Books in Dover Children's Thrift Classics series

G. A. Henty has a wonderful talent for combining history and fiction for children. In this thrilling adventure story, he transports young readers back to the early days of the American frontier with a narrative that's as educational as it is exciting. His rip-roaring story follows the exploits of Hugh Tunstall, a young English lad who leaves England for Texas, where he experiences, firsthand, the lawlessness of the Far West. Facing the challenges of life in an untamed wilderness, Hugh finds work on a cattle ranch, encounters hostile Indians, and chases kidnappers. The absorbing narrative also offers authentic accounts of mining camps, lumberjacking, cattle ranching, and trapping, with some riveting scenes of gunfights, wildfires, horse races, roundups, and daring rescues thrown in for good measure.A treat for adventure-loving readers everywhere, this rousing tale will be welcomed by Henty fans of all ages.

A hibernating bear awakens to find himself smack dab in the middle of a sprawling industrial complex! To make matters even worse, every one he meets keeps insisting that he's not even a bear — just a silly man who needs a shave and wears a fur coat. 46 illustrations.Book Details:Format: PaperbackPublication Date: 11/2/2007Pages: 64Reading Level: Age 8 and Up

Johanna Spyri’s beloved tale of a delightful Swiss miss has captivated generations of readers. Set in the towering Swiss Alps, this story “for children and those who love children” tells of a cheerful, 5-year-old orphan who is sent to live with her hermit-like grandfather in a small hut high in a mountain pasture.Bursting with energy and an immense love of nature, Heidi proves to have remarkable, transforming powers over those people closest to her: Clara, a young lady from a wealthy German family, Peter, a goatherd, and Peter’s blind grandmother. Even Heidi’s pessimistic grandfather, the old Alm-Uncle, eventually accepts and enjoys the healing effects of Heidi’s innocence, sensitivity, and love.Translated into many languages, Heidi has also captured the hearts of countless motion picture and television audiences with its heartwarming story of the joys and sorrows of childhood. This abridged version of the novel retains all the enchantment of the original edition and is sure to charm young readers today as much as it did when first published over a century ago.

Written two years after The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, this Howard Pyle book returns to Arthur's court and presents the adventure-filled stories of three worthy, noble, excellent knights-champions — Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, and Sir Percival.The stories of these three knights are among the most colorful and enduring in the vast body of Arthurian legend. The love-story of Tristram and the beautiful Isoult, of King Mark and of magic potions; the wondrous legend of Launcelot's emergence from the castle of the Round Table; Percival's championship of the Lady Yvette and his adventures at the Castle of Beaurepaire — these are all retold in Pyle's inimitable style, capturing perfectly the tone and spirit of ancient romance. Just as successful are Pyle's illustrations. 50 drawings, 31 of them full-page size, help make this one of the most memorable adventure books ever written for young readers.These stories have inspired numerous film adaptations, including the 2017 release Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Eric Bana, Djimon Hounsou, and Annabelle Wallis.

Young readers will be spellbound by the story of Hercules, the legendary hero of heroes whose name is synonymous with strength and adventure. The immortal strongman narrates a gripping tale that begins with his birth to a mortal woman admired by Zeus and concludes with his ascension to the glorious halls of Olympos.With great pride, Hercules relates the spectacular deeds by which he achieved immortality. His twelve labors under the command of King Eurystheus are recounted in thrilling detail, including duels with such fabulous monsters as the many-headed, fire-breathing hydra and the man-eating mares of King Diomedes. Encounters with Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons, Cerberos, the hellhound sentry of the underworld, and many other characters from mythology recreate a timeless world of excitement and adventure.

Three rare classics by a beloved author and illustrator transport kids to the farm for adventures with a plucky little chicken named Henrietta. Syd Hoff, author of Danny and the Dinosaur, brings his distinctive warmth and whimsy to these endearing tales of barnyard life. Henrietta Lays Some Eggs: It's market day but Henrietta doesn't want to join Farmer Gray and the other chickens, so she flies off the truck for a lively day among pigs, ducks, and hungry hobos.Henrietta, the Early Bird: While the rooster's off duty, Henrietta takes charge of waking the other animals and Farmer Gray — none of whom want anything to do with her cock-a-doodle-dooing.Henrietta Goes to the Fair: Farmer Gray has high hopes of winning the blue ribbon at the fair with Winthrop, his largest pig. When Henrietta makes an important discovery about the competition, she hitches a ride to the fair and encounters a big surprise.

