Sam befriends a young swan and calls her Lizzie. As they journey along the River Thames Lizzie helps Sam's family, learns she belongs to the Queen and finds kindness along the way. She becomes a stage celebrity, but most importantly she gets home safe and sound after her adventures.
An exciting journey along the River Nile in Egypt leads Ben (15) and Ellie (12) and their family to unlock the secrets of an artist's past. The quest starts in an old box sold at a country auction in the summer holidays. Clues in a camel's hump help the cousins unravel the mysteries as they follow the route taken by a traveller 60 years before and make discoveries her family didn't know about. The adventure ends in London with money to spend and a piano recital at the Ritz Hotel.