One dark night, the music and singing wake a monster from a swamp ... Warrior after warrior comes to slay the monster, but no one can outwit Grendel. Only the great hero Beowulf stands a chance - but even he is not prepared for the horror that lies in wait. A stunning prose retelling of a Beowulf tale from an author-illustrator dream-team. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+

"If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad." Catherine Morland longs to be as interesting as the gothic heroines she reads about in novels. When she is invited on her first trip away from home, she leaps at the chance. New friendships and flirting lead her to the imposing Northanger Abbey, where Catherine discovers that a little imagination can be a dangerous thing.

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.

Mr. and Mrs. Twit are not nice people. What do the monkeys do? What does the bird do? Ladybird Readers is a graded reading series of traditional tales, popular characters, modern stories, and non-fiction, written for young learners of English as a foreign or second language. Beautifully illustrated and carefully written, the series combines the best of Ladybird content with the structured language progression that will help children develop their reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking skills. The eight levels of Readers and Activity Books follow the CEFR framework and include language activities that provide preparation for the Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) exams. The Twits, a Level 1 Reader, is Pre-A1 in the CEFR framework and supports YLE Starters exams. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, using the present tense and some simple adjectives.

Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas. He is angry that people are not working. Then, he meets the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley. Can Scrooge be a good person before it is too late?

Penguin Readers is a series of popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction written for learners of English as a foreign language. Beautifully illustrated and carefully adapted, the series introduces language learners around the world to the bestselling authors and most compelling content from Penguin Random House.The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework and include language activities that help readers to develop key skills.

A Christmas Carol, a Level 1 Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the past simple tense and some simple modals, adverbs and gerunds. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels.

Five Children and It (1902) is a children's fantasy novel by English writer Edith Nesbit. The first book in Nesbit's beloved Psammead trilogy-which also includes The Phoenix and the Carpet (1904) and The Story of the Amulet (1906)-Five Children and It is a story of childish wonder, adventure, and the power of imagination. Five siblings move with their parents from London to the English countryside, where they adjust to the rhythms of rural life and spend their days playing and exploring outside. One day, while playing in a local gravel pit, they discover a strange creature with the eyes of a snail, the ears of a bat, a spider-shaped body, and the limbs of a monkey. Known as a Psammead, the being is a sand fairy who grants the children one wish per day-while warning them that whatever they wish for will turn to stone when the sun sets. The children's fear quickly turns to wonder, and they begin to wish for increasingly ambitious things: a pile of gold coins; the power of flight; superhuman size; a castle. With each wish comes a commensurate adventure, forcing the children to escape more and more dangerous situations. As it grants the children wish after wish, the initially cynical Psammead grows to appreciate their vibrant imaginations and seemingly unquenchable passion for adventure. Five Children and It is masterpiece of fantasy from Edith Nesbit, one of the twentieth century's leading authors of children's fiction. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Edith Nesbit's Five Children and It is a classic of English children's literature reimagined for modern readers.

What he hears will change everything. Egged on by his wife, he decides to kill in order to gain the Scottish crown. How many people will have to die in Macbeth's pursuit of power? With armies, ghosts and magic against him, will Macbeth survive in this tale of greed and betrayal? Getting the crown is one thing - keeping it is quite another.

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" (1813) is perhaps her most popular novel. A work of comedy, wit, romance, it is also haunted by ironic shadows and dark anxieties as Austen traces the fortunes of central character Elizabeth Bennet.
This guide takes the form of a sourcebook, combining reprinted contextual and critical documents with extensive introductory comment and annotation by the volume editor. It is divided into sections as follows:
*"Contexts," which an overview of social and intellectual contexts to Austen's work with a variety of extracts from relevant documents of the time, ranging from female conduct books to political tales of terror
*"interpretations," which traces the reception and academic criticism of Pride and Prejudice from the nineteenth-century to the present, in a series of readings, and also includes material on the 1995 film adaptation of the novel
*"Key Passages," which reprints and offers critical commentary on fourteen widely studied passages of the novel, linking them to contextual and critical material elsewhere in the sourcebook

Laura Ingalls Wilder beginning her life with her new husband, Almanzo, in their own little house. Laura is a young pioneer wife now, and must work hard with Almanzo, farming the land around their home on the South Dakota prairie. Soon their baby daughter, Rose, is born, and the young family must face the hardships and triumphs encountered by so many American pioneers.

