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Books > Children's Fiction & Fun > Classic Fiction
Half wolf, half dog, White Fang fully understands the cruelty of
both nature and humans. After nearly starving to death during the
frigid Arctic winter, he's taken in first by a man who "trains" him
through constant whippings, and then by another who forces him to
participate in vicious dogfights. Follow White Fang as he overcomes
these obstacles and finally meets someone who offers him kindness
and love.
Sara has a unusual look of maturity about her, for a
seven-year-old child. She has seen a great deal of the world. She
has felt the blazing sun in Bombay, India, and has crossed the
ocean -- and now is somewhere that seems utterly strange to her . .
. a foggy and damp city named London.
Her new place in life seems to offer few attractions: Miss
Minchin's Select Seminary. Yet Sara takes her place in the
seminary's classrooms, and soon finds herself building
unconventional friendships -- with girls whom the other students
seem not to notice at all.
Then comes news from her father -- that he will become partner
in diamond mines in India
English-born American author Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924)
enjoyed international success with her novels, including "Little
Lord Fauntleroy" and "The Secret Garden."
If you know Walter De La Mare's work, you probably know him as
an important literary novelist and poet in the early twentieth
century. But he also tried his hand at children's fiction, and "The
Three Mulla-mulgars" is pretty special. It's the sort of book you
want to take home and read to your kids yourself.
But it's De La Mare. You "know" it's got to have a bit of verse,
don't you?
"Long -- long is Time, though books be brief:
Adventures strange -- ay, past belief --
Await the Reader's drowsy eye;
But, wearied out, he'd lay them by.
"But, if so be he'd some day hear
All that befell these brothers dear
In Tishnar's lovely Valleys -- well,
Poor pen, thou must that story tell!
"But farewell, now, you Mulgars three!
Farewell, your faithful company!
Farewell, the heart that loved unbidden --
Nod's dark-eyed, beauteous Water-midden!"
Cymbeline is a play by William Shakespeare, set in Ancient Britain
(part of the play is set in the area corresponding to Wales) and
based on legends concerning the early Celtic British King
Cunobeline. Although listed as a tragedy in the First Folio, modern
critics often classify Cymbeline as a romance. Like Othello and The
Winter's Tale, it deals with the themes of innocence and jealousy.
While the precise date of composition remains unknown, the play was
certainly produced as early as 1611. Imogen (or Innogen), daughter
of the British king Cymbeline, is in love with Posthumus Leonatus,
a man raised in her father's court who is described as possessing
exceeding personal merit and martial skill. The two have secretly
married, exchanging jewellery as tokens: a ring from Imogen, a
bracelet from Posthumus. Cymbeline has discovered the affair and
banishes Posthumus for his presumption, for Imogen is currently
Cymbeline's only child and so her husband is heir to the British
throne. Cymbeline did have two sons before Imogen, Guiderius and
Arviragus, but they were stolen twenty years before as infants by
Belarius, a courtier banished as a traitor for supposedly
conspiring with the Romans. Cymbeline is a vassal king of Caesar
Augustus, and Caius Lucius, a Roman ambassador, is on his way to
demand the tribute that Cymbeline, under the influence of his wife
the Queen, has stopped paying. The Queen is conspiring to have
Cloten, her cloddish and arrogant son by an earlier marriage,
married to Imogen. The Queen also is plotting to murder both Imogen
and Cymbeline to secure Cloten's kingship, and to that end has
procured what she believes to be deadly poison from the court
doctor, Cornelius; Cornelius, however, suspects the Queen's malice
and switches the "poison" with a drug that will cause the imbiber's
body to mimic death for a while before reviving. Imogen meanwhile
secludes herself in her chambers, resisting entreaties that she
come forth and marry Cloten. Posthumus flees to Italy to the house
of his friend Philario/Filario, where he meets Iachimo/Giacomo.
