Anita Desai

PublicationStatus

Brand

Format

AgeRange

Series

Imprint

CategoryLabel

Raj Kaur Khaira

Discover the inspirational lives of fifty women from across South Asia - the perfect present for all supergirls in the making 
 
Through the fascinating, empowering life stories of 50 famous and under-celebrated women from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, South Asian girls will have a chance to dream about lives for themselves that radically differ from the limited narratives and stereotypes written for them by their culture, wider society and the mainstream media. 
 
Brigng together the stories of leading entertainers (Meera Syal, Jameela Jamil, Mindy Kaling), pioneering business leaders (indra Nooyi, Anjali Sud, Ruchi Sanghvi) and a whole host of other equally remarkable but less well known figurers - from British Muslim spy Noor Inayat Khan to fearless activist Jayaben Desai - this book seeks to redress the imbalance for young girls of colour by empowering them to break new ground for themselves and inspire others along the way. 
 
Beautifully illustrated with striking portraits by ten international South Asian female artists, this is truly a book for all ages - a gift to be treasured by parents and children alike.

Stories for South Asian Supergirls

Vashti Harrison

Meet the little leaders. They're brave. They're bold. They changed the world. 
 
Featuring the true stories of 40 inspirational women creators - from writers to inventors, artists to scientists - this book is as inspirational as it is educational. Readers will meet trailblazing women such as revolutionary architect, Zaha Hadid, actor/inventor Hedy Lamarr, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, modernist painter and animator Mary Blair and physicist Chien-Shiung Wu. Some names will be familiar, some will not - but all these women had a lasting impact on their fields.

Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around the World

Chitra Soundar

Dàlia Adillon

From growing up in India and studying in London to becoming a political activist in South Africa and taking on the battle for independence in India, Mahatma Gandhi's legacy has lived on well beyond his years. 
 
Read the life story of this brilliant, strong-willed and influential man in this beautifully illustrated book, complete with real-life stories, timelines and facts.

The Extraordinary Life of Mahatma Gandhi

Discover the inspirational lives of 50 figures from across South Asia and their INCREDIBLE achievements from the author of Stories for South Asian Supergirls. 
 
An illustrated look at the fascinating, empowering life stories of 50 famous and under-celebrated people from India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 
 
South Asian kids will have a chance to dream about their lives for themselves that challenge the limited stereotype and narratives that are available in mainstream media. 
 
Bringing together the stories of game-changing business leaders (Bela Bajaria, Payal Kadakia, Sharmadean Reid), leading entertainers (Freddie Mercury, Riz Ahmed), award-winning authors (Khaled Hosseini, Satnam Sanghera, Salman Rushdie) and a whole host of other equally remarkable figures - from non-binary performance artist Alok V.Menon, unstoppable Chef Asma Khan and ground-breaking model Yasmeen Ghauri - this book seeks to redress the imbalance for young kids of colour by empowering them to break new ground for themselves and inspire others along the way. 
 
Beautifully illustrated with striking portraits by ten international South Asian artists, this is truly a book for all ages - a gift to be treasured by parents and children alike. 
 
Perfect for fans of Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, this heartwarming read is the ideal gift for young readers. 
 
Praise for the first book in the Super Series, Stories for South Asian Supergirls: 
 
There is someone here for every girl and boy &mdash; budding lawyers, climbers, film-makers and mountaineers... &mdash; The Times - Children&rsquo;s Book of the Week 
 
This call to courage celebrates warrior queens of Bangladeshi, Indian, Nepalese and Pakistani heritage - The Guardian 
 
Heartwarmingly full of the power, resilience and ingenuity of South Asian women - Book Trust 
 
One of the most beautiful and visually stimulating books I've seen for a long time - The Morning Star

Stories for South Asian Superkids

Duane Armitage

Maureen McQuerry

Robin Rosenthal

Answering life's big questions for little children, this board book explains Descartes' beliefs about imagination and empathy in a simple, accessible way. 
 
Even little children can become philosophers by asking big questions about the world around them. Descartes believed that the ability to imagine is what makes us our true selves. In Imagination with Descartes, this idea is explained for the youngest thinkers, from the uniqueness of imagination to understanding other people's point of view. This book will inspire little ones to have exciting thoughts and conversations about these big ideas. 
 
'A philosopher is a person who loves wisdom. 
Wisdom means knowing things that help you live better and be happy.'