And so Laura Ingalls Wilder's adventure as a little pioneer girl ends, and her new life as a pioneer wife and mother begins. 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.

A beautiful picture book with colour illustrations, The Last Dragon in Moominvalley is the perfect gift for Moomin fans of all ages. When Moomintroll finds a tiny dragon, he puts it in a jam jar to keep it as a pet. He's so excited to have found the very last dragon in the world! But Moomintroll soon realizes that the dragon wants to be free. And when the dragon seems to prefer Snufkin, will Moomintroll's heart be broken? This stunning picture book is a newly-illustrated retelling of Tove Jansson's classic Moomin short story The Last Dragon, originally published in Tales from Moominvalley sixty years ago and now reinterpreted for a new generation of Moomin fans.

Set in Victorian England, Far from the Madding Crowd tells the story of the farmer Bathsheba Everdene, her life and her relationships. It discusses the themes of love, honor and betrayal.

In London's respectable society, Jekyll's friends grow concerned. Why has Jekyll suddenly changed his will, and what is his connection with the frightening Mr Hyde? In London's squalour, a child is trampled and an elderly gentleman brutally murdered. Why do all fingers point towards Mr Hyde? Is Jekyll strong enough to resist Hyde's strange power? Are Jekyll's friends strong enough to help? In this exploration of two sides of Victorian London and two sides of human nature, the conflict between good and evil has been given a terrifying twist.

A classic for all ages, this official, unabridged edition of Anne's House of Dreams features the unforgettable character of Anne Shirley and special memories, exclusively from L.M. Montgomery's granddaughter. Every girl dreams of her perfect wedding day... For Anne Shirley, those dreams are about to come true as she marries her one true love, Gilbert Blythe, in the dappled sunshine of the old orchard at Green Gables. Soon the two will be moving to their own little dream house on the misty shores of Four Winds Harbor. And a new home means new neighbors-including the adventurous lighthouse keeper Captain Jim and the tragically beautiful Leslie Moore. In their first years together, Anne and Gil will experience both heartbreak and joy, and, of course, plenty of "scope for the imagination." With Anne's beautiful gift of transforming the everyday into the extraordinary, it's easy to see why she's become a beloved classic of generations of readers around the world and a favorite of everyone from Mark Twain to Duchess Kate.

Dear reader, There is nothing to be found in Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' but misery and despair. You still have time to choose another international best-selling series to read. But if you insist on discovering the unpleasant adventures of the Baudelaire orphans, then proceed with caution... Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky. In The Vile Village the siblings face such unpleasant matters as migrating crows, an angry mob, a newspaper headline, the arrest of innocent people, the Deluxe cell, and some very strange hats. In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Despite their wretched contents, 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' has sold 60 million copies worldwide and been made into a Hollywood film starring Jim Carrey. And in the future things are poised to get much worse, thanks to the forthcoming Netflix series starring Neil Patrick Harris. You have been warned. Are you unlucky enough to own all 13 adventures? The Bad Beginning The Reptile Room The Wide Window The Miserable Mill The Austere Academy The Ersatz Elevator The Vile Village The Hostile Hospital The Carnivorous Carnival The Slippery Slope The Grim Grotto The Penultimate Peril The End And what about All the Wrong Questions? In this four-book series a 13-year-old Lemony chronicles his dangerous and puzzling apprenticeship in a mysterious organisation that nobody knows anything about: 'Who Could That Be at This Hour?' 'When Did you Last See Her?' 'Shouldn't You Be in School?' 'Why is This Night Different from All Other Nights?' Lemony Snicket was born before you were and is likely to die before you as well. He was born in a small town where the inhabitants were suspicious and prone to riot. He grew up near the sea and currently lives beneath it. Until recently, he was living somewhere else. Brett Helquist was born in Ganado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in New York City. He earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Brigham Young University and has been illustrating ever since. His art has appeared in many publications, including Cricket magazine and The New York Times.

