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Classic Starts®: Anne of Avonlea (Classic Starts®)
by Lucy Maud MontgomeryNow every child can celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s ever-popular story! First introduced in Anne of Green Gables as a young orphan, Montgomery’s feisty and imaginative heroine is now 16 years old and embarking on a new adventure: becoming a teacher in her old Avonlea school. It’s an exciting year as Anne struggles to win over all her students, welcomes two new members to her family, and feels the first stirrings of love.
Classic Starts®: Anne of Green Gables (Classic Starts®)
by Lucy Maud Montgomery&“One thing&’s for certain, no house that Anne&’s in will ever be dull.&” That&’s what Marilla Cuthbert says about Anne, the lively red-headed orphan she and her brother Matthew adopt. For decades, girls have agreed, eagerly reading every book in Lucy Maud Montgomery&’s series that chronicles Anne&’s coming of age.
Classic Starts®: Arabian Nights (Classic Starts®)
by Lucy Corvino Arthur PoberAli Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor: these are just some of the strange and amazing stories that clever Scheherazade tells to captivate her husband, King Shahryar…and to save her own life. Each one is more fantastic than the last, filled with demons and dervishes, caliphs and genies, men transformed into dogs and monsters with eyes that glow. Like the king, children will find themselves enchanted by every tale.
Classic Starts®: Around the World in Eighty Days (Classic Starts®)
by Jules VerneTravel worldwide in this illustrated chapter-book retelling of Around the World in Eighty Days, part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! Whether it&’s by foot, camel, boat, or train, Phileas Fogg is determined to travel across the world in 80 days. Will he win his race against the clock? And who is the man following in Fogg&’s footsteps wherever he goes? This retelling is the perfect way to introduce the joy of traveling to young readers. The book also includes discussion questions.
Classic Starts®: Ballet Stories (Classic Starts®)
by Arthur Pober Eric FreebergThis lovely collection will make little ballerinas dance for joy! Inside, they’ll find eight of the most beautiful ballet stories, including “Swan Lake,” “Coppélia,” “The Firebird,” and of course, that perennial holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker.” It’s the perfect way to prepare a child for seeing a performance--or to keep the magic going afterward.
Classic Starts®: Black Beauty (Classic Starts®)
by Anna SewellBlack Beauty is the classic horse story, a beautiful and touching tale told by the title character himself. Set in Victorian London, it follows Black Beauty&’s life and changing fortunes as he moves from owner to owner. As the horse encounters new experiences and new friends who reveal their own histories, the story quietly paints a fascinating portrait of how animals were treated during that era.
Classic Starts®: Dracula (Classic Starts®)
by Bram StokerDracula, that compelling creature of the night, continues his neck-biting ways in a version of the novel that children will devour. Moving from Transylvania to London, the timeless vampire serves up thrills and chills as he imprisons and terrorizes the innocent Jonathan Harker, and then goes after his fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy. From creepy, insect-eating Renfield to Dr. Van Helsing—who valiantly fights Dracula’s evil—the characters and drama are spellbinding.
Classic Starts®: Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (Classic Starts®)
by Margaret Sidney“To help mother”: that was the goal of each and every one of the five Pepper children. Yet even as “Mamsie” struggles hard to feed and educate her brood, she still manages to fill the house with joy. The adventures of this poor but loving family—Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie, and the adored youngest, Phronsie—have charmed young readers for more than a century. Overflowing with warmth, suspense, and many delightful surprises, this classic remains as compelling as ever.
Classic Starts®: Frankenstein (Classic Starts®)
by Mary ShelleyMary Shelley’s tragic story of a scientist who created a monster is perhaps even more compelling and meaningful today than when it was written nearly two centuries ago. 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.
Classic Starts®: Great Expectations (Classic Starts®)
by Charles DickensYoung Pip seems destined to follow in his family&’s humble footsteps. Then one day, an anonymous gift suddenly transforms him into a rich young man . . . but will it also transform his life for the better? Dickens&’s great bildungsroman, featuring iconic characters like Miss Havisham, is an enduring favorite in schools, libraries, and homes.
Classic Starts®: Greek Myths (Classic Starts®)
by Arthur Pober Eric FreebergFrom Icaruss legendary flight to Orpheuss 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, Pandoras box, King Midass golden touch, and more!
Classic Starts®: Grimm's Fairy Tales (Classic Starts®)
by Wilhelm Grimm Jakob Grimm Grimm BrothersOnce 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.
Classic Starts®: Gulliver's Travels (Classic Starts®)
by Jonathan SwiftThrough 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.
Classic Starts®: Gulliver’s Travels (Classic Starts®)
by Jonathan SwiftAn abridged and illustrated chapter book retelling of Gulliver&’s Travels, part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! 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.
Classic Starts®: Heidi (Classic Starts®)
by Johanna SpyriWhen Heidi, an orphan, goes to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps, no one can imagine the solitary old man caring for a child. But the two grow to love each other, and Heidi blossoms in her new home. Johanna Spyri&’s charming story—and spirited heroine—have won hearts for more than a century.
Classic Starts®: Journey to the Center of the Earth (Classic Starts®)
by Jules Verne“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 Vernes classic fantasy will enchant a new generation of readers.
Classic Starts®: Little Lord Fauntleroy (Classic Starts®)
by Frances Hodgson BurnettOne very special boy weaves some magic in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s sentimental favorite. When young Cedric Errol learns that he is actually a British lord and heir to an estate, his life is transformed. He leaves Boston for Dorincourt Castle to live with his uncle, the Earl—a tyrant who’s loathed by one and all. Will Cedric succeed in melting his cold, cruel uncle’s heart?
Classic Starts®: Little Men (Classic Starts®)
by Louisa May AlcottThis sparkling sequel to the beloved Little Women follows the grown-up and married Jo, mistress of Plumfield, a school for boys (and a few girls, too). The fun begins with a new arrival, Nat Blake; it is through his eyes that we first meet Plumfield’s lively residents and experience the cheerful confusion that reigns in the welcoming home. Fans of the first book will happily greet these wonderful characters…and renew their acquaintance with such old favorites as Laurie and Meg.
Classic Starts®: Little Women (Classic Starts®)
by Louisa May AlcottLouisa May Alcott&’s classic novel, set during the Civil War, has always captivated even the most reluctant readers. Follow the adventures of the four March sisters—Meg, Beth, Amy, and, most of all, the tomboy Jo—as they experience the joys and disappointments, tragedies and triumphs, of growing up.
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®: 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®: 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?