"Matthew Cuthbert, who's that?" she ejaculated. "Where is the boy?" Matthew had been to the train station to fetch the child they were to adopt, a boy. Marilla had insisted on a boy.

"There wasn't any boy," said Matthew wretchedly. "There was only "her.""

He nodded at the girl. He didn't know her name. He was embarrassed to realize that he had never even asked her name.

"No boy But there "must" have been a boy," insisted Marilla. "We sent word to Mrs. Spencer to bring a boy."

"Well, she didn't. She brought "her." I asked the station-master. And I had to bring her home. She couldn't be left there, no matter where the mistake had come in."

"Well, this is a pretty piece of business " ejaculated Marilla.

During this dialogue the child had remained silent, her eyes roving from one to the other, all the animation fading out of her face. Suddenly she seemed to grasp the full meaning of what had been said. Dropping her precious carpet-bag she sprang forward a step and clasped her hands.

"You don't want me " she cried. "You don't want me because I'm not a boy I might have expected it. Nobody ever did want me. I might have known it was all too beautiful to last. I might have known nobody really did want me. Oh, what shall I do? I'm going to burst into tears "

And burst into tears the little girl did. . . .

Shipwrecked on an unchartered island, the Swiss Family Robinson - mother, father and four young boys - make the most of their predicament, adapting to the island and turning the absence of civilization to their advantage. Through perseverance, hard work and self reliance, they become masters of their new environment. Their experience is colourful, creative and filled with exciting adventures. This illustrated edition, with full-colour plates by T. H. Robinson, features an elegant bonded-leather binding, a satin-ribbon bookmark, distinctive gilded edging and decorative endpapers.

Bestselling author Holly Webb revisits the much-loved classic A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is 1913, nine years after the end of A Little Princess saw Sara Crewe escape Miss Minchin's orphanage. Lottie, the smallest girl from the original story, learns about the Suffragette movement from Sara, who returns to visit from time to time. Soon Lottie finds herself sneaking out of the orphanage to attend a demonstration, in defiance of her cold, distant father. A father who has a secret to hide about her own missing mother... It's a story about lost mothers turning up in unexpected situations, the power of friendship and female empowerment. Revisit beloved characters and meet some new ones in this retelling of the classic story, A Little Princess. The original book by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of the most loved children's classics of all time. Holly Webb has previously published a sequel to the classic novel The Secret Garden called Return to the Secret Garden.

If you came down to harsh facts -- which, it must be confessed, Anne of Avonlea seldom did until she had to -- it did not seem likely that there was much promising material for celebrities in Avonlea school; but you could never tell what might happen if a teacher used her influence for good. Anne had certain rose-tinted ideals of what a teacher might accomplish if she only went the right way about it; and she was in the midst of a delightful scene, forty years hence, with a famous personage . . . just exactly what he was to be famous for was left in convenient haziness, but Anne thought it would be rather nice to have him a college president or a Canadian premier . . . bowing low over her wrinkled hand and assuring her that it was she who had first kindled his ambition, and that all his success in life was due to the lessons she had instilled so long ago in Avonlea school.

A sensitive and engaging Mr Men Little Miss story about worries, big and small, and how to manage them. Mr Worry worries about everything. It sometimes starts with a funny feeling in his tummy. Do you ever feel worried? Everyone worries sometimes. But Mr Worry worries all the time. Can Mr Calm and Little Miss Sunshine help him to ease his worries? The Mr Men and Little Miss are the perfect characters to help children understand a bit more about their own emotions and how to manage them. With engaging questions to encourage conversations and some helpful tips from favourite characters to help children develop their emotional intelligence.

A magical story of snow and stars by Catherine Fisher. The Clockwork Crow is a mysterious gothic Christmas tale set in a frost-bound Victorian country mansion. When orphaned Seren Rees is given a mysterious package by a strange and frightened man on her way to her new home, she reluctantly takes it with her. But what is in the parcel? Who are the Family who must not be spoken of, and can the Crow help Seren find Tom, before the owner of the parcel finds her? The Clockwork Crow is a gripping Christmas tale of families and belonging set in snowy Wales from a master storyteller.

When he had been at school for about three weeks, the boys called him Six-fingered Jack; but his real name was Willie, for his father and mother gave it him -- not William, but Willie, after a brother of his father, who died young, and had always been called Willie. His name in full was Willie Macmichael. It was generally pronounced Macmickle, which was, by a learned anthropologist, for certain reasons about to appear in this history, supposed to have been the original form of the name. . . . One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him. He obeyed her gladly.

"Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?">P? Willie answered without a moment's hesitation --

A beautifully illustrated cover edition of Rumer Godden's classic story about friendship and family, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower. When little Nona is sent from her sunny home in India to live with her relatives in chilly England, she is miserable. Then a box arrives for her in the post and inside, wrapped up in tissue paper, are two little Japanese dolls. A slip of paper says their names are Miss Happiness and Miss Flower. Nona thinks that they must feel lonely too, so far away from home. Then Nona has an idea - she will build her dolls the perfect house! It will be just like a Japanese home in every way. It will even have a tiny Japanese garden. And as she begins to make Miss Happiness and Miss Flower happy, Nona finds that she is happier too.

