Showing results by author "Catherine Rayner" in All Categories

This collection has five of her beloved stories where we follow Abigail's mission to count animal's stripes and spots, help Augustus the tiger find his smile again, see Harris find his feet and explore the ways to use them, root for Iris and Isaac to overcome their differences and share their adventures and experience the magic of Sylvia and Bird's new friendship.

Sylvia is the only dragon in the whole world, and she is very lonely ... until one day, she meets Bird. Tiny and chirpy, so different from the huge dragon, Bird somehow changes Sylvia’s life for ever.

Abigail loves to count. It is her very favourite thing. But when she tries counting Zebra’s stripes and Cheetah’s spots, they just won’t sit still. It’s hopeless! What will Abigail do?

Augustus the tiger is sad. He has lost his smile. So, he does a huge tigery stretch and sets off to find it. As he climbs mountain crests patterned with frost and swims to the bottom of inky blue oceans, Augustus soon realises that his smile will be there whenever he is happy. He just needs to open his eyes to the beauty of the natural world around him.

Iris and Isaac are NOT FRIENDS. Off they stomp, in a big huff, as far away from each other as possible. And as they stomp, they see funny, strange and wonderful things. If only they were together to share them …

Harris was a very small hare with very big feet. 'Why do I have such enormous feet, Grandad?' Harris sighed. So Grandad shows Harris how to hop high into the sky, to climb to the tops of the mountains and to run very fast. Harris not only learns about the world around him but also the importance of finding his own feet …

Mini and Hardly are fed up of being small. Being grown-up would be so much better! They could eat what they want, stay up all night and go on adventures. So...why wait? But it’s not long before the two little unicorns find themselves on an adventure a little bigger than they'd bargained for. Perhaps being small isn't so bad—after all, it makes you perfect for the biggest cuddles.

Bear is walking through the forest, minding his own business, when he comes across another bear. The Other bear is different. The two bears wander along, thinking different thoughts, and looking in different directions. Soon the two bears come across another bear and then another bear and eventually find a bear stuck in a tree. The bears realise that perhaps they aren't that different after all and perhaps they could be friends?

Arlo the lion is exhausted. He just can't drop off, no matter what he tries. It's either too hot, or too cold; too loud or too quiet. But then he meets Owl. She can sleep through the day, which isn't easy when most other animals are awake! Will Arlo ever get any rest? Perhaps his new friend has some special tricks she can teach him.

One by one, the other birds fly into her tree, wanting to talk or to play, but the Go-Away bird just shakes her head and sends them all away. But then the dangerous Get-You bird comes along, and she soon realises that she might need some friends after all. The Go-Away Bird is a brilliant rhyming story from Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, and the award-winning Catherine Rayner.

Victor the wolf has lots of worries. He worries that he isn't brave enough, that he isn't big enough and that he isn't fierce enough. In fact, Victor feels anxious about almost everything. But when Victor shares his concerns with his best friend Pablo, he starts to feel a bit better. And with Pablo's help, Victor learns even more ways to deal with those pesky worrying thoughts. And as the worries grow smaller, Victor feels a bit bigger, a bit braver, and bit fiercer inside!

Bert the bowerbird is looking for love. He has made the most perfect nest, complete with a pretty purple flower, and is hoping it will help him to meet the bird of his dreams. But when the demanding Nanette comes along, she is far from impressed. Poor Bert is hurt, and flies off to bring her presents a-plenty. But will it ever be enough, and is Nanette really worthy of sweet Bert's love?