Adapted and illustrated to introduce children and students to the works of Shakespeare! The Winter's Tale is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. The play was first published in 1623, and has since been performed worldwide with great success. It is set in Sicily, and revolves around the main character, King Leontes, who is consumed by doubts about his wife's loyalty. Jealousy drives him to plot his best friend's murder, imprison his wife and disown their unborn child. The play stretches over a period of sixteen long years during which Leontes realises his mistakes, and he is finally reunited with his estranged wife and daughter. Includes a QR code for the FREE audiobook! The easy-to-read narrative and comic-style illustrations are a great way to introduce children and students to the story before approaching the original texts.

The girl sits up, puts her hands nonchalantly in her pockets, and begins to whistle.

"Oh, don't, Jo," says Amy. "It's so boyish "

"Well, that's why I do it," says Jo.

"I detest rude, unladylike girls "

"And I hate affected, niminy-piminy chits "

Even though the March girls Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg disagree about plenty of matters, on plenty of occasions, the four make up the core of a cheerful, happy household . . . at least as happy as can be expected, given the fact that father is far away from home, fighting in the war -- perhaps never to return -- while mother is saying they should not have the pleasure of Christmas presents . . . not this year, when so many are suffering, and so many are in danger of losing their lives

Louisa May Alcott's 1868 classic "Little Women, " perhaps the best-beloved children's novel of all time, tells the story of these four spirited girls, with all their separate talents and ambitions.

These "Jataka Tales" as retold by Ellen C. Babbitt are stories about past incarnations of Buddha. The selection in this edition is deemed especially suitable for children. As Professor Felix Adler states in his foreword: "Long ago I was captivated by the charm of the Jataka Tales and realized the excellent use that might be made of them in the teaching of children. The obvious lessons are many of them suitable for little people, ..." This edition is fully illustrated.

This book brings together the four Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn novels: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer Abroad and Tom Sawyer, Detective. The novels are unabridged and the first two are fully illustrated with the original drawings. These are classic stories written by Mark Twain between 1876 and 1896. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" has been described as the first Great American Novel, Hemingway wrote: "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn." It should be noted that Twain repeatedly uses the word "nigger" which was in common use when the novels were written.

Time has brought changes to the March household -- home of the girls Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg, introduced in Louisa May Alcott's classic novel "Little Women."

Having returned safely from war, Mr. March has become a trusted and beloved minister in the local parish. Home, too, is young John Brooke, whose plans for a shared life with Meg, however modest and poor that life may turn out to be, make the eldest March girl think herself the happiest soul in Christendom. The young lovers will live in a charming little house dubbed "The Dovecote," with its front lawn the size of a handkerchief.

Life promises adventures and fulfillment for the other March girls, as well -- for not only are their talents developing, but they are growing older and more accomplished in the complicated matter of living their own lives. Tomboyish Jo's curly crop is lengthening into long coils, and she is learning to carry herself with ease -- if not quite with grace. Beth has grown slender, pale, and more quiet than ever, with beautiful eyes brimming with kindness. And Amy, the flower of the family, at sixteen already has the air and bearing of a full-gown woman, and exerts an indescribable charm -- especially on young men.

Louisa May Alcott (1832-88) was active in the temperance and women's suffrage movements of the 19th century. It is for her popular fiction that she is best remembered, however. Her series of novels beginning with "Little Women, " and continuing with "Good Wives, " ranks high among the best children's series of all time.

"I mean to write the Story of Midas, with his Golden Touch, Pandora's Box, The Adventure of Hercules in quest of the Golden Apples, Bellerophon and the Chimra, Baucis and Philemon, Perseus and Medusa; these, I think, will be enough to make up a volume. As a framework, I shall have a young college-student telling these stories to his cousins and brothers and sisters, during his vacations, sometimes in the woods and dells. Unless I greatly mistake, these old fictions will work up admirably for the purpose; and I shall aim at substituting a tone in some degree Gothic or romantic, or any such tone as may best please myself, instead of the classic coldness which is as repellant as the touch of marble. . . ." -- Nathaniel Hawthorne

Young, attractive and impetuous, Bathsheba has inherited a farm and is determined to be as independent as possible. Her natural beauty is a magnet for men; how will she choose between them? Gabriel Oak is a young farmer, just set up in business with his own flock of sheep. He meets Bathsheba and falls in love with her, but she turns him down. He has to stand by and watch while the woman he loves is courted by others, first by William Boldwood, much older than Bathsheba; then by Sergeant Troy, young, handsome, and reckless. Who will she choose? Throughout Bathsheba's series of mistakes, Gabriel remains her loyal friend. But will he ever be more than just a friend?

