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Find out moreAre you a fan of Drama and the Performing Arts? Check out all our Drama / Performing Arts book selections, read reviews, download extracts and you can order the book too!
Discover the joy of dancing and the importance of family, whatever your culture, ability or style with Luna! When Luna dances, she feels like the world's volume turns up, like all colours brighten, like sunlight sparkles behind every cloud. But when she takes her dance exam she ducks, dives, spins and... falls. Luna thinks she can't be a real dancer now. Can Luna's family convince her otherwise? From the team that brought us Luna Loves Library Day, Luna Loves Art, and Luna Loves World Book Day, celebrate every culture and every style of dance with Luna, featuring a glorious fold out carnival page.
Rehearsals are under way for the big production of Hey Diddle Diddle, but poor Cow has the collywobbles and does not believe she could possibly jump over the moon and indeed there are spectacular failures! Rikin Parekh’s witty and lively illustrations will have young readers rolling in the aisles. He captures expressions of frustration, irritation, fear and embarrassment so perfectly. But this is not a story played just for laughs, it has a lovely message. Cow needs the support and encouragement of the troupe to give her the bravery to carry on trying. We will all be rooting for her too and the joy of succeeding at last will be felt by all. It is perhaps one of the most important life lessons for any child to learn. That it is OK to fail because life is a learning curve, but you should not be discouraged from trying again. A model example to use to discuss resilience and how we learn, but a genuinely heart-warming and funny story too.
Discover the joy of dancing and the importance of family, whatever your culture, ability or style with Luna! When Luna dances, she feels like the world's volume turns up, like all colours brighten, like sunlight sparkles behind every cloud. But when she takes her dance exam she ducks, dives, spins and... falls. Luna thinks she can't be a real dancer now. Can Luna's family convince her otherwise?
It’s time for the school play and two little people have their hearts set on starring roles. Little rabbit Olivia and young rhino Sam are both practising day and night and, sure enough, they get the best parts in ‘The Princess, the Knight and the Dragon’. Unfortunately, neither is happy. Olivia wanted to be the knight, not the princess, and playing the knight means that Sam won’t get to do any dancing. Fortunately, these two young performers are smart enough to work out ways to adapt their roles to suit their talents. Olivia and Sam are very endearing characters and their determination to be true to themselves will have all audiences applauding. A thoroughly entertaining picture book that delivers an important and empowering message.
With stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful people of the world. From designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world! Little People, Big Dreams series include: Ada Lovelace Agatha Christie Amelia Earhart Anne Frank Audrey Hepburn Coco Chanel Ella Fitzgerald Emmeline Pankhurst Frida Kahlo Georgia O’Keeffe Harriet Tubman Jane Austen Jane Goodall Josephine Baker Lucy Maud Montgomery Maria Montesorri Marie Curie Maya Angelou Mother Teresa Muhammed Ali Rosa Parks Simone de Beauvoir Stephen Hawking Vivienne Westwood We have a special category for the Little People, Big Dreams series. Click here to view them all.
The history of rock is chronicled through forty world-famous artists and groups in this stylishly designed and illustrated book. It begins with Elvis Presley, whirls through the psychedelic 60s and the protest songs of the 70s, then via glam rock and reggae takes us into the punk era, new wave and hip hop, leaving us with Beyoncé and Arcade Fire. It’s clearly a personal choice (Blur but not Oasis? And where are the queens of soul and disco?) but covers a huge range of styles and movements, and gives a real sense of the evolution of popular music. Each artist has a double page and they are represented via stylish, graphic illustrations accompanied by useful captions – dotted lines lead from Bob Dylan’s head to the words ‘Politically engaged’, while Elvis’s hips are labelled ‘provocative’. Fun, stylish and informative.
February 2018 Book of the Month | Hari lives in a biggish city in India with his sister and aunt. He’s always cheerful and enjoys helping support them all delivering tiffin boxes for the nearby take-away and running his own sweet-making business. He spends some of the proceeds on tickets to the cinema and particularly likes musicals. When he accidentally stumbles onto a real film set, his special talent is suddenly revealed: when Hari dances, everyone has to join in. It makes him a local celebrity then, with the help of his friend Mr Ram, Hari uses his gift to spread happiness further afield. The story is as tempting and delicious as Hari’s coconut barfi, and its engaging narrator will have readers almost convinced it’s a true story; the world would certainly be a better place if it was. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+.
