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Black Beauty (Everyman's Library Children's Classics)
by Anna Sewell
Book Description
Amazon.com
A horse is a horse of course unless of course the horse is Black Beauty.
Animal-loving children have been devoted to Black Beauty throughout this
century, and no doubt will continue through the next. Although Anna Sewell's
classic paints a clear picture of turn-of-the-century London, its message is
universal and timeless: animals will serve humans well if they are treated with
consideration and kindness.
Black Beauty tells the story of the horse's own long and varied life,
from a well-born colt in a pleasant meadow to an elegant carriage horse for a
gentleman to a painfully overworked cab horse. Throughout, Sewell rails � in a
gentle, 19th-century way � against animal maltreatment. Young readers will
follow Black Beauty's fortunes, good and bad, with gentle masters as well as
cruel. Children can easily make the leap from horse-human relationships to
human-human relationships, and begin to understand how their own consideration
of others may be a benefit to all. (Ages 9 to 12)
From Publishers Weekly
In this abridgement of Sewell's classic story, McKinley has managed nicely to
retain Beauty's unique voice as well as the most-remembered stories, while
making the text more accessible to younger readers. Jeffers's fine ink
illustrations will satisfy even the most demanding of horse-lovers with her
ability to capture each horse's personality. This version brings back the
sharpness of the cruelty towards Beauty and his companions, and McKinley has
rightfully retained the pain and the ugliness of some of the incidents. Children
will still weep at the death of Ginger, and Jeffers's portrayal of the barn fire
is quite frightening. It's an elegant edition, which will linger with readers
until they are ready to tackle the original. (All ages)
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information
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The Secret Garden (Paperback)
by Frances Hodgson
Burnett, Tasha Tudor (illustrator)
Book Description
Amazon.com
Mistress Mary is quite contrary until she helps her garden grow. Along the way,
she manages to cure her sickly cousin Colin, who is every bit as imperious as
she. These two are sullen little peas in a pod, closed up in a gloomy old manor
on the Yorkshire moors of England, until a locked-up garden captures their
imaginations and puts the blush of a wild rose in their cheeks; �It was the
sweetest, most mysterious-looking place any one could imagine. The high walls
which shut it in were covered with the leafless stems of roses which were so
thick, that they matted together.... 'No wonder it is still,' Mary whispered. 'I
am the first person who has spoken here for ten years.'� As new life sprouts
from the earth, Mary and Colin's sour natures begin to sweeten. For anyone who
has ever felt afraid to live and love,
The Secret Garden's portrayal of reawakening spirits will thrill and
rejuvenate. Frances Hodgson Burnett creates characters so strong and distinct,
young readers continue to identify with them even 85 years after they were
conceived. (Ages 9 to 12)
From Publishers Weekly
Soothing and mellifluous, native Briton Bailey's voice proves an excellent
instrument for polishing up a new edition of Burnett's story. Bratty and spoiled
Mary Lennox is orphaned when her parents fall victim to a cholera outbreak in
India. As a result, Mary becomes the ward of an uncle in England she has never
met. As she hesitantly tries to carve a new life for herself at imposing and
secluded Misselthwaite Manor, Mary befriends a high-spirited boy named Dickon
and investigates a secret garden on the Manor grounds. She also discovers a
sickly young cousin, Colin, who has been shut away in a hidden Manor room.
Together Mary and Dickon help Colin blossom, and in the process Mary finds her
identity and melts the heart of her emotionally distant uncle.
Bailey makes fluid transitions between the voices and accents of various
characters, from terse Mrs. Medlock and surly groundskeeper Ben to chipper
housemaid Martha. And most enjoyably, she gives Mary a believably childlike
voice. A brief biography of the author is included in an introduction. Ages
6-12.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.� This text refers to the Audio
CD edition.
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Charlotte's Web
by E. B. White, Garth Williams (Illustrator)
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named
Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke,
Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of
porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that
reads �Some Pig,� convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is
no ordinary animal and should be saved. In this story of friendship, hardship,
and the passing on into time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the
wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things.� This text refers to
the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
E.B. White's enduring classic celebrates in style with the release of the
Charlotte's Web 50th Anniversary Retrospective Edition. The handsome volume
sports a clothbound cover framing original jacket art; inside, Rosemary Wells
adds country color to Garth Williams's original b&w illustrations. An afterword
by Peter F. Neumeyer illuminates White's life and work, including photographs of
the author on his farm in Maine as well as pages from the seminal manuscript.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake
(Illustrator)
Book Description
Amazon.com
For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric
chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public � well, five members of the
public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka
chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka
himself. For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true.
