Books with author Joseph Walker McSpadden

Escape to the idyllic charms of Sherwood Forest and join in the jolly fellowship of the greenwood with these rollicking tales featuring one of the world's best-known and most beloved outlaws. Meet Robin Hood and his loyal circle of merry men, a lovely crowd of fun-loving freebooters, whose dashing exploits and daring maneuvers have been celebrated in story and song for over 800 years.The legend begins with the transformation of young Robert Fitzooth, rightful heir to the earldom of Huntington, into Robin Hood — peerless archer, gentleman robber, and friend to the unfortunate. A spirited series of vignettes recounts the entry of each of the famous merry men into the brotherhood of the forest. Thrilling episodes include a vigorous exchange with Little John upon the right-of-way to a footbridge, the bold rescue of Allan-a-Dale's bride, and a forceful midstream encounter with Friar Tuck. The colorful cast features such celebrated characters as the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham, faithful Maid Marian, and noble King Richard the Lionhearted.Redolent with adventure and romance, the immortal adventures of Robin Hood will delight readers of every age and fancy.

Escape to the idyllic charms of Sherwood Forest and join in the jolly fellowship of the greenwood with these rollicking tales featuring one of the world's best-known and most beloved outlaws. Meet Robin Hood and his loyal circle of merry men, a lovely crowd of fun-loving freebooters, whose dashing exploits and daring maneuvers have been celebrated in story and song for over 800 years.The legend begins with the transformation of young Robert Fitzooth, rightful heir to the earldom of Huntington, into Robin Hood — peerless archer, gentleman robber, and friend to the unfortunate. A spirited series of vignettes recounts the entry of each of the famous merry men into the brotherhood of the forest. Thrilling episodes include a vigorous exchange with Little John upon the right-of-way to a footbridge, the bold rescue of Allan-a-Dale's bride, and a forceful midstream encounter with Friar Tuck. The colorful cast features such celebrated characters as the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham, faithful Maid Marian, and noble King Richard the Lionhearted.Redolent with adventure and romance, the immortal adventures of Robin Hood will delight readers of every age and fancy.

Core Classics Series Stories loved for generations come to life for today's young readers in the Core Classics series. Faithful to the style, plot, and themes of the originals, Core Classics are designed for use as classroom editions of the literary works listed in the Core Knowledge Sequence. They include introductions by E. D. Hirsch Jr., editor of the Core Knowledge Series (What Your Kindergartner — Sixth Grader Needs to Know). The Core Classics are generally considered suitable for fourth and fifth grade students. The texts are illustrated, annotated, and include a brief biography of the author. From the Introduction Two heroes from the Middle Ages still stir our imaginations. One is King Arthur, with his knights of the Round Table. The other is Robin Hood, with his band of forest outlaws. King Arthur and his knights live at court. They go into the dark woods when they are after adventure. But forests hold no danger to Robin Hood and his men. Sherwood Forest is their home, and they feel safe there. The King Arthur stories tell of the mighty noblemen who rule. The Robin Hood stories tell of common men who defy their masters and rule themselves.

Originally published in 1917 as portions of the author’s larger “The Book of Holidays,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 30 pages, describes, in simple language for young readers, the origins and customs of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.Sample passages:(Halloween) But, after all, the pumpkin lantern parade and the bonfire are the great outdoor events of the night. The fallen leaves have been carefully collected into a prodigious heap around an empty box. The fire is lighted, the torches are kindled, and the “procession” gives the boys and girls a healthy appetite for the “eats,” without which no Halloween party would be complete.… Brownies, witches, bats, black cats, toads, snakes, and spiders are to be seen, by the weird light of little jack-o’-lanterns or witch candles—but the shrieks of delight show that no one is frightened; for they are all made out of paper or papier mâché.(Thanksgiving) Today we celebrate it in much the same spirit as did the Pilgrim Fathers. Church services are held for those who wish to keep in touch with the religious spirit of the day; but with the large majority of us it is peculiarly a home festival—the time when we round up all the stragglers and bring them together again in the home circle—and when the good father and mother can help the plates again of each one of their grown-up boys and girls, and of their boys and girls in turn, about the ever-increasing board. And Thanksgiving comes at just the very best time for a feast. The fat old gobbler has reached his perfection; the pumpkins smile a golden smile; the harvest is in; and the cider sparkles in the mill.(Christmas) Old Santa Claus, without whom no Christmas would be complete, is also a subject of traditions running back hundreds of years, almost to the very beginning of the Christian era.… He first appears in the Northland as a grim figure riding upon a white horse, resembling our modern fancy of the image of Death. He was followed about, upon Christmas Eve, by the souls of little children, some said, the spirits of the innocents slain at Bethlehem by the order of Herod. So, at Yuletide children placed their wooden shoes full of oats outside the door, for the great white horse, and, in the morning, if they were good children, the oats were gone and the shoes filled with apples and nuts. Later he was seen in Germany as a tall, thin fellow wearing a peaked hat; his deep pockets being full of sugarplums for the children. It was not until after he came over the sea to America that he became the fat, round, beaming elf who has become so familiar, and was first made immortal in “The Night Before Christmas.” Evidently our climate has agreed with him, although he doubtless scrambled down the chimneys a lot more easily in his younger days when he was slim.About the author:Joseph Walker McSpadden (1874-1960) was the author of numerous books for young and old, including “The Story of Abraham Lincoln,” “Robin Hood,” and “Opera Synopses.”