A Fabulous Find from the Moomin Archives A classic Moomin Book with COLOUR ILLUSTRATIONS And a beautiful FOLD-OUT PANORAMA In 1961, at the request of her Italian publishers, Tove Jansson created a unique new edition of Moominland Midwinter, the tale in which Moomin wakes from hibernation to contend alone with the mysterious world of winter. The text and internal line drawings of this much loved story were unchanged, but Tove added a beautiful new cover illustration and seven glorious full-page colour illustrations. This was the only Moomin title that she illustrated in colour and it has long been a prized item for collectors. For the first time, it is available in English. For this new Sort Of edition, Tove's nephew James Zambra restored the original cover and colour illustrations, along with a glorious fold-out panorama of characters from the book, which Tove Jansson painted for the first French edition. Sort Of Books have also added a back cover designed for the first Swedish edition of Moominland Midwinter, an image used on the first Puffin book, and a playful bookplate 'wreath' from the first German book. We believe this is the most beautiful Moomin book ever published!

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 - - The Opera ghost really existed. He was not, as was long believed, a creature of the imagination of the artists, the superstition of the managers, or a product of the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers, the box-keepers, the cloak-room attendants or the concierge. Yes, he existed in flesh and blood, although he assumed the complete appearance of a real phantom; that is to say, of a spectral shade. When I began to ransack the archives of the National Academy of Music I was at once struck by the surprising coincidences between the phenomena ascribed to the "ghost" and the most extraordinary and fantastic tragedy that ever excited the Paris upper classes; and I soon conceived the idea that this tragedy might reasonably be explained by the phenomena in question. The events do not date more than thirty years back; and it would not be difficult to find at the present day, in the foyer of the ballet, old men of the highest respectability, men upon whose word one could absolutely rely, who would remember as though they happened yesterday the mysterious and dramatic conditions that attended the kidnapping of Christine Daae, the disappearance of the Vicomte de Chagny and the death of his elder brother, Count Philippe, whose body was found on the bank of the lake that exists in the lower cellars of the Opera on the Rue-Scribe side. But none of those witnesses had until that day thought that there was any reason for connecting the more or less legendary figure of the Opera ghost with that terrible story.

Join the hunt to find lovable puppy, Spot, in Eric Hill's first ever lift-the-flap tale!

Lift each flap to find all sorts of funny animal surprises, before discovering where cheeky Spot has been hiding. This is the perfect first book for little ones - the playful text is a wonderful spur to read and respond together, and the hide-and-seek flaps encourage curiosity and interactivity.

This is a special anniversary edition of this much-loved classic to celebrate 40 years since the first publication of Where's Spot?

The hero of the sun-drenched hours, he looks godlike with his golden hair aglow in the sun as he hunts the wild beasts of field and wood. Yet as the light flees at the onset of evening, his self-assurance and bravado fade with the light . . . and he finds himself beset by terrors he cannot reign.

Then he discovers solace, in that terrifying night -- for within the depths of his fears he encounters a strange, beautiful creature who offers him comfort -- a girl, who is as much a creature of the dark hours as he is of sunlit days.

Watching over both their lives is red-haired witch Watho -- who with guilt and malice in her heart first cares for the two youths -- then jealously plots their destruction!

George MacDonald (1824-1905), Scottish author of "Phantastes," here relates the romance of the unusual lovers Photogen and Nycteris, in a land drenched in magic.

Featuring the much loved stories in Waterstone's Oxfam bestseller, The Invisible Child and The Fir Tree - the Moomins' gloriously funny and generous take on Christmas - Tales from Moominvalley collects together nine delightful Moomin short stories. Highlights include The Spring Tune (which Jarvis Cocker described as the best story about composing music) and The Last Dragon in the World, revealing the true essence of friendship. A perfect Christmas gift to complete the set of Moomin classics.

