Books in Dover Children's Classics series

Perhaps the most celebrated animal story of the 19th century, Black Beauty is the suspenseful and deeply moving account of a horse's experiences at the hands of many owners — some, sensitive riders who treated him gently; others, cruel drivers who thoughtlessly inflicted lasting damage.Written as the animal's autobiography, and as an appeal for the humane treatment of horses, Anna Sewell's beloved classic reveals as much about human conduct and the social ills of the time as it does about the treatment of animals. Scenes from the lives of both the landed gentry and the impoverished working class offer a subtle but well-rounded perspective of social conditions in England during the late 19th century. Animal lovers of all ages will cherish this memorable story.

The age-old charm of Irish folklore gives special sparkle to this collection of eight tongue-in-cheek tales. Wicked old hags, clever leprechauns, courageous tailors, evil giants, and other characters come to life in such fanciful yarns as "Hudden and Dudden and Donald O'Neary," "Conal and Donal and Taig," "The Old Hag's Long Leather Bag," "The Field of Boliauns," "The Sprightly Tailor," “The Giant’s Stairs,” “The Bee, the Harp, the Mouse, and the Bum-Clock,” and “The Black Horse.” Reset in large, easy-to-read type, with six illustrations, these beloved stories from the Emerald Isle will delight readers of any age with their warmth, whimsy, and sly humor.

Scheming scientists want to find the secrets behind Norby's antigravity abilities — but they have to dismantle him to do it! The mixed-up robot and young space cadet Jeff Wells go on the run to Jamya, a planet inhabited by hungry dragons and angry robots. Will the futuristic friends survive, and can Norby's newly discovered telepathy and time-travel powers save the day?The second book of The Norby Chronicles, this novel was written by Janet Asimov and her husband, Isaac Asimov — the author of I, Robot and many other robot stories. It's a great way to introduce young readers to the thrills of science fiction.

Where did Grandfather Frog get his big mouth, and why doesn't Buster Bear have a tail? When did Mr. Bluebird win his coat, and how did Howler the Wolf get his name? This charming collection of fables transports readers and listeners into Thornton Burgess's Green Forest. In the magical woodland home of Peter Cottontail, Bob White, Spotty the Turtle, and other adventurous animals, children learn gentle lessons about ecology and respect for the environment.These 17 stories originated with the author's Old Mother West Wind series of "Why," "How," "When," and "Where" books. This modern edition features vibrantly re-colored versions of Harrison Cady's original illustrations. Each tale is just a few pages long — ideal for bedtime reading and quickly lulling children off to sleep.

The Greek myths have intrigued countless generations of readers with their exciting tales of adventure, calamity, and conquest. This entertaining collection — excellently retold for young audiences by Bob Blaisdell — invites children to relive the memorable experiences of familiar characters from Greek mythology.Taken directly from the writings of Homer, Hesiod, Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides, and other ancient storytellers, the myths recount the stirring and imaginative tales of Pandora's box, Prometheus, the dreaded Cyclops, the labors of the mighty Hercules, the captivating stories of Narcissus and Echo, Aphrodite and Eros, Daedalus and Icarus, Hades and Persephone, and many more.Set in large, easy-to-read type and enhanced by six full-page black-and-white illustrations, these enduring fables from the fountainhead of Western civilization will thrill and delight new generations of adventure-seekers.

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Princes and princesses, kings and queens, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogres — these are the companions who 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 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.The Crimson Fairy Book contains a fascinating collection of tales from many countries: Hungary, Russia, Rumania, Finland, Iceland, Japan, and Sicily are only some of them. Filled with imagination, excitement, and adventure, these tales will delight children with their illogical yet strangely reasonable events, and will offer parents a pleasant change from the well-worn favorites. One story — "The Cottager and His Cat" — tells of how cats were introduced into Iceland; another Japanese tale — "The Crab and the Monkey" — tells how a crab gets the best of a roguish monkey; and a remarkable tale — "Little Wildrose" — from Rumania tells how a beautiful child was reared in an eagle's nest.All in all, the collection contains 36 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 make his collections unmatchable in the English language.

This triumphant tale of survival, the greatest of Jack London's works, relates the adventures of Buck, half-St. Bernard and half-Scottish sheepdog, who is forced into the brutal life of a sled-dog during the heady days of the Alaska gold rush.Set in the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Far North, the story follows Buck as he grows daily in strength, savagery, and cunning, adapting to his hostile circumstances by responding to the stirring of his primitive ancestral traits. This unabridged edition offers young readers a fine introduction to the excitement of the classic adventure novel.

When this novel was first published in 1906, Jack London was well on his way to becoming one of the most popular writers in the world. A spellbinding tale of life in the northern wilds, White Fang ranks among the author's finest achievements. London reveals the savage realities of the battle for survival among all species in a harsh, unyielding environment. Part wolf, part dog, White Fang is a ferocious and magnificent creature whose experiences reflect the essential rhythms and patterns of life in both humanity and the animal kingdom.Above all, this story offers keen observations on the extraordinary workings of one of nature's greatest gifts: the power to adapt. With his focus on this wondrous process, London created an adventure classic that's as fresh and appealing today as it was a century ago.

Filled with beautiful color illustrations, these three tenderhearted tales by a Caldecott honoree offer enchanting glimpses of foreign cultures.Little Big-Bye-and-Bye unfolds in a pueblo of the American Southwest, where an Indian boy longs for a pony. When he meets a stranger and his burro, the boy's pluck and daring help make his dream come true.Choo-Me-Shoo carries readers off to the Arctic Circle to meet an Eskimo family. The clan's adventures include getting stranded on an iceberg, making friends with a polar bear cub, catching fish through the ice, and encountering a ship in search of the North Pole.Rum-Tum-Tummy recounts the comeuppance of a naughty elephant whose ego is even bigger than his insatiable appetite. He spanks a warthog, rolls a hippo downhill, and performs other unkind pranks—but when he gets into trouble, the other animals rally to his rescue.

Generations of children and adults have thrilled to the adventures of Uncle Wiggily Longears, the gentleman rabbit. These heartwarming tales from a century ago recount Uncle Wiggily's devotion to helping children and animals—and himself—out of perilous scrapes. The wise old rabbit saves the day, using a combination of wit, sincerity, positive thinking, and other timeless virtues.This beautiful keepsake edition features 19 of Uncle Wiggily's most popular exploits, all accompanied by vivid colorful versions of the original illustrations. The two-color images have been given new life with wonderfully vibrant tones that add to the fun of Uncle Wiggily's adventures. Join the old gentleman rabbit's family circle—including Sammie and Susie Littletail, the bunny children; the puppies Jackie and Peetie Bow-Wow; and Billie and Johnnie Bushytail, the squirrel boys—for fun in their forest home. And when Dr. Possum advises Uncle Wiggily to travel, you, too, can come along to discover other fields and forests and meet new friends.

A treasure for readers and book lovers of all ages, this dazzling children's alphabet is graced by the work of Edmund Dulac, a preeminent twentieth-century illustrator. Dulac provides a limerick for each letter of the alphabet, in addition to twenty-four related illustrations of people and animals in whimsical situations.Dulac possessed an endearing gift for caricature, and his use of jewel-toned, glowing colors adds vivid life to these fantasy images. A facsimile of an extremely valuable 1906 edition, this volume faithfully re-creates the original publication's luminous splendor.