Classic Animal

When Mr. Gruber shows Paddington an outdoor painting exhibition he is inspired to take up a new hobby… After attending an Outside Exhibition, Paddington is inspired to take up painting himself. He gets busy with his own paints and holds his own exhibition, but is discouraged by the problems of self-portraiture – forgetting what he looks like in the mirror! Then a mystery art collector buys up his entire works. This is just the boost he needs, and he’s soon busily trying his first family portrait!

An hour of our favourite animal stories, voiced by the wonderful Brenda and Robin Markwell. From classics like Black Beauty to The Tortoise and the Hare to lesser known gems like The Emu and the Kangaroo, the kids will love and hold dear these wonderful tales.

After years of exploitation, neglect, and despair, the animals of Manor Farm revolt. They drive owner Mr. Jones off the land and rechristen the property Animal Farm, a utopia of equality and mutual support. But Napoleon, a young boar who assumes command after the rebellion, is hungry for power. And as the pigs consolidate control, all the good intentions of Animal Farm are crushed by a new and inevitable tyranny.

Have you ever seen a butterfly get married? Join us in the garden as we follow a butterfly as he goes on a journey to find his future wife.

In Dot and the Kangaroo, five-year-old Dot becomes lost in the Australian bush. Alone and frightened, Dot is approached by a grey kangaroo, who brings her some berries to eat. Dot eats the berries and suddenly finds that she can talk to animals! She tells the kangaroo that she has lost her way. The kangaroo has lost something too—her joey—but decides to help Dot out. Together, they search for home.

Paddington is very excited. He is going on a day trip around the city with his friend, Mr Gruber. With his suitcase full of marmalade sandwiches and Mrs Bird’s umbrella in case it rains, the bear from darkest Peru is ready for anything. Or almost. How is Paddington to know that the other tourists will think he was their tour guide? And how could he guess that they will follow him everywhere? Chaos and humour are hand-in-hand in this new story about the bear who always gets it right in the end.

Step into the exquisite miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge in this beautiful new edition of the classic book. It was summer and Primrose woke knowing that it was going to be a very special day. The sun was already warm and a light breeze stirred the leaves and branches of Brambly Hedge. It was a perfect day for an adventure. Leaving the hedge behind, Dusty, Poppy, Primrose, and Wilfred set off downstream in Dusty's boat, the Periwinkle, on a journey that would take them all the way down to the sea.

We all love animals, even if sometimes its only from afar on TV or at a zoo. But many of us have felt a closer friendship and companionship with our friends in the animal world. We talk and react to them as if they really do understand us. Perhaps they do. In this volume Hardy, Thackeray, Carroll, DH Lawrence, Emily Dickinson, and many others share their words with our ears.

Here come the animals! From Rudyard Kipling’s most popular Just-So Stories to Jack London’s “Brown Wolf”, this collection features some of the best-loved animal tales of all time. They include Kipling’s “How the Elephant Got His Trunk”; Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans”; Mark Twain’s “A Dog’s Tale”; Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “The Squirrels That Live in a House”, and more.

Delphine et Marinette viennent de recevoir le prix d'excellence et le prix d'honneur. Le préfet a fait un beau discours et a vanté les mérites de l'instruction. De retour à la maison, elles cherchent un ignorant à qui faire comprendre les bienfaits de l'instruction. Les deux bœufs par exemple ? Titre recommandé par le ministère de l'Éducation nationale pour le cycle 3 (en classe de CM1-CM2) et en classe de 6e. La lecture pleine d’espièglerie de François Morel, servie par une ambiance sonore haute en couleurs, donne vie aux contes intemporels et savoureux de Marcel Aymé!

Âne, mulet, cheval, aucun animal n'accepte d'être chevauché par le soldat. Les parents de Delphine et Marinette lui proposent alors un mouton qui, docile, se laisse conduire à la guerre. Les fillettes, qui étaient attachées à l'animal, sont inconsolables et vont dès lors s'employer par tous les moyens à retrouver leur ami ! Titre recommandé par le ministère de l'Éducation nationale pour le cycle 3 (en classe de CM1-CM2) et en classe de 6e. La lecture pleine d’espièglerie de François Morel, servie par une ambiance sonore haute en couleurs, donne vie aux contes intemporels et savoureux de Marcel Aymé!

