Books in Children's Classics series

While scholars are uncertain about the identity of Aesop or whether he was even an actual person, there is no doubt that the stories originally collected under his name over 2,000 years ago in Greece are among the world's most beloved tales. Combining a moral lesson with an entertaining story, the fables still retain their power to charm and instruct.This delightful collection includes a selection of familiar favorites, including "The Fox and the Grapes," "The Ants and the Grasshopper," "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse," "The Crow and the Pitcher," "The Lion and the Mouse," "The Dog and His Shadow," "The Wolf and the Kid," "The Fox and the Stork," "The Hare and the Tortoise," "The Maid and the Pail of Milk," "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" and dozens more.Reset in large, easy-to-read type and accompanied by 35 original illustrations by Pat Stewart, Aesop's Fables is ready to enchant and edify a new generation of readers.

Return to the tumultuous days of the French Revolution with this captivating tale of adventure and courage. Join Harry Sandwith, a young Englishman, as he accepts a job as a companion to the sons of a French marquis. Follow Harry and his aristocratic friends as they're swept from their idyllic life at a country estate to the riotous streets of Paris and the very gates of the Bastille. Can Harry rescue the marquis' family from imprisonment and certain death at the hands of the merciless mob?Author George Alfred Henty specialized in creating novels for young readers that blend authentic historical facts with exciting fictional characters. Famed as "The Prince of Storytellers," Henty wrote more than 140 books. Generations of schoolchildren have thrilled to his vivid novels, which continue to fire young imaginations with their spirited tales of adventure amid exciting historical eras.

Welcome to the timeless world of the Green Forest, the laughing Brook, and the Smiling Pool. Here young readers will meet a menagerie of funny and fascinating animal friends — Peter Cottontail, Jimmy Skunk, Reddy Fox, Grandfather Frog and many more — and learn about their exciting adventures.In this beloved classic, the first in a series of highly popular animal tales by Thornton W. Burgess, children discover the answers to such questions as why Grandfather Frog has no tail and why Jimmy Skunk wears stripes. There's also great fun to be had in reading or hearing about the grand goings-on at Mink's swimming party, Little Joe Otter's slippery slide, and Reddy Fox's fishing expedition. These and many other adventures are told in a warm, whimsical way that combines gentle lessons about nature and wildlife with the fun of a good story.

Focusing on popular verse from the nineteenth century through today, this anthology invites young readers to sample a taste of irresistible poems that will nourish their minds and spirits. Selected for both popularity and literary quality, seventy charming poems cover a wide range of subjects: poetry, books, words, and imagination; the beauty of the natural world; travel, adventure, sports, and play; love, friendship, sadness, hope, and other emotions. Included are:"Prickled Pickles Don't Smile," Nikki Giovanni"W. D., Don't Fear that Animal," W. D. Snodgrass"A Jelly-Fish," Marianne Moore"The Porcupine," Ogden Nash"Annabel Lee," Edgar Allan Poe"The Falling Star," Sara Teasdale"Sick," Shel Silverstein"Casey at the Bat," Ernest Lawrence Thayer"With Kitty, Age Seven, At the Beach," William Stafford"Hope is the Thing with Feathers," Emily Dickinson. . . . and sixty other notable works.Chosen by the American Poetry & Literacy Project and the Academy of American Poets, two of the nation's most respected nonprofit poetry organizations, these much-loved and highly readable poems promise young readers and poetry lovers of all ages hours of reading pleasure.

Mixing exciting adventure and good-natured humor with gentle homily, Thornton W. Burgess's timeless stories have drawn generations of youngsters into the comforting world of the Green Forest, the Smiling Pool, and the Laughing Brook. Along with generous helpings of warmth and whimsy, the entertaining stories also offer valuable lessons about wildlife, the environment, and being true to one's own nature.In this collection of irresistible animal tales, children will read about Peter Cottontail, who is up to his floppy ears in dangerous escapades as he tries to outwit the ever-hungry Reddy Fox. Elsewhere in the Green Forest, Buster Bear has a series of run-ins with Little Joe Otter, Farmer Brown's boy, and even a stubborn metal pail. And Grandfather Frog, in his determination to see the Great World beyond the familiar vistas of the Smiling Pool, learns firsthand about all the pitfalls of greed, boastfulness, and downright stupidity. New Burgess fans will be charmed and delighted by these stories and other exciting tales about Jimmy Skunk, Billy Mink, and their animal friends.

