By the time the First World War ended in 1918, eight million people had died in what had been perhaps the most apocalyptic episode the world had known. This Very Short Introduction provides a concise and insightful history of the 'Great War', focusing on why it happened, how it was fought, and why it had the consequences it did. It examines the state of Europe in 1914 and the outbreak of war; the onset of attrition and crisis; the role of the US; the collapse of Russia; and the weakening and eventual surrender of the Central Powers. Looking at the historical controversies surrounding the causes and conduct of war, Michael Howard also describes how peace was ultimately made, and the potent legacy of resentment left to Germany.

When Goat offers to do the grocery shopping, Donkey knows that things might just get a little muddled! He writes out a list so that Goat will know exactly what to buy. But the market is such a dazzling place and Goat sees so many lovely things. Instead of apples, carrots, cabbages and ice cream, Goat buys a sun hat, an inflatable octopus, a trumpet and a pair of sunglasses decorated with strawberries! What ever will Donkey make of all the surprises that Goat has in his basket when he trots triumphantly back home? Goodness knows! A delightful duo — Goat and Donkey are ready to entertain children and parents everywhere.

Bean is a little rabbit. Although she's getting bigger every day, she is sure that she will never, ever be too big for her Cloth. So when Mummy and Daddy try to persuade her, very gently, that perhaps she can stop carrying Cloth everywhere with her, Bean decides she must hide Cloth in a safe place to protect it from being taken away. But the trouble with hiding things in very safe places is that they can't always be found again and Bean has to face her first bedtime without Cloth. Naturally, Bean doesn't like being without her Cloth but, day by day, she learns to let go. Then one day, a long time later when Bean is out playing with her friends, she sees a little baby fox cub cuddling her Cloth. Feeling happy for the little fox cub and not at all envious that he now has her Cloth makes Bean feel very grown up indeed!

This is a definitive collection of nursery rhymes, beautifully designed and illustrated by the influential artist, Harold Jones. This facsimile edition has been lovingly produced to recreate the look and feel of the first printing of this much-loved book, which was originally published in 1954.

Little Apple Goat is quite unusual — she loves eating fruit. Every year she waits patiently in the orchard for ripe apples, pears or cherries to fall to the ground. And she always spits the pips and stones over the hedge on her way home to her meadow. Plippety plip! On one day in Autumn, a storm blows across the farm and topples all the fruit trees in the orchard. The animals are all very upset, not least Little Apple Goat! But when Spring comes Little Apple Goat notices blossom showing over the top of the hedge. The animals are delighted to have a new orchard, but who could have planted it? Here's a clue: plippety plip! Featuring the same farm setting as used in Pond Goose and Scruff Sheep, Little Apple Goat tells the story of one eccentric little goat and how her actions — literally — bear fruit after a storm destroys the orchard that she loved so much.

Here is a collection of some of the most powerful and wonderful stories from the Old Testament. We can trace the lives of memorable Biblical characters across the generations including Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Ruth, Saul and David. Their lives are played out in turbulent times — and the drama of great floods, plagues, journeys, and battles is revealed to us through stories that have been retold with spirit and originality by Berlie Doherty. From this epic sweep, Berlie Doherty's narrative draws out the emotions of real men and women: their hopes and fears, grief and joy, fulfilment and suffering, compassion and betrayal. Berlie Doherty brings us to an understanding of the promises that these people keep and the mistakes they make. Through all this we discover more about God and our faith in him. Fully illustrated throughout by Jason Cockcroft with both sumptuous colour and evocative black and white artwork, this collection of Bible stories is a book to cherish.

Lots of exciting things are happening in the Sawdust household, and Olga da Polga is right in the thick of them. First of all she finds a strange jigsaw puzzle that looks good enough to eat, and then she discovers a mysterious visitor in the garden who thinks that she looks good enough to eat! How is Olga going to get out of this sticky situation? More crazy schemes and outrageous tall tales from the fantastic Olga da Polga.

Olga is delighted when the Sawdust family move her inside their house for the winter. She has her own box in the corner of the dining room where she spends her days watching the comings and goings in the house. But when she decides to do a spot of decorating, things don't go according to plan... More fun and mayhem from the outrageous Olga da Polga and all her garden friends.

This, the fourth edition of the Oxford Russian Dictionary, is an invaluable text for any serious student of Russian, or any Russian native speaker learning English. This edition also contains many enhancements, including new supplementary material with a correspondence section, grammar help, and extra sections on the pronunciation of Russian and English. The text has also been updated with hundreds of new words — in both the English and Russian sides of the dictionary — especially important given changes in language and culture over the last few years. These new words mean that the Oxford Russian Dictionary continues to be the leader in its field as the most comprehensive Russian dictionary available. The dictionary is also more accessible for Russian speakers, with the addition of contextualizations on the Russian-English side to help users select the most appropriate translation. There is an extensive guide to English grammar, written in Russian, and the Russian native speaker who wishes to use or understand American English is well catered for.

