Shirley Hughes

When Abel Grable returns home to his family, he is full of thrilling tales of his adventures in wild places. Tell us again! Tell us again! plead his little sons. So, sitting at his writing table under the apple tree, Abel writes down his stories, tales that will stay with his boys long after he is gone away again...

Alfie's Nursery School is right next door to the Big School. Alfie wishes that he could be friends with the most popular big boy, Ian Barger, but Ian never takes any notice of the little kids. One morning, Mum takes Alfie to a Plant Pot Sale. Alfie hasn't been there long when he spots Ian Barger screaming and yelling, 'I want my mummy'.

Any old weather is Alfie weather, and as Alfie demonstrates, there's always lots to do come rain or shine. Whether it's exploring frozen puddles on a frosty winter's day or wading in a cool stream on a hot summer's afternoon, Alfie's world is a great place to be!

Annie Rose and Alfie have lots of games they like to play together, like being scary monsters with Bernard, or running their own shop. But there are some things Annie Rose is too little to do and even some things Alfie would rather do without her. But if Annie Rose is ever sad or cross there is only one person who can make her feel better...her big brother. This is Shirley Hughes at her best - warm and wonderfully observed illustrations, and a touching text about the special bond between siblings.

Drip-drip, drip-drip, drip-drip! It was raining inside the house! Mum and Dad have gone out for the night and Maureen MacNally is baby-sitting Alfie and Annie Rose. But suddenly, it is raining inside! The drip turns into a downpour and Alfie helps Maureen and her parents to stop the flood. He also helps Annie Rose with her own damp patches!

When nearly grown-up George comes to babysit Mick, Jenny, and their baby sister Sue for the day, there is lots and lots to do around the house. While George attempts to create order, the children follow on behind creating even more chaos

As Lenny's father goes off to fight in the second world war, he gives his son a brass badge with a lion and a unicorn on it. Lenny keeps it with him when bombs are dropped on his street and when he has to be evacuated to a big house in the country. He misses his parents a great deal, and the other children there and at school are spiteful in teasing him. But, he finds a secret walled garden to escape to with a stone unicorn. Here, he meets the wounded soldier, Mick and learns again how hard it is to be brave. It is the unicorn who finally rescues him from his sadness and loneliness and proves itself to be his guardian angel by bringing his mother to him.

Sally discovers a very special place to make a secret house, but her happiness only becomes complete when she shares her secret with Rose.

This is an unusual but beautiful collection of poems, prose and wordless picture stories to celebrate the winter season. Throughout the book Hughes' vibrant and sensitive illustrations of wintery scenes link the stories seamlessly.

The trouble with having a brother like Jack, is not only that he's messy and ruins all of Nancy's toys, but he is also extremely good at causing chaos at other people's birthday parties.

This is the magical story of a little girl whose wish to fly finally comes true, much to the alarm of the grown-ups. This is a wordless story that is truly delightful - a triumph in true classic Shirley Hughes style.