Materials from Denmark
Kai and Gerda are best friends who would do anything for each other. So when Kai begins to act cruelly, Gerda knows that something has gone terribly wrong and when he disappears, she knows she is the only one who can find him. Gerda sets off on an epic journey, facing three great trials before finally discovering Kai at the palace of the evil Snow Queen.
An ordinary Danish Christmas turns extraordinary when a family overlooks an important folkloric tradition. Christmas has come, and with it a sparkling white winterfrost over the countryside. But twelve-year-old Bettina’s parents have been called away unexpectedly, leaving her in charge of the house, the farm, and baby Pia. In all the confusion, Bettina’s family neglects to set out the traditional bowl of Christmas rice pudding for the tiny nisse who are rumored to look after the family and their livestock. No one besides her grandfather ever believed the nisse were real, so what harm could there be in forgetting this silly custom? But when baby Pia disappears during a nap, the magic of the nisse makes itself known. To find her sister and set things right, Bettina must venture into the miniature world of these usually helpful, but sometimes mischievous folk. A delightful winter adventure for lovers of the legendary and miraculous.
On the eve of Princess Sophia’s wedding, the Scandinavian city of Skyggehavn prepares to fete the occasion with a sumptuous display of riches: brocade and satin and jewels, feasts of sugar fruit and sweet spiced wine. Yet beneath the veneer of celebration, a shiver of darkness creeps through the palace halls. A mysterious illness plagues the royal family, threatening the lives of the throne’s heirs, and a courtier’s wolfish hunger for the king’s favors sets a devious plot in motion. Here in the palace at Skyggehavn, things are seldom as they seem — and when a single errant prick of a needle sets off a series of events that will alter the course of history, the fates of seamstress Ava Bingen and mute nursemaid Midi Sorte become irrevocably intertwined with that of mad Queen Isabel. As they navigate a tangled web of palace intrigue, power-lust, and deception, Ava and Midi must carve out their own survival any way they can.
Buster’s magic tricks get him in and out of trouble.
Eight tales chosen by the illustrator, winner of the 1990 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for lifetime achievement in the field of illustration for children.
Stories deal with a lonely fir tree, the search for a genuine princess, a proud family of snails, a young bird who’s made fun of for his differences, a haughty needle, and a brave toy.
Expands upon the classic tale of the princess and the pea as seen through the eyes of the prince, the princess, the king and queen, various servants, a mouse, and even the rather vain pea, itself.
From best-selling artist Sylvia Long comes an exquisite version of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved tale about a thumb-size girl and her larger-than-life adventures. Jewel-toned paintings depict the story’s settings from light and airy meadows to Mole’s dark and dismal underground home while whimsical details bring the classic cast of characters to life and make this storytime favorite a visual feast.
Princess Meriel’s brothers have been cursed. A terrible enchantment–cast by their conniving new stepmother–has transformed the handsome princes into swans. They now swim forlornly on a beautiful heart-shaped lake that lies just beyond the castle walls. Meriel will do whatever it takes to rescue her beloved brothers. But she must act quickly. If Heart Lake freezes, her brothers will be forced to fly south or perish. With help from her newfound friends Riona and Liam–a pretty half-witch and her clever brother–Meriel vows to finish a seemingly impossible task. If she completes it, her brothers may be saved. But if she fails . . . all will be lost.
What a pity excue for a holiday!
While her friends party in Europe, Anna- a Dutch seventeen year old- is sent to her uncle who lives ina tiny town in Pennsylvania. Bakerton: two streets, a church, a diner, two undertakers and a steamtrain that spills out a bunch of tourists on a daily basis.
How was she to know that she would feel at home in Bakerton. That she would meet the most intriguing people. that she would spend her holiday wearing vintage dresses selling antiques, and learn about funeral rituals. And that she would befriend a vicar, a baker, a waitress, an old Jewish couple, an Italian cook and many others…
If only she knew she would learn about life this summer…and a little more about herself as well…
It’s a Wonderful Life is a captivating and colorful story of coming of age and true friendship.