Anthea Bell

Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can "read" fictional characters to life whenever he reads books. While reading Inkheart, one of the characters escapes from the pages of the book and lands in Meggie's living room. Now the adventure begins.

On Christmas Eve, Marie finds a Nutcracker doll among the family's gifts and is charged by her parents to take special care of it. Under the cover of darkness, the Nutcracker comes to life, along with an evil Mouse King with seven heads, introducing Marie to the magical world of toys, and the brave Nutcracker who will change her life forever. E. T. A. Hoffman's timeless and whimsical tale has become a Christmas classic since it was first published...

After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, Firedrake, a silver dragon, is joined by a brownie and an orphan boy in a quest to find the legendary valley known as the Rim of Heaven, encountering friendly and unfriendly creatures along the way, and struggling to evade the relentless pursuit of an old enemy.

Despite being neglected by the emperor for a jewel-studded bird, the little nightingale revives the dying ruler with its beautiful song.