An abridged and illustrated chapter book retelling of Oliver Twist, part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! Dickens’s timeless novel transports young readers to a colorful Victorian England filled with mistreated orphans, grim workhouses, and gangs of thieving children. The hero finds himself in dire circumstances after he dares to ask for more food in the orphanage. Determined to make his way in the world, he escapes to London, where he becomes involved with criminals . . . and finally finds a real home. The Classic Starts® series has sold more than 8 million copies since it launched in 2004. These abridged, kid-friendly editions are the perfect way to introduce beloved stories to the next generation. Each book includes discussion questions by early childhood educator Arthur Pober, EdD.

Mischievous, lazy, and full of tricks, the puppet Pinocchio causes trouble for his creator, Geppetto, almost as soon as he comes to life. Yet, more than anything, this naughty and playful creature wants to become a real boy. To make his dreams come true, he must prove himself worthy. Come along on Pinocchio's amazing journey as he learns--the hard way--what it means to be honest, kind, and, above all, human.

Camelot awaits! From the sword in the stone and the founding of Camelot to the famed Knights of the Round Table and the Lake of Enchantment, the legend of King Arthur endures. All the classic stories--including King Arthur's marriage to Guinevere and Merlin's tragic downfall at the hands of his enemy, Vivien--are included in this vibrant retelling.

During the gold rush, Buck is snatched away from his peaceful home and brought to the harsh and bitter Yukon to become a sled dog. Will he adapt to life as a member of a sled pack? Or will his newly awakened instincts lead him to search for the freedom he has never known?

Dickens' timeless novel transports young readers to a colorful Victorian England filled with mistreated orphans, grim workhouses and gangs of thieving children. The hero finds himself in dire circumstances but escapes to London, where he becomes involved with criminals...and finally finds a real home. Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, with "Classic Starts[trademark]", young readers can experience the wonder of timeless stories from an early age.

Doctor Dolittle is a very special vet - because he knows how to talk to the animals! So when he hears that there's terrible sickness hurting all the monkeys in Africa, the good doctor knows he must go and help them. Soon he's off on an exciting adventure across the seas in this superb retelling of Hugh Lofting's beloved classic.With "Classic Starts[trademark]", young readers can experience the wonder of these timeless stories from an early age. Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, each classic novel is filled with all the magic and excitement that made the original story a beloved favourite.

This title is suitable for children aged 7 to 9 years old. Once upon a time, there were two brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who gave the world some of the best-loved fairy tales ever written. From "Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin" to "Snow White" and "The Brave Little Tailor", this charming anthology offers young readers a wonderful introduction to 12 of the Grimms' most popular stories.

Through the eyes of Lemuel Gulliver, Swift's unforgettable satire takes readers into worlds formerly unimagined. Visit four strange and remarkable lands: Lilliput, where Gulliver seems a giant among a race of tiny people; Brobdingnag, the opposite, where the natives are giants and Gulliver puny; the ruined yet magical country of Laputa; and the home of the Houyhnhnms, gentle horses far superior to the ugly humanoid Yahoos who share their universe. Abridged for easier reading, with "Classic Starts[trademark]", young readers can experience the wonder of timeless stories from an early age.

Since 1903, the escapades of Mole, his friend Water Rat, shy Badger and Toad of Toad Hall have delighted children and adults, too. Follow the winning foursome through the seasons as they sail the river, get lost in the Wild Wood, take off on a merry adventure in Toad's colourful carriage and rescue Toad Hall from a band of nasty marauding weasels. Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, with "Classic Starts[trademark]", young readers can experience the wonder of timeless stories from an early age.

When Heidi's Aunt Dete brings the orphaned girl to live with her grandfather, no one can imagine the bitter, solitary old man caring for a child. But, to everyone's surprise, the two grow to love each other - and Heidi blossoms in her new home. Johanna Spyri's charming story - and spirited heroine - have won children's hearts for more than a century. Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, with "Classic Starts[trademark]", young readers can experience the wonder of timeless stories from an early age.

Age range 6 to 9 Mary Lennox, a young English girl, returns to England from India, having suffered the loss of both her parents in a cholera epidemic. However, her memories of her parents are not pleasant, as they were a selfish, neglectful and pleasure-seeking couple. Mary is given to the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, whom she has never met. She travels to his home in gloomy Yorkshire, a vast change from the sunny and warm climate she was used to, and she becomes miserable and angry and rude. Once when he's away from home, Mary discovers a charming walled garden which is always kept locked. The mystery deepens when she hears sounds of sobbing from somewhere within her uncle's vast mansion. When the normally friendly servants pretend they haven't heard, Mary's curiosity spikes. Classic Starts is a gorgeously produced, thoughtfully written series of abridged editions of beloved classics. Rewritten to accommodate the reading and interest level of children who are too young to tackle the larger unabridged volumes, this series offers a great way to introduce young readers to favourite tales.

