Books in Dover Children's Thrift Classics series

Andrew Lang (1844–1912) was a brilliant Scottish scholar, man of letters, and serious student of folklore. His series of "fairy books" is generally regarded as among the richest collections in the English language. Gathered from around the world — from Norse and Icelandic sources, from the Far East, Mideast, Europe, Africa, Australia, and many other areas — these books not only introduced generations of youngsters to the enchanting world of fairyland but gave adults an opportunity to return to the wonderful realm of make-believe.This delightful selection of six popular tales from Lang's Blue Fairy Book includes charming versions of "Cinderella," "The Bronze Ring," "Felicia and the Pot of Pinks," "The White Cat," "The Story of Pretty Goldilocks," and "Snow-white and Rose-red." New illustrations by Marty Noble capture all the romance and magic of these time-honored tales.Reset in large, easy-to-read type, these perennial favorites will delight today's young audiences just as they enthralled readers when first published over a century ago.

Scottish novelist, poet and essayist Robert Louis Stevenson dedicated A Child's Garden ofVerses to Alison Cunningham, the nurse of his early childhood years in Edinburgh—a time whose essence he strove to recapture in the sixty-four poems of this long-treasured collection. Here, in "The Land of Counterpane" and "The Land of Nod," and in such delightful lyrics as "My Bed Is a Boat," "Autumn Fires" and "Windy Nights," are rhymes and images children and their parents have cherished together since A Child's Garden of Verses was first published in 1885.Alternately humorous and whimsical, grave and fearful, courageous and determined, the poems touchingly voice the many moods and currents of a child's imaginings. All sixty-four poems are reprinted in this edition in large, easy-to-read type. New illustrations by Thea Kliros capture the magical spirit of this beloved classic of children's literature.

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Princess Rosanella, The Three Bears, 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 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 the Green Fairy Book, the third in the series, Lang has assembled stories from Spanish and Chinese traditions, a few of the most entertaining creations penned by the Comte de Caylus, others by Sebillot, Fenelon, Kletke, and Mme. d'Aulnoy, and, of course, some of the best-loved tales from the Brothers Grimm. Here in one attractive paperbound volume with enlarged print are "The Blue Bird," "Sylvain and Jocosa," "Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla," "The Three Little Pigs," "The Half-Chick," and many other favorites that have become an indispensable part of our cultural heritage.All in all, this collection contains forty-two stories, all narrated in the clear, lively prose for which Lang was famous. Not only are Lang's translations 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.

When Unc' Billy Possum learns how easy it is to get into trouble, it takes some doin' to get himself out of his predicament. First of all, he didn't go home when he should have. The next thing he knew, he was a prisoner! But with the help of his friends, especially Happy Jack Squirrel, Unc' manages to find a way out of his difficult situation.Master storyteller Thornton Burgess beguiles young readers and nature lovers with another tale about the delightful creatures of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows.

Determined to improve his struggling family's financial situation, sixteen-year-old Tom Wade leaves England in 1860 and sets out for the untamed wilderness of the American Far West. Arriving in the small western outpost of Denver, Colorado to mine for gold, he soon encounters Native American warriors, takes part in big-game hunts, and learns how to survive a mountain winter with nothing but resourcefulness and perseverance.Young readers get valuable, exciting lessons in history from the "Prince of Storytellers," George Henty, in a grand adventure classic that weaves together the story of a teenaged, fictional hero and real-life episodes of exploration.

Mother Bear has a secret! In fact, she has two of them. They're her brand new cubs — Boxer and Woof-Woof. The arrival of the Green Forest's newest inhabitants has Peter Rabbit, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, Prickly Porky, Hooty the Owl, and other forest creatures all astir over the goings-on in the Bear household. Young readers, too, can share the excitement as they learn how the twins get even with Peter Rabbit, find out what happens when the bears meet their father, discover why Mother Bear has to rescue her cubs, learn why Boxer gets a spanking, and much more.Brimming with traditional values, gentle humor, and real lessons about nature and wildlife, Thornton Burgess's engaging tale reveals why he's a grandmaster at storytelling. The simple text, reset in large, easy-to-read type and complemented with four charming illustrations from the original edition by Harrison Cady, will captivate today's readers as much as it charmed audiences generations ago.