Big Ideas for Little Philosophers: Imagination with Descartes

Burhana Islam

Nabi H. Ali

Reya Ahmed

Saffa Khan

Aaliya Jaleel

Deema Alawa

Aghnia Mardiyah

Think you know who first thought of the theory of evolution? Ever wondered who created the oldest university in the world? And have you heard the incredible tale of the masked knight - a rebel girl who became a military commander? 
 
Meet just some of the amazing Muslim men and women who have changed our world - from pirate queens, nurses, warriors, scientists, actors, and mathematicians, to courageous ordinary men and women doing extraordinary things. You'll find people you might know, like Malala Yousafzai, Mo Farah and Muhammad Ali, as well as some you might not, such as: 
 
Hasan Ibn Al-Haytham: the first scientist to prove theories about how light travels, hundreds of years before Isaac Newton 
Sultan Razia: a fearsome female ruler 
G. Willow Wilson: the comic book artist who created the first ever Muslim Marvel character 
Ibtihaj Muhammad: the Olympic and World Champion fencer and the first American to compete in the games wearing hijab. 
Noor Inayat Khan: the Indian Princess who became a British spy during WWII 
 
Featuring full-colour illustrations by Reya Ahmed, Deema Alawa, Nabi H. Ali, Saffa Khan, Aaliya Jaleel and Aghnia Mardiyah!

Amazing Muslims Who Changed the World

Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Annabel Tempest

Could you be EXTRAORDINARY? This book will inspire you with the real-life stories of extraordinary people, showcasing a total variety of personalities and talents. Whoever you are, and whoever you want to be, read about the extraordinary stories of these 15 people, and decide how YOU will be extraordinary too! 
 
From around the world and throughout history, discover unsung heroes - and some well-known faces - brought to life with astonishing story-telling and illustration. 
 
Meet an artist, scientist, medic, environmentalist, musician, activist, writer, politician, and even a spy . . . above all, discover that there are MANY ways to be extraordinary and to make a real difference in the world. 
 
Featuring the real-life stories of: Aeham Ahmad, David Attenborough, Mo Farah, Keiko Fukuda Sensei, Stephen Hawking, Frida Kahlo, Abdul Kalam, Judith Kerr, Wangari Maathai, Nelson Mandela, David Nott, Michelle Obama, Krystyna Skarbek, Alan Turing, Sau Lan Wu

How To Be Extraordinary

Diane Ewen

What would happen if you showed a T-Rex a book? 
Well, she wouldn't know what to do with it . . . would she? 
 
A madcap, super silly adventure story rooted in the transformative power of books, created by incredible new picture-book duo Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Diane Ewen

Never Show A T-Rex A Book!

Sathnam Sanghera

An accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British empire for readers aged 9+, by bestselling author of Empireland, Sathnam Sanghera. 
 
You've probably heard the word 'empire' before. Perhaps because of the Roman empire. Or maybe even the Star Wars films. 
 
But what about the British Empire? Why don't we learn much about this? And what even is an empire, anyway? 
 
This book will answer all the important questions about Britain's imperial history. It will explore how Britain's empire once made it the most powerful nation on earth, and how it still affects our lives in many ways today - from the words we use, to the food we eat, the sports we play and even to every grown-up's fixation with a good cup of tea. 
 
Because how can we ever make the world a kinder, better place for the future, if we don't know the truth about the past?

Stolen History

The truth about the British Empire and how it shaped us

A love letter to learning and the power of numbers from exciting talents, Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Diane Ewen. 
 
A laugh-out-loud 'what if . . .?' adventure that celebrates maths being fun in this riotous read. 
 
If a Stegosaurus knew how to do sums - well, what would happen? Maybe she'd learn to code, to invent, to fly to the moon! 
 
From the creators of Never Show a T-Rex a Book - WINNER OF THE QUEEN'S KNICKERS AWARD and 
SHORTLISTED FOR THE LOLLIES LAUGH OUT LOUD BOOKS AWARDS 2022

Never Teach a Stegosaurus to Do Sums

Jeremy Dronfield

The extraordinary true story of the sisters who saved each other. 
 
Friedel and Gina, twins and best friends, live happy enough lives. Their world is cycling trips, visits to their father’s shops, and first-day-of school excitement. 
 
But this is a world that is about to fall apart. 
 
