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Classic Starts®: Moby-Dick (Classic Starts®)
by Herman MelvilleCall me Ishmael. These three famous words begin one of America’s most epic novels, a tale of one obsessed captain, his doomed crew, and an elusive white whale named Moby-Dick. The massive original, however, can be very hard for young readers to navigate. This beautifully abridged and adventure-filled version will thrill children and whet their appetite for the complete work—when they are ready to tackle it.
Classic Starts®: Monkey King (Classic Starts®)
by Wu Cheng'enAn illustrated chapter-book retelling of the Monkey King&’s adventures from Journey to the West—part of the Classic Starts series, which has cumulatively sold more than 8 million copies! Sun Wukong is the &“Monkey King&”—and he has all the power and magic to prove it! But when his mischief lands him out of favor with the heavens, he must embark on a dangerous quest to deliver Buddhist scriptures. Will Monkey be able to control his impulsive behavior and complete his journey to the West? This retelling is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the famous and cherished Chinese story. The book also includes discussion questions.
Classic Starts®: The Odyssey (Classic Starts®)
by HomerHomers epic tale of the warrior Odysseuss decades-long struggle to return home after the Trojan War is simply and beautifully retold, with all the drama intact. Young readers will thrill at Odysseuss adventures with the man-eating Cyclops; the enchantress Circe, who turns his crew into pigs; and the angry sea god Poseidon.
Classic Starts®: Oliver Twist (Classic Starts®)
by Charles DickensAn 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.
Classic Starts®: Peter Pan (Classic Starts®)
by J. M. Barrie&“All children grow up. All except one.&” When Wendy and her brothers discover a boy named Peter Pan looking for his shadow, they can&’t decide what makes him more magical: the fact that he can fly, or that he never grows up! This abridged retelling is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the marvelous Neverland, jealous Tinker Bell, and menacing Captain Hook.
Classic Starts®: The Phantom of the Opera (Classic Starts®)
by Gaston LerouxThe 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 the most popular musicals in Broadway history—and it serves up enough thrills, chills, and surprises to keep even the most reluctant reader fascinated.
Classic Starts®: Pinocchio (Classic Starts®)
by Carlo CollodiThe young puppet Pinocchio dreams of becoming a real boy. But whenever he tries to prove himself worthy of the transformation, he falls into mischief and laziness. Pinocchio must learn the hard way how to become honest, kind, and—above all—human. One of the most-translated works in children&’s literature, Pinocchio is a thrilling story about improving one&’s character and learning how to live in an often-harsh world.
Classic Starts®: Pollyanna (Classic Starts®)
by Eleanor H. Porter“Once you start looking for the happy things, you don’t think about the bad ones as much.” That’s the joyful way Pollyanna sees the world: no matter what happens, she plays her “Just Be Glad” game and finds the sunny side of any situation. But when she’s orphaned and forced to live with her rigid Aunt Polly, will high-spirited Pollyanna succeed in melting her Aunt’s cold heart?
Classic Starts®: The Prince and the Pauper (Classic Starts®)
by Mark TwainOne boy, penniless and in rags, forced to beg in the street. The other, a king’s son, coddled and given all he could want. What happens when the two boys change clothes and places, and each one learns how the other half lives? Mark Twain’s satirical and suspenseful novel about the thin line that separates prince and pauper is a perennial favorite.
Classic Starts®: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (Classic Starts®)
by Kate Douglas WigginEleven-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.
Classic Starts®: The Red Badge of Courage (Classic Starts®)
by Stephen CraneA searing tale of fear and courage, set during the Civil War, but more powerful today than ever. A young man enlists in the Union Army, but nervously wonders how he will react to the blood, violence, and death of a real battle. When that terrible day arrives, he flees the fighting in terror. But his cowardly behavior gnaws at his conscience, and he searches for redemption for what he has done.
Classic Starts®: Robinson Crusoe (Classic Starts®)
by Daniel DefoeA shipwreck. A sole survivor, stranded on 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 suspense and everyday detail about how Crusoe manages to stay alive. Additionally, it paints a fascinating portrait of the age—including references to slavery and Europe’s view of the “New World.”
Classic Starts®: Roman Myths (Classic Starts®)
by Diane NammSeveral of the best-loved Roman myths are gathered in this one beautiful abridged collection, from “Romulus and Remus” (which tells how Rome came to be) to “Cupid and Psyche,” “Oedipus and the Sphinx,” and more. For easy reference, theres also a detailed list and family tree of all the important gods and goddesses right at the start.