"The book is one that horse lovers of every age cannot fail to enjoy." — The New York Times"Humorous, charming, National Velvet is a little masterpiece." — Time"Put on your not-to-be-missed list." — The New YorkerA butcher's daughter in a small Sussex town ends her nightly prayers with "Oh, God, give me horses, give me horses! Let me be the best rider in England!" The answer to 14-year-old Velvet Brown's plea materializes in the form of an unwanted piebald, raffled off in a village lottery, who turns out to be adept at jumping fences — exactly the sort of horse that could win the world's most famous steeplechase, the Grand National.Richly atmospheric of rural life in England between the World Wars, National Velvet has enchanted generations of readers since its 1935 debut. The heroine's grit and determination, backed by the support of her eccentric and loving family, offer an inspiring example of the struggles and rewards of following a dream.

Even in the peaceful, sun-splashed world of the Green Forest, the Laughing Brook, and the Smiling Pool, trouble sometimes makes an appearance and disturbs the lives of the animals living there. And so it is in this charming story about Jerry Muskrat and his friends Little Joe Otter, Spotty the Turtle, Grandfather Frog, and Billy Mink. First, Farmer Brown's boy has set nasty traps all around the Smiling Pool and that spells trouble for Jerry and the other creatures who live in and around the Pool. Wise old Grandfather Frog must think long and hard to come up with a solution for that problem. Then, suddenly, the water in the Laughing Brook stops flowing and before long, the Smiling Pool drops to alarming levels. Something must be done, but what? Children will love finding out as they read or listen to this classic Thornton W. Burgess fable, which combines the fun of a good story with important lessons about kindness, stick-to-itiveness, cooperation, and other virtues. Six full-page illustrations, based on originals by Harrison Cady, enhance the text, newly reset in large, easy-to-read type.

Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, and other fifteenth-century adventurers spring to life in this thrilling tale of the competition between Portugal and the Venetian Republic to discover an all-sea trade route leading to the spices of India. In the Lisbon workshop of banker and navigation enthusiast Abel Zakuto, a group of intrepid explorers gather to discuss the possibility of finding a way around the stormy tip of Africa — the Devil's Cave.Author Agnes Danforth Hewes won the first of her three Newbery Honor awards with this book, which was praised by The New York Times as "one of those engrossing works of historical fiction whose appeal is nearly universal . . . a colorful history of a far-reaching commercial struggle and a vivid drama of individual hopes and aspirations." Enchanting woodcuts by Lynd Ward illustrate this gripping adventure, which is suitable for grades 7 and up and will delight readers of all ages.

In this delightful fantasy, we meet Queen Ann Soforth of Oogaboo and her army — sixteen officers and one private soldier — who set out to conquer the world. What follows is a series of exotic adventures in which the Shaggy Man attempts to find his long-lost brother, held captive by the Nome King. Tik-Tok, a curious mechanical man, agrees to assist Shaggy in his search, and Polychrome stops to play and suffers the awful fate of being deserted by her rainbow. You'll also meet Betsy Bobbin and Hank, a mule.Eventually, everyone comes together in the expedition to help Shaggy locate his misplaced sibling. Before they can do that, however, they must first overcome the Nome King, a tricky bit of business with many pitfalls. The Nome King's magic proves especially troubling. Thanks to some timely assistance from a quizzical character named Quox, the Nome King is defeated. After many diverting escapades, Shaggy's brother is found and the expedition arrives before the gates of the Emerald City. "Oz" lovers of all ages will delight in this charming flight of fancy, embellished with 93 illustrations by John R. Neill.

"Science fiction and space travel take a sprightly turn," declared Kirkus Reviews of this illustrated tale of a girl who tumbles to Earth from her father's spaceship. The young alien encounters a group of children eager to help her find her way home, but the kids will have to defy the unbelieving grown-ups.Years ahead of its time, Star Girl was originally published in the 1950s, when interest in space travel and extraterrestrials was approaching new levels. Since then, the book has become a beloved cult classic. This new edition offers the next generation of young readers an ideal introduction to the imaginative delights of science fiction.

With his debut nearly two centuries ago, Dr. Frankenstein's monster captured the popular imagination and never let go, haunting even those who have never read this classic of horror fiction. This specially adapted children's edition retains all of the excitement of the original version yet makes the enduring Gothic fable accessible to youngsters.The brilliant scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein indulges his curiosity about the hidden laws of nature when he happens upon the secret to the animation of lifeless matter. Piecing together the detritus of butcher shops and dissecting rooms, the doctor fashions an eight-foot-tall creature whose loathsome appearance fills even his creator with repulsion. Abandoned by his maker, rejected with fear and disgust by everyone he encounters, the enraged and embittered monster goes on a murderous rampage, determined to destroy Frankenstein by striking at those closest to him.Since its 1817 publication, this incredible and imaginative fantasy has held generations of readers spellbound. This new, specially abridged edition, enhanced with illustrations by Thea Kliros, will satisfy young readers' appetites for gripping suspense and ghoulish thrills.