It is the 1930s, and the Nazis are on the rise across Germany. They hate anyone who is different – anyone who is Jewish. 
 
Friedel and Gina and their family are Jewish, and before long they are forced to journey to Poland, where terrible hardships await in a prison-like ghetto. Soon separated from loved ones, as the Second World War rages around them Friedel and Gina are eventually taken to a Nazi prison camp – a place of danger and fear, where they must do everything they can to survive. 
 
From daring recues to incredible acts of kindness, this is the story of the sisters’ love for each other, and of friendships found in the darkest of places.

For the Ones You Love

A true story of sisterhood and survival during the Holocaust

Michelle Obama

What's important is our story, our whole story, including those moments when we feel a little vulnerable . . . 
 
Michelle Robinson started life sharing a bedroom with her older brother Craig, in their family's upstairs apartment in her great-aunt's house. Her parents, Fraser and Marian, poured their love and energy into their children. She would go on to become Michelle Obama, the inspirational First Lady of the United States of America. 
 
Now adapted for younger readers, with new photographs and a new introduction from Michelle Obama herself, this memoir tells a very personal, and completely inspiring, story of how, through hard work and determination, the girl from the South Side of Chicago built an extraordinary life. 
 
A tale of ups and downs, triumphs and failures, this is an incredibly honest account. It will take you from the early years - first kiss, first school, first love - to the wonders of the White House, and the moment Mrs Obama shook hands with the Queen of England. 
 
A book to read, share, and talk about with the adults in your life, this is a call to action and compassion, and hope for change in uncertain times, and in a scary world. 
 
You'll be inspired to help others, and understand that no one is perfect. Just like Michelle Obama, you too are finding out exactly who you want to be (and, actually, so are the adults in your life). 
 
Above all, it is a book to make you think: who are you, and what do you want to become?

Becoming: Adapted for Younger Readers

Hiba Noor Khan

Rita Petruccioli

Malala Yousafzai is known across the world for having the courage to stand up for what she believes in, even in the face of terrifying adversity. From playing in the Swat Valley in Pakistan to making speeches at the United Nations, Malala's story has become an inspiration for people all over the world who are fighting for justice. 
 
Discover what it took for one incredible girl to become the voice of so many, in this beautifully illustrated book with real-life stories, timelines and facts to bring Malala's extraordinary story to life.

The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai

A book of black heroes, role models and everyday women who did extraordinary things. 
 
Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world's history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations. Debut author/illustrator Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history - from nurse Mary Seacole, to politician Diane Abbott, mathematician Katherine Johnson and singer Shirley Bassey.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

An ideal introduction to the pioneering life of Beatrix Potter, one of the most beloved children's authors of all time. 
 
This stylish mini-hardback takes readers on a fascinating journey through Beatrix's life, from her childhood holidays and animal friends through to her publishing success and later life in the Lake District. More than a children's author, explore Beatrix Potter's vital work as a conservationist and the inspiration she found in the countryside, as well as her artistic talents. 
 
Beautifully illustrated, with original photographs and letters, this is the perfect book for anyone who has ever wanted to know more about Beatrix Potter. 
 
The latest title in the popular V&amp;A Introduces series, celebrating icons from the world of art and design in collaboration with the V&amp;A Museum.

V&A Introduces: Beatrix Potter

Carol Ann Lee

The life story of Anne Frank, from her early happy childhood in Frankfurt, growing up in Amsterdam, her two years in hiding and the last few months of her life in the concentration camps. Narrated in six clearly written chapters, this biography for children answers the many detailed questions about Anne that readers of the Diary often have, and includes interesting anecdotes from friends who survived her. There is an Historical Note at the beginning of the book and a map of Europe, so that children will be able to understand the situation at the time, and an Introduction by Anne Frank's cousin, Buddy Elias.

Anne Frank's Story

Dr Sheila Kanani

Rachel Corcoran

Amelia Earhart broke flying records, wrote best-selling books, launched a fashion label and fought for the rights of female pilots everywhere. Her disappearance, in the midst of her attempt to circumnavigate the globe, is one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries, and today she is remembered as not only the first female pilot to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but for being a bold, brace and adventurous woman who fought tirelessly for what she believed. 
 