Un soir, en s'endormant, Delphine et Marinette expriment le souhait de devenir l'une un âne, l'autre un cheval. Le lendemain, à leur réveil, elles ont la bonne surprise de voir que leurs vœux sont exaucés. Les parents n'en croient pas leurs yeux. Mais très vite, oubliant que ce sont leurs petites filles, ils commencent à traiter l'âne et le cheval comme tous les autres animaux de la ferme. Titre recommandé par le ministère de l'Éducation nationale pour le cycle 3 (en classe de CM1-CM2) et en classe de 6e.

Les parents de Delphine et Marinette regardent le canard avec des yeux bien trop gourmands. C'est le moment pour les fillettes de lui conseiller de faire un grand voyage. Le canard part faire le tour du monde. Après quelques mois, le voici de retour avec une compagne insolite : une panthère ! Est-ce bien raisonnable de la garder à la ferme ? Titre recommandé par le ministère de l'Éducation nationale pour le cycle 3 (en classe de CM1-CM2) et en classe de 6e. La lecture pleine d’espièglerie de François Morel, servie par une ambiance sonore haute en couleurs, donne vie aux contes intemporels et savoureux de Marcel Aymé!

Delphine et Marinette s'ennuient tellement que, malgré les recommandations de leurs parents, elles aimeraient bien ouvrir la porte au loup. Mais il a fort mauvaise réputation et les fillettes en ont un peu peur. Le loup, beau parleur, parviendra-t-il à leur faire oublier qu'il a dévoré le Petit Chaperon rouge et l'agneau de la fable ? Titre recommandé par le ministère de l'Éducation nationale pour le cycle 3 (en classe de CM1-CM2) et en classe de 6e.

Delphine et Marinette ont décidé de sauver un pauvre cerf poursuivi par une meute de chiens. Grâce à la complicité de l'un d'entre eux, elles parviendront à le cacher. Mais que faire d'un cerf dans une ferme ? Lui donner un travail aux côtés du bœuf n'est pas la meilleure solution car il rêve de retrouver sa liberté dans la fraîcheur des sous-bois. Le bœuf, qui est devenu son ami, décide de partir avec lui... Titre recommandé par le ministère de l'Éducation nationale pour le cycle 3 (en classe de CM1-CM2) et en classe de 6e.

The Velveteen Rabbit (or How Toys Become Real) is a British children’s book by Margery Williams. It chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit’s desire to become real through the love of his owner, a small boy—a heartwarming fairy tale enjoyed by children for generations. Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association voted the book #28 on the “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.”

It was such a hot summer. They sky was deep blue and the sun never faltered. All along Brambly Hedge, the mice did their best to keep cool. Poppy Eyebright sought refuge in the mossy shadows of the mill wheel; Dusty Dogwood took to walking by the banks of the cooling stream. Dusty and Poppy spent more and more time together, so no one was at all surprised when they announced their engagement. They decided on a very unusual setting for the wedding ceremony, but even they didn't realise just how unusual it was to prove to be!

It was the middle of winter and very, very cold. The mice of Brambly Hedge forecasted snow. And they were right. In the morning they awoke to find their doors and windows hidden behind deep drifts. There hadn't been snow like this for years. "There's enough for a Snow Ball!" cried the mice with glee, and set to work in the time-honoured way to make an Ice Hall for the festivities. The little mice watched wide-eyed as all the preparations were made. Then at last everything was ready, and the Ball could begin.…

Wilfred woke early. It was his birthday. He had lots of lovely presents, but the best one was a surprise.… Mr Apple had organised a secret celebration picnic and all the mice of Brambly Hedge were invited. There was so much to carry. Poor Wilfred got very tired as he lurched and bumped his way along the grassy track. What was it Mrs Apple had said was in his hamper? Knives? Sandwiches? They were certainly heavy! When they finally arrived, Wilfred was allowed to open up the hamper and there he found the best treat of all….

Classic Cat Stories is an anthology that includes fairy tales and fables from the likes of Rudyard Kipling and Charles Perrault as well as comic tales from Saki and E. F. Benson. Cats, of course, have always had a dark and mysterious side, which is explored to chilling effect by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe in 'The Black Cat'. But above all, we love them, and you’ll find here stories about all kinds of cats that tug at the heartstrings like 'The Man of the House' by Ethel Colburn Mayne and other stories that celebrate their curious ways.