Books with author NEIL PHILI ISABELLE BRENT (ILLUSTRATOR)

This sparkling collection of fairy tales captures the true spirit of Christmas – a mixture of magic, fantasy and joy. It opens with Hans Andersen’s moving story, ‘The Book of Fairy Tales,’ and also features two other Andersen tales, ‘The Fir Tree,’ and ‘The Last Dream of the Old Oak Tree,’ specially translated for this edition. Ruth Sawyer’s joyous ‘Schnitzle, Schnotzle, and Schnootzle,’ and Alf Prøysen’s witty ‘Father Christmas and the Carpenter,’ are two classic modern tales to stand beside such enchanted favourites as ‘The Nutcracker’ by E.T.A. Hoffmann, and the Russian legend of ‘Babushka and the Three Wise Men.’ All are beautifully illustrated by Isabelle Brent, whose gold-leaf pictures glow with seasonal cheer.

The Little Mermaid is one of the most haunting love stories ever written. Its author, Hans Christian Andersen, is a master storyteller whose tales have withstood the test of time and have been shared across borders and languages. In this sparkling anthology 17 of his creations are enchantingly retold for children today by Neil Philip. Many of his most popular tales are here: The Tinderbox, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and The Little Match Girl. Read about Little Ida who dared to dance at night with the flowers, the young prince who searched for a mysterious bell deep in the forest, and the very vain emperor who was cruelly tricked by wicked thieves. There are also some less-well known stories that will delight a new generation of children including Five Peas from the Same Pod, The Goblin at the Grocer’s, The Flying Trunk and The Beetle. Originally the son of a poor shoemaker, the secret of Andersen’s success is that he wrote his stories as if he were telling them to a child. None of the original magic has been lost in this joyful new edition, ideal to read aloud or for older readers to enjoy discovering by themselves. Delightfully illustrated with Isabelle Brent’s magical watercolours, lavishly embellished with gold decorations.

In this Romanian folk version of the Noah story, getting the animals to march, two by two, onto the ark is the easy part. It’s Noah’s stubborn wife who insists that she’s staying on dry land. Frustrated, Noah finally declares, “Oh, you devil, come in!” and not only persuades his reluctant wife but also gives the Devil himself the invitation he needed to come aboard.Master storyteller Neil Philip retells the familiar tale of Noah with numerous witty folktale twists. Filled with adventure and humor, the story is richly illustrated in watercolor with sparkling gold leaf accents. Author’s note.

This small treasure of a prayer book includes 58 short, accessible selections from all over the world, divided into thematic sections and richly illustrated. Prayers of the great world religions mix with tribal chants, folk rhymes, and poems of praise and devotion to celebrate morning and evening, the beauty of the natural world, loving, giving, and grace. Together the selections convey a strong sense of the intrinsic kinship of all humanity.Isabelle Brent’s opulent illustrations, with glowing gold highlights and illuminated initials, were inspired by the art in medieval Books of Hours. This unique and joyous collection will appeal to a wide range of readers; the small size and ribbon marker make it a perfect gift, just right for private meditation. Introduction, acknowledgments.

The world of fairy tales is one that we all love to enter. Many of these stories had been told for centuries, delighting children and adults alike with their mixture of magic, mystery, and truths older even than the stories themselves. Here twenty best-loved tales by the famous German storytellers, the Brothers Grimm, are retold for the enjoyment of children today. As well as many old favourites, other tales of magic and enchantment are included, such as The Musicians Bremen, Hans the Hedgehog, and Clever Elsie. Neil Philip’s retelling tries to capture some of the immediacy and sparkle of the living storyteller’s voice. The language is fresh and direct, and the pace is lively. Isabelle Brent’s detailed illustrations decorate the pages beautifully.