"A World Full of Spooky Stories" by Angela McAllister and Madalina Andronic (Frances Lincoln Children's Books)

Story anthologies really seem to be making something of a comeback, which actually delights us no end - as for me these were the sort of books I grew up with, and for C it means you get way more stories than usual in a nice large format hardback.

"A World Full of Spooky Stories" by Angela McAllister and Madalina Andronic is a peerless collection of 50 tales from right across the world. Tales that dance with the dark side of myth and legend, introducing beautiful heroines, mighty heroes, and all manner of strange creatures and dark magic.

Some tales will be familiar to you, but others feel fresh and original, and are deftly reworked by Angela with glorious characterful artwork by Madalina.

From the fearsome witch Baba Yaga to the slithery serpent woman from Spain, the rescue of Tam Lin from the bewitching Queen of the Fairies to the story of how Father Death gets caught in the Enchanted Apple Tree.