Douglass's graphic depictions of slavery, harrowing escape to freedom, and life as newspaper editor, eloquent orator, and impassioned abolitionist.

When the great Velazquez was painting his masterpieces at the Spanish court in the seventeenth century, his colors were expertly mixed and his canvases carefully prepared by his slave, Juan de Pareja. In a vibrant novel which depicts both the beauty and the cruelty of the time and place, Elizabeth Borton de Trevino tells the story of Juan, who was born a slave and died an accomplished and respected artist.
Upon the death of his indulgent mistress in Seville, Juan de Pareja was uprooted from the only home he had known and placed in the charge of a vicious gypsy muleteer to be sent north to his mistress's nephew and heir, Diego Velazquez, who recognized at once the intelligence and gentle breeding which were to make Juan his indispensable assistant and companion--and his lifelong friend.
Through Juan's eyes the reader sees Velazquez's delightful family, his working habits and the character of the man, his relations with the shy yet devoted King Philip IV and with his fellow painters, Rubens and Murillo, the climate and customs of Spanish court life. When Velazquez discovers that he and Juan share a love for the art which is his very life, the painter proves his friendship in the most incredible fashion, for in those days it was forbidden by law for slaves to learn or practice the arts. Through the hardships of voyages to Italy, through the illnesses of Velazquez, Juan de Pareja loyally serves until the death of the painter in 1660.

Children have always found a delightful friend in James Herriot. His award-winning stories for young readers bring the farmyard world of Herriot's Yorkshire to vibrant life. Featuring a host of adorable animals and colorful townsfolk, each of the stories is narrated by the country vet himself, with all of the warmth, caring, and good humor that have made James Herriot beloved the world over. Here, in James Herriot's "Treasury for Children," we find all of his books for children collected in one beautiful volume. From the springtime frolic of "Oscar, Cat-About-Town" to the yuletide warmth of "The Christmas Day" Kitten, these stories--radiantly illustrated by Peter Barrett and Ruth Brown--are perennial favorites, and this new complete edition will make a wonderful gift for all readers, great and small.
Taken together, these stories comprise a wondrous Herriot menagerie, a family treasure that will be passed, with joy and affection, from generation to generation.

Robert Louis Stevenson's classic pirate adventure that has thrilled readers for over a hundred years. Masterfully crafted, Treasure Island is a stunning yarn of piracy on the fiery tropic seas--an unforgettable tale of treachery that embroils a host of legendary swashbucklers, from honest young Jim Hawkins, to sinister, two-timing Israel Hands, to evil incarnate, blind Pew. But above all, Treasure Island is a complex study of good and evil, as embodied by that hero-villain Long John Silver, the merrily unscrupulous buccaneer-rogue whose greedy quest for gold cannot help but win the heart of every soul who ever longed for romance, treasure, and adventure.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning classic originally published over 50 years ago, Rawling's timeless story of backwoods Florida and the tender relationship of a young boy and his tame fawn continues to delight and enthrall readers.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. '...when the Green Dragon tore shrieking out of the mouth of its dark lair, which was the tunnel, all three children stood on the railing and waved their pocket-handkerchiefs without stopping to think whether they were clean handkerchiefs or the reverse.' When their father is mysteriously sent away, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis have to leave London with their mother to live in a cottage in the countryside. Finding comfort in the nearby railway station and friendship in Perks the Porter and the Station Master, the children watch every day for the passing London train. Every day they wave at the same old Gentleman on the train, not knowing that he may hold the key to their father's whereabouts.

A tree stands on a hill by a river. As the sky changes, so does the tree, its branches filling with clouds, stars, snow, birds, mists, and the golden spring sun. One tree can mean many things.

Thomas Locker's lyrical text records the changes in the tree's world just as simply as a child might observe them, and his magnificent paintings crystallize the natural phenomena that embellish the tree on each page. Questions at the bottom of each page lead to a unique discussion in the back of the book, where art and science are intertwined, and further depth is added to the wonder of Sky Tree.

Written one hundred years ago, this collection of rich tales follows the lives of six young children living in rural Maine after the Civil War. "Some of the very best stories of New England life and character that have ever been written." -- "Hartford Daily Courant"

This simple presentation scheme allows readers to see how objects can be both the same and different in the eyes of various artists, cultures and time periods. Children will be fascinated to discover that boars, roses, trees or even windows can be so different from one another and from those they see every day. Adults will love the visual and cultural richness of the alphabetical tour through the Metropolitan Museum's collection. A fact section at the end of the book provides more details about each piece of art and its creator

Ideal for sharing, this Caldecott Medal-winning beloved classic presents an illustrated prayer full of the intimate gentleness for familiar things, the love of friends and family, and the kindly protection of God. Bless this milk and bless this bread Bless this soft and waiting bed Where I presently shall be Wrapped in sweet security Winner of the Caldecott Medal and in print since 1941, this is a prayer for boys and girls all over the world. It carries a universal appeal for all ages and brings to our hearts and minds the deep responsibility of preserving for all times the faith and hopes of little children.

A timeless collection of twenty of Aesop's best-loved fables--punctuated by the age-old morals that have instructed countless generations. Accompanied by beautiful, full-color illustrations from award-winning artist Don Daily, this volume highlights such fables as "The Goose Who Laid the Golden Eggs," "The Mouse and the Frog," and the one and only "The Tortoise and the Hare."

Readers today are still fascinated by “Nat", an eighteenth-century nautical wonder and mathematical wizard.

Nathaniel Bowditch grew up in a sailor's world—Salem in the early days, when tall-masted ships from foreign ports crowded the wharves. But Nat didn't promise to have the makings of a sailor; he was too physically small. Nat may have been slight of build, but no one guessed that he had the persistence and determination to master sea navigation in the days when men sailed only by “log, lead, and lookout".

