Youth

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. ‘Now he found out a new thing – namely, that to promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing.’ An idyllic snapshot of a boy’s childhood along the banks of the Mississippi River, Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is the author’s work that comes closest to his boyhood experiences of growing up in Hannibal in the 1840s. Mischievous and full of energy, Tom enjoys childish pranks and pastimes with his friends, Huck Finn, the town outcast and Joe Harper, his best friend. However, at the town graveyard, Huck and Tom witness a murder, carried out by local vagabond Injun Joe. They vow never to tell a soul about what they have seen and so begins their journey into adulthood as Tom wrestles with his own morality, guilt and anxiety. A ‘coming of age’ tale, it is through Tom’s adventures and relationships with others that he becomes more responsible and more aware of his own inner conflict. Through the central characters of Tom and Huck, Twain satirises the moral rigidity of society and adult hypocrisy, whilst at the same time giving a nostalgic portrayal of a young boy’s journey into adulthood.

At the time when the Earth was still young, it was up to the heroes to carry out the most difficult, or even impossible tasks. And first among them was Hercules, who went to fetch the gold of the West: the golden apples, guarded on their tree by the Hesperides and Ladon, their serpent-watchman.

The Atlas of Great Journeys allows readers to follow in the footsteps of the most daring adventurers as they set out to explore the unknown. Fascinating original map illustrations show the world's greatest journeys, and lavishly illustrated fact pages tell the stories of each expedition - what dangers they faced, how long they travelled, and much more. As well as amazing illustrated maps and stories, this book has a unique Augmented Reality component that magically brings these journeys to life. Use your tablet or phone on each map spread to trace the routes they took and read about every stage of their journeys.

"Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are the Lennon and McCartney of children's publishing" Sunday Times This fabulous picture book from superstar author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is a riot of slapstick fun and silliness. The Baddies are the meanest, nastiest ghost, witch and troll in the land. They just adore being bad, and fight over who is the worst.

When a little girl moves into a nearby cottage, the Baddies can't wait to scare her out of her wits. But the little girl quickly shows them that you don't have to be big to be brave, and baddies don't always win. A brilliant paperback edition for new and old fans alike Perfect read-aloud rhyming text and stunning pictures on every page with lots of details to spot Julia and Axel are the team that have created picture book favourites such as The Gruffalo, Stick Man, Zog and The Smeds and The Smoos - all of which have been made into animated films premiering on BBC1 Christmas Day More praise for The Baddies: '[The Baddies] is every bit as charming and wonderful and funny as you'd imagine' Nihal Arthanyake, BBC Radio 5 Live 'A mean ghost, witch and troll try, yet hilariously fail, to frighten a girl in this brilliant new tale from the superstar picture book duo' The Bookseller 'Keeps little ones grinning and guffawing from the first colour-soaked page to the last hilarious line of this fresh, funny and exuberant rhyming story ...

With Donaldson's heartwarming, inspirational messages about being brave and standing up to bullies, a wise and enchanting story in a rhyme perfectly created for reading aloud, and Scheffler's stunning and richly detailed illustrations providing lots to spot on every page, this is a creative partnership made in children's reading heaven!' Lancashire Evening Post

Theres no other place Tubs Marshfield would rather be than singing a song in his perfect little swamp along the Louisiana bayou. His music can make anyone feel happy. But something terrible is happening within the swamp that even Tubs songs cant fixand its making his neighbors feel sick! No one knows what to do, least of all Tubs. A mysterious prophecy may hold the keyor send Tubs away from his friends forever.

The famous Battle of Marathon
Which took place in 490 BC,
ended with the victory of the Greeks
and saved freedom and democracy.

Easy to understand and illustrated with humor,
These classic Greek stories will delight
And inform young readers
Making learning fun!

Once upon a time, in fact it was Tuesday, the Bear wandered into the woods. It was fall, but winter would soon be here, and he could feel that it was time to hibernate, so he did. But when he awoke what had happened? The trees were gone, the grassy glades were gone, the flowers were gone, and in their place were buildings, vehicles, a fenced-off courtyard. The Bear had no idea that he was in the middle of a factory, and he was even more astonished when a man appeared and yelled, Get back to work! I don't work here, said the Bear, I'm a bear. And the man laughed and laughed. That's a fine excuse for a man to keep from doing work--saying he's a bear. And so it began and so it went, with the Bear protesting his bearness all the way to the top, and no one willing to believe that he wasn't just a silly man who needs a shave and wears a fur coat. How the Bear endured and how he finally prevailed are the subject of this delightful modern fairy tale, beautifully illustrated by the author's bold line drawings, about how difficult standing up for yourself can be.

Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex's first children's book, The Bench, beautifully captures the special relationship between father and son, as seen through a mother's eyes. The book's storytelling and illustration give us snapshots of shared moments that evoke a deep sense of warmth, connection, and compassion.

The new cub in the neighborhood, Lizzy Bruin, is the same age as Sister Bear--and she's also just as bossy. After a fight threatens their budding friendship, both cubs learn that you can't always have your own way if you want to have friends. Full-color illustrations.