Posthumus waxes at length on Imogen's beauty and chastity, and
Iachimo challenges him to a bet that he, Iachimo, can seduce Imogen
and bring Posthumus proof of her adultery. If he wins, Iachimo will
get Imogen's ring from Posthumus's finger. If Posthumus wins, not
only must Iachimo pay him but also consent to a sword duel so that
Posthumus may avenge his and Imogen's affronted honour. Iachimo
heads to Britain where he aggressively attempts to seduce the
faithful Imogen, who sends him packing. Iachimo then hides in a
chest in Imogen's bedchamber and, when the princess falls asleep,
emerges to steal from her Posthumus's bracelet. He also examines
the room and Imogen's partly naked body for further proof.
Returning to Italy, Iachimo convinces Posthumus that he has
successfully seduced Imogen. In his wrath, Posthumus sends two
letters to Britain: one to Imogen, telling her to meet him at
Milford Haven, on the west coast of Wales; the other to Pisanio,
Posthumus's servant left behind at court, ordering him to murder
Imogen at the Haven. On the way the anguished Pisanio instead shows
his letter to Imogen, revealing Posthumus's plot. He has Imogen
disguise herself as a boy and continue to Milford Haven to seek
employment. He also gives her the Queen's "poison," believing it
will alleviate nausea from distemper and motion sickness. Imogen
adopts the name "Fidele," meaning "faithful."
Far from fading with time, Kenneth Grahame's classic tale of
fantasy has attracted a growing audience in each generation. Rat,
Mole, Badger and the preposterous Mr Toad (with his
'Poop-poop-poop' road-hogging new motor-car), have brought delight
to many through the years with their odd adventures on and by the
river, and at the imposing residence of Toad Hall. Grahame's book
was later dramatised by A. A. Milne, and became a perennial
Christmas favourite, as Toad of Toad Hall. It continues to enchant
and, above all perhaps, inspire great affection.
The second book in the magical Faraway Tree series by one of the world's most popular children's authors, Enid Blyton.
Joe, Beth and Frannie's cousin Rick comes to stay, reluctant at first to share in their adventures at the top of the Faraway Tree. Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Dreams or the Land of Topsy-Turvy? Discover the magic!
First published in 1943, this edition contains the original text. Inside illustrations are by Jan McCafferty, and the cover by Mark Beech (2014).
Hamlet is one of the most popular tragedies written by Shakespeare.
It tells the sad story of Hamlet; the Prince of Denmark returns
home after gearing of his father's death it is then that he
discovers the evil plot of his Uncle Claudius. The play is focused
around how Hamlet learns the truth about his father's death and
seeks revenge - only for this to be his own downfall.Also available
as part of a 20 book set, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, The
Tragedy of Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Winter's Tale, The
Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Timon of Athens,
The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Much
Ado About Nothing, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Cymbeline, The Comedy
of Errors, As You Like It, Anthony and Cleopatra and All's Well
That Ends Well. About Sweet Cherry Easy Classics:Sweet Cherry Easy
Classics adapts classic literature into stories for children,
introducing these timeless tales to a new generation.
Journey into the world of the Little Mermaid in this exquisite
board book, which introduces the classic story to the youngest
children with beautiful illustrations and innovative peek-through
layered pages. The Little Mermaid combines a simple narrative with
die-cut holes and high-contrast illustrations to create a
captivating storytelling experience that encourages tactile
interaction. Turn each page to delight in the increasingly
expansive spreads as the Little Mermaid's journey is brought to
life, from the magical underwater seascapes of her home to her
dramatic encounter with the evil sea witch to her time on land with
the handsome prince. Keep the magic of The Little Mermaid alive for
the next generation with this gorgeous interactive retelling, which
kids will love to read again and again. The Layer-by-Layer series
of interactive board books introduces the youngest children to
classic stories through beautifully layered pages featuring bright,
contemporary illustrations, die cuts and gentle text. The
illustrations, and wonders, expand as each new layer is revealed.
Other titles in the series include Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty and
The Jungle Book.
This book contains the story of Alice in Wonderland that has been
adapted into a play for children. The play had been compiled from
Lewis Carroll's stories, Alice in Wonderland and Through the
Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. A lovely addition to the
bookshelf of any child.
Raggedy Ann tales, written and drawn by Johnny Gruelle, have been
entertaining children since 1918. Pook Press are working to
republish these classic works in affordable, high quality, colour
editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can
delight another generation of children.
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