With 13 children of his own clamouring for bedtime stories it isn't surprising that author George MacDonald discovered he had a gift for composing fairy tales. But these were fairy tales with a difference. At the Back of the North Wind, the first to be published, became a Victorian favourite and marked something of a milestone in children's fiction. While owing a debt to Hans Andersen, Dickens ...

The first of the five books which form The Dark Is Rising sequence, this book features three children, on holiday in Cornwall, who discover an ancient map which leads them into a search for a buried grail.

Lloyd Alexander is the true High King of fantasy Garth Nix The fourth novel in this classic high-fantasy series, which already enjoys cult status in America. A must-read for all fans of Lord of the Rings.

Princess Irene finds a staircase and enters a mysterious world. For in the highest tower, is an old lady spinning magic thread beside a fire made of roses. When Curlie the miner boy encounters goblins plotting against the royal household, Irene must trust the lady if they are to save the palace.

Desperate for adventure, Taran begins a perilous quest, which demands all of his courage and strength. Ages 7-11 years.