As this delightful story opens, something strange is going on! The waters of the Laughing Brook and Smiling Pool have become a mere trickle, causing alarm among the creatures of the Green Forest. It seems Jerry Muskrat's cousin, Paddy the Beaver, has come south to make himself a new home. That means he had to stop the waters that flowed in the Laughing Brook and Smiling Pool to make a fine new pond for himself and a comfortable home of sticks and mud. But what will happen to the waterways in the Green Forest?Young readers will find out in this charming tale of woodland adventure, as the gentle, good-natured beaver wins over scolding Sammy Jay and the two work together to outsmart Old Man Coyote.This timeless story, with original illustrations by Harrison Cady, not only entertains young readers and listeners, it also imparts valuable lessons about friendship, trust, and respect for the environment.

Myles Falworth was only eight years old the day a knight in black armor rode into the courtyard of his father's castle with murderous intent. Unexpectedly, it triggered a chain of events that forever changed Myles' life, culminating in an unjust accusation of treason that brought disgrace to the house of Falworth. The only hope of redeeming the family's reputation and fortunes rested on Myles' training for knighthood, so that he might challenge the king's champion and triumph in an ordeal by battle.Set in 15th-century England, Men of Iron offers the finest historical fiction in the best traditions of the Knights of the Round Table and Ivanhoe. Author Howard Pyle, who wrote and illustrated many other classic Arthurian romances and stories of Robin Hood, blends fascinating period detail about knighthood and chivalry with a stirring coming-of-age tale. First published in 1892, this classic story remains a great favorite with young readers as well as among educators, due to the author's effortless way of teaching virtues such as courage, loyalty, steadfastness, and generosity. An excellent and inspiring choice to read aloud to children as young as nine, it can be read independently by 12- to 16-year-olds.

Naughty children were never funnier than the young rowdies of these Cautionary Tales. In rhyming couplets, accompanied by hilarious drawings, a celebrated wit recounts the perilous consequences of telling lies, slamming doors, and playing with guns. Bad Child's Book of Beasts, an illustrated A-to-Z bestiary with droll observations on wildlife, features a series of droll observations on wildlife.The Polar Bear is unawareOf cold that cuts me throughFor why? He has a coat of hair.I wish I had one too!A prolific author whose interests ranged from politics and religion to travel and poetry, Hilaire Belloc wrote these classics at the turn of the twentieth century. Generations of readers of all ages have adored their amusing advice on juvenile manners and their jolly parodies of Victorian attitudes.

When little Reddy Fox gets too big for his breeches and steals a plump pet hen in broad daylight, the stage is set for an exciting tale as Farmer Brown's boy pursues Reddy with loaded gun and Bowser the Hound. Fortunately, Reddy has wise Granny Fox on his side and, with some timely help from other woodland friends, manages to avoid an unhappy ending.As this timeless fable unfolds, children will delight in Reddy's risky antics and the commotion his behavior causes among Johnny Chuck, Drummer the Woodpecker, Peter Rabbit, and the other inhabitants of the Green Forest. Thornton W. Burgess, author of Old Mother West Wind and many other children's classics, was a master at telling a good story that holds a child's attention while instilling an important lesson in the most painless and enjoyable fashion. First published in 1913, The Adventures of Reddy Fox was one of his finest efforts. In this inexpensive Dover edition, newly reset in large, easy-to-read type, it will delight children (and adults) today, just as it did their grandparents.

Children will love this wonderful tale of Blacky the Crow, who has very sharp eyes, and who is often getting into trouble because he sees things he shouldn't. One day Blacky notices two fresh eggs in a nest belonging to Hooty the Owl and Mrs. Hooty. The eggs are a prize too delicious to pass up and Blacky devises a plan to snatch them. But does he succeed? Young readers will enjoy finding out in this charming tale by master storyteller Thornton W. Burgess.Reset in large, easy-to-read type, this book is filled with gentle humor and important lessons about nature and wildlife, and is further enhanced by four original Harrison Cady illustrations. Blacky the Crow is sure to captivate youngsters discovering the joy of reading and the pleasures of storytelling at its finest.