Most Popular Books by James Mayhew

Imagine if art could come to life! That''s what happens when Katie steps into some of the world''s greatest Impressionist paintings. And where Katie goes, adventure is never far behind! Katie discovers the true magic of Impressionist art in this addition to James Mayhew''s Katie series!Katie and her grandmother are visiting the art museum. While admiring a painting of a beautiful garden, Katie is certain she can smell the flowers. Sure enough, when she opens her eyes, she is inside the painting! Join Katie as an ordinary day at the museum turns into a special gift for her grandmother''s birthday.

The stars in Vincent van Gogh''s painting are so beautiful that Katie can''t resist reaching in and taking one. But what will she do when all the other stars come tumbling out of the painting, too? Will Katie be able to catch the stars before the gallery guard notices they''ve floated away? Features five Van Gogh masterpieces: The Starry Night; Noon; Vincent''s Chair; Fishing Boats on the Beach; The Olive Grove. James Mayhew created Katie as a way to make art accessible to all children. 2014 will be the 25th anniversary of the very first Katie title, Katie''s Picture Show. He has been bringing art to life for over twenty years and is a much-loved author/illustrator with a broad and loyal fanbase.

A knight must do battle with a dragon is he is to win the hand of his beloved princess. But when a dragon finally comes along our hero realises he also needs to look his best if he is to impress, and that may take some time. And who knows what might happen as he takes his time to get ready...

Katie is visiting the art gallery with her grandmother when five famous Impressionist paintings come to life. A sequel to Katie''s Picture Show, this popular educational series makes art accessible to young children. It is aimed at age 4-6.

Come on a magical tour with Katie and discover London''s most famous sights! When Katie and her brother Jack visit London with Grandma, something very unexpected happens . . . One of the Trafalgar Square lions comes to life and takes them on a wonderful tour of all the best sights! Including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben and the London Eye. ''London comes to life in this magical adventure'' - Independent Featuring many of London''s key landmarks, this storybook has become a bestselling introduction to London, and is perfect for children visiting the city for the first time.

While visiting the art museum, Katie has an adventure stepping in and out of five paintings by van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cezanne. Includes information about postimpressionism and the particular paintings and artists in the story.

Vincent van Gogh''s "Sunflowers" is world renowned, but only Katie--a young museum goer with an amazing ability to step into paintings--would think of it as a good source of seeds for her garden. Full color.

Join Katie as she steps into some of the most famous paintings in the world for an exciting art adventure! Katie can''t decide what she wants to be when she grows up. Perhaps a trip to the gallery will be an inspiration, as the characters in five famous paintings come to life! Will she be an explorer, a train driver, a horse rider or an artist . . . ? ''A wonderful way to engage children with art. A brilliant combination of education and storytelling'' - Parents in Touch (Katie''s Picture Show) This art adventure features five famous British paintings:The Cornfield by Constable, Rain, Steam and Speed and The Fighting Temeraire by Turner, Whistlejacket by Stubbs, and The Painter''s Daughters Chasing a Butterfly by Gainsborough. Classic picture book character, Katie, has been delighting children for over 25 years. Why not collect all 13 titles in the series? Katie''s Picture Show Katie and the Impressionists Katie and the Mona Lisa Katie and the Sunflowers Katie and the Waterlily Pond Katie and the Starry Night Katie and the Spanish Princess Katie and the Bathers Katie in London Katie''s London Christmas Katie in Scotland Katie and the Dinosaurs

Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing and reading together. A red Early Reader is the next step on your reading journey. Miranda wins a balloon ride - but the rope snaps and away she goes, over seas, mountains and deserts. She touches down at the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids, flies over the Great Wall of China, visits Japan, almost falls into a river full of crocodiles in Australia, makes some new friends at the Leaning Tower of Pisa - and much more.

can Ella Bella help the Nutcracker to defeat his arch enemy, the wicked Mouse King? Join Ella Bella Ballerina as she twirls into the enchanting world of The Nutcracker ballet with its magical dancing snowflakes, tantalising swirling sweets and, of course, the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy. James Mayhew''s richly detailed storytelling and his exquisite, retro art-style make this book perfect for all would-be prima ballerinas. The final page is devoted to ballet facts, so children can learn about the original ballet The Nutcracker.

