Most Popular Books by James Riordan

Book Band: Turquoise (Ideal for ages 6+) A delightful retelling of a classic story with a twist, ideal for children practising their reading at home or in school. The little swan is not quite like his brothers and sisters. He''s small and brown and just doesn''t fit in. So he sets off alone into the big, wide world. Will the ugly little swan find a friend? Will he discover who he truly is? This heartwarming fairytale with a twist from well-known author James Riordan is perfect for children who are learning to read by themselves and for Key Stage 1. It features engaging illustrations from Brendan Kearney and quirky characters young readers will find hard to resist. _______________ Bloomsbury Young Readers are the perfect way to get children reading, with book-banded stories by brilliant authors like Julia Donaldson. The series is ideal for both home and school, with gorgeous colour illustrations, tips for parents, and fun activity ideas. Online guided reading and teaching notes, written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), are available at bloomsburyreaders.com. ''Every child needs a Bloomsbury Young Reader. Fun, stretching, just the right length, full of adventurous vocabulary and punctuation.'' - Julie-Ann McCulloch, Teacher

Discusses the climate, geography, history, governments, culture, social life, and customs of the eighth socialist countries making up Eastern Europe.

An illustrated retelling of seven stories that have been the basis of famous ballets with notes on the origins of each story and on the music composed for them. Includes "Petrushka, " "Swan Lake, " "Cinderella, " "Giselle, " "The Nutcracker, " "Stone Flower, " and "Sleeping Beauty."

An introduction to the people and their way of life in the largest country in the world.

Out of the hundreds of wars that ravaged the twentieth century, the three wars covered in this book were the longest and blackest. In total they lasted 20 years and killed nearly 100,000,000 people. The writers in this collection of stories and poems are friend and foe - British and German, Russian and American. The first story is from All Quiet on the Western Front by the German Erich Maria Remarque, perhaps the most moving war novel ever written. Other writers - Russian, German, and English - convey in verse the tragedy and waste of the ''Great War''. The six British Children''s writers write about World War II - Robert Westall and Robert Swindells on the ''home'' war, Michael Morpugo about a ''war horse'', Jill Paton Walsh on the war at sea, and Ian Serraillier and Anne Hohn on refugees in occupied Europe. Young girls - Anne Frank and Tatiana Vassieleva - provide war diaries. Since 1945 no one has suffered as much as the people of Vietnam. In her moving story Rachel Anderson shows not only a nation''s suffering but how war can brutalise soldiers. Finally, the women''s poems on the two world wars show that war is a woman''s affair as well as a man''s.

Supernatural-themed shows fill the TV schedule, and today''s teens are curious--but is it safe? Best-selling author Bill Myers uses this thriller mystery series to demonstrate the allure and danger of the occult. Kids ages 10-14 will follow teens who find themselves drawn toward these "forbidden doors" of seances, reincarnation, and spells. Myers shows how faith can combat spiritual darkness. Originally released in 1994, this timely series, with over 300,000 copies sold, features fresh cover art that will appeal to today''s teens. In book 8, The Undead, Becka and Ryan explore whether or not vampires exist.

Award-winning children''s author James Riordan boldly retells this story from Greek mythology, introducing readers to the first great European hero to undertake a grand journey. Accompanied by some of ancient Greece''s bravest heroes, Jason leads an expedition to retrieve the Golden Fleece, the property of a king in a far-off land. Traveling by sea, they encounter trial after trial along their route - reeking Harpies, deadly clashing rocks, and fierce Amazon warrior women - and yet more challenges await them at their destination. For before he will give up the fleece, the king devises a test for Jason that will certainly be the death of him - unless the king''s daughter, Medea, agrees out of love for Jason to lend him her magical powers. Complemented by illustrations that marry ancient Greek vase pastiche with high realism, this is a classic tale of high adventure that holds appeal for boys and girls alike.

A collection of traditional tales from around the world each of whose main character is female.

A collection of legends and folklore about Native Americans.

The year is 1916. Inspired by the story of Edith Cavell, twins Floss and Doss decide it is time for them to do their bit for the war effort. Their brother and father are already away at war - and the girls get jobs at a local munitions factory. From there, Floss soon moves on to work at the hospital, and eventually goes overseas to work at a Field Hospital in France. There she is taken prisoner by the Germans and starts working behind enemy lines, nursing injured German soldiers and British prisoners. The novel follows the dramatic, and traumatic, wartime experiences of the twosisters.

Stories of magical transformations, based on traditional tales.

The stories in this book will make you laugh, make you cry, make you hold your breath - just like the game!They''re all written by keen fans who follow their teams all over the country. People like Michael Rosen, Robert Swindells, Michael Parkinson, Barry Hines, and lots more.Football - it''s the greatest game in the world...

This exciting collection is filled with adventure and wonder, generous sea spirits and horrible underwater monsters, and daring boys and girls. Characters sail, swim, and even ride whales to cross the ocean, learning the secrets of the wind and currents that rule the surface and hidden depths. The stories come from Celtic, Finnish, Maori and Native American cultures, from Senegal Vietnam, Siberia. Denmark (The Little Mermaid), and Egypt (Sinbad the Sailor). Whether read aloud or independently, they are sure to provide hours of entertainment.

This is an entertaining collection of stories from top Irish writers such as Edna O''Brien, Martin Waddell and Frank Murphy and includes old favourites such as Una and the Giant Cucullen, and Munachar and Manachar.

Ivan the Poor loses the Wind''s magic cloth and the Sun''s magic goat to his brother Ivan the Rich, but then the Frost gives him a magic sack.

Folklore from around the world tells tales of the heavenly bodies.

A partir de quel moment et dans quelles circonstances le sport est-il devenu un enjeu de prestige entre les nations, un instrument de propagande, l''indice de la vitalité d''un peuple ou la vitrine d''un régime politique ? Depuis quand le boycottage est-il utilisé afin d''exercer une pression ou des représailles envers un Etat ? Quels en sont les motifs sportifs, politiques, économiques ? Ces questions ont mobilisé pendant quatre ans un collectif de chercheurs de diverses nationalités et leurs réponses justifient la publication de cet ouvrage.

After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorotea must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas.

Saisir la spécificité de l''histoire du sport à l''échelle d''un pays suppose de pouvoir opérer des rapprochements et des comparaisons avec ce qui se produit dans d''autres nations. L''Europe constitue de ce point de vue un cadre particulièrement séduisant pour relativiser ce qui, souvent, est présenté comme original ou unique. Si le sport en France, en Angleterre, en Allemagne, au Danemark ou en Italie, prend son sens dans des histoires politiques et culturelles assurément différentes, il est pourtant tout aussi évident qu''existent certaines similitudes entre pays.

Hercules, son of the god Zeus and a mortal woman, renowned for his great strength, performs twelve dangerous tasks to atone for an attack on his wife and children.

Collects and retells favorite stories such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Pinocchio," "Rapunzel," and "Tom Thumb," and also includes lesser known tales.

An international collection of twenty-five tales of courage, daring, and romance, featuring heroes such as Robin Hood, El Cid, Perseus, and Volund.

Nine of the tales told by Shaharazad to enchant the cruel sultan and stop him from executing her as he had his other daily wives.

Hercules, son of the god Zeus and a mortal woman, renowned for his great strength, performs twelve dangerous tasks to atone for an attack on his wife and children.