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 - - How it happened that Mastro Cherry, carpenter, found a piece of wood that wept and laughed like a child Centuries ago there lived - "A king " my little readers will say immediately.

Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventure series. All 21 titles also available as audiobooks! In book eighteen, the Famous Five hunt for the lost dungeons of a ruined castle on Finniston Farm. The friends are determined to find them, and whatever they hide, but they are not alone. Can the Famous Five get there first? Fantastic new cover art by Laura Ellen Anderson will draw young readers into this accessible timeless classic.

William Brown is back in this 100th anniversary edition of More William, featuring fourteen funny, classic Just William adventures by Richmal Crompton - updated for a new generation of readers. This edition featurres timeless original artwork from Thomas Henry, and an introduction by Martin Jarvis. 'William is as fresh and funny as ever' - Chris Riddell 'Gloriously funny' - Sue Townsend, author of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 There is only one William. This tousle-headed, snub-nosed, hearty, lovable ball of mischief has been harassing his unfortunate family and delighting his hundreds of thousands of admirers since 1922. William Brown and the Outlaws are up to their old tricks with more hilarious mischief, mayhem and muddles. When Aunt Lucy says that 'a busy day is a happy day', William does his best to keep himself very busy indeed. Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates his efforts. Including fourteen fantastic stories, More William is as funny as ever. This delightful children's classic features the original inside illustrations by Thomas Henry. Enjoy more of William's adventures in Just William, William Again, William the Outlaw and William at Christmas.

Once upon a time there was a huge family of children; and they were terribly, terribly naughty ... So begin the tales of the no-nonsense Nurse Matilda who uses magic to tame the mischievous children in her charge - and who changes their lives forever. The inspiration for the much-loved film Nanny McPhee, starring Emma Thompson and Colin Firth, the Nurse Matilda stories overflow with naughtiness, wit and timeless humour, making this collection the perfect gift for mischief-makers both young and old! The collection contains all three instalments in the Nurse Matilda series, accompanied by Edward Ardizzone's beautiful original illustrations: Nurse Matilda Nurse Matilda Goes to Town Nurse Matilda Goes to Hospital

An exquisite story to delight readers young and old, from a much-loved writer and illustrator.

What do you do if you find an abandoned seal pup on a rock in the middle of the sea? Well, take it home with you to your flat, of course.

At least that’s what Mr Albert Cleghorn thought, though perhaps he hadn’t considered all the complications…

This is the story of what then happened to Mr Cleghorn and Charlie the seal in their determination to find a home for Charlie and, incidentally, happiness for them both.

Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, Mister Cleghorn’s Seal is a classic in the making from the inimitable Judith Kerr.

Olia lives with her parents in an old crumbling castle, filled with hidden turrets and secret doorways. When she follows a mysterious cat to one of the castle's roof domes, she finds herself stepping through one such doorway into a magical land filled with wonders...

But everything is not quite as it seems: the land is under threat from a scheming magician, Chernmor, and the magic is fading away.

With the help of an enchanted band of new friends, can Olia find a way to save both her own home, and the land of forbidden magic?

Beloved by generations, Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little are two of the most cherished stories of all time. Now, for the first time ever, these treasured classics are available in lavish new collectors' editions. In addition to a larger trim size, the original black-and-white art by Garth Williams has been lovingly colorized by renowned illustrator Rosemary Wells, adding another dimension to these two perfect books for young and old alike.

Whether you are returning once again to visit with Wilbur, Charlotte, and Stuart, or giving the gift of these treasured stories to a child, these spruced-up editions are sure to delight fans new and old. The interior design has been slightly moderated to give the books a fresh look without changing the original, familiar, and beloved format. Garth Williams's original black-and-white line drawings for the jacket of Stuart Little have also been newly colorized by the celebrated illustrator Rosemary Wells. These classics return with a new look, but with the same heartwarming tales that have captured readers for generations.

It's never too soon to share your favourite classics with the next generation... This edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been adapted for younger readers and features: - Simplified Text - A child-friendly layout, designed for young readers - Full-colour illustrations by award-winning artist Robert Ingpen. An iconic classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a must-read for adults and children alike. Dorothy thinks she is lost forever when a terrifying tornado crashes through Kansas and whisks her and her dog, Toto, far away to the magical land of Oz. Dorothy must follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and find the wonderfully mysterious Wizard of Oz. Together with her companions the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion whom she meets on the way, Dorothy embarks on a strange and enchanting adventure. A full-colour illustrated edition of one of the world's best loved stories.

