A selection of classic children's picture books on a bright yellow background

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Children's reading lists

The best classic children’s picture books

A picture of a selection of historical fiction novels on a bright yellow background

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17 must-have historical fiction books for kids

Meg and Mog

Meet Meg the witch and Mog, her (very naughty) cat. 
 
Meg and Mog are off to a Halloween party with all their friends. But, BANG! One of Meg's spells hasn't worked as planned! Can Meg and Mog fix it? 
 
This is a special 50th anniversary edition of the original Meg and Mog book, which has been casting its spell over readers for generations. With Jan Pienkowski’s award-winning illustrations and Helen Nicoll’s easy-to-read text, the Meg and Mog books have earnt their place as timeless classics, beloved by all. 
 
 
More magical Meg and Mog stories: 
 
Meg Goes to Bed 
Meg's Eggs 
Meg and the Pirate 
Meg and Mog: Three Terrific Tales 
Mog at the Zoo 
Meg's Car 
Meg's Veg 
 
 
"A winning combination" - TIME OUT 
"A brilliant coordination of text and pictures" - SUNDAY TIMES

Dazzling, graphic artwork and simple, quirky stories

The Kingdom Under the Sea

Folktales have never been so beautifully told or illustrated as in this collection, now available as a beautiful hardback gift edition to celebrate its 40th anniversary

Anyone who enjoyed the works of Joan Aiken and Jan Pienkowski at an impressionable age will coo fondly over the reissue of 1971's The Kingdom Under the Sea, Aiken's retelling of a series of Eastern European folk-tales. It too, is chock-full of ghastliness, as vintage children's tales used to be. Pienkowski's illustrations are whimsically macabre

The Kingdom Under the Sea is a collection of traditional European folk takes retold by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Jan Pienkowski. A book for reader and listener to enjoy

First published in 1971, when it won the Kate Greenaway medal, this timeless collection of stories with enigmatic titles such as The Imprisoned Queen and The Sun's Cousin, all complemented by Jan Pienkowski's atmospheric sillhouette illustrations, will captivate a new generation. A book for keeps

"Would you like to listen to some fine stories? I know stories about heroes, stories about magicians, stories about birds and beasts, summer and winter, the sun, the moon and the stars." 
 
From the creators of the much-loved A Necklace of Raindrops comes a collection of stories filled with magic. 
 
Travel deep to the kingdom under the sea, where lies the sea-king's palace filled with mermaids and dragons, the fearsome and the monstrous... Wicked fairies rub shoulders with sun-gods, goblins make mischief and noble knights go into battle within these pages. Meet Baba Yaga, who eats men up as if they were chickens, and meet the most beautiful creature on the whole round of the earth! There are brave deeds, granted wishes and mythical creatures in these traditional European folk tales retold with the inimitable touch of master storyteller Joan Aiken, and illustrated with the iconic silhouettes of Jan Pienkowski. 
 
Winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration in 1971, The Kingdom Under the Sea celebrates 40 years of transporting you to a land of mystery and drama, of beauty and humour, where anything is possible...

Joan Aiken (Author) Joan Aiken was born in Sussex in 1924. She was the daughter of the American poet, Conrad Aiken; her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge, is also a novelist. Before joining the 'family business' herself, Joan had a variety of jobs, including working for the BBC, the United Nations Information Centre and then as features editor for a short story magazine. Her first children's novel, The Kingdom of the Cave, was published in 1960. 
 
Joan Aiken wrote over a hundred books for young readers and adults and is recognized as one of the classic authors of the twentieth century. Amanda Craig, writing in The Times, said, 'She was a consummate story-teller, one that each generation discovers anew.' Her best-known books are those in the James III saga, of which The Wolves of Willoughby Chase was the first title, published in 1962 and awarded the Lewis Carroll prize. Both that and Black Hearts in Battersea have been filmed. Her books are internationally acclaimed and she received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in the United States as well as the Guardian Award for Fiction in this country for The Whispering Mountain. 
 
Joan Aiken was decorated with an MBE for her services to children's books. She died in 2004. Jan Pienkowski (Illustrator) Jan Pienkowski was born in Warsaw in 1936. After creating his first book at the age of eight, Jan went on to excel in his chosen field of design, working in such diverse areas as television, theatre and greetings cards. Published in 1968, A Necklace of Raindrops was the first of several wonderful collaborations between Jan and Joan Aiken - and it was also the very first book Jan illustrated. He has since twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration, and has created many instantly recognizable classics.

A wonderful new reissued edition of the classic Joan Aiken short story collection illustrated with Jan Pienkowski's iconic silhouettes. 
 
These East European fairytales have it all: drama, magic, heroes, fairies, dragons, mermaids, adventure, bravery and beauty...

The Odyssey

The ultimate adventure retold for children! 
 
Odysseus must battle his way home from war with the Greek Gods pitted against him. But what will he find when he gets there? 
 
From the gory tale of the Cyclops to the trickery of the Trojan Horse, Homer's classic, The Odyssey, is filled with stories of bravery, cleverness and heroism. This picture-book retelling of Odysseus's epic journey is the perfect introduction to this essential story. 
 
"Pienkowski is a genius" Independent

There are brightly collaged monsters aplenty in Jan Pienkowski and David Walser's condensed, powerful retelling of The Odyssey. Featuring a cocky Odysseus, colossal cut-paper gods and strong episodic storytelling, with each new adventure headed by a teasing couplet, it is bold and intensely satisfying for children and adults alike.