Discover the sights of Scotland with this classic Katie picture book. With so much to see and do in Scotland, it''s lucky that Katie, Jack and Grandma have a very special guide to show them the best spots. Join their fun-packed tour - with Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster! Landmarks featured include Glasgow''s Kelingrove Park, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood, The Royal Mile, Scotland''s National Gallery and Greyfriar''s Bobby. ''A delightful tale with superb illustrations'' - The Scots Magazine

Jake tries to track down his mother''s hug after she gives it to his father, who gives it to the cat, who gives it to a witch, and so on.

Brave princes, evil witches and beautiful maidens abound as the tales of Koshka, the wise old story-telling cat, unfold. James Mayhew has drawn inspiration from the traditional stories and art style of old Russia to re-tell five enchanting tales in this re-published edition of a children''s classic.Stories include: The Tale of the Snowmaiden The Tale of Sadko the Minstrel The Tale of Iven, the Greywolf and the Firebird The Tale of Vassilisa the Fair and Baby Yaga Tsar Saltan and Koshka the Cat''I loved the constant references to stories as inherently magical and powerful, full of rare secrets that you would be justified in sailing "e;beyond thrice-nine realms and over the seven seas"e; in search of. Thankfully, readers and listeners (and lovers of illustration) only need open this magic box to be immediately transported.'' Dr Nick Campbell, writer, researcher and bookseller''Every children''s book deserves to be lavishly-illustrated, a task taken on by the author himself. It''s herd to say which are better, the words or the pictures. But at the end of the day, it hardly matters because they complement each other perfectly in a book that captures the essence of the old-fashioned Noel of traditional story-telling.'' The Bay magazine, 2019''It''s the energy that shines out in the boldness, the verve, the lack of reticence that says: Look at this beautiful thing! Look again! It''s the kind of work that welcomes readers (because in this book, James has written the words too!) as well as spectators. The combination is a real joy. [...] Today''s children are lucky to have this version of the stories. And James Mayhew is lucky to have Graffeg realising that we need them as much as we did in 1993.'' Adele Geras''Here is a fabulous collection of folk tales from Russia by James Mayhew, written in luminous language and accompanied by equally luminous artwork... Beyond the classroom, I will be recommending it to boys and girls in Year 4 who still love the accessibility of traditional fairy stories but need to develop their reading stamina and confidence with a little more challenge. I am hoping it will provide a gateway to longer novels such as The House with Chicken Legs or Harry Potter.'' Books for Topics

A baby dragon tries to find where he belongs. Nothing works out until he sees his mother.

Can Ella Bella help the swan princess to be reunited with her prince? Will she help to break the wicked sorcerer''s spell? Will true love conquer all? Young ballerinas will find the answer to all these questions and delight in the sheer charm of Ella Bella''s world. James Mayhew has also included a page full of ballet facts to help even the keenest budding ballerina learn the story behind Swan Lake.

Join Katie as she steps into some of the most famous paintings in the world for an exciting art adventure! When the Mona Lisa''s smile goes missing, it''s up to Katie to help find it again. On the way, they meet a princess, a dragon, a winged lion and an angel. But can Katie make the Mona Lisa smile again? ''A wonderful way to engage children with art. A brilliant combination of education and storytelling'' - Parents in Touch (Katie''s Picture Show) This first introduction to Italian Renaissance art features five great masterpieces: Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, St George and the Dragon by Raphael, Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, The Lion of St Mark by Vittore Carpaccio and An Angel in Red with a Lute by Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis. Classic picture book character, Katie, has been delighting children for over 25 years. Why not collect all 13 titles in the series? Katie''s Picture Show Katie and the Impressionists Katie and the Sunflowers Katie and the British Artists Katie and the Waterlily Pond Katie and the Starry Night Katie and the Spanish Princess Katie and the Bathers Katie in London Katie''s London Christmas Katie in Scotland Katie and the Dinosaurs

Katie''s Picture Show was originally published in 1989 and has captured the imagination and hearts of budding art lovers for a quarter of a century. Now, Orchard Books proudly presents this new edition to celebrate this classic story''s 25th birthday. Completely reillustrated throughout, and with a beautiful new cover look, this book will enchant Katie fans, new and old. My daughter was entranced. She demanded endless readings - The Times Join Katie as she visits the gallery for the first time with Grandma and discovers that art is wonderfully exciting, especially when five famous paintings come alive for her! Join the ever-curious Katie as she discovers that art can be fantastic fun - particularly when you step into the world inside the frame . . . The five masterpieces featured are: The Hay Wain by John Constable Madame Moitessier Seated by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Les Parapluies by Pierre-Auguste Renoir Tropical Storm With a Tiger by Henri Rousseau Dynamic Suprematism by Kasimir Malevich