After abandoning the family, Kate Bonnet sets out to find and reprimand her pirate father, Stede, who is being targeted by multiple figures including Blackbeard. She meets various people along her journey who help make the trek worth her while. Kate Bonnet is the fictional daughter of the renowned pirate, Stede Bonnet. In Stockton’s interpretation, she’s a steadfast young woman whose father left the family to fend for themselves. Despite personal objections, Kate travels to find Stede and bring him back home. Throughout her venture, she encounters many people some of whom become traveling companions. She also crosses paths with a Naval officer who plans to capture Stede and barter his freedom for Kate’s hand in marriage. Kate Bonnet: The Romance of a Pirate’s Daughter is an entertaining mix of historical fiction. Despite the title, the story is not a traditional romance. The heroine has agency and ideals that go beyond courtship and marriage. She’s dedicated to her family and righting her father’s many wrongs. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Kate Bonnet: The Romance of a Pirate’s Daughter is both modern and readable.

In these delightful tales, Oscar Wilde employs all his grace, artistry and wit. The Happy Prince tells of the statue of a once pleasure-loving Prince which, with the help of a selfless Swallow helps people in distress. As well as The Nightingale and the Rose, The Devoted Friend and The Remarkable Rocket, this collection contains The Selfish Giant, a remarkable story of the redemptive power of love.

Many of the earliest children's books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Pook Press are working to republish these classic works in affordable, high quality editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can delight another generation of children.

To celebrate Paddington Bear’s 60th birthday in 2018 this hilarious classic novel from master storyteller Michael Bond has been given a fresh new look. Paddington is now a major movie star!

Paddington is in charge of the “EYETINNERY” and, as Mrs Bird mutters darkly, “There’s no knowing where we might end up.” But Paddington is planning some very good holiday ‘doings’ indeed for the Browns. And he even becomes the only bear ever to ride in the famous Tour de France bicycle race!

For nearly sixty years, Paddington Bear has touched the hearts of adults and children worldwide with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures..

Adventures in Toyland (1897) is a children's novel by Edith King Hall. The fifth of seven relatively unknown children's novels by Edith King Hall is a quirky, fun, and incredibly original story for children and adults alike. Reminiscent of E. T. A. Hoffmann's "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," Adventures in Toyland is an underappreciated classic from a master of Victorian fiction. "All sorts of toys were to be found in that toy-shop. It was truly a place to please any child! A little girl, who had come to stay there with her aunt-the owner of the shop-and her little cousin, was always to be found amongst the toys; she was forever picking up and admiring this one, stroking that one, nursing another. All her spare moments were spent in the shop." While playing in her aunt's toy shop, a young girl has a magical encounter with a mysterious Marionette, who informs her that the world of toys is just as real as the world of human beings. Given the chance to speak with the Marionette for two weeks-after which the toy will go silent forever-the young girl enjoys tales of conflict and adventure set in a wonderful kingdom of creatures and toys alike. From the tale of "The Rabbit and the Mouse" to the story of Belinda the wax doll and Jack, "the curly-headed Sailor-Boy," Hall never ceases to astound. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Edith King Hall's Adventures in Toyland is a classic work of British children's literature reimagined for modern readers.

'This book! It broke my heart and then splinted it back together again. Full of hope and love and wildness... Imagine Watership Down meets The Animals of Farthing Wood but fiercer.' Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear Chernobyl, 1986. Without humans, how will dogs survive? As humans fled the nuclear disaster, they were forced to leave their pets behind. Without people, nature began to return to the woods surrounding the power plant--lynx, bear, and wolves. But the overgrown forest is no place for dogs. Can Zoya, and her pups Misha and Luka, learn to survive in the deadlands? And will Zoya ever find her way home to her beloved owner? Praise for Anthony McGowan: 'McGowan's prose is beautiful in its brevity and devastating in its emotional impact.' Bookseller 'The Carnegie medal winner McGowan is superb at stories about children who do not have all the advantages.' The Sunday Times

A stunning treasury of favourite bedtime stories from one of the world's best-loved storytellers. With gorgeous full-colour illustrations by Becky Cameron throughout, this special book is a gift to treasure forever. Both a gorgeous gift for fans of Enid Blyton and a striking introduction to her work for new readers, this glorious hardback contains over 300 pages of beautifully illustrated short stories to read and share at bedtime. Each short story stands alone and takes the reader on a brand-new adventure. From the pixie seamstress who makes dresses for the Fairy Queen, to the little boy who turns into a steam engine, meet a host of magic and memorable characters, brought to life by Becky Cameron's charming illustrations. The stories first appeared in magazines and anthologies published between 1920-1960s. Look out for these other gorgeous Enid Blyton gift books: Enid Blyton's Magical Treasury The Famous Five Treasury Jolly Good Food (a children's cook book) Favourite Stories from Enid Blyton * Enid Blyton (R) and Enid Blyton's signature are Registered Trademarks of Hodder and Stoughton Limited. No trademark or copyrighted material may be reproduced without the express written permission of the trademark and copyright owner.

