New Releases by Ian Beck

One long, hot summer Lily and Rose are playing out amongst the garden of a large country house, when they spot a strange light. It must be fairies! They are determined to catch the fairies and sneak out at sunset to find them. However, things aren''t always what they seem - will Lily and Rose be disappointed? Or perhaps what they find is magical in its own way? Based on the world-famous John Singer Sargent painting, Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose, Ian Beck brings the subjects to life and reveals an inspirational world behind the painting.

''A cracker . . . Utterly convincing'' Philip Pullman The Disappearance of Tom Pile When bright lights are spotted above a tiny village in Dorset, the locals suspect German bombers. Jack Carmody believes otherwise. He is part of a secret government department, set up to explore the supernatural and the unexplained. Then a boy – Tom Pile – is discovered, alone and scared. Tom went missing forty years ago The Miraculous Return of Annick Garel One year later two French fishermen see strange lights over the channel – and discover the body of a girl, still alive. Annick Garel drowned in a storm thirty years ago. Both children have powers that could change the course of the Second World War. Both sides in that war want their secrets These are two extraordinary stories. These are the Casebooks of Jack Carmody.

"A stranger drifting far from land... Everything on the Island of Ashes is grey. The sky, the sea, the land. Then the stranger arrives, and his every touch brings light and colour and life"... from cover.

On a bitterly cold winter''s night in 1900, a young boy disappears without trace from the forest near his home in the quiet village of Litton Cheney. He is never found, but the man he was with claims he was snatched by angels. Forty years later, Corporal Jack Carmody is sent to investigate strange reports of mysterious lights above Litton Cheney. The villagers suspect German bombers overhead, but Carmody knows there''s something far more intriguing going on. And when a terrified boy appears in the graveyard, convinced it''s the year 1900, it''s up to Carmody and his boss - the charismatic Captain Holloway - to uncover the truth.

Locked away inside a cold, stone tower for many years, the beautiful Rapunzel is desperate to escape. But is there any way out?

When a newly-qualified fairy loses the third wish of three she must deliver to a woodcutter, young Dickon finds it. There is no limit to the number of times a lost wish may be used, and soon there are sparkly cats and magic lemonade bottles all over the place Can fairy Cobweb find the wish and put a stop to Dickon''s magic?

Ian Beck''s beautiful artwork is known around the world - he has even won a prize in Japan. His books sales are over a million copies, and one of his picture books is under option for TV. Here he re-tells an essential childhood classic, with characteristic wit and charm. BLVivid illustration and distinctive design make this the most classic and attractive edition of Goldilocks currently available

Charity Delafield has grown up with her fiercely strict father, in a vast, isolated house that she is forbidden to explore. She knows very little of the outside world - or of her own family''s shadowy past. One day Charity stumbles upon the dark corridor that haunts her dreams, and suddenly she realises things aren''t what they seem.

A pampered prince who has to give up everything he has ever known. A warrior-like girl who has promised to carry out her duty at any cost. An obedient young servant with a mission to complete and an icy chill in his heart. As ancient demons rise around them and conspire to destroy their world, only these three people can defeat the evil which threatens to engulf them. But to do so they must first find a way to survive in the bitter, snowy lands where they are banished, and discover how to work together despite their differences. Only then will they be able to raise the secret armies of the hidden kingdom and fight for a new future together.

This delightful collection of mini hardback picture books contains five stories that are ideal for sharing either at home or on the go. The pack contains everything from hilarious rhymes to bedtime classics: Quentin Blake''s Mister Magnolia, Anthony Browne''s Willy and Hugh, John Prater''s Again!, The Owl and the Pussycat illustrated by Ian Beck, and Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep by Joyce Dunbar and Debi Gliori.

Tom is off on another adventure. This time he''s going on a journey to the Land of Myths and Legends to rescue his father. But first he must face many dangerous creatures such as the ferocious Norse Dragon and the Cyclops. And then there''s the hungry Minotaur waiting in the centre of the labyrinth . . .

What if Victorian London were an amusement park where the inhabitants were actors hired to entertain visitors from the twenty-first century? Now imagine if Jack the Ripper was a planned attraction gone horribly wrong. Life inside the park, Pastworld, is all Eve has ever known. But then she meets a tourist in terrible trouble. Their adventure through this dark and dangerous theme park is sure to grab teens.

