WINNER OF THE GUARDIAN AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S FICTION 'Warm and funny, this tale of a pint-size pig and the family he saves will take up a giant space in your heart' KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE 'What a consummate storymaker Nina Bawden is' MICHAEL MORPURGO 'Nina Bawden is a master at capturing the taste of growing up' NEW YORK TIMES 'D'ya want a peppermint pig, Mrs Greengrass?' Poll looked at the milkman, thinking of sweets, but there was a real pig poking its snout out of the milkman's coat pocket. It was the tiniest pig she had ever seen. 'What's a peppermint pig?' 'Runt of the litter. Too small for the sow to raise. He'd only get trampled in in the rush.' Mother took the pig from him and held it firmly while it kicked and squealed. 'Well, he seems strong enough. And even runts grow.' 'Oh,' Poll said. 'Oh, Mother.' She stroked the small, wriggling body. 'Theo,' she shouted, 'Look what we've got!' It is a difficult year for the Greengrasses. Poll's father has lost his job and gone overseas, the family are living off the charity of two aunts, and Poll and her brother Theo just can't seem to keep out of trouble. It takes a tiny, mischievous pig to bring laughter back into their lives. This is a collection of the best children's literature, curated by Virago, and will be coveted by children and adults alike. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie's War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving), E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Little Princess,The Secret Garden) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children's Classics.

A killer on the loose, a cunning amateur sleuth, and a trail of candy pigs… Determined to get on with her life and pursue her relationship with the gun-shy cop Brogan, Noel thinks she’s put sleuthing behind her. But when she discovers her best friend Skye murdered alongside a mysteriously shattered peppermint pig, Noel is once again thrown neck-deep into a murder investigation. Teaming up with Brogan on a mission to unravel the mystery behind Skye’s untimely death, Noel must weed out the true culprit and bring a cold-blooded killer to justice. But as she digs deeper, it quickly becomes clear that this case will be much more difficult than meets the eye… A sly shoplifter, a husband caught up in the throes of a bitter divorce, and a notorious homewrecker are all possible suspects. And as Noel gets closer to the truth, she discovers an elaborate plan that’s far more sinister than she ever could have imagined… Can Noel avenge her friend and catch her killer? Or will the true culprit outsmart her and slip away scot-free? If you adore cozy and whimsical who-dun-its with idyllic small towns, loveable amateur sleuths, and plenty of twists and turns along the way, then you’ll love Noel’s next adventure in Peril and a Peppermint Pig.

When the Second World War air raids threaten their safety in the city, Carrie and her brother Nick are evacuated to a small Welsh village. But the countryside has dangers and adventures of its own - and a group of characters who will change Carrie's life for ever. There's mean Mr Evans, who won't let the children eat meat; but there’s also kind Auntie Lou. There's brilliant young Albert Sandwich, another evacuee, and Mr Johnny, who speaks a language all of his own. Then there's Hepzibah Green, the witch at Druid’s Grove who makes perfect mince pies, and the ancient skull with its terrifying curse... For adults and young people aged eight and over. Emma Reeves has created a stunning stage adaptation of Nina Bawden’s much loved classic account of life as an evacuee in the 1940s, which opened at the Lillian Bayliss Theatre in November 2006. This edition includes teachers' notes and activities for classes based on the play.

Pigling sets off from home and, among his adventures, helps Pig-wig escape from Mr. Piperson. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

"I was nineteen years old, still soft at the edges, but with a confident belief in good fortune. I carried a small rolled-up tent, a violin in a blanket, a change of clothes, a tin of treacle biscuits, and some cheese. I was excited, vain-glorious, knowing I had far to go; but not, as yet, how far." Despite this romantic and optimistic opening, what Lee finds is the most primitive and feudal country in Europe, a peninsula untouched by the modern world, a land of labor without dignity, a church devoid of compassion, and a country ripe for revolutionary change.

Who but Russell Hoban could weave a tale of life’s pleasures and pain around a candy pig? And who but Quentin Blake could make the most poignant of stories so lighthearted and delightful? In this episodic picture book by an inimitable author-illustrator duo, a fantastic chain of events is triggered by the unacknowledged fall of a marzipan pig behind the sofa. We meet in quick succession a heartsick mouse, a lonely grandfather clock, an owl in love with a taxi meter, a worker bee, a fading hibiscus flower, a mouse who greets the dawn dancing, and finally a boy who guesses at the true relations between things. Appealing to the unsentimental yet sensitive nature of children, The Marzipan Pig is exquisitely attuned to the bittersweet wonder of life and to the sentience of all beings.

A collection of poems and traditional rhymes about food and eating includes categories such as popular treats, disgusting eating habits, and outrageous table manners. Reprint.