Books in Faber Children's Classics series

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.

It was a beautiful spring morning. The birds were singing, the grass was growing and small creatures were busy everywhere, filling the air with the gentle buzzing, rustling song of life returning after winter... Farmer Pettson begins to sow his vegetables and because Findus does't like vegetables he decides to plant one of his meatballs instead. However, keeping the vegetable garden safe from the farm animals proves a hard task for Findus and Pettson. (Ages 3–8 years)

"Superb. The best junior novel I've ever read about big-city life." — The New York Times. After another fight with Pop, 14-year-old Dave storms out of their apartment and nearly gets hit by a car. Kate, the local cat lady, comes to the rescue, and Dave returns home with an ally: Cat, the stray tom that becomes Dave's confidante and his key to new friendships and experiences. Cat inadvertently leads Dave to Tom, a troubled 19-year-old who needs help, and Mary, a shy girl who opens Dave's eyes and ears to music and theater. Even the Cat-related confrontations with Pop take on a new spirit, with less shouting and more understanding.It's Like This, Cat offers a vivid tour of New York City in the 1960s. From the genteel environs of Gramercy Park to a bohemian corner of Coney Island, the atmospheric journey is punctuated by stickball games, pastrami sandwiches, and a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. Recounted with humor, a remarkably realistic teenage voice, and Emil Weiss's pitch-perfect illustrations, this 1964 Newbery Award-winning tale recaptures the excitement and challenges of growing up in the big city.

Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis lead an ordinary suburban life with Mother and Father and trips to the zoo and the pantomime. But when Father is mysteriously taken away one night, everything changes. The children must move to the country, to a little white cottage near the railway line, where eventually they find that there are plenty of adventures to be had and friends to be made—including Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. But the mystery remains—what has happened to Father, and will he come back? The story of Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis and their life in the country has never been out of print since it was first published in 1906. Charming, sentimental, and unforgettable, the novel retains all its enchantment and enduring appeal in this BBC Radio full-cast dramatization. 2 CDs. 1 hr 45 mins.

New to the children's list: the full, uncut screenplay of The Wizard of Oz, one of the most influential and popular family films of all time. When The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939 by MGM, few could have foreseen that it would have retained such enduring appeal. Yet over 60 years on, a third generation is being raised on Dorothy's adventures with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Munchkins. This full version of the original screenplay is for families, schools and children's drama groups to enjoy.

Every day at four o'clock in the morning, Findus likes to jump up and down on his bed. He wakes Pettson, who tells him to stop. Because cats really need their early morning exercise, Findus decides to find a house of his own where he can jump and bounce when he likes. But jumping on beds is one thing...living without Pettson is quite another. (Ages 4 to 7 years)

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.

When Roberta, Peter and Phyllis's father is taken away and they move to a tiny cottage in the countryside, the only advantage is the nearby railway. Join them on their adventures as they befriend all those who work with the trains, prevent a railway disaster and try to discover the truth behind their father's disappearance. The Railway Children, a much-loved children's classic, was first published in 1906 and has never been out of print.