDEN Mary Lennox is an orphan who is sent to live with her uncle at gloomy Misselthwaite Manor. Neglected and lonely, she begins to explore her new home and learns of a secret garden that her uncle has forbidden anyone to enter. A friendly robin shows Mary the key to the garden and she discovers a world she could never have imagined... The Secret Garden has enchanted generations of children and adults alike.

Reissue of this lost classic from an instantly recognised name in children''s literature. Twins Pam and Tom embark on a night time adventure, when 4 mysterious kittens appear at midnight to drink the milk they''ve left out for the hedgehogs.

Il romanzo originale dal quale sono stati tratti il cartone animato e poi il film. Pubblicato per la prima volta nel 1956, continua a incantare generazioni di bambini. Una vera e propria rivelazione per gli amanti del film Disney.

Histórias infantis clássicas e de aventuras selecionadas para atender aos gostos de meninos e meninas. Encantamento e aventura numa mesma coleção.

Revis l''aventure tendre et captivante du film les 101 Dalmatiens ! Le récit intégral du film est agrémenté de superbes illustrations originales.

Pongo the Dalmatian and his wife Missis undertake a daring expedition to rescue their fifteen puppies from the clutches of the vicious Cruella de Vil.

The adventures of the puppies from Disney''s dalmatians.