Tom is off on another adventure. This time he''s going on a journey to the Land of Myths and Legends to rescue his father. But first he must face many dangerous creatures such as the ferocious Norse Dragon and the Cyclops. And then there''s the hungry Minotaur waiting in the centre of the labyrinth . . .

Following his desertion of his fellow warriors on the battlefield, a lone Samurai and his faithful dog Cho journey together. When he stops at a village, he finds that its inhabitants are plagued by an evil demon. Will the Samurai be able to defeat the demon and redeem himself in the eyes of the gods? Atmospheric myth from Japan.Myths and legends for a new generation of thrill-seekers Wide-ranging stories introduces the reader to new lands and cultures Stylish, modern jackets and stunning

It''s snowing outside and Lily goes out to play. She leaves Teddy sitting on the window legde but all of sudden, whoosh, Teddy finds himself on an adventure in the snow! Soon the snow falls harder and Teddy starts to get cold, then he realises he''s lost... Will Teddy ever find his way back to Lily again? This is a fun-packed picture book, full of adventure!

Simply told for very young children, this delightful retelling of Hans Christian Andersens''s famous fairy tale has beautiful illustrations and an irresistible ugly duckling.

Twelve-year-old Tom Trueheart, accompanied by his friend Jollity the crow, must journey to the dangerous Land of Dark Stories to rescue his brothers and their princess brides, and to try to defeat the villainous Ormestone once again.

Here is a lovely collection of five fairy tales from Ian Beck, one of our most celebrated writers and illustrators for children. Follow Little Red Riding Hood on her eventful journey to her grandmother''s cottage, join forces with the villagers who come together to pull up an enormous turnip,run as fast as you can with the Gingerbread Boy, toss and turn with the princess whose sleep is disturbed by a pea, and enjoy the pluckiness of the three little pigs as they pit their wits against a greedy wolf. Each story is told and illustrated with good humour and lightness of touch, and thenarrative is well seasoned with just the right amount of dialogue, so that the stories are great fun to read aloud.

The story of an egg, an unusual pet and an epic journey.

Once upon a time there was a mother duck who had seven little ducklings. Six of them were soft and fluffy and yellow. The seventh duckling was different . . . Simply told for very young children, this delightful retelling of Hans Christian Andersens'' famous fairy tale has beautifully atmospheric illustrations and an irresistible ugly duckling.

Stories and Songs for Bedtime is a dreamy collection from award-winning artist, Ian Beck. He has chosen a selection of soothing lullabies, sleepy rhymes, and lyrical poems to complement his own spirited retellings of such fairytale favourites as ''Beauty and the Beast'', ''The Frog Prince'', and ''Cinderella''. Each story and every verse is beautifully illustrated in its own distinct style. Taking inspiration from some of the great movements in the history of fine and applied arts, Ian Beck has created a lovely book for adults and children to share at bedtime. This is a book that is destined to become a children''s classic.

A poor shoemaker cuts out the last of his leather and leaves the pieces on his workbench ready to sew in the morning. But the next day the shoes are already finished with tiny neat stitches. Who could have done it? Soon a delighted customer buys the beautiful shoes, and pays more than usual. 3 yrs+

A prince travels the world to find a suitable princess to marry, but none of the girls he meets seems right, and he cannot be sure any is a real princess. One stormy night a girl dressed in rags comes in claiming she is Princess Phoebe. The prince is soon fascinated by her, so the queen devises a plan to find if she is a real princess.

Hans Christian Andersen''s story of the little sea princess, longing to be human, who trades her mermaid''s tail for legs to win the love of a prince who is destined to marry someone else.

It has snowed in the night! Kitten Cat is so excited that he can''t wait to investigate. But the snow is deep and very soon Kitten Cat is lost. Will he ever find his way home?

A lively and enjoyable retelling of this well-known traditional story. Ian Beck''s illustrations are reminiscent of Russian folk art, and are humorously and affectionately drawn. Ian''s picture books have sold over a million copies, and his story Lost in the Snow has been animated for television.