David Walser was born in 1937 in Singapore, where his father was serving in the R.A.F. Trapped in Indo-China by the outbreak of World War II, David Walser and his mother made a perilous escape back to England. He is a writer, translator, artist, and musician, and lives in London.

"Bold and intensely satisfying for children and adults alike" The Guardian 
 
The ultimate adventure retold for children! Odysseus must battle his way home from war with the Greek Gods pitted against him. But what will he find when he gets there? 
 
From the gory tale of the Cyclops to the trickery of the Trojan Horse, Homer's classic, The Odyssey, is filled with stories of bravery, cleverness and heroism. This picture-book retelling of Odysseus's epic journey is the perfect introduction to this essential story. 
 
"Pienkowski is a genius" Independent

Meg's Christmas

Oh no! A flood means that Christmas is looking doomed! 
 
Enter a spell, a surprise stay in a castle and a party to plan for - will Meg, Mog and Owl make it home for a very special Christmas Day? 
 
Packed with playful illustrations from Jan Pienkowski, Meg's Christmas is the perfect read for Christmas Eve. 
 
Can't get enough of Meg and Mog? Discover their other adventures: 
Meg's Mummy 
Meg Goes To Bed 
Meg &amp; Mog: Three Terrific Tales 
Meg Comes To School

David Walser (Author) 
 David Walser was born in 1937 in Singapore, where his father was serving in the R.A.F. Trapped in Indo-China by the outbreak of World War II, David Walser and his mother made a perilous escape back to England. He is a writer, translator, artist, and musician, and lives in London. 
 
Jan Pienkowski (Illustrator) 
 Jan Pienkowski was born in Warsaw in 1936. After creating his first book at the age of eight, Jan went on to excel in his chosen field of design, working in such diverse areas as television, theatre and greetings cards. Published in 1968, A Necklace of Raindrops was the first of several wonderful collaborations between Jan and Joan Aiken - and it was also the very first book Jan illustrated. For over forty years, he has also worked on the Meg and Mog books. He has since twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration, and has created many instantly recognizable classics.

Oh no! A flood means that Christmas is looking doomed! Enter a spell, a surprise stay in a castle and a party to plan for - will Meg, Mog and Owl make it home for a very special Christmas Day? 
 
Jan Pienkowski's bold, colourful artwork and instantly recognisable characters make this festive adventure for our favourite witch into a fun and satisfying read for the very young onwards.

Meg and the Romans

Meg and Mog meet a new friend - a Roman who is in need of help! But will Meg's spell get him to London? Find out in this colourful new adventure and find out more about what Romans were really like... 
 
The Meg and Mog books have been entertaining children for nearly forty-five years; with their vibrant and unique artwork - they are perfect for sharing together, reading alone, and exploring the colours, shapes and characters in the pictures.

David Walser (Author) 
David Walser was born in 1937 in Singapore, where his father was serving in the R.A.F. Trapped in Indo-China by the outbreak of World War II, David Walser and his mother made a perilous escape back to England. He is a writer, translator, artist, and musician, and lives in London. 
 
Jan Pienkowski (Illustrator) 
Jan Pienkowski was born in Warsaw in 1936. After creating his first book at the age of eight, Jan went on to excel in his chosen field of design, working in such diverse areas as television, theatre and greetings cards. Published in 1968, A Necklace of Raindrops was the first of several wonderful collaborations between Jan and Joan Aiken - and it was also the very first book Jan illustrated. For over forty years, he has also worked on the Meg and Mog books. He has since twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration, and has created many instantly recognizable classics.

Meg in the Jungle

In this new adventure, Meg, Mog and Owl explore the jungle, meet a friendly elephant, a sinister snake - and a tiger without any stripes! But can Meg's spell help or might things get a little more tricky for our hapless heroes? 
 
The Meg and Mog books have been entertaining children for over 40 years; with their vibrant and unique artwork - they are perfect for sharing together, reading alone, and exploring the colours, shapes and characters in the pictures.

David Walser (Author) David Walser was born in 1937 in Singapore, where his father was serving in the R.A.F. Trapped in Indo-China by the outbreak of World War II, David Walser and his mother made a perilous escape back to England. He is a writer, translator, artist, and musician, and lives in London. Jan Pienkowski (Illustrator) Jan Pienkowski was born in Warsaw in 1936. After creating his first book at the age of eight, Jan went on to excel in his chosen field of design, working in such diverse areas as television, theatre and greetings cards. Published in 1968, A Necklace of Raindrops was the first of several wonderful collaborations between Jan and Joan Aiken - and it was also the very first book Jan illustrated. For over forty years, he has also worked on the Meg and Mog books. He has since twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration, and has created many instantly recognizable classics.

Helen Nicoll

Jan Pienkowski

Samantha Bond

Penguin presents Meg and Mog Audio Collection by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski. 
 
Join Meg and Mog on their magical adventures with all their friends in this brand new collection of thirteen beloved stories. 
 
This new collection features narration from award winning actress Samantha Bond as well as specially commissioned sound effects and music which will delight Children of all ages. 
 
The stories featured in this collection are: 
 
Meg and Mog 
Meg's Eggs 
Meg at Sea 
Meg on the Moon 
Meg up the Creek 
Meg's Mummy 
Mog's Missing 
Meg goes to Bed 
Meg and Pirate 
Meg and the Dragon 
Meg in the Jungle 
Meg and the Roman's 
Meg's Christmas 
 
©2019 Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Jan Pienkowski

Meg and Mog Audio Collection

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