This is the kind of book that sneaks vegetables into dessert—kids think they're getting fantasy and adventure, but they're actually building cultural literacy and empathy across 17 European perspectives.

The anthology format is brilliant for modern attention spans: each story is 5-10 pages, so if one doesn't click, you're onto the next world in minutes. Talking mice, futuristic travel agencies, runaway Titanics—the imagination on display here is wild and varied.

It's not a page-turner in the traditional sense (no single plot to hook you), but that's also its strength: it's a perfect bedtime collection or classroom world-lit unit. The LGBT-themed story is handled thoughtfully and age-appropriately. At around £7, it's an accessible way to expand your kid's literary horizons beyond the usual Anglo-American fare.

If your kid loves short fiction or is curious about how stories are told differently around the world, this is a gem.