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.

Gretel looked at her mother] in troubled silence, wondering whether it were very wicked to care more for one parent than for the other-and sure, yes, quite sure, that she dreaded her father, while she clung to her mother with a love that was almost idolatry. -from Hans Brinker A beloved childhood favorite for a century and a half-and a book that readers continue to enjoy and appreciate long into adulthood-Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates went through more than 100 editions during the author's lifetime alone. First published in 1865, this replica of the 1917 edition features the exquisite illustrations by Alice Carsey, whose sensitive eye and delicate pen-and-ink lines enliven the tale of the poor but virtuous Dutch boy in a way that few other artists have achieved. This replica edition brings the enchanting work of Dodge and Carsey to a new generation of children. Author and editor Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905) was born in New York City. She served as editor of the children's magazine St. Nicholas, to which she attracted such writers as Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Rudyard Kipling. She also authored the short-fiction collection Irvington Stories (1864). ON FRONT FLAP: Gretel looked at her mother] in troubled silence, wondering whether it were very wicked to care more for one parent than for the other-and sure, yes, quite sure, that she dreaded her father, while she clung to her mother with a love that was almost idolatry. -from Hans Brinker A beloved childhood favorite for a century and a half-and a book that readers continue to enjoy and appreciate long into adulthood-Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates went through more than 100 editions during the author's lifetime alone. First published in 1865, this replica of the 1917 edition features the exquisite illustrations by Alice Carsey, whose sensitive eye and delicate pen-and-ink lines enliven the tale of the poor but virtuous Dutch boy in a way that few other artists have achieved. This replica edition brings the enchanting work of Dodge and Carsey to a new generation of children. ON BACK FLAP: COSIMO CLASSICS was inspired by Cosimo de Medici, the first of the de Medici dynasty, who ignited the most important cultural and artistic revolution in Western history - the Renaissance. This quest for enrichment is the foundation for COSIMO, an innovative publisher of books that inspire, inform, and engage readers worldwide. COSIMO brings to life unique, out-of-print classics, representing subjects as diverse as Alternative Health, Business & Economics, Eastern & Western Philosophy, Personal Growth, Mythology & Folklore, Science, and Sacred Texts & Spirituality, and much more

Go, Thomas, Go! is a book and a toy in one!

Young children will love wheeling their Go, Thomas, Go! book around on his sturdy wheels and then stopping to enjoy the story about the time Thomas raced around Sodor doing all sorts of important jobs for The Fat Controller. They'll love hearing about Thomas taking wagons of wood to the Docks, beautiful blooms to the flower stall, soft straw to some newborn lambs and steaming back to the Station as soon as he could. Did Thomas manage to be Really Useful and complete all his jobs in record time? Cheer Thomas on by saying, "Go, Thomas, Go!"

Shaped to look just like Thomas, this fun, interactive board book is perfect for even the youngest Thomas fans. Suitable for children aged ten months and over, it's particularly appealing to curious two-to-four year olds, who love playing with trains and making choo choo noises. Toddlers will like holding their Thomas-shaped book and turning the wheels as they run it around on floors, tables, sofas, in fact anywhere and everywhere. When they're ready for some quiet time, they'll love turning the pages to see how Thomas got on during his busy day. With illustrations showing different areas around the Island of Sodor, it includes questions about colours and counting, so children will can really enjoy looking at the details in each scene whilst learning key concepts.

Thomas has been teaching children lessons about life and friendship for 75 years. He ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage.

Retold for younger readers, this classic 1886 novel was not Robert Louis Stevenson's first novel, but it was one that helped to make him famous in his lifetime. The spine-chilling story shows the struggle between good and evil that Dr. Jekyll faced and how, in the end, his own good nature was overpowered by the evil in himself.

When orphaned Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it full of secrets. At night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. Outside, she meets Dickon, a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals. Then, one day, with the help of a friendly robin, Mary discovers the most mysterious wonder of all--a secret garden, walled and locked, which has been completely forgotten for years and years. Is everything in the graden dead, or can Mary bring it back to life?