Throughout her long and successful career, Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) had a reputation for delighting readers with stories about people whose desperate situations always seemed to improve by the last chapter. This charming piece of fiction, first published nearly a century ago — and more recently the basis of an acclaimed motion picture — follows that pattern.Its young heroine, Sara Crewe, falls upon hard times at an English boarding school when her father suddenly dies. Left penniless and at the mercy of a vindictive headmistress, Sara manages — despite a multitude of adversities — to maintain her optimistic outlook and usual goodness, qualities that do not go unnoticed by a mysterious benefactor who eventually transforms her life.Set in large, easy-to-read type and newly illustrated by artist Thea Kliros, A Little Princess will captivate romantics of all ages as it tells the riches-to-rags-to-riches tale of a winsome young miss.

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Three-headed trolls, horses that carry their masters up mountains of glass, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogres — these are the companions who will thrill young boys and girls of all lands and all times, as Andrew Lang's phenomenally successful collections of stories have proved. From the day that they were first printed, the Lang fairy tale books of many colors have entertained thousands of boys and girls, as they have also brought pleasure to the many parents who have read these unforgettable classics to their children. In addition to such familiar favorites as Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, The Ratcatcher (The Pied Piper), and Snowdrop (Snow White), The Red Fairy Book contains a wonderful collection of lesser-known tales from French, German, Danish, Russian, and Romanian sources. A tale from Norse mythology recounts the old story of Sigurd and Brynhild; tales by the great Madame d'Aulnoy include Graciosa and Percinet and Princess Rosette; lesser-known tales from Grimm's collection include The Three Dwarfs, Mother Holle, and The Golden Goose.All in all, this collection contains 37 stories, all narrated in the clear, lively prose for which Lang was famous. Not only are Lang's generally conceded to be the best English versions of standard stories, his collections are the richest and widest in range. His position as one of England's foremost folklorists as well as his first-rate literary abilities makes his collections unmatchable in the English language. Includes 97 illustrations.

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) is deservedly famous for the brilliant plays and other works he wrote for adults. But he also was a wonderful writer for children, the author of two charming volumes of fairy tales. In this captivating collection you will find every one of the nine sensitive, unforgettable stories he wrote for young readers. Included here are "The Happy Prince," a tale of a young nobleman who in his lifetime sought only pleasure, but in death, as a gold-encrusted statue, provides aid to the needy; "The Selfish Giant," in which children are prohibited from playing in the garden of an unfeeling colossus; and "The Star-Child," the tale of a beautiful boy whose ugly spirit causes his physical appearance to become equally grotesque. Also here are such favorites as "The Nightingale and the Rose," "The Birthday of Infants," "The Remarkable Rocket," "The Devoted Friend," "The Young King," and "The Fisherman and His Soul." Reprinted complete and unabridged, these enchanting tales will appeal to devotees of Wilde and fairy tale fans of all ages.

Twelve of Shakespeare's greatest tales come to life in this entertaining collection of short, lively stories specially adapted for young readers. Capturing the vital events and using some of the original wording, the stories serve as a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for preteens and as literate refreshers for older folks.Fulfilling a request from her own children, author Edith Nesbit turned twelve of the Bard's most famous plays into delightful tales of kings, queens, ghosts, and witches. Filled with tragedy, humor, and moral lessons, the stories — told with wit and grace — include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cymbeline, The Taming of the Shrew, Pericles, and The Winter's Tale.Wonderfully transformed by the noted author of children's books, these classics are a great way to start a lifelong interest in the works of Shakespeare.

Gods and goddesses, magicians and mermaids, fairies, warriors and giants weave a series of enchanting spells for young readers in this charming collection of age-old Scottish stories.Derived from ancient manuscripts as well as modern Gaelic storytellers, the tales include such colorful and dramatic stories as "Battle of the Fairy Kings," "Conall and the Thunder Hag," "In the Kingdom of Seals," "The Maid-of-the-Wave," "The Land of Green Mountains," and several more.Modern youngsters will develop an appreciation of the ancient beliefs and customs of Scotland's earliest inhabitants with these time-honored legends, handed down from generation to generation. Edited and modernized for contemporary readers, these captivating and handsomely illustrated tales will delight anyone who relishes a good yarn.