Once Upon a Tune brings you six wonderful stories from many lands, all of which inspired great music. You can battle trolls with Peer Gynt in The Hall of the Mountain King; grapple with a magic broom in The Sorcerer''s Apprentice, meet the evil Witch of the North in The Swan of Tuonela, sail the seven seas with Sinbad the Sailor in Scheherazade; be a prince disguised as a bee in The Flight of the Bumblebee, and become a fearless hero in William Tell. The stories are excitingly told and stunningly illustrated by James Mayhew. Includes Musical Notes with more information about the stories and music, plus James''s recommended recordings to download and listen to.

Can the adorable Ella Bella Ballerina help Cinderella get to the Royal Ball? Alone on the stage after class, Ella Bella opens Madame Rosa''s magical musical box and is whisked off into the world of the Cinderella ballet. But will Ella Bella be able to help Cinderella meet her perfect Prince Charming?

Join Katie as she steps into some of the most famous paintings in the world for an exciting art adventure! Katie needs ideas for a costume, and when she sees a beautiful princess dress in a painting it seems the very thing. But she soon discovers that fancy clothes and adventures don''t always mix . . . ''A wonderful way to engage children with art. A brilliant combination of education and storytelling'' - Parents in Touch (Katie''s Picture Show) This art adventure features five famous Spanish paintings: Portrait of the Infanta Margarita and Philip IV of Spain by Velazquez, Manuel Osorio Manrique from Zuniga and The Parasol by Goya, and A Peasant Boy Leaning on a Sill by Murillo. Classic picture book character, Katie, has been delighting children for over 25 years. Why not collect all 13 titles in the series? Katie''s Picture Show Katie and the Impressionists Katie and the Mona Lisa Katie and the Sunflowers Katie and the British Artists Katie and the Waterlily Pond Katie and the Starry Night Katie and the Bathers Katie in London Katie''s London Christmas Katie in Scotland Katie and the Dinosaurs

A stunning reimagining of the classic tale, The Frog Princethat proves anyonecan have their happily ever after!

Ella Bella longs to be a beautiful ballerina, and so each week she goes to Madame Rosa''s ballet class at the old theatre. As we all know, theatres are magical places where anything can happen, and as soon as Ella Bella opens Madame Rosa''s magical musical box on the empty stage, she''s whisked off to Sleeping Beauty''s palace.

Where to fish, how to identify and characterize our fishes, and how to catch them.

Katie''s visit to the natural history museum turns into an adventure when she steps through a door and finds herself in a land of real live dinosaurs, one of whom is lost and needs her help to find his way home.

Susie and Harry find some spooky surprises when they tiptoe outside in the middle of the night.

The woodland animals'' plans for staging an opera run afoul when the prima donna develops stage fright. Includes basic information about opera and a list of famous operas.

Emily Brown, Stanley the bunny and Matilda the elephant are busy going on adventures, but every time they get to a particularly exciting part . . . Ring! Ring! goes the Emergency Telephone and it''s Matilda''s mummy on the end worrying that Matilda isn''t wearing her wellies, or eating properly or almost anything. How can Emily Brown persuade her that sometimes adventures are good? This brilliant title from this award-winning team is a witty and poignant book about the importance of spending quality time with your children and allowing them to explore the world around them. ''A sensitive and witty handling of fears that has a valuable lesson for adults too. Great fun.'' - Daily Mail Written by Cressida Cowell, the bestselling author of the How to Train Your Dragon series. http://www.cressidacowell.co.uk/ Illustrated by award winning Neal Layton, creator of Stanley''s Stick. http://www.neallayton.co.uk/

A stunning reimagining of the classic tale, The Frog Princethat proves anyonecan have their happily ever after! Inspired by a picture he sees in a book, a lonely frog decides to go in search of a kiss. But will he everfind a princess who will make his heart skip a beat? Or does this frog''s fairy-tale ending involve someone unexpected...?