Classic Starts®: The Secret Garden (Classic Starts®)
by Frances Hodgson BurnettWhen the newly orphaned Mary Lennox leaves her native India and arrives at her uncle&’s mansion in Yorkshire, everything seems strange to her. Then Mary hears of a mysterious, neglected garden. With the help of some new friends, she plans to uncover its secrets . . . and make it blossom once again.
Classic Starts®: The Story of King Arthur & His Knights (Classic Starts®)
by Howard PyleFrom the sword in the stone and the founding of Camelot to the famed Round Table and the Lake of Enchantment, the legend of King Arthur will never lose its magic. Though simpler, this version includes all the wonderful stories—such as King Arthur’s winning of Guenievere and Merlin’s tragic downfall at the hands of the evil Vivien.
Classic Starts®: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Classic Starts®)
by Robert Louis StevensonA 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.
Classic Starts®: The Swiss Family Robinson (Classic Starts®)
by Johann David WyssA shipwreck; a deserted island; a single family, wondering if they can survive. Rich in suspense and surprises, The Swiss Family Robinson entices young readers to come along on a wonderful adventure, where each moment brings a new thrill. Featuring amazingly resourceful characters and a wondrous landscape bursting with exotic wildlife and plants, it’s an irresistible tale of ingenuity.
Classic Starts®: The Three Musketeers (Classic Starts®)
by Alexandre DumasFight for justice with swashbuckling soldiers in this abridged retelling of The Three Musketeers, part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! &“All for one and one for all!&” Aramis, Athos, and Porthos make up the three Musketeers. Oh, and there&’s also the not-quite-yet Musketeer D&’Artagnan. Together, the four men must use their wits and their swords to battle an evil Cardinal, the traitorous Milady, and other enemies of the French court. This abridged retelling is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the adventurous world of historical romance and the royal French court.
Classic Starts®: The Time Machine (Classic Starts®)
by H. G. WellsTravel into the future in this abridged retelling of The Time Machine, part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! After inventing a time machine, the Traveler leaves Victorian London and goes far, far into the future. At first, the world he discovers seems peaceful and prosperous. But as he looks farther below the surface, he realizes that things are not exactly as they first appeared. . . . This abridged retelling is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the imaginative world of science fiction and time travel.
Classic Starts®: Treasure Island (Classic Starts®)
by Robert Louis StevensonSearch for fortune on the high seas with this abridged retelling of Treasure Island, part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! After Jim Hawkins finds the map to a mysterious treasure, he sets sail in search of the fortune. Little does he realize he&’s boarded a pirate ship, and that surprises and danger await him . . . including a meeting with the unforgettable Long John Silver! This abridged retelling is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the swashbuckling adventure that has captivated readers for centuries!
Classic Starts®: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Classic Starts®)
by Jules VerneExplore the mysterious underwater world in this illustrated chapter-book retelling of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! Professor Aronnax embarks on an underwater exploration, only to be captured by Captain Nemo, the head of a submarine with a mysterious backstory. As they travel through underwater forests filled with enormous sea creatures, Professor Aronnax can&’t help but wonder: will he ever safely return to land? This retelling is the perfect way to introduce young readers to what is arguably Jules Verne&’s most popular sci-fi novel. The book also includes discussion questions.
Classic Starts®: The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (Classic Starts®)
by Hugh LoftingDoctor Dolittle is a very special vet—because he knows how to talk to the animals! So when he hears that there’s a 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.
Classic Starts®: The War of the Worlds (Classic Starts®)
by H. G. WellsAn abridged and illustrated chapter book retelling of the sci-fi classic—part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! H. G. Wells, a revolutionary science fiction writer and the author of The Time Machine, dazzles in this sci-fi classic about Martians invading Earth. One of the first stories to imagine a war between humankind and extraterrestrials, The War of the Worlds is an adventure that has inspired artists and scientists since it was first published. 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.
Classic Starts®: White Fang (Classic Starts®)
by Jack LondonHalf 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.
Classic Starts®: The Wind in the Willows (Classic Starts®)
by Kenneth GrahameSince 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 colorful carriage, and rescue Toad Hall from a band of nasty marauding weasels.