AustLit

(Publication summary)

'A tale of cruelty, loyalty and love.

'Fox and Bear were true friends. They were close-as-can-be friends, through and through friends... except for one thing.

'Fox was quick and slick and sly, and Bear was dumber than a pile of rocks. But that's how it was.

'And it didn't matter. Then Fox stretched the string of friendship until it snapped and they weren't friends any more.

'The Sorry Tale of Fox and Bear is the story of two friends who fall out with one another, and about what happens next. It is outrageous, passionate and poignant, and the bittersweet ending is as ambiguous as any friendship in real life.

'A mash-up of several Norwegian folk tales, The Sorry Tale of Fox and Bear is told with wit and verve by Margrete Lamond, and the darkly brooding charcoal illustrations are by acclaimed artist Heather Vallance.' (Publication Summary)

'When a miller’s youngest son inherits nothing but a cat, he thinks he might as well make himself a hat out of it. What else would it be good for? But this is no ordinary cat—and one of the first things she demands is a handsome pair of boots.' (Publication summary)

'Rapunzel is locked in a high tower with only a terrifying witch for company. She must dangle her long hair from the tower window so the witch can climb up but, one day, Rapunzel receives a surprise visitor. This fresh retelling, with Mitch Vane’s lively and witty illustrations, is set to become a favorite for a whole new generation of readers.'(Publication summary)

(Publication summary)

'Retold in lively and authentic style by Norwegian-Australian author Margrete Lamond, and sumptuously illustrated by Norwegian-American illustrator Ingrid Kallick, these stories of magic and mischief from Norway will enthral young readers. ' (Publication summary)

'Beauty is so kind, generous and good, she sacrifices herself to a hideous beast in exchange for her father’s life. But instead of devouring her, the beast bestows luxury and comfort on Beauty, and it seems he might not be quite so beastly after all. Yet there is always a price to pay …' (Publication summary)

'When a boy is turned into an ugly nutcracker, Marie is his only key to freedom. He, in turn, holds the key to her heart. Margrete Lamond's retelling of Hoffmans classic tale reduces the rambling original to its essentials, while satisfying the modern taste for strong emotion-based storylines. Ritva Voutilas paintings bring the magic, wonder and terror of childhood imagination to life, and set the action against a lavish Victorian backdrop that both enthralls and reassures the reader.' (Publication summary)

(Publication summary)

'Jack is lazy. Instead of walking the cow to market, he sits on a log. And instead of selling the cow for a good price, he swaps her for a handful of beans. Luckily for Jack, these are no ordinary beans.' (Publication summary)

'A tale of enchantment, with its magical cloak of invisibility and its avenues of silver, gold, and diamonds, now creates a whole new web of enchantment for readers everywhere

'The princesses are locked in their room every night, but every morning their party slippers are worn to tatters. The princesses won’t say how or why, and despite the King’s threats, no one can work it out. Just when the King is at his wits end, an unlikely character walks into town. Will he reveal the princesses’ secret? Or will he lose his head like the others before him? ' (Publication summary)

'A popular English folk tale that has been told in hundreds of different ways around the world, and this bright new retelling gives the tale a fresh coat of paint with Jonathan Bentley’s adorable illustrations

'When three little pigs build themselves houses—one of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks—they don't expect a big bad wolf to come and blow them all down. But that’s what happens . . . until the wolf comes to the house made of bricks. Then it’s the wolf who runs into trouble.' (Publication summary) 

'One day she meets a wolf in the woods. When he suggests she wander off the path to pick flowers, that's exactly what she does, even though her mother said not to dawdle. Meanwhile, the wolf is up to no good. Things soon go wrong for Little Red Riding Hood. But what will happen to the wolf? Little Red Riding Hood is one of the best-loved fairy tales of all time. This lively retelling, with its inspired illustrations by internationally acclaimed Anna Pignataro, brings the story alive for a fresh generation of readers.' (Publication summary)

'When Goldilocks wanders too far into the woods, she comes across an empty house, and she's barely across the threshold before she starts to make a mess of things. Goldilocks doesn't mean to do wrong, it just seems to happen that way ...Goldilocks and the three bears was first published almost two centuries ago, and it was told as a folk tale for a long time before that. Now, with enchanting pictures by much-loved illustrator Anna Walker, this favourite tale will have pride of place on every child's bookshelf, and is set to be around for a whole lot longer. ' (Publication summary)