This work talks about a single person - but with two personalities: one that's noble and kind and another that's pure, repulsive evil. Robert Louis Stevenson's engrossing masterpiece about the dual nature of man - and a good doctor whose thirst for knowledge has tragic consequences - serves up all the suspense and satisfying chills one expects from the best horror and science fiction.

Eleven-year-old Rebecca Randall is quite a handful - and now she's leaving her beloved Sunnybrook Farm to live with her well-to-do elderly aunts and get an education. But they were expecting Rebecca's quiet, hard-working older sister instead. Can the bright-eyed and talkative girl win them over...especially her strict, rule-bound Aunt Miranda? Just as Rebecca's "grand spirit" charms everyone in the story, it will captivate readers, too. Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, with "Classic Starts[trademark]", young readers can experience the wonder of timeless stories from an early age.

From Icarus's legendary flight to Orpheus's trip to the underworld, this stunning edition brings to life 15 classic Greek myths. Easy to read and beautifully illustrated, it includes Heracles' mighty tasks, Pandora's box, King Midas's golden touch, and more More than three million copies sold
Timeless stories beautifully retold for a younger audience Each edition is carefully abridged, expertly retold, and easy to readA best-selling series with proven salesFeatures the definitive classics of children's literatureBreathtaking illustrations appeal to reluctant readersIncludes book club questions and an afterward for parents and teachers by noted educator Arthur Pober, Ed.D.Classic and collectible

A shipwreck, a sole survivor, a deserted island - What could be more appealing to children than Robinson Crusoe's amazing adventure? Set in the 17th century and unfolding over a 30-year period, it offers plenty of adventure and suspense while painting a fascinating portrait of the age - including references to slavery and Europe's view of the "New World." Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, with "Classic Starts[trademark]," young readers can experience the wonder of timeless stories from an early age.

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.

From the bits and pieces of dead bodies and the power of electricity, the brilliant Victor Frankenstein fashions a new form of life - only to discover, too late, the irreparable damage he has caused. Mary Shelley's tragic story of the creation of man, or monster, is as compelling and powerful now as it was when it was written. Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, with "Classic Starts[trademark]", young readers can experience the wonder of timeless stories from an early age.

Sail down the Mississippi with Huck Finn and the runaway slave, Jim. Twain's beloved tale, with its folksy language, creates an indelible image of pre-Civil War America with its sleepy river towns, con men, family feuds and a variety of colourful characters. Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, with Classic Starts[trademark], young readers can experience the wonder of timeless stories from an early age.

Mark Twain's brilliant 19th-century novel has long been recognised as one of the finest examples of American literature. Rich in authentic dialect, folksy humour and sharp social commentary, Twain's classic tale follows Huckleberry Finn and Jim the runaway slave on an exciting journey down the Mississippi. Each beautiful book is unabridged and features extraordinary art, a ribbon marker and the highest quality paper. A series of insightful questions appear at the end of each volume to encourage discussion and a deeper understanding of these enduring works.

This is a beloved tale that will make the perfect present! "Unabridged Classics" are aimed at ages 10 years upwards with more than 330,000 copies sold! This is the unabridged story with insightful questions for discussion, fantastic artwork, a ribbon marker and high-quality paper. Beloved in Christmases past and sure to remain a favourite in Christmases of the future, Dickens' popular holiday tale is the perfect Christmas present. The uplifting tale follows the mysterious and magical events that transform the miserly, miserable Ebenezer Scrooge into 'as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man' as ever lived.

This title is suitable for children aged 7 to 9 years old. 'Go down the crater of the volcano Snaefells. Follow the shadow just before the month of July. You will find your way to the center of the Earth. I did it'. That mysterious message, found in a long-lost letter, propels a young man and his uncle on the adventure of a lifetime: to a prehistoric world below the earth where dinosaurs and other strange creatures still roam. Jules Verne's classic fantasy will enchant a new generation of readers.

The long-ago mysteries of the great opera house in Paris have never been explained. Why did so many terrible tragedies happen there? Why did everyone flee from it in fear? This gripping story about the 'opera ghost' and the beautiful singer he loves launched one of most popular musicals in Broadway history - and it serves up enough thrills, chills and surprises to keep even the most reluctant reader fascinated.With "Classic Starts[trademark]", young readers can experience the wonder of these timeless stories from an early age. Abridged for easier reading and carefully rewritten, each classic novel is filled with all the magic and excitement that made the original story a beloved favourite.