A complete intermediate course which develops essential language skills and introduces students to a wide range of exam tasks. Especially written and designed for young teenagers.

At Home with English contains progressive activities for your child to do at home. Each activity is carefully levelled for the 7-9 year old, the pages are clear, in full colour, and fun. They are an easy way to boost children's confidence at school — children can work their own way through the step-by-step activities, the instructions are simple, the test booklet is an added extra and no one can resist giving themselves a gold star!

Pippi Longstocking is nine years old. She has just moved into Villa Villekulla where she lives all by herself with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase full of gold coins. The grown-ups in the village try to make Pippi behave in ways that they think a little girl should, but Pippi has other ideas. She would much rather spend her days arranging wild, exciting adventures to enjoy with her neighbours, Tommy and Annika, or entertaining everyone she meets with her outrageous stories. Pippi thinks nothing of wrestling a circus strongman, dancing a polka with burglars, or tugging a bull's tail. Generations of children have fallen in love with Pippi Longstocking. Just like Tommy and Annika, readers are instantly charmed by her warmth and sense of fun. Astrid Lindgren's children's classic first appeared in 1945. Astrid once commented, 'I write to amuse the child within me, and can only hope that other children may have some fun that way, too.' When she was growing up, Lauren Child loved Astrid Lindgren's books. She remembers: 'I discovered Pippi when I was about eight years old and found her completely inspiring.' Known and loved as the creator of some equally feisty little girls — notably Clarice Bean and Lola — Lauren has brought her own inimitable style to this beautifully-illustrated edition of Pippi Longstocking.

Whoosh Around the Mulberry Bush starts with children dancing round the mulberry bush and then sets off around the world to show all sorts of animal capers, including hens pecking around the chicken coop, monkeys swinging around the jungle vines, polar bears and arctic hares sliding around the icicles, and zebras kicking their heels around the waterhole. The text can be sung to the rhythm of 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush'. Children will love copying the actions and noises that the animals make and while they're enjoying all the fun of joining in, they will have the opportunity to learn something of world habitats and wildlife.

Winnie decides she needs a seaside break, so she and Wilbur zoom off to the coast. Winnie makes a beeline for the sea to cool down. Wilbur makes a beeline for anywhere other than the sea — he hates water, and can't bear getting wet. Winnie is having so much fun in the water that she doesn't notice her broomstick being washed out to sea. She waves her magic wand in an attempt to get the broomstick back but it doesn't really go according to plan. The mix of magic and mayhem that follows involves a surfer and a whale and, predictably, it's poor Wilbur who gets the worst of things...In this paperback with audio CD edition, children can listen to the story with accompanying music and sound effects that really transport listeners to the seaside!

If you love a good story, then look no further. Oxford Children's Classics bring together the most unforgettable stories ever told. They're books to treasure and return to again and again. Meet the boy who can find trouble without even looking. At school, at home, in church and outdoors, if there's mischief afoot, Tom Sawyer will be in the thick of it!

If you love a good story, then look no further. Oxford Children's Classics bring together the most unforgettable stories ever told. They're books to treasure and return to again and again. Orphan Anne has always dreamed of being part of a proper family. So when she's chosen to go and live with the Cuthberts, life looks grand. But the Cuthberts wanted a little boy to help them on Green Gables farm, not a girl. They cannot keep her.

If you love a good story, then look no further. Oxford Children's Classics bring together the most unforgettable stories ever told. They're books to treasure and return to again and again. Christina is sent to live with her uncle in his country house, Flambards, and knows from the moment she arrives that she'll never fit in. Her uncle is fierce and domineering and her cousin, Mark, is selfish — but despite all this, Christina discovers a passion for horse-riding and finds a true friend in Will. What Christina has yet to realize, though, is the important part she has to play in the future of this strange household...

If you love a good story, then look no further. Oxford Children's Classics bring together the most unforgettable stories ever told. They're books to treasure and return to again and again. The Baskerville family has been haunted for generations by a fearsome hound — a phantom beast with blazing eyes and dripping jaws. Surely it is just a legend? Then Sir Charles is found mysteriously dead in the grounds of Baskerville Hall. It is time to bring in Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, to discover the truth about the family curse...

If you love a good story, then look no further. Oxford Children's Classics bring together the most unforgettable stories ever told. They're books to treasure and return to again and again. Mowgli is found in the jungle by wolves, who bring him up as one of their own. The jungle is no easy place to live for a man-cub, and Mowgli must learn its secrets from Baloo the bear, Bagheera the black panther and Kaa the python. But their lessons cannot protect Mowgli from every danger — will he escape from his kidnap by the Monkey-People? And can he get the better of the evil tiger, Shere Khan?

If you love a good story, then look no further. Oxford Children's Classics bring together the most unforgettable stories ever told. They're books to treasure and return to again and again. Times are hard for the March sisters — their father's away at war and the family is short of money — but these girls don't dwell on such matters and always look on the bright side. Whether it's performing a play or getting on with day-to-day chores, the sisters can find the fun in any situation — but what fate holds in store for the girls, only time will tell.