My First Oxford Book of Stories

Here is the perfect book to introduce a child to the magical world of the fairy tale for the first time. Perennial favorites--such as "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids," and "The Gingerbread Man"--are retold by award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean. There is plenty of fun and humor in these new retellings, specifically designed for this very young age group, yet the author never loses sight of the traditional shape and feel of the original classics. The illustrations by Robina Green are a delight--finely detailed and handsomely colored, they recreate the imaginary world of the fairy tale with all its magical power.

[excerpt] "'Drat,' said the Wolf and went away.
He went to the shop and bought a stick of chalk and ate it. It made his voice not rough and tough, but soft and smooth, and back he went to Goat Cottage.
He knocked on the door; rat-tat.
'Who's there?'
The wolf put his paws on the window-sill and bleated, 'Children, children, open the door. It's your own little mother and I've brought seven presents, one for each of you. Open the door, do.'"

(from "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids")