The Marvellous Inventions of Marmaduke Mouse
‘‘I couldn’t stop reading it!’
– Toby, aged 10
‘Everyone’s bookshelf should be crammed with it!’
– Tia, aged 10
‘Funny and anarchic’
– Imogen Foxell, illustrator
‘Laughed out loud in places; grinned the whole way through.’
– Dory, mum.
Bored stiff at school, eleven-year-old Noah finds relief when a flamboyant inventor mouse called Marmaduke appears from under his bed and declares Noah to be his chosen assistant. Marmaduke takes Noah down into Mouseland where the inventor’s wacky creations – an exploding marshmallow, a machine that turns shoes into ice-lollies, an out-of-control trampoline, and more – get them into sticky scrapes with Mouseland’s grumpy Mayor. But when things start going seriously wrong at school, Noah wonders whether Marmaduke will come up with an invention to save the day, or simply make his life an even messier muddle.
Sample Chapter >
Detailed Synopsis
Tolstoy’s Sea Stories for Children
When years ago, Carol Peaker came across Tolstoy’s children’s stories, she noted that few of them had been published in English, and none recently. The stories she has collected and lovingly translated all have the sea as a common theme, and suggest resilience and hope.
Sample Story:
The Little Swan
A flock of swans flew from the cold north to sunny warmer lands. It was a long journey, and they flew for many days and many nights, over the water and across the sea. Above they could see the full moon, and far, far below, they could see deep blue water. They grew tired from flapping their wings, but they didn’t stop, they flew on.
At the head of the flock flew swans who were old and strong. At the rear, flew the young and weaker swans. At the very back, flew one young swan who had lost his strength completely. At last he gave his wings one last flap and then could fly no longer.
With wings outstretched, he descended, down, down, towards the sea. His friends grew more and more distant, and shone like silver in the moonlight. When he landed on the water he folded his wings and rested. Beneath him, the sea rose and fell, rocking him to and fro. In the twinkling sky, he could see his flock, a tiny white line in the distance. The hum of their wings could barely be heard. When they had disappeared completely, the swan tucked his head under his wing and closed his eyes. He didn’t stir, but the broad waves lifted him up and down.
Before dawn, a gentle breeze rippled the water. Little waves splashed against the swan’s breast. He opened his eyes. Dawn was blushing rose in the east, and the moon and the stars had grown pale. The swan sighed, stretched out his neck and raised himself, flapping his wings. Skimming the water, he began to fly. Higher and higher he rose, until, all alone, he soared high above the dark, rolling waves.
By Lev Tolstoi
Translated by Carol Peaker
For more information, please email Carol Peaker here.
