LITMIR.BIZ

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Princes and princesses, kings and queens, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogres — these are the companions who thrill young boys and girls of all lands and all times, as Andrew Lang's phenomenally successful collections of stories have proved. From the day that they were first printed, the Lang fairy books of many colors have entertained thousands of boys and girls, as they have also brought pleasure to the many parents who have read these unforgettable classics to their children.The Crimson Fairy Book contains a fascinating collection of tales from many countries: Hungary, Russia, Rumania, Finland, Iceland, Japan, and Sicily are only some of them. Filled with imagination, excitement, and adventure, these tales will delight children with their illogical yet strangely reasonable events, and will offer parents a pleasant change from the well-worn favorites. One story — «The Cottager and His Cat» — tells of how cats were introduced into Iceland; another Japanese tale — «The Crab and the Monkey» — tells how a crab gets the best of a roguish monkey; and a remarkable tale — «Little Wildrose» — from Rumania tells how a beautiful child was reared in an eagle's nest.All in all, the collection contains 36 stories, all narrated in the clear, lively prose for which Lang was famous. Not only are Lang's generally conceded to be the best English versions of standard stories, his collections are the richest and widest in range. His position as one of England's foremost folklorists as well as his first-rate literary abilities make his collections unmatchable in the English language.

Подробнее

As a schoolmaster in South Wales, folklorist W. Jenkyn Thomas was dismayed to find that his students — who took such delight in the fairy stories of other nations — knew nothing at all of their own country's rich heritage of fairy tales. To fill the need for a collection of Welsh fairy tales for young readers, he compiled this definitive treasury.Abounding in phantoms, fairies, witches, magical spells, and other time-honored fairy-tale ingredients, the 83 fascinating stories include «Lady of the Lake,» in which a young country boy falls in love with a beautiful girl who agrees to marry him under very strange conditions; «The Adventures of Three Farmers,» and «The Fairy Wife,» in which fairies outsmart mortals; and a wealth of other fanciful, imaginative tales. Among these are such favorites as «Elidyr’s Sojourn in Fairy-Land,» «Pergrin and the Mermaiden,» «The Cave of the Young Men of Snowdonia,» «Goronwy Tudor and the Witches of Llanddona,» «A Strange Otter,» «Nansi Llwyd and the Dog of Darkness,» «The Bride from the Red Lake,» «Lowri Dafydd Earns a Purse of Gold,» and many more. Overflowing with charm, whimsy, and authentic Welsh flavor, this stimulating collection is sure to delight not only children but also fairy- and folk-tale lovers of all ages.

Подробнее

G. A. Henty (1832–1903) wrote vastly popular, carefully researched books about fictional youngsters who lived during critical periods of history. In this exciting volume, he provides a thrilling glimpse of the struggle between Great Britain and Spain for supremacy of the high seas, as seen through the eyes of a sixteenth-century teenager, Ned Hearne.Along with three friends, young Ned is swept up in one adventure after another as he accompanies the daring English mariner Francis Drake on amazing voyages of discovery across the Pacific. An eyewitness to the great naval battle between the English fleet and the Spanish Armada, Ned has firsthand views of England's rise as the world's most powerful sea-going nation. A rousing, old-fashioned tale of ruthless life on the high seas, Under Drake's Flag introduces today's young readers to one of yesteryear's most widely read authors — a writer whose many talents earned him the title Prince of Storytellers.

Подробнее

Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1909  — the first woman to be so honored — Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940) was a gifted storyteller whose writings were often tinged with the supernatural and rooted in the sagas and legends of her homeland.She secured her reputation as a children's-book author with  The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, long considered a masterpiece of children's literature. Written at the request of Swedish school authorities and first published in 1906, it is the enchanting and remarkably original tale of Nils Holgersson, a mischievous boy of 14 who is changed by an elf into a tiny being able to understand the speech of birds and animals.Brilliantly weaving fact and fiction into a breathtaking and beautiful fable, the story recounts Nils's adventures as he is transported over the countryside on the back of a goose. From this vantage point, Nils witnesses a host of events that provide young readers with an abundance of information about nature, geography, folklore, animal life, and more.Reset in easy-to-read type and enhanced with 10 new illustrations, this inexpensive, unabridged edition will bring new generations of readers under the magical spell of a timeless classic.

Подробнее

This captivating collection of stories handed down centuries ago from the hardy people of the Far North tells of handsome gods, lovely goddesses, giants, and dwarfs who lived in a land dominated by fire and ice. Twenty-five astonishing tales for young readers recall the dramatic creation of earth, sea, and sky and the chilling struggles between titans, trolls, and mighty heroes.Here are enticing narratives of gifts from the Queen of the Sky and a fortress built by a giant, along with thrilling accounts of a magic sword, Thor's mighty hammer, a golden treasure that has been cursed, and the slaying of a dreaded dragon. Offering hours of enchanted reading, these exciting exploits of legendary Nordic folk figures will delight anyone captivated by ancient myths and legends.