And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two
Wonka's Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights � even though his impoverished
family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the
second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper! The
very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners Mike Teavee,
Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Augustus Gloop, steps through the factory
gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory
and its mysterious owner are true. What they find is that the gossip can't
compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same
again.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, another unforgettable masterpiece from
the legendary Roald Dahl, never fails to delight, thrill, and utterly captivate.
(Ages 9 to 12) � This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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James and the Giant Peach
by Roald Dahl, Lane Smith (Illustrator)
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
When poor James Henry Trotter loses his parents in a horrible rhinoceros
accident, he is forced to live with his two wicked aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt
Spiker. After three years he becomes �the saddest and loneliest boy you could
find.� Then one day, a wizened old man in a dark-green suit gives James a bag of
magic crystals that promise to reverse his misery forever.
When James accidentally spills the crystals on his aunts' withered peach tree,
he sets the adventure in motion. From the old tree a single peach grows, and
grows, and grows some more, until finally James climbs inside the giant fruit
and rolls away from his despicable aunts to a whole new life. James befriends an
assortment of hilarious characters, including Grasshopper, Earthworm, Miss
Spider, and Centipede � each with his or her own song to sing.
Roald Dahl's rich imagery and amusing characters ensure that parents will not
tire of reading this classic aloud, which they will no doubt be called to do
over and over again! With the addition of witty black and white pencil drawings
by Lane Smith (of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs fame), upon which the
animation for the Disney movie was based, this classic, now in paperback, is
bursting with renewed vigor. We'll just come right out and say it: James and
the Giant Peach is one of the finest children's books ever written. (Ages 9
to 12)
From Publishers Weekly
Lane Smith trades stinky cheese for fantastic fruit with his black-and-white
illustrations for Roald Dahl's classic 1961 novel, James and the Giant Peach.
The reissue is timed to coincide with the release of the Disney animated motion
picture based on Smith's suitably subversive visual interpretation.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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A Little Princess
by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Tasha Tudor
(illustrator)
Synopsis
Sara Crewe, a pupil at Miss Minchin's London School, is left in poverty when her
father dies, but is later rescued by a mysterious benefactor. |
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Little Lord Fauntleroy
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7 � Transformation and redemption of a curmudgeonly Earl comes through
the innocence of a poor boy living in New York City during the late 1800's.
Devoted to his American mother, who has never been recognized by her
aristocratic British father-in-law, Cedric Fauntleroy is summoned to England to
assume the mantle of future Lord of the manor. Beguiling all he meets with his
selflessness and goodness, he becomes the vehicle for reconciliation between his
mother and grandfather, while rekindling the true meaning of �noblesse oblige�
in his lineage.
Opening with a brief biography of Frances Hodgson Burnett gives a sense of
history to this moralistic Victorian tale. Donada Peters offers an admirable
narration of this lengthy production. Her diction is clear and crisp, and the
reading is well-paced and sensitive to the characters' inflections, bringing
mood and meaning through this technique. She portrays Mr. Hobbs, the grocer,
using gruff, yet personable tones, and Mary, the Irish servant, with a musical,
lilting brogue. Her strength lies with the traditional voices that have more
story line dimensions, such as the Earl, Mr. Haversham, and Dick.
The voices for �dearest� and Cedric, the main characters, are not as striking.
She fails to give a solid American accent throughout, and oftentimes Cedric's
voice becomes too saccharine in order to portray his innate �goodness.� During
some transitions, the voices of narrator and characters blend into one. At
intervals, there are split second pauses, quite often at the end of sentences
during the narration. This might reflect splicing or editing and are a constant
distraction
The use of music or sound effects to add vitality to this antiquated tale would
have enhanced it for those who are not familiar with classic British stories.
Fans of Burnett and those who like a rich vocabulary would be the most receptive
audience. � Tina Hudak, St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring, MD
Copyright � Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All
rights reserved.� This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Book Description
�Nothing in the world is so strong as a kind heart,� according to the author of
Little Lord Fauntleroy, whose other popular works include A Little
Princess and The Secret Garden. Frances Hodgson Burnett's conviction
that love conquers all is memorably embodied in this tale of an American boy who
is transported from the mean streets of nineteenth-century New York to the
splendor of his titled grandfather's English manor. Young Cedric is to be
schooled by the crotchety old Earl in the manners of the peerage; as it happens,
the child teaches the man some valuable lessons about the true meaning of
nobility.
Unabridged republication of a standard edition |
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain, Guy Cardwell, John Seelye
(Introduction)
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