Europe

Materials from Europe

The Gingerbread Boy

A folk tale classic by Paul Galdone, in a beautiful gift edition with gold foil accents. See if you can keep up with the Gingerbread Boy as he outruns a little old woman, a cow, and even a field full of mowers. With lively illustrations full of spunk and humor, this classic retelling takes readers on an adventure-packed ride with one of literature’s most beloved characters.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

“WHO’S THAT TRIPPING OVER MY BRIDGE?” The three Billy Goats Gruff are hungry and want to go over the bridge and up the hillside to a fine meadow full of grass and daisies where they can eat and eat and eat, and get fat. But under the bridge lives a troll who’s as mean as he is ugly…With humorous, onomatopoeic language, call-and-answer structure, and colorful illustrations, Paul Galdone’s telling of this familiar tale is great for reading aloud with groups.

Wee Granny’s Magic Bag

Emily and Harry love going on trips with Wee Granny. Surprising things always happen when she brings her tartan bag. One Christmas when they were carol singing Harry’s torch stopped working, so Granny reached into her bag and pulled out a lamppost to help them see! Last summer they were on the beach and Wee Granny rummaged around in her tartan bag and pulled out a deckchair each for them to sit on! Today they are going to the park, and when Mum calls to ask Granny if she’ll bake some cakes for the school fair, an incredible afternoon begins. A very funny picture book about two children and their amazing granny. With huge surprises on every page, you’ll never guess what will appear next from Wee Granny’s magic bag.

Irena’s Jars Of Secrets

Irena Sendler, born to a Polish Catholic family, was raised to respect people of all backgrounds and to help those in need. She became a social worker; and after the German army occupied Poland during World War II, Irena knew she had to help the sick and the starving Jews who were imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto. She began by smuggling food, clothing and medicine into the ghetto, then turned to smuggling children out of the ghetto. Using false papers and creative means of escape, and at great personal risk, Irena helped rescue Jewish children and hides them in safe surroundings. Hoping to reunite families after the war, Irena kept lists of the Children’s identities.

Motivated by conscience and armed with compassion and a belief in human dignity, Irena Sendler confronted an enormous moral challenge and proved to the world that an ordinary person can accomplish deeds of extraordinary courage.

Pip the Gnome

Pip the gnome plays happily with his woodland friends, the mouse, robin, wren and spider. Follow them through spring, summer, into autumn and then winter. The colourful illustrations and simple words introduce very young children to the seasons, with bright green leaves in spring, warm sunshine in summer, blustery wind in autumn and snowfall in winter. Perfect for bedtime, the story ends as we look up at the stars and say good night to Pip.

The Helpful Elves

When the lazy people of Cologne go to sleep, the helpful elves do all their work. They measure and saw for the carpenter, knead and mix for the baker, carve and chop for the butcher, taste and pour for the winemaker, and snip and sew for the tailor. But no one ever sees them. Until one day the tailor’s wife becomes curious.

This classic picture book is based on a poem by August Kopisch (1799–1853), who specialised in re-telling popular legends. It is brought to life with humorous illustrations by Beatrice Braun-Fock (1898–1973).

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

When Goldilocks goes to collect flowers in the wood she gets lost and stumbles upon a pretty house in a clearing. She looks inside and sees a table with three chairs: a big chair, a medium chair and a little chair, and in front of each chair is a steaming bowl of porridge. The porridge smells so good, and Goldilocks is so hungry, that she opens the door and walks inside. But this house belongs to three bears: a big daddy bear, a medium mummy bear and a little baby bear — and they’ll be back soon.This is a beautiful interpretation of a classic story. Gerda Muller’s timeless, intricate illustrations offer wonderful extra detail for children to enjoy. From the very first page, she includes big, medium and little versions of birds, squirrels, mice, plates, umbrellas, slippers, and more. Children and parents will notice new things each time.