Anne of Green Gables is a literary classic written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It is the story of a young orphan girl who was sent to a middle-aged brother and sister who are farmers and intended to adopt a boy to help them run the farm. The novel tells the story of how she gets on with them and in the community. This story has sold over 50 million copies since publication and Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote several other novels, telling Anne Shirley's life story. Six are all available here in a single volume, and in age order. Enjoy this classic tale of the orphan girl making her way through life.

Introducing The Famous Five to younger readers with this NEWLY-CREATED story for children aged 5 and up!

Set in the world of Enid Blyton's best-loved series, this newly-created early reader follows Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog on a special new adventure - illustrated in gorgeous full-colour throughout by Becka Moor.

Expect all the usual excitement as the Five head off to birthday party with a very special present. Little do they know, two thieves are on their trail and desperate to get their hands on it...

The story is broken down into short chapters with vibrant, full-colour illustrations on every page - perfect for shared reading or for newly confident readers to enjoy independently.

This new title sits alongside Enid Blyton's eight original short stories about the Famous Five- also available in early reader format, illustrated by Jamie Littler. Collect them all!

• A Lazy Afternoon
• George's Hair Is Too Long
• Well Done, Famous Five
• Five and a Half-Term Adventure
• When Timmy Chased the Cat
• Five Have a Puzzling Time
• Good Old Timmy
• Happy Christmas, Five!

Pluck has been driving all over town in his little red tow truck, looking for a home. When he finds out there's a room going free in the Pill Building he goes straight there and moves in. Right away he makes lots of friends, including Zaza the cockroach and Dolly the pigeon. Now his adventures can begin... Blending realistic characters with the fantastic, full of adventure and humour, Tow-Truck Pluck is an unforgettably offbeat children's classic in the vein of Roald Dahl's The BFG, and one of the Netherlands most popular children's books of all time.

"Work, work all the night"
"While the stars are shining bright;"
"Work, work all the day --"
"I've got no time to play!"

Everyone is curious! Farmer Brown's boy cannot figure it out. Then Peter Rabbit and Jerry Muskrat set their minds to the problem and try to wrestle it to the ground. What is happening in the peaceful meadow where the stream flowed so quietly before -- and what does Paddy Beaver have to do with it?

Thornton W. Burgess, famous for his tales of "the lesser folk in fur and feathers," first entertained young readers in the 1910s . . . and his books have kept doing so, decade after decade, down to the present day.

The magical and brilliantly funny adventures of Flat Stanley brought to life by bestselling illustrator Rob Biddulph in this new picture book edition.

Amazing things always happen to Stanley!

Stanley was just an ordinary boy, until a pin board fell on top of him . . .

Now he’s flat as a pancake! Sometimes being flat can be lots of fun – he can even fly like a kite!

But it’s not all fun and games . . . The sneak thieves are in the town and plotting to steal the world’s most expensive painting! Can Flat Stanley save the day?

Jeff Brown’s world-famous character continues to charm over 50 years on from publication. With shortened adapted text, this 32 page picture book is great for sharing with children aged 3 years and up and will introduce Stanley's adventures to a whole new generation of children. Rob Biddulph's bold and graphic illustrations reimagine the characters and their world in a fresh and engaging new way – perfect for fans new and old.

One of the most loved and enduring wartime novels, Carrie's War is a modern classic. WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY MICHAEL MORPURGO AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALAN MARKS 'A touching, utterly convincing book' JACQUELINE WILSON 'Poignant and realistic . . . Carrie's War captures the true reality of war for a child, and it doesn't sentimentalise war' SHIRLEY HUGHES, GUARDIAN 'I did a dreadful thing, the worst thing of my life, when I was twelve and a half years old, and nothing can change it' It is wartime and Carrie and her little brother Nick have been evacuated from their London home to the Welsh hills. In an unfamiliar place, among strangers, the children feel alone and find little comfort with the family they are billeted with: Mr Evans, a bullying shopkeeper and Auntie Lou, his kind but timid sister. When Carrie and Nick visit Albert, another evacuee, they are welcomed into Hepzibah Green's warm kitchen. Hepzibah is rumoured to be a witch, but her cooking is delicious, her stories are enthralling and the children cannot keep away. With Albert, Hepzibah and Mister Johnny, they begin to settle into their new surroundings. But before long, their loyalties are tested: will they be persuaded to betray their new friends? This collection of the best children's literature, curated by Virago, will be coveted by children and adults alike. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie's War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Little Princess,The Secret Garden) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children's Classics.

The Mr Men and Little Miss are giving each other secret Christmas presents! Little Miss Sunshine thought it would be a fun idea for the Mr Men and Little Miss to be Secret Santas for each other. Mr Nosey didn’t think it was such a good idea as he likes to know everything! What will the friends gifts be and how will Mr Nosey cope with all the secrets?! Mr Men and Little Miss Celebrations introduce children to all the exciting occasions that people celebrate including birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, sporting events … and even a trip to the moon. These colourful adventures will delight children of two years and upwards. Bold illustrations and funny stories make Mr Men and Little Miss the perfect story time experience