Here are five original stories of mystery and enchantment, composed after the author spent time travelling alongside the Maasai through the Great Rift Valley. The stories weave in the special spirituality of the Maasai warriors and range from the poignant story of the white elephant who never forgets human kindness to a tale of the Leopard God of Rain and the remarkable spell used to find him. The stories included are: The Warrior and the Moon Nasira and the White Elephant The Road of Stars Sendeyo and the Rain God Footprints in the Wind Accompanied by Evie Safarewicz's dramatic and lucid watercolours and a glossary and note on the Maasai, this is a thought-provoking and imaginative book that children will love to listen to and read. Key stage 1. English and Reading. 5 to 7 year olds.

Chinye's callous stepmother sends her out into the dark forest to fetch water. Terror lurks behind every tree and ghostly figures cross her path, but there are even stranger surprises at her journey's end - gold and prosperity for the person who chooses well, whirlwind destruction for the greedy. Key stage 1 7 2. English and Reading.  5 to 11year olds.

Set in ancient Egypt, this is the adventure story of how Pepi, armed with his knowledge of secret names, brings models of the animal gods to life. The book has been shortlisted for the 1994 Primary English Picture Book Award and the Children's Book Award 1995. key stage 2. English, Reading and History. 7 to 11 year olds.

A poetry collection from Benjamin Zephaniah, celebrating the diversity of British society. There are 12 poems altogether, each one about a child in his or her home environment. The children are from a range of different cultures and challenge traditional perceptions of the way children live. Ke stage 1 & 2. English & Reading.

Set in the African savannah, this is the story of Joseph, a young boy who makes friends with a lion and his family and joins in their way of life. One day traders come looking for the lion cubs and Joseph learns that danger is not always where you think. Key stage 1 & 2. English an Reading. 5 to 11 year olds.

The adventures of a little boy who lives high in the mountains of Tibet. The boy dreams of visiting other countries when he grows up, but instead he becomes a woodcutter, and soon his life is over. On his journey through death and back to life, he travels much further than his earthly life. Inspired by The Tibetan Book of the Dead, this book combines simple language and dazzling pictures to introduce children to reincarnation. Key stage 2 & 3. English, Reading, PSHE and RE. 7 to 14 year olds.  Highly recommended.

This swashbuckling collection of pirate tales is brimful with drama and adventure on the high seas. Young children will meet fierce characters such as the captain in the German tale, Kobold and the Pirates; others, like young Mochimitsu, in the Japanese tale, are friendly and funny. They will also meet the infamous lady pirate, Grace O’Malley, one of Ireland’s most feared pirates. Specially compiled for young readers, these tales are perfect for reading aloud. Key stage 1 & 2. English & Reading. 5 to 11 year olds.

This lively collection of rhymes for small children has been gathered from islands all over the Caribbean; including, Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, Tobago and the Bahamas. Some of the rhymes are old, some are new, but all reflect the lilting sounds and the vibrant culture of the Caribbean. Full of jokes and bursting with colour, this is a counting book with a difference.  Early years and Key stage 1. 0 to 7 year olds.

Elena's parents have left her to look after her baby brother. She soon tires of this and leaves him to go off to play. When she comes back to find him gone, she realizes that the black geese have carried him off to Baba Yaga, the terrible witch of the forest!  Key stage 1 & 2. English & Reading.

Two spirit people fall to the earth and bake clay figures to keep them company. This picture book is based on a traditional West African story that explains how people of different colours were created. Eric Maddern has also written "Earth Story" and Frane Lessac has illustrated "My Little Island".  Key stage 1 & 2. English & Reading.

A young African boy watches a shooting star falling for his Mama's new baby. The whole village comes together to provide gifts for mother and child. But when he sees his papa smiling at the baby's tiny hands which are just like Papa's own hands, his heart grows dark, like a night with no moon. At last he asks, "Papa, are you really my Papa too?" Set against the backdrop of a rural South African village, Mennen's lyrical text coupled with Daly's evocative illustrations are filled with light and darkness; friendship and community spirit; love and hope, telling the universal story of a young boy's journey to discover his own place in the world. Key stage 1 & 2. English & Reading.

The walls of Eastern Europe have recently crumbled to reveal fascinating hidden cultures. To reflect this more open perspective, here is a collection of little-known folk tales from Poland, Slovakia, Russia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Romania. The seven elegantly told and beautifully illustrated tales create a timely collection to stimulate children's interest in their European neighbours. Key stage  2. English & Reading.

To Grace, family has always meant her Ma, her Nana and a cat called Paw-Paw, so when Papa invites her to visit him in The Gambia, she dreams of finding the kind of fairy-tale family she has read about in stories. But, as Nana reminds her, families are what you make them. Key stage 1 & 2. English & Reading.

One of a series relating the life stories of some of history's most influential men and women. This story of Mahatma Gandhi is supported by historical evidence, and aims to encourage children to think about him and the events and achievements that made him famous. Key stage  2. English, Reading, History,  PSHE & Citizenship.

'Leading Lives' is a series aimed at secondary school students. Each book in the series focuses on a leading figure, explores his or her life and achievements and considers the links between that individual and the history and events of the time.  Key stage 3 & 4. English, Reading, History, PSHE & Citizenship.

The animals' games with litter nearly lead to disaster, so they decide to clean up their pond. Colourful clothes representing cultures from all over the world will help children from many different backgrounds to identify with characters in this beautifully illustrated tale. Key stage 1 & 2. English, Reading and PSHE. 5 to 11 year olds.

When her family moves to California from Korea, Young Ju Park grows from a child to adolescence in her new home, and finds a surprising new voice that's neither Korean nor American but uniquely her own. Key stage 3  & 4. English, Reading, PSHE & Citizenship. 11 to 16 year olds.

During World War II, a young Japanese-American boy and his family are sent to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despondent in their desolate surroundings, father and son pull the camp together to build a baseball diamond and form a league. Key stage 1 & 2. English, Reading & PSHE. 5 to 11 year olds.

Neel loves listening to Chachaji's stories of great Hindu gods and demons, and of his adventures in the Indian Army, over steaming cups of tea. Chachaji’s Cup is a story of a family and a country split in two during the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. Key stage 1 & 2. English, Reading, PSHE & Citizenship. 5 to 11 year olds.

A courageous story chronicles the life of the author and her family in their native Laos and their eventual emigration to the United States. Key stage 3 & 4. English, Reading, Geograhy and History. 11 to 16 year olds.