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A bird dancing, an ox on a roof, flowers doing a waltz, a swan twirling about… what world is this? This is the magical world of ballet. The stage is full of people in colourful costumes, but nobody speaks. All the stories are told by music and dancing.

Composers have written such exciting pieces for ballet: listen to this collection and see which ones you like best!

‘Da-da-da-DAAAAH, Da-da-da-DAAAAH’: listen to track 7 and see if you recognise that music! It’s one of the most famous pieces of classical music ever written. There are some animals here, too – an elephant and a swan. And right at the end, guess which boy wizard joins the party… Come and join it too!

My First Classical Music Book is a delightfully colourful introduction to classical music, designed to fire the imagination of children aged 5-7 years. Readers are asked to think about the different places in which we might hear music. Then, each of the major composers and musical instrument families are introduced and brought to life in a vivid and enchanting way. Throughout the book, children are referred to the accompanying audio CD so that they can hear examples as they read. This is the most exceptional book of its kind, providing an absorbing experience for both eyes and ears.

* An interactive and original approach that makes learning fun

* 60 attractively designed pages with amusing animal characters – children will discover something new and quirky every time they pick up the book

Listen to the piano turn into a bumblebee, a donkey, trolls, a bird, a horse and a butterfly! Sometimes it isn’t anything except a piano, but the music coming out of it is exciting and beautiful. Can you spot Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star? Mozart makes it twinkle in all kinds of different ways. There are so many things to enjoy here, and all from the most amazing musical instrument: the piano.

From folk music to film music, the violin is the star of instruments. Millions of children all over the world learn how to play it and the top performers make it sound beautiful. They can also do clever things on it, with their fingers whizzing up and down, and the bow moving so fast you can hardly see it. Take the music of Mr Paganini on track 1 – he really knew how to show off. Here is the violin in the spotlight: listen to it sing!

To inherit a great fortune. To inherit a great misfortune.’ These words, from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s notebook, neatly encapsulate the theme of The House of the Seven Gables – that of a family whose fortunes are poisoned by its past misdeeds. The sins of the Pyncheon father are visited upon his children over a period of several generations, until such time as one of his descendants unites with a member of the family he has wronged. Love conquers hate, and new blood washes away the original crime. This intriguing and insightful novel truly deserves its significant place in the canon of American literature.