Подробнее

In this delightful fantasy, we meet Queen Ann Soforth of Oogaboo and her army — sixteen officers and one private soldier — who set out to conquer the world. What follows is a series of exotic adventures in which the Shaggy Man attempts to find his long-lost brother, held captive by the Nome King. Tik-Tok, a curious mechanical man, agrees to assist Shaggy in his search, and Polychrome stops to play and suffers the awful fate of being deserted by her rainbow. You'll also meet Betsy Bobbin and Hank, a mule.Eventually, everyone comes together in the expedition to help Shaggy locate his misplaced sibling. Before they can do that, however, they must first overcome the Nome King, a tricky bit of business with many pitfalls. The Nome King's magic proves especially troubling. Thanks to some timely assistance from a quizzical character named Quox, the Nome King is defeated. After many diverting escapades, Shaggy's brother is found and the expedition arrives before the gates of the Emerald City. «Oz» lovers of all ages will delight in this charming flight of fancy, embellished with 93 illustrations by John R. Neill.

Подробнее

Set sail with «Wynken, Blynken, and Nod» and «The Owl and the Pussy-Cat,» and gaze in wonder at the night sky with «Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.» Stroll the beach with «The Walrus and the Carpenter,» and experience the magic of Christmas with «A Visit from St. Nicholas.» This enchanting collection of childhood verse features these and nearly 100 other classic poems, illustrated by a master of the Art Nouveau style.With his fine eye for intricate detail and boundless enthusiasm for the fantastic, Willy Pogány perfectly captures the charm of these beloved verses in color and black-and-white images. Favorite poems include the works of William Blake, Robert Louis Stevenson, Lewis Carroll, George MacDonald, and other great poets. Includes a selection from the Common Core State Standards Initiative: «The Owl and the Pussycat.»

Подробнее

Good poetry for children is rare. Few collections, few single poems in fact, survive beyond a few years of popularity. There are exceptions — the poetry and verse of Walter de la Mare, Lewis Carroll, and Edward Lear come to mind. Still rarer is successful children's poetry by a poet known equally for other work, such as Christina Rossetti.These verses — deceptively simple, light, often like a nursery rhyme in character — consider such topics as childhood activities, children's cruelty and gentleness, roses and wild flowers, nesting birds and farm animals, cold winter and blossoming spring. Many pose riddles and conundrums («A hill has no leg, but has a foot;/A wine-glass a stem, but not a root»).This is the only edition in print to reproduce the poems with the illustrations which originally accompanied them. Engravings by Arthur Hughes, one of the best-known illustrators of the Victorian era, catch the mood of each verse.Sing-Song is a fitting name for this collection: many of the verses capture the cadence of the ballad. Children will enjoy their music. Parents will find the simple content and lyrical language of the verses ideal for reading aloud.

Подробнее

Twelve of Shakespeare's greatest tales come to life in this entertaining collection of short, lively stories specially adapted for young readers. Capturing the vital events and using some of the original wording, the stories serve as a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for preteens and as literate refreshers for older folks.Fulfilling a request from her own children, author Edith Nesbit turned twelve of the Bard's most famous plays into delightful tales of kings, queens, ghosts, and witches. Filled with tragedy, humor, and moral lessons, the stories–told with wit and grace–include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cymbeline, The Taming of the Shrew, Pericles, and The Winter's Tale.Wonderfully transformed by the noted author of children's books, these classics are a great way to start a lifelong interest in the works of Shakespeare.

Подробнее

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Three-headed trolls, horses that carry their masters up mountains of glass, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogres — these are the companions who will thrill young boys and girls of all lands and all times, as Andrew Lang's phenomenally successful collections of stories have proved. From the day that they were first printed, the Lang fairy tale books of many colors have entertained thousands of boys and girls, as they have also brought pleasure to the many parents who have read these unforgettable classics to their children. In addition to such familiar favorites as Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, The Ratcatcher (The Pied Piper), and Snowdrop (Snow White), The Red Fairy Book contains a wonderful collection of lesser-known tales from French, German, Danish, Russian, and Romanian sources. A tale from Norse mythology recounts the old story of Sigurd and Brynhild; tales by the great Madame d'Aulnoy include Graciosa and Percinet and Princess Rosette; lesser-known tales from Grimm's collection include The Three Dwarfs, Mother Holle, and The Golden Goose.All in all, this collection contains 37 stories, all narrated in the clear, lively prose for which Lang was famous. Not only are Lang's generally conceded to be the best English versions of standard stories, his collections are the richest and widest in range. His position as one of England's foremost folklorists as well as his first-rate literary abilities makes his collections unmatchable in the English language. Includes 97 illustrations.

Подробнее