"Why are you walking, not flying? Doesn't it take longer that way?" Academy Award nominee, Danny Glover, tells the story of a sad bird who has decided to walk instead of fly. Enhanced with music and lyrics by Michael Raphael, this archetypal story of resilience and transformation offers healing for children and adults who have been traumatized. Melvinna Melrose Johnson performs as Bird with Kevin Maynor as Horse accompanied by the TAOC Arkeste under the direction of Julius Williams.
Pete the Bee Book 1 is a collection of five light hearted stories for young children to enjoy. Pete the Bee lives in a barn on a rescue farm with his friends, Farmer Geoff and his four daughter.
High above the city, on a tall column, stands the statue of the Happy Prince. He is gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he has two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glows on his sword-hilt. He is very much admired by the town officials yet a lot of poor people suffer here. One day a swallow who was left behind after his flock flew off to Egypt for the winter stops to sleep over under the statue of the Happy Prince and forms a lasting friendship with the Happy Price who helps the swallow discover the meaning of true happiness. Read in English, unabridged.
A nightingale finds a young romantic student in tears because he cannot find a red rose for his beautiful ball partner. There are no red roses in the garden. The nightingale visits all the rose-trees in the area, and one of the roses tells her there is a way to produce a red rose, but only if the nightingale is prepared to sing the sweetest song for the rose all night with her heart pressing into a thorn, sacrificing her life. Seeing the student in tears, and valuing his human life above her bird life, the nightingale carries out the ritual. Read in English by Josh Verbae, unabridged.
Perpetual winter comes to a beautiful garden of the selfish giant who erected a wall around it to stop children playing in the garden. Unexpected consequences follow. The birds stop singing in this garden and both trees and flowers stop blossoming. One day discovers that spring has returned to the garden, as the children have found a way in through a gap in the wall. He sees the error of his ways, and resolves to destroy the wall. Read in English by Josh Verbae, unabridged.
Little Hans spends most of his time gardening and makes a living from sales of his beautiful flowers. Little Hans always treats his neighbours well and even allows neighbouring rich Miller to pick flowers from his garden. But the Miller rarely invites Hans into his house or responds in kind. The Miller instead develops has his own philosophy of friendship: 'Lots of people act well but very few people talk well, which shows that talking is much the more difficult thing of the two, and much the finer thing also'. Read in English, unabridged.
Set in a magical kingdom where a wealthy prince and a Russian princess meet for the first time and fall madly in love with each other. Their wedding is to be a huge celebration for the entire realm, with all sorts of entertainment, including fireworks as a grand finale. As soon as various firework elements are set in place they start talking amongst each other and we meet the very distinguished Remarkable Rocket responsible for so many of Oscar Wilde's memorable epigrams. 'I like to do all of the talking myself. It saves time and prevents arguments.' Read in English, unabridged.
In this collection of beautifully written modern fairy tales Oscar Wilde does not fail to both entertain with humorous characters and witty dialogue and at the same time deliver a subtle yet very potent message about some of the most human qualities such as true friendship, true happiness, selfishness, ignorance, playfulness and love. Some of the most famous epigrams of Oscar Wilde come from the characters in these tales. This volume includes: The Happy Prince, The Nightingale And the Rose, The Selfish Giant, The Devoted Friend, The Remarkable Rocket. Read in English, unabridged.
When Jack trades the family cow for a handful of magic beans, a giant beanstalk grows in his yard. After climbing up the beanstalk, Jack spies a castle off in the distance. Adventure and hilarity awaits as Jack navigates the dangers and riches within the Giant's castle.
There Was an Old Woman (Who Lived in a Shoe): What do you do when you live in a shoe? Save up some loot and move to a boot! There Was a Crooked Man: Everything is a little crooked in this silly rhyme everyone loves to recite.
Cuddle up with your little one and laugh along with these fantastical re-imaginings of familiar nursery rhymes. You will fall in love with the adorable illustrations and sweet verse in these charming versions of the classic children's rhymes.
Once upon a time two poor Woodcutters were making their way home through a great pine-forest. It was winter, and a night of bitter cold. The snow lay thick upon the ground, and upon the branches of the trees: the frost kept snapping the little twigs on either side of them, as they passed: and when they came to the Mountain-Torrent she was hanging motionless in air, for the Ice-King had kissed her. Read in English, unabridged.
