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Vivian French Books

A whimsical story about learning to use maps, perfect for very young children.

One day, Anna’s friend Zane sends her an invitation: Come to tea tomorrow! This is the way to my home. Love, Zane. Inside the envelope, there’s a MAP. Anna soon decides to make a map of her own, too … and before long, Dad and even Whiskers the cat are in on the fun. From routes to symbols, point of view and scale, join Anna and her dad as they explore the wonderful world of maps – with words by Vivian French, storyteller extraordinaire, and delightful pictures by rising star Ya-Ling Huang.

An enchanting collection of seven original fairy tales to bewitch and enthral by master storyteller, Vivian French, complemented by gorgeous, full-colour, contemporary artwork by debut children’s illustrator, Amy Grimes.

Bibi doesn’t believe in fairies. But when she meets her fairy godmother, the tiniest of hopes flickers in her mind. Seven quests to seven lands that will open a magic box and grant her a wish…. could it, just possibly, be true?

Whisked away with her trusty companion, Sylvestro the cat, Bibi quests with giants, dragons, princes and princesses, wizards, witches, water sprites and sea elves, unicorns, trolls and gnomes…

Can Bibi earn the keys to open the box…. and unlock her belief in fairy magic?

A beautifully produced Nature Storybook about horses, by Vivian French with pictures by Kate Greenaway medallist Catherine Rayner.

From much-loved author Vivian French and award-winning illustrator Catherine Rayner comes a charming new Nature Storybook about horses. Hello, Horse! gently introduces young children to Shannon, a friendly chestnut mare, and offers encouragement to children unfamiliar with or a little nervous of these large, beautiful creatures. The subtext is packed with practical tips, such as the right way to offer an apple, and also covers their behaviour – horses’ need for company, for example – and life cycle. Tender words and art combine to create a warm and witty introduction to horses … from the safety of the page!

Oliver, star of Oliver’s Vegetables, is back from his healthy week eating vegetables at his grandpa’s house. Suddenly, the fruit at home doesn’t seem quite good enough for Oliver. What is his mum to do?

Watch a caterpillar metamorphose into a butterfly in this fun, informative, award-winning picture book, part of the Nature Storybooks series.

Watch a caterpillar metamorphose into a butterfly in this fun, informative, award-winning picture book, part of the Nature Storybooks series. Curious young minds will love discovering each stage in the journey, from wriggly green caterpillar to the beautiful butterfly, in this picture book which combines story with information.

Learn about the transformation from frogspawn to frog with this fun, informative picture book, part of the Nature Storybooks series.

What happens when you take an empty fish tank, add some pond water, scoop in some frogspawn … and wait? Curious young minds will love learning about how frogs grow in this picture book which combines story with information.

Worms might seem yucky at first, but there’s more to these wiggly fellows than meets the eye! Presented in a style to be interesting and accessible to young children, this is a lovely non-fiction text to support a minibeasts topic in EYFS and KS1.

This popular picture book tells the story of fussy eater Oliver, who will not eat anything but chips. One day Grandpa sets him a challenge that helps him to learn to try new foods from the vegetable patch and Oliver is surprised by what he finds out.

All the Knight in Training books are excellent, entertaining and exciting young readers in equal measure. The dream team of Vivian French and illustrator David Melling weave their ample magic here: Sam J. Butterbiggins’ only ambition is to be a Very Noble Knight, but he has been packed off to the castle next door. Now he has to put up with his annoying cousin Prune, and the weird creatures his aunt looks after in her Luxury Accommodation for Dragons, Griffins and other Regal Beasts!

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