Itty prepares a royal tea party for her best friend, Luna Unicorn, in this ninth Itty Bitty Princess Kitty chapter book. Itty and her best friend, Luna Unicorn, are picking ruby red berries when they meet some pegasuses! The pegasuses are honored to meet the princess and prepare her some delicious tea. Itty has such a good time that she goes to visit them again the next day. And the day after that. Pretty soon, Luna starts feeling left out. When Itty finally notices, how can she make it up to Luna? Then she has an idea...tea for two! With easy-to-read language and illustrations on every page, the Itty Bitty Princess Kitty chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG --------------------- Enter BERTRAM, the COUNTESS OF ROUSILLON, HELENA, and LAFEU, all in black COUNTESS. In delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband. BERTRAM. And I in going, madam, weep o'er my father's death anew; but I must attend his Majesty's command, to whom I am now in ward, evermore in subjection. LAFEU. You shall find of the King a husband, madam; you, sir, a father. He that so generally is at all times good must of necessity hold his virtue to you, whose worthiness would stir it up where it wanted, rather than lack it where there is such abundance.

“They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace – Christopher Robin went down with Alice.” Curl up with A.A.Milne’s classic book of poetry for children, When We Were Very Young. This is the first volume of rhymes written especially for children by Milne – as popular now as when they were first written. This collection is a heart-warming and funny introduction to children’s poetry, offering the same sense of humour, imagination and whimsy that we’ve come to expect from Milne's favourite books about Winnie-the-Pooh, that Bear of Very Little Brain. This book is all the more special due to E.H.Shepard’s decorations, which are shown in full, glorious colour. They are truly iconic and contributed to him being known as ‘the man who drew Pooh’. Do you own all the classic Pooh titles? Winnie-the-Pooh The House at Pooh Corner When We Were Very Young Now We Are Six Return to the Hundred Acre Wood The Best Bear in All the World Once There Was a Bear The nation’s favourite teddy bear has been delighting generations of children for over 95 years. Milne’s classic children’s stories – featuring Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin and, of course, Pooh himself – are gently humorous while teaching lessons about friendship and kindness. Pooh ranks alongside other beloved character such as Paddington Bear, and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage. Whether you’re 5 or 55, Pooh is the bear for all ages.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles, by Thomas Hardy, was published in 1891. It tells the heartaching story of Tess, a farmer's daughter, who has to make an impossible choice in pursuit of happiness.

Come along on an adventurous journey with the world's most beloved bunny, Peter Rabbit, with this new family collectible edition of The Classic Tale of Peter Rabbit and Other Charished Stories, featuring a special slipcase and ribbon marker for Beatrix Potter's most beloved story. Valuable lessons can be learned from the mischievous and disobedient Peter Rabbit as he encounters Mr. McGregor in his vegetable garden. This timeless classic was originally published in 1902 and is perfect for any family. This new edition features: - A beautifully designed slipcased hardcover collectible edition - A large four-page foldout opens to 46 inches and brings this story to life - Original illustrations masterfully reproduced to captivate the attention of readers by renowned, New York Times #1 Bestselling artist Charles Santore, the critically-acclaimed illustrator of multiple classic tales, including The Night Before Christmas, Aesop's Fables, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, and more! - Other classic tales by Beatrix Potter, including: The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, and Two Bad Mice The work of New York Times bestselling children's book illustrator Charles Santore has been widely exhibited in museums and celebrated with recognitions such as the prestigious Hamilton King Award, the Society of Illustrators Award of Excellence, and the Original Art 2000 Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators. He is best known for his luminous interpretations of classic children's stories, including The Night Before Christmas, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Aesop's Fables, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Wizard of Oz, and more!