Nat's long hours of study and observation, collected in his famous work, The American Practical Navigator (also known as the “Sailors' Bible"), stunned the sailing community and made him a New England hero.

This classic tale of the famous Mallard ducks of Boston is available for the first time in a full-sized paperback edition. Awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1941, Make Way for Ducklings has been described as "one of the merriest picture books ever" (The New York Times). Ideal for reading aloud, this book deserves a place of honor on every child's bookshelf. "Robert McCloskey's unusual and stunning pictures Ahave? long been a delight for their fun as well as their spirit of place." ? The Horn Book

Experience the beauty and the magic of Cicely Mary Barker's famous Flower Fairies, with a rejacketed edition of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies of the Winter. The magic and loveliness of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies is being reissued with an updated, contemporary look that is a perfect gift for Flower Fairies fans and a new generation of readers. First published in the 1920s, Cicely Mary Barker's original Flower Fairies books have been loved for generations. The book features poems and full-color illustrations of over 20 flowers and their guardian fairies.

Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow?

Probably not. Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don't like cold weather either but they don't migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. Read and find out how other animals cope with winter's worst weather.

An American classic rediscovered by each generation, "The Story of My Life" is Helen Keller's account of her triumph over deafness and blindness. Popularized by the stage play and movie The Miracle Worker, Keller's story has become a symbol of hope for people all over the world.
This book-published when Keller was only twenty-two-portrays the wild child who is locked in the dark and silent prison of her own body. With an extraordinary immediacy, Keller reveals her frustrations and rage, and takes the reader on the unforgettable journey of her education and breakthroughs into the world of communication. From the moment Keller recognizes the word "water" when her teacher finger-spells the letters, we share her triumph as "that living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free " An unparalleled chronicle of courage, "The Story of My Life" remains startlingly fresh and vital more than a century after its first publication, a timeless testament to an indomitable will.

Laura Ingalls's story begins in 1871 in a little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Four-year-old Laura lives in the little house with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their trusty dog, Jack.

Pioneer life is sometimes hard, since the family must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But it is also exciting as Laura and her folks celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do the spring planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first trip into town. And every night they are safe and warm in their little house, with the happy sound of Pa's fiddle sending Laura and her sisters off to sleep.

And so begins Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of a pioneer girl and her family. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier past and a heartwarming, unforgettable story.

"For any child fortunate enough to have this  generous book...the kings and heroes of ancient  legend will remain forever matter-of-fact; the  pictures interpret the text literally and are full of  detail and witty observation."--Horn  Book.

"The drawings...are excellent  and excitingly evocative."--The New  York Times.


From the Hardcover edition.

Billy and Blaze head west again in another classic adventure from C. W. Anderson. This time, the loyal friends come face-to-face with a ferocious mountain lion. But fortunately, they're able to chase the wild cat into it's den and save a frightened calf from near death. Billy and Blaze help capture the cat before it can emerge, and, heroes once again, ride the range in search of new adventures!

Blaze and the Mountain Lion is part of the classic Billy and Blaze series. Sensitive drawings and easy-to-read words capture the warmth and understanding between a boy and his horse.

Billy and Blaze Are Lost

Billy and his pony Blaze love to explore the forest. So one day they set out on an old woodland road that is new to them. They have a wonderful ride, but their adventures soon lead them off the trail and deep into the woods. Before they know it, the sky grows dark with a coming storm, and Billy can't find the way out of the woods. Can Blaze find the trail and get them safely home again?

Blaze Finds the Trail is part of the classic Billy and Blaze series. Sensitive drawings and easy-to-read words capture the warmth and special understanding between a boy and his horse.

Introduction by Miles Donald

Burt goes fishing, takes refuge from a storm in a whale's stomach, and decorates a whole school of whales' tails with striped band-aids.

As Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign, Alfred Lord Tennyson's spellbinding poetry epitomized the Victorian age, and Selected Poems is edited with an introduction and notes by Christopher Ricks. 'Into the jaw of Death Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred' The works in this volume trace nearly sixty years in the literary career of one of the nineteenth century's greatest poets, and show the wide variety of poetic forms he mastered. This selection gives some of Tennyson's most famous works in full, including Maud, depicting a tragic love affair, and In Memoriam, a profound tribute to his dearest friend. Excerpts from Idylls of the King show a lifelong passion for Arthurian legend, also seen in the dream-like The Lady of Shalot and in Morte d'Arthur. Other works respond to contemporary events, such as Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington, written in Tennyson's official role as Poet Laureate, or the patriotic Charge of the Light Brigade, while Locksley Hall provides a Utopian vision of the future, and the late poem Crossing the Bar is a haunting meditation on his own mortality. In his introduction, Christopher Ricks discusses aspects of Tennyson's life and works, his revisions of his poems, and his friendship with Arthur Hallam. This edition also includes a chronology, further reading and notes. Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) was born at Somersby, Lincolnshire, the sixth of eleven children. His first important book, Poems, Chiefly Lyrical, was published in 1830, and was not a critical success, but his two volumes of Poems, 1842, which contain some of his finest work, established him as the leading poet of his generation. If you enjoyed Selected Poems, you might like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Lyrical Ballads, also available in Penguin Classics. 'He had the finest ear of any English poet since Milton' T.S. Eliot

Readers will climb through the pages of this vivid photographic book to explore the parts of a tree--and understand their functions. In summer, the tree sunbathes and seethes with animal life. With autumn comes the flowing sap that makes maple syrup for pancakes. As the tree's leaves begin to fall, winter is coming on and the tree is nearly dormant. Spectacular photographs and fun, informative text not only answer questions about how trees work and why seasons change but also make this book an invitation to observe and enjoy nature and its many wonders.