Wannabe directors and thespians will love this fantastic box set filled with everything they need to put on a show. Expert tips and tricks for staging, costume, make-up and props, right the way though to sound and lighting will have them creating their own hit shows before long. Mixed together with lots of inspiration they'll have everything they need to create, direct and act in their own play. There is even a programme and tickets to colour in to advertise the big event. A brilliant gift for anyone who loves drama and storytelling. ~ Shelley Fallows - You can also find Shelley here.
Third hard-hitting book in the hit Rock War series about a Battle of the Bands showdown, by the bestselling author of CHERUB. Rock Wars is now at the halfway mark and only six bands remain. After “near financial collapse” following the contestants' “outrageous behaviour” and subsequent withdrawal of a sponsor, the show now has a brand new backer and has “risen Phoenix-like to become the most watched reality show on British telly”. But there's plenty of music to face offstage as well as on. With one foot still in the school of hard knocks, and the other in hard rock heaven, singer Summer has to get herself back on track after being hit by a motorbike. And cocky Theo’s spending more time mixing with (and winding up) moviemakers at film premieres, and Premier League players at nightclubs than at the mixing desk. And then there’s the shady matter of an undercover investigation, which just goes to show that ambition and fame comes at a cost. With its heady mix of glamour and grit, and a cast of characters who run the gamut from smart, self-aware cynics to easily led-astrays, this is a seriously addictive read. Put on your finest threads and dive into the mosh pit of a plot that has more pace than a speed metal B-side!
In a Nutshell: Battles | Humour | Music | Third hard-hitting book in the hit Rock War series about a Battle of the Bands showdown, by the bestselling author of CHERUB. Rock Wars is now at the halfway mark and only six bands remain. After “near financial collapse” following the contestants' “outrageous behaviour” and subsequent withdrawal of a sponsor, the show now has a brand new backer and has “risen Phoenix-like to become the most watched reality show on British telly”. But there's plenty of music to face offstage as well as on. With one foot still in the school of hard knocks, and the other in hard rock heaven, singer Summer has to get herself back on track after being hit by a motorbike. And cocky Theo’s spending more time mixing with (and winding up) moviemakers at film premieres, and Premier League players at nightclubs than at the mixing desk. And then there’s the shady matter of an undercover investigation, which just goes to show that ambition and fame comes at a cost. With its heady mix of glamour and grit, and a cast of characters who run the gamut from smart, self-aware cynics to easily led-astrays, this is a seriously addictive read. Put on your finest threads and dive into the mosh pit of a plot that has more pace than a speed metal B-side! ~ Joanne Owen
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Year 2015 - November 2015 Book of the Month Bravo for this brilliant and inspiring book! It takes lots of different people with lots of different skills to put on a play, and in this book the team at the National Theatre explain just how it’s done: from script to opening night, taking in rehearsals, set making, make-up, lighting, sound and music, and more, they explain how their different roles and the work they do combine to create a magical theatrical experience. There’s a huge amount of information packed in, with quotes and comments from the professionals involved, technical information, stats and facts, and tips for you to try at home. By the end readers will have a really good understanding of theatre and no doubt a burning desire to see more shows and to put on plays themselves. ~ Andrea Reece Also chosen by Andrea Reece as one of her Top Picks of 2015.
The amazing true story of how an orphan from Sierra Leone has become a major US ballet star. Michaela DePrince’s life began in a country wracked by conflict. Her parents died when she was a baby. Placed in an orphanage by her cruel uncle she saw acts of unspeakable violence all around her but was saved herself by the care and wisdom of the owner of the orphanage who found adoptive US parents for the children in his charge. Together with her friend from Sierra Leone, Michaela was adopted by a remarkable family who not only gave them a home but also enabled Michaela to fulfil her dream of becoming a ballet dancer. Michaela and her adoptive mother tell their story with energy and good humour.