Let Harold and his purple crayon lead you on a fantastic journey of the imagination. The beloved classic is now available as a board book, perfect for little hands at bedtime.

In telling his tale to Woot the Wanderer, the Tin Woodman is reminded of his Munchkin sweetheart, Nimmie Amee, and determines to find her and marry her as he had promised to do before he was turned into tin by the Wicked Witch of the West. But it has been a long time since he has seen Nimmie Amee - will she still remember him? Book 12 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.

The exceptionordinary, effervescent Clarice Bean is back with her trademark heart and humour in this beautifully illustrated story by former Children's Laureate Lauren Child - a delightful summer read for the entire family! Nothing ever happens except for sometimes. And only on rare-ish occasions, which is hardly ever. There are times when even I can't turn the nothing into more than it is. But there was one day in the holidays that began as a nothing day and then everything happened. Absolutely nearly everything. The unforgettable Clarice Bean finds herself escaping the danger of boredom when she meets an actual real-life DOG who will NOT scram!

Little Lord Fauntleroy (1885, 1886) by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a beloved children's novel that made a huge impact on 19th century public, shaping everything from boys' clothing fashions to copyright law.

Cedric Errol is a generous, kind, and exemplary middle-class American boy who is suddenly found to be the heir of the Earl of Dorincourt. Saying loving goodbyes to his working-class friends, Cedric goes to England together with his mother to embrace his new fortune. His grandfather, the old earl, is a bitter old man ridden with gout and a foul temper, trusting no one. However the angelic boy elicits a profound transformation in the grandfather, which not only benefits the castle household but the whole populace of the earldom.

If only the old man's heart would soften toward Cedric's estranged mother, the family would be healed at last. And when another potential heir to the earldom makes a claim, it seems that everything is lost....

But all things are possible through a child's innocent trust, true friendship, and unconditional love.

Little Nell Trent's childhood is over. Her grandfather's mind is failing, his dark secret makes him sad and distracted, and he has nobody to care for him but Nell. The grotesque Daniel Quilp is out to cause trouble. What plans does he hatch with the dreadful Sampson and Sally Brass? What use can he hope to make of the foolish Dick Swiveller? Is Nell's one true friend, Kit, a match for Quilp's villainous mind? Nell and her grandfather must disappear or be separated forever, and so they begin their lives as beggars. When a mysterious gentleman arrives in London, determined to track them down, it becomes a race against time and against the evil of Quilp. Can Little Nell keep her grandfather safe? Who will protect Nell? Will the mysterious gentleman find them before it is too late?

Lift the flaps and join in the fun with this special anniversary edition of the bestselling preschool classic, Fox's Socks by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.

Poor old Fox has lost his socks – can you help him find them? Are they in the kitchen or under the stairs? Are they inside the clock or hidden in a chest? Lift the flaps and find out!

With sturdy flaps on every spread and rhyming stories that are a joy to read aloud, the Tales from Acorn Wood series has been delighting both parents and toddlers for over twenty years. Celebrate their unending appeal with Fox's Socks: 20th Anniversary Edition.

Discover more stories in the Tales from Acorn Wood series: Rabbit's Nap, Hide-and-Seek Pig and Postman Bear.

Lift the flaps and join in the fun with this special anniversary edition of the bestselling preschool classic, Hide-and-Seek Pig by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.

Pig and Hen are playing hide-and-seek. But where on earth could Hen be? Can you lift the flaps and help Pig find out where Hen is hiding?

With sturdy flaps on every spread and rhyming stories that are a joy to read aloud, the Tales from Acorn Wood series has been delighting both parents and toddlers for over twenty years. Celebrate their unending appeal with Hide-and-Seek Pig: 20th Anniversary Edition.

Discover more stories in the Tales from Acorn Wood series: Fox's Socks, Rabbit's Nap and Postman Bear.

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb was written to be an 'introduction to the study of Shakespeare', but are much more entertaining than that. All of Shakespeare's best-loved plays, comic and tragic, are retold in a clear and robust style, and their literary quality has made them popular and sought-after ever since their first publication in 1807. This edition contains the delightful pen-and-ink drawings of Arthur Rackham.