Barbara Firth

Emily Gibson

In the early twentieth century, a young Australian woman became one of the highest paid and most adored Hollywood and vaudeville stars of the day. Her name was Annette Kellerman. Born into a musical family in suburban Sydney in 1886, Annette's first love was performing. Yet when she took up swimming to overcome a childhood illness, she quickly found herself breaking records and beating the boys and loving it. When the Depression hit, Annette and her father headed for England to seek their fortune. It was to be the start of a dazzling international career. After winning over Londoners with her death-defying swims in the Thames and the English Channel, she was soon wowing them at the Palladium with her trademark vaudeville act: a performance that included diving into a giant glass tank where she captivated the crowds with her graceful and athletic underwater ballet. Hollywood beckoned and Annette quickly became the darling of the silent film era, starring in the first-ever million-dollar film, Daughter of the Gods. She was soon a household name; dubbed The Perfect Woman', crowds queued for blocks to see her on the screen, men flocked to catch a glimpse her provocative costumes or lack thereof-and women thronged to hear her views on health and fitness. Annette's life was often controversial but always exhilarating, and was immortalised in the 1950s Esther Williams classic The Million Dollar Mermaid. Yet she was to end her days alone and penniless on Queensland's Gold Coast, selling her old fur coat to pay the bills. Strong minded and fiercely brave, Annette Kellerman high-dived onto the international stage, challenging preconceptions of how women should look, act and think, and capturing the hearts of a generation. Here, for the first time ever, is her extraordinary story.

The Annette Kellerman Story

The Original Million Dollar Mermaid

Martin Waddell

Kleine Beer kan niet slapen, het is veel te donker. Maar zelfs de grootste lantaarn helpt niet! Prentenboek met sfeervolle zachtgetinte waterverfillustraties. Vanaf ca. 4 jaar.

Welterusten... Kleine Beer

The story dispels all fear of the dark through the adventures of a little bear.

Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?

Book and Play Set

Little Bear helps Big Bear gather wood, fetch water, and tidy the cave so that they can play together.

You and Me, Little Bear

Little Bear wants to play, but Big Bear has things to do. So they decide to do them together. They fetch wood and water and tidy the cave, but Big Bear still has things to do, so Little Bear has to go off and play on his own. Finally Little Bear's wish comes true and the day has an idyllic ending.

Een kleine muis gaat alleen op strooptocht omdat zijn broers hem altijd te snel af zijn, maar ontdekt dat samen leuker is dan alleen. Prentenboek met pastelkleurige tekeningen en een eenvoudige tekst. Vanaf ca. 4 jaar.

Sam Struinmuis

Little Bear wants to go exploring. He climbs Bear Rock and bounces on the branch of the old bendy tree. Big Bear looks on, giving encouragement, and when Little Bear slips and falls in the stream Big Bear is at hand to give a comforting hug.

Well Done, Little Bear

It seems that no one pays attention to little Bee, even while she pretends to be a very fierce dragon, so she hops away from home, but soon finds herself wondering if a dragon ever gets lonely.

Barbara Firth

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