Short Stories

First Reading” series, based on an African folktale and part of the “Usborne Reading Programme”. It is aimed at children who are beginning to read. Anansi, King of the Spiders, is given a bag of wisdom to share but selfishly decides to keep it for himself. But can he carry it up to his secret hiding place without dropping it?

With Junzo Terada’s adorable Animal Friends, every day is a party! Jungle animals gather their friends to relax in the sun until the day is done. After all, celebrations are better when we’re all together! With a new animal friend peeking out from each shaped, layered page, this innovative board book is full of guessing game fun.

With Junzo Terada’s adorable Animal Friends, every day is a party! Farm animals gather their bandmates at the barn to jig and jive until they feel alive. After all, celebrations are better when we’re all together! With a new animal friend peeking out from each shaped, layered page, this innovative board book is full of guessing game fun.

In this stunning picture book, Richard Jones’ enchanting illustrations sensitively depict each stage of life and the journey of transformation that we undergo as we grow up.

Until at last Babbity’s bad mood disappears. But where could it have gone…?

Badger and the Great Storm is a warm and touching tale of friendship, courage and new beginnings. With gently humorous illustrations from Caroline Pedler (Don’t Wake the Bear, Hare! and There’s No Such Thing as Monsters!), it’s the perfect book for sharing with children.

Read along as Eden is visited by the fairies of Christmas Past, Present and Future to see her discover the true meaning of Christmas – and of friendship.

Little Polar Bear is afraid of the dark. He won’t even go outside to see the moon with his Dad.

Captain Mac needs a crew for his ship – quick! Part of the award-winning “Usborne Very First Reading” series specially developed in consultation with literacy experts to help children learn to read. Features superb illustrations to accompany the rhyming story. Designed for a child to read together with an adult, allowing the child to gradually take a greater share of the story in each book to achieve confident, independent reading. Followed by fun puzzles to test comprehension and provide further practice.

The Clever Rabbit is eating happily in the woods when he has to save a lost sheep from being eaten by a hungry wolf. But will the rabbit’s brains outmatch the wolf’s brawn?

Fox and Stork are friends but Fox can’t resist playing tricks. When he invites Stork to dinner, there’s sneaky surprise in store. This lively retelling of the classic Aesop’s fable has easy-to-read text and fun puzzles to try after the story.

A Native American folktale retold for beginner readers ready to tackle more complicated storylines and sentence structures. All the animals in the forest admire Bear’s tail, but Bear thinks it is a nuisance… Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton. Includes fun puzzles to try after the story.

Little Miss Muffet is in for a surprise – a great big spider wants to join her picnic! A charming extended version of the classic nursery rhymes specially written for beginner readers ready to tackle more complicated storylines and sentence structures.