Anya lives a happy, carefree life in Russia with her mother, father and beloved pet bird, Miaka. But when hard times come and her father's crop fails she must leave the farm to go and live with the baker and his wife in the local village. Life at the bakery is harsh but as long as she can earn enough to feed Miaka, Anya endures it. Then, one night, she overhears the baker make a terrible bargain that will devastate her life? A beautiful and haunting tale in the tradition of classic fairy tales. AUTHOR: Anne-Louise Channon lives in the beautiful south-west of Western Australia. In previous lives she has been an industrial chemist and a research assistant at university. Currently she works as an early childhood teacher, where she finds the joy and spontaneity of young children a constant source of delight and inspiration. When not singing and dancing the day away with her students, Anne-Louise enjoys creating stories, drinking coffee with friends and playing contract bridge. This is her first picture book. ILLUSTRATOR: Beatriz Martin Vidal is a Spanish fine artist and book illustrator. Her illustrations are magical and sometimes dark which lend themselves perfectly to the fairy tale genre. SELLING POINTS: ? In the tradition of classical fairy tales ? Would work well in classroom when fairy tales are studied. ? Picture book for older readers ? Text and illustrations explore the darker side of fairy tales which is currently gaining popularity.