These anthologies from Macmillan are great for your little brother or sister, or anyone else who's not quite ready for my novels! The next one's going to be Ballet Stories, followed by one about mermaids...
Ballerina Stories. Among the gems featured in this gorgeously graceful collection are Geraldine McCaughrean's classic retelling of "The Nutcracker"; Fiona Dunbar's quirky modern-day take on the same story, in which Clara struggles to conquer her phobia of mice; a special one-off "Nina Fairy Ballerina" story about Nina's nerve-frazzling audition to become a pupil at the Royal Academy of Fairy Ballet; the tale of Bunty the ballet-mad walrus (yes, walrus) and a Julia Donaldson Princess Mirrorbelle story featuring some rather special ballet slippers ...So whether you've twirled on pointe, danced in a recital or just about mastered first position, "Ballerina Storie" is guaranteed to put the sparkle in your steps!
Princess Stories. Little girls who love princesses will be tickled pink by this gorgeous, generously illustrated collection of ten stories. Exciting, funny, charming and royally entertaining, here is a feast of delight for any child who longs to be a princess!
Pirate Stories. Haunted wooden legs, captains good and evil, parrots a-plenty - they're all here in this wide-ranging collection of illustrated pirate stories, brought to you by authors such as Cornelia Funke, Colin McNaughton and John Grant. Read them while you're scrubbing the decks, walking the plank or navigating the open seas. Ooh-arr. 'I was hooked from page one' - - "Pirate Times". 'Totally scurv-acious!' - "Jolly Roger Weekly".
Fairy Stories. Little girls will love being spirited away to fairyland by this gorgeous illustrated collection of ten stories. They will visit the wonderful world of dream fairies, funny fairy godmothers, a sweet-toothed cake fairy and a fairy who has a lot to learn about friendship.
I may only have done a cartoon for it, but Lines in the Sand is a very special book, with contributions from dozens of top writers and artists. Most importantly, all royalties and publisher's profits will go to UNICEF to directly fund the bringing of aid to child victims of the war in Iraq.