"Yes, there they were, by the ocean liner's railing. Uncle Alec was swinging his hat like a boy, with Phebe smiling and nodding on one side and Rose kissing both hands delightedly on the other as she recognized familiar faces and heard familiar voices welcoming her home."

""Bless her dear heart, she's bonnier than ever, with that blue cloak round her, and her bright hair flying in the wind!" said Charlie excitedly as they watched the group upon the deck with eager eyes."

Archie, Phebe, Mac, Charlie and Rose: they were friends separated by an ocean for some years -- and now the changes they saw in one another, when reunited at the dock, were to be wondered at. Most marvelous at all, at least in the eyes of the young men, was how Rose had transformed: for the girl they had left behind had become a woman.

Louisa May Alcott (1832-88) was one of the most popular writers of the 19th century, known especially for her series of novels beginning with "Little Women."

"A stodgy parent is no fun at all. What a child wants and deserves is a parent who is sparky" Danny has the most marvellous and exciting father anyone ever had. He can repair any car or machine that people bring to him, loves going on adventures with Danny and tells him incredible stories around the stove in the cozy caravan they call home. The land around them belongs to Mr Hazell, a rich bully who NOBODY likes, not one-little bit. So, Danny and his father concoct a daring plot that will give Mr Hazell the greatest shock of his life. But can they pull off this level of mischief-making without getting caught...?

Tom Swift has enthralled generations of children with his amazing adventures. So return to a simpler time, put away your cynicism, and dust off your sense of wonder, because you're off on a series of grand adventures! Include here are the first three stories that started it all: Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle (Or Fun and Adventures on the Road), Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat (Or the Rivals of Lake Carlopa), and Tom Swift and His Airship (Or the Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud).

When a grumbling volcano causes Moominvalley to flood, the Moomins escape by boat, finding refuge on a floating theatre. Adventures abound when the theatre casts adrift leaving Moomin,The Snorkmaiden and Little My marooned. Will they all be reunited before the final curtain?

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room -- to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to themittens and the kittens, toeverything one by one -- the little bunny says goodnight.

In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

Shipwrecked on the shores of a strange new country, Betsy Bobbin and her loyal mule Hank decide to help the Shaggy Man in his quest to find his missing brother. Aided by Tik-Tok the Clockwork Man and Queen Ann's failed Army of Oogaboos, their path leads them into the underground kingdom of the Nomes, where danger and disaster are never far from view. Will they ever find the Shaggy Man's brother? Book 8 of the 15 book series by L. Frank Baum. Journey through the magical world of Oz with Dorothy and friends with these beloved timeless classics.

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers' story comprehension and develop vocabulary. Visit the Penguin Readers website Exclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys. Oliver Twist's parents are dead and he grows up in the workhouse, where life is very hard. One day Oliver runs away to London. There, he enters a life of crime with the old man Fagin, the Artful Dodger, frightening Bill Sykes and kind-hearted Nancy. How will Oliver live in this dangerous world?

A young messenger. A secret mission. A kingdom in peril. When Tiuri answers a desperate call for help, he finds himself on a dangerous errand that could cost him his life. He must deliver a secret letter to the king who lives across the Great Mountains - and the future of the entire realm depends on his message. It means abandoning his home, breaking all the rules and leaving everything behind - even the knighthood he has dreamed of for so long. He must trust no one. He must keep his true identity a secret. Above all, he must never reveal what is in the letter. The fate of the kingdom rests on him. Part of the new Pushkin Children's Classics series of thrilling, magical and inspiring stories from around the world, which young readers will return to time and again. Translated by Laura Watkinson. Tonke Dragt was born in Jakarta in 1930 and spent most of her childhood in Indonesia. Her family moved to the Netherlands after the war and, after studying at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, Dragt became an art teacher. She published her first book in 1961, followed a year later by The Letter for the King, which won the Children's Book of the Year award and has been translated into sixteen languages. Dragt was awarded the State Prize for Youth Literature in 1976 and was knighted in 2001. She died in 2024. Laura Watkinson is a full-time translator from Dutch, Italian and German. She has translated many titles for Pushkin Children's Books, including Jan Terlouw's Winter in Wartime, Tonke Dragt's The Letter for the King and Annet Schaap's Lampie. She lives in Amsterdam.

When orphaned Mary Lennox was sent off to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle, everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true, too. She had a little thin face and a little thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression. Her hair was yellow, and her face was yellow because she had been born in India and had always been ill in one way or another. Indeed, she was "Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary," through and through

Yet there was something strange about the place she was heading for. Said Mrs. Medlock to Mary beforehand, "Do you know anything about your uncle?"

"No," said Mary frowning. She frowned because she remembered how her father and mother had never talked to her about anything in particular.

"Humph," muttered Mrs. Medlock, staring at Mary's queer, unresponsive little face for a few moments. Then she said, "I suppose you might as well be told something, to prepare you. You are going to a rather queer place "

English-born American author Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) enjoyed international success with her 1886 novel "Little Lord Fauntleroy." Twenty-five years later she achieved even greater fame with "The Secret Garden, " one of the most beloved children's novels of all time.

Fall down the rabbit hole again and again with the master of paper engineering. With stunning pop-ups and elaborative interactive details, this is a gift that will be treasured by generations. Robert Sabuda's dazzling adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland makes the whimsy and fantastical burst out of the page. With a jaw-dropping number of three-dimensional pop-ups on every page, follow the White Rabbit through the forest, dine with the Mad Hatter, and play croquette against the Queen of Hearts. Featuring printed foil, acetate creatures, and a peep hole down the rabbit hole, this is a book that will be read again and again. Praise for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation: 'Breathtaking, three-dimensional images that are incredibly imaginative, intricately detailed, and perfectly executed... a fresh look at the story and offering details that add greatly to the reading experience.' School Library Journal 'This will very likely come to be seen as the definitive pop-up version of Alice, but it will also further establish Sabuda as the foremost visionary of the genre.' Booklist, Starred Review Other pop-up books by Robert Sabuda: The 12 Days of Christmas Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Beauty and the Beast The Little Mermaid The Night Before Christmas Peter Pan Winter's Tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

MARTY WILL DO ANYTHING TO SAVE SHILOH

When Marty Preston comes across a young beagle in the hills behind his home, it's love at first sight -- and also big trouble. It turns out the dog, which Marty names Shiloh, belongs to Judd Travers, who drinks too much and has a gun -- and abuses his dogs. So when Shiloh runs away from Judd to Marty, Marty just has to hide him and protect him from Judd. But Marty's secret becomes too big for him to keep to himself, and it exposes his entire family to Judd's anger. How far will Marty have to go to make Shiloh his?

Christmas Eve is SO exciting that Peter Rabbit and his sisters can't sleep! But, he knows that Father Christmas will only visit when they're all fast asleep. And this year he's wished for an extra special present, will he manage to fall asleep in time? The perfect Christmas story for younger readers. A joyful tale, told through the eyes of Beatrix Potter's most well-loved characters, with illustrations filled with charm, warmth and humour.

Princess Ozma's birthday celebration is set to be the most magnificent party of all time, and everybody who's anybody in Oz is desperate for an invitation. As for Dorothy and her friends, lost out in the lands beyond the Deadly Desert, they must use their heads and discover a way to get back to the Emerald City if they are to be in attendance on this most special occasion. But will they manage to get there in time? Book 5 of the 15 book series by L. Frank Baum. Journey through the magical world of Oz with Dorothy and friends with these beloved timeless classics.