Originally published in 1919 as a portion of the author’s larger “Boy’s Book of Famous Soldiers,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 20 pages, describes, in simple language for young readers, the life of Napoleon, who declared himself emperor of France in 1804 and established an empire stretching from Spain to Poland.Includes supplemental material:• A Brief Summary of the Life of Josephine• About the Battle of WaterlooSample passage:At the same time occurred an episode which reveals the duplicity of his nature—for Napoleon could be unscrupulous when he had his own ends to serve. Taking advantage of the general state of turmoil he obtained another leave of absence, and returned to Corsica. There, although wearing the French uniform, he again fomented trouble against the authorities. He organized a company of Corsican Volunteers, with which he was to make a bold stroke for liberty. But the movement failed ingloriously, and ended only by getting him into disrepute with both his Government and his neighbors. He saw that his future safety and career lay with the army, so he deserted the popular cause. The Corsicans were so incensed that they declared him an outlaw and his family infamous. In June 1793 the Bonapartes removed from the island; and only a few short years found him its conqueror in the name of France. The last spark of his Corsican spirit was extinguished.About the author:Joseph Walker McSpadden (1874-1960) was the author of numerous books for young and old, including “The Story of Abraham Lincoln,” “Robin Hood,” and “Opera Synopses.”

This book, originally published in 1922, is part of a highly readable and enjoyable series of books, Famous Americans for Young Readers, which includes volumes on Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and others. These stories of statesmen, presidents, and inventors are presented to inspire students to follow their examples of courage, determination, honesty, and willingness to work. Suitable for young readers and adults.From the book's preface: “The story of Abraham Lincoln’s life is one that will never grow old. It is one that makes every fairy tale seem paltry by comparison. No Aladdin depending for his fortune upon a genie of the lamp can hope to rival in interest this humble backwoods boy who rose by his own efforts to the leadership of a great nation. His life story is a constant inspiration to every other boy in the land — and will continue so for countless generations.”CONTENTSI. A Home in the WildernessII. Life on a Frontier FarmIII. Living from Hand to MouthIV. Better Times AheadV. New Faces and ScenesVI. Striking Out for HimselfVII. A Start in Public LifeVIII. Lincoln, The LawyerIX. Lincoln, The LegislatorX. The Lincoln-Douglas DebatesXI. The “Rail-Splitter” Is Nominated for PresidentXII. A Red-Hot ElectionXIII. A Captain in a StormXIV. The First Days of WarXV. The Commander-in-ChiefXVI. Lincoln’s Home LifeXVII. The Emancipation ProclamationXVIII. GettysburgXIX. Lincoln Is Re-electedXX. The Closing SceneXXI. A Nation’s Grief

The classic tale of Robin Hood and His Merry Men, as told by J. Walker McSpadden.Born with a love of the greenwood and archery, young Robin of Lockesley soon finds himself an outlaw of England. Along with this comrades Little John and Friar Tuck, he fights against the injustices dealt by the Sheriff of Nottingham and the Bishop of Hereford through cleverness and mischievousness. All the while striving for the love of Maid Marian and the peace of the forest.