Collect them all! 
Michelle Obama 
Malala Yousafzai 
Stephen Hawking 
Neil Armstrong 
Katherine Johnson 
Anne Frank 
Mahatma Gandhi 
Rosa Parks 
Mary Seacole 
 
Coming in 2020: 
Greta Thunberg 
Alan Turing 
Freddie Mercury 
Serena Williams 
Steve Jobs 
Amelia Earhart 
Nelson Mandela

The Extraordinary Life of Amelia Earhart

David Ziggy Greene

When everything is taken away from you, love and courage are all you have left. 
 
In 1938, the Nazis come to Vienna. They hate anyone who is different, especially Jewish people. 
 
Fritz and Kurt's family are Jewish, and that puts them in terrible danger. 
 
Fritz, along with his father, is taken to a Nazi prison camp, a terrible place, full of fear. When his father is sent to a certain death, Fritz can't face losing his beloved Papa. He chooses to go with him and fight for survival. 
 
Meanwhile, Kurt must go on a frightening journey, all alone, to seek safety on the far side of the world. 
 
In this extraordinary true story, Fritz and Kurt must face unimaginable hardships, and the two brothers wonder if they will ever return home . . .

Fritz and Kurt

Alison Hammond

E. L. Norry

Hiya! Alison Hammond here! I love getting to know all about different people and I'll tell you a secret . . . sometimes people we don't know much about are the most interesting of all! Which is really what this book is all about. 
 
Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque?Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people? 
 
Yes? That's great! But if you haven't, don't worry, you're not alone, which is why I'm so excited to tell you all about them. Because the people in this book should be totally famous given the AMAZING things they've done! And we're not going to stop in the past, I'll introduce you to people making waves right here and now! 
 
From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, we're going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are ready for you a journey Black in time?? Course you are, let's go!

Black in Time

The Most Awesome Black Britons from Yesterday to Today

Sarah Walsh

Lawyer, writer, activist and First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama has become a role model and modern icon all over the world. From her childhood in Chicago, to her role as an advocate for women and diversity, via her incredibly influential time in the White House, be inspired by her determination, her voice and her story. 
 
This beautifully illustrated book with real-life stories, timelines and facts brings Michelle Obama's extraordinary life to young readers everywhere.

The Extraordinary Life of Michelle Obama

Barry Turner

For ten months before the Second World War, thousands of children were bundled on to trains and waved goodbye to their parents as they set off across Germany and Holland to the ferries that would take them to England. The book is based on extensive interviews with those who helped to organise the transports, the families who took the children in and above all the young refugees as they began new lives in a strange country. Many were faced with a continuous stream of foster parents and children's homes; many were evacuated and even deported - and almost all never saw their parents again.

One Small Suitcase

Tom Fletcher

Shane Devries

The number-one-bestselling, magical children's book series from Tom Fletcher. 
The Christmasaurus is a series about a boy named William Trundle and a dinosaur named the Christmasaurus. 
It's about how they meet one Christmas Eve and have a magical adventure. It's about friendship and families, sleigh bells and Santa, singing elves and flying reindeer. 
It's about discovering your heart's true desire, and learning that the impossible might just be possible.

'She is the best-kept Christmas secret of all,' whispered Santa Claus. 'Which is surprising, because Christmas itself would not exist without her. She is older than time itself, yet still as young as tomorrow. She is known only as the Winter Witch.' 
 
One year has passed since William Trundle's incredible adventure with the most extraordinary dinosaur: the Christmasaurus. Now, William is swept back to the magical North Pole, where he meets the mysterious, icy Winter Witch - whose power to control time allows Santa Claus to make the long journey all around the world every Christmas Eve. 
 
And when they learn that the fate of Christmas itself hangs in the balance, William and the Christmasaurus must work with the Winter Witch to protect it... 
 
Full of magic and music, humour and heart, and a friendship like no other, The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch is the most enchanting Christmas read for the whole family.

The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch

Michael Lee Richardson

Maggie Cole

Farrokh Bulsara was a little boy growing up in Zanzibar, who was shy and gentle and kind, and sometimes teased for his unusual teeth. 
 
Farrokh would grow up to become the superstar musician Freddie Mercury, who could hold crowds in the palm of his hand and stun audiences with his musical talent (and who would one day say that those very same teeth are what gave him his distinctive voice and four-octave range). 
 
This is the story of a man who sang his way to the top, a man whose extraordinary influence on the world is still felt to this day. 
 
Collect them all! 
 
