Magical Animals at Bedtime: Tales of Joy and Inspiration for You to Read with Your Child

From Aesop's Fables to shamanic totems, animals have long been at the centre of our imaginative world, providing wise insights. In many tribal cultures, animals underpin the spiritual world and are honoured as advisers. This delightful new collection of stories at bedtime features inspiring, funny and enlightening animals from all over the world. Here you will find the firefly who can't find his fire, the baby kangaroo who's ashamed he hasn't yet learned to hop and a condor who lives atop a temple at Machu Picchu in Peru and helps to rescue a lost girl. You will also discover amazing legendary creatures including a fire-breathing dragon who just wants a friend and a beautiful unicorn who teaches a spoilt princess the joy of sharing. The stories will not only excite your child's imagination: they also explore issues your child may well encounter in his or her daily life, including coping with shyness and managing change. 'Magical Messages' at the end of each tale help to highlight its positive message. Designed to be read either by parents to their children or by children on their own, these lovely narratives focus the child's mind and provide a soothing transition into sleep or to give food for thought during daytime reading.

Lou Kuenzler has a background in theatre direction and is now a successful children's writer. Her books include The Ugly Egg and, for Watkins, Angels at Bedtime and Fairies at Bedtime. Andrew Weale has travelled the world with his own theatre company. A popular children's author, he now lectures for an MA course on picture books. His previous books include Nora: The Girl Who Ate and Ate and One Newt in a Suit.