Packed full of incredible stories, fantastic facts and dynamic illustrations, Extraordinary Lives shines a light on important modern and historical figures from all over the world.

The Extraordinary Life of Freddie Mercury

Naida Redgrave

Alleanna Harris

Mary Seacole is now known for her medical work in the Crimean war, and as a brilliant woman who combated the racial prejudice she experienced in her lifetime. But for a long time her story was lost. 
 
From growing up in Kingston, Jamaica as the daughter of a doctress to helping soldiers in the war, discover the details of the amazing life that Mary Seacole led in this beautifully illustrated book with real-life stories, timelines and facts.

The Extraordinary Life of Mary Seacole

Kate Scott

Anke Rega

Her words have become some of the most important in modern history: discover the incredible life story of Anne Frank, whose bravery has inspired so many. 
 
Her incredible story comes to life in this beautifully illustrated book, with narrative biography, timelines, facts and quotes.

The Extraordinary Life of Anne Frank

Rebel Girls

Dream bigger, aim higher and fight harder while learning about trailblazing Black women from American history. This sticker activity book features beautiful portraits from the bestselling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls book. 
 
With inspiring biographies, and make-your-own posters to match, the fascinating girls and women in this sticker book include Ruby Bridges, Oprah Winfrey, Serena and Venus Williams, Harriet Tubman, Misty Copeland, Kamala Harris and more. Numbered stickers make it easy and fun to create twelve colourful posters of heroic Black women. Each poster is printed on heavy paper with perforated edges, designed to be removed from the book to decorate your future hero's bedroom.

Rebel Girls of Black History

Charlotte Philby

Step into the Secret World. 
 
Charlotte Philby’s grandfather was the most infamous double agent in history. 
 
Inspired to find out about his world, Charlotte discovered that there were plenty of untold stories of courage and secrets and daring . . . 
 
And so many were about women. 
 
There are a host of extraordinary tales involving female spies: from dare-devil skiers delivering top-secret information, to clever codebreakers taking down the world’s biggest criminals, to brave undercover agents fighting alongside the French Resistance. 
 
Starring Edith Cavell, Elizebeth Friedman, Noor Inayat Khan and many more, the stories in this book explore the hope, courage, fear, loves and lives of these remarkable women. 
 
Featuring top-secret spying info and imagined newspaper articles covering incredible spy stories, this is your chance to find out about the women who hid in the shadows, but deserve to be in the spotlight.

The Secret Lives of Women Spies

Eleanor Farjeon

Herbert Farjeon

A series of poetry titles for children by many of Britain's greatest poets.

A highly entertaining collection of poems about all forty-one English Kings and Queens since William I. Reissued in Puffin Poetry Kings and Queens is an authentic classic that has delighted young readers and adults alike. With wonderfully witty illustrations by Robin Jacques, history has never been so much fun!

Kings And Queens

This beautifully illustrated volume educates and inspires as it relates true stories of black men in history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible full-color art bring to life both iconic and lesser-known figures. 
 
Among these biographies, readers will find aviators and artists, politicians and pop culture icons. The men featured include writer James Baldwin, artist Aaron Douglas, photographer Gordon Parks, diplomat Kofi Annan, comic book author Dwayne McDuffie, and musician Prince.

Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History

Freda Chiu

Alan Turing was a mathematician, scientist and codebreaker who helped defeat the Nazis in the Second World War with his incredible decoding of secret messages from enemy soldiers. 
 
Discover his life story in this beautifully illustrated book, from his childhood as a quiet boy who loved maths, to becoming one of the most important scientists and codebreakers in history. 
 
Collect them all! 
 
Packed full of incredible stories, fantastic facts and dynamic illustrations, Extraordinary Lives shines a light on important modern and historical figures from all over the world.

The Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing

biblio.categories.code

biblio.publicationStatus

biblio.brand

biblio.workEditions.format

biblio.ageRange

biblio.series.seriesName

biblio.imprint.description

biblio.type

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Best-Jane-Austen-quotes_Online-Desktop_Penguin

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

Search Results

Little Black Classics Box Set

Penguin Modern Box Set

Doctor Who: Circuit-Breaker

Frankenstein

Here, from Anita Desai to Salman Rushdie, are five books about families, India, marriage and the rest, to keep you going as the series moves on.

Showing results for: ‘Anita Desai’

Filters

Category

Age

Publication Date

Format

Series

Imprint

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter