NLS Kids Zone
Classics
This list of Children’s Classics was compiled by Mary M. Burns for The Horn Book Magazine in 2002 and is featured on the publication’s web site: http://www.hbook.com/booklists
Classics written before 1920 have been placed into separate categories, calling attention to books that are part of the literary heritage from times past. All other entries are arranged by genre with suggested audience levels. This is a selection of favorites, limited intentionally so as not to be overwhelming. The real test of a classic is the individual child’s delight in reading, sharing, and rereading a book again and again.
The following titles from Burns’s list appear with NLS annotations and format identification numbers:
For the Very Young
The ABC Bunny
by Wanda Gág.
When an apple crashes from a tree, a little bunny dashes for elsewhere, scampering through every letter in the alphabet on his journey. For preschool-grade 2. 1933.
BR 16043 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 30798
The Carrot Seed
by Ruth Krauss.
Story about a little boy with unshakeable faith in his personal carrot seed. For preschool to grade 2.
BR 03381
Goodnight Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown.
As a little bunny settles into bed, he bids good night to familiar objects in his room and even some outside. For preschool-grade 2. 1947.
BR 13012 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 24603
Mr. Gumpy’s Outing
by John Burningham.
One day when Mr. Gumpy goes out on the river in his boat, he gathers his many friends along the way. The boat becomes too crowded and the inevitable happens, but Mr. Gumpy remains cheerful and saves the day. For preschool-grade 2. 1970.
BR 16044 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 63330 in process
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle.
A hungry caterpillar eats his way through so much food that he has a stomachache. When he builds a small house for himself, something wonderful happens. For preschool-grade 2. 1970.
BR 12015 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 24609
Picture Books
Alfie Gets in First
by Shirley Hughes.
Alfie accidentally locks his mother and baby sister, Annie Rose, out of the house, and he can’t reach the latch to let them in. Soon the whole neighborhood is involved in getting the door open. For grades 2–4. 1982.
BR 05454 PRINT/BRAILLE
Andy and the Lion
by James Daugherty.
Andy meets a lion on the way to school and wins his friendship for life by removing a thorn from his paw. A retelling of "Androcles and the Lion." For grades K-3. Caldecott Honor. 1938.
BR 04293 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 61829
Caps for Sale
by Esphyr Slobodkina.
Monkeys steal a peddler’s caps while he sleeps beneath their tree. Although the monkeys are clever, the peddler finally outsmarts them in monkey business. For grades K–3. 1947.
RC 32425
RC 58980 in Spanish
Corduroy
by Don Freeman.
A toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him, he finds what he has wanted most of all. For grades K–3. 1968.
RC 41225
A Pocket for Corduroy
by Don Freeman.
A toy bear launches on an adventurous search when he tries to find himself a pocket in the laundromat. For grades K–3.
BR 04675
Corduroy and Company
by Don Freeman.
One new and ten previously published complete stories. Contains "Corduroy"; "Chuggy and the Blue Caboose"; "Pet of the Met"; "Beady Bear"; "Mop Top"; "Fly High, Fly Low"; "Norman the Doorman"; "Dandelion"; "Tilly Witch"; "Flash the Dash"; and the brand-new "Gayelord," about a paint-loving goat. For grades K–3. 2001.
RC 58583
Crictor
by Tomi Ungerer.
Madame Bodot is surprised to receive a boa constrictor for a birthday present, but soon she is knitting a long sweater for him and taking him to the school where she teaches. Then one night Crictor repays her kindness with his bravery. For grades K–3. 1958.
BR 16357 PRINT/BRAILLE
Curious George
by H.A. Rey.
Curious George, a very curious little monkey, has such difficulty adjusting to city life that he keeps himself and his owner in one scrape after another. For preschool–grade 2. 1941.
RC 28932
The Complete Adventures of Curious George
by Margret and H.A. Rey.
A collection of seven books published between 1941 and 1966 featuring George, a mischievous monkey. George likes to investigate the new things he encounters, a habit that usually causes trouble. His friend, the man with the large yellow hat, often rescues George—who goes on to more adventures. For grades K–3.
RC 47946
Doctor DeSoto
by William Steig.
Doctor De Soto, a kind-hearted mouse dentist, prefers not to treat cats or other dangerous animals. But when a fox who is suffering from a painful toothache shows up, the doctor must treat this sly patient without being eaten. For grades K–3. Newbery Honor Book. 1982.
RC 39061
George and Martha
by James Marshall.
Neighbors George and Martha, two hippopotamuses, are very best friends. They find that sometimes friendship means going out of one’s way to spare a friend’s feelings; and sometimes it means learning the hard way to respect a friend’s privacy. Easy reading for grades 2–4.
BR 07537 PRINT/BRAILLE
George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends.
This single volume contains all seven of Marshall’s books—thirty-five stories—about two hippopotamuses, George and Martha. By sharing their humorous adventures and forgiving each other’s failings, George and Martha demonstrate how to be true friends. For grades 2–4. 1988.
RC 49973
Harry, the Dirty Dog
by Gene Zion.
Harry is a black-spotted white dog who hates baths. So one day when he hears water filling the tub, he runs away. He has a wonderful time getting so dirty that he has to prove to his family he is really Harry. For preschool–grade 2. 1956.
BR 14034 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 44939
Horton Hatches the Egg
by Dr. Seuss.
When Mayzie, a lazy bird, tires of sitting on her egg and decides that a vacation is in order, she asks Horton the elephant to sit on her nest. Horton remains faithful when the charm of Palm Beach keeps Mayzie from returning as planned. Not rain, nor snow, nor hunters, nor the cruel jeers of his jungle friends discourage him. For, "an elephant’s faithful one hundred percent." For preschool–2. 1940.
BR 08950 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 34057
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street
by Dr. Seuss.
Rollicking nonsense verses in which a little boy’s imagination gradually transforms a plain horse and cart into a curious bandwagon drawn by an elephant and two giraffes. For grades K–3.
RC 32160
Ira Sleeps Over
by Bernard Waber.
Ira is delighted with his first invitation to spend the night at his friend Reggie’s house, until his mischievous older sister asks if he is taking along his teddy bear. For preschool-grade 2. 1972.
RC 49758
The Little House
by Virginia Lee Burton.
The story of a pretty little house built for a family by a man who never wanted it to be sold. The seasons and the years pass, and gradually a city surrounds the little house until it is rescued in a wonderful way. For grades K–3. Caldecott Medal. 1942.
RC 50547
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
by Virginia Lee Burton.
Mike Mulligan remains loyal to his steam shovel, Mary Anne, against the threat of the new gas and diesel-engine contraptions. He digs his way to a surprising and happy ending. For grades K–3. 1939.
RC 25281
Madeline
by Ludwig Bemelmans.
A story in rhyme about a little girl in a Paris boarding school who manages to have a lively time in spite of appendicitis. For grades K–3. 1939.
BR 03644
RC 44292
MAD about Madeline: The Complete Tales
by Ludwig Bemelmans.
A collection of all six rhymed stories about Madeline. The first—published in 1939—introduces Madeline, the smallest of twelve girls who live together in Paris with Miss Clavel. She has various adventures involving animals, gypsies, travel, a boy called Pepito, and a magical Christmas. For grades K–3. 1961.
RC 54416
Make Way for Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey.
Five helpful Boston policemen stop busy city traffic so that Mrs. Mallard can move her family of eight ducklings from their island in the Charles River to their new home in the Public Garden. For grades K–3. Caldecott Medal 1942.
BR 10039 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 42913
Millions of Cats
by Wanda Gág.
A story about an old man who goes out to search for one kitten and returns home with millions and billions and trillions of cats. For grades K–3. 1928.
RC 43117
The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg.
On a dark Christmas eve, a boy boards a mysterious train, the Polar Express, hoping to visit Santa Claus. He and the other children, still in their nightclothes, drink hot chocolate and sing carols as the train races through snowy landscapes toward a huge city at the North Pole. For grades K–3 and older readers. Caldecott Medal. 1985.
BR 12001 PRINT/BRAILLE
BR 06467
RC 23625
Miss Rumphius
by Barbara Cooney.
Young Alice recounts the life of the Lupine Lady—her great-aunt Alice Rumphius, who, as a little girl, loved the sea, longed to visit faraway places, and wished to make the world more beautiful. For grades K–3. 1982.
BR 16046 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 52738
The Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats.
Young Peter is thrilled to wake up to snow piled high. He spends the day crunching, sliding, building a snowman, making snow angels, and having a great time. For grades K–3. Caldecott Medal. 1962.
BR 10045 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 43471
The Story of Ferdinand
by Munro Leaf.
Ferdinand, a strong bull who likes to sit quietly and smell flowers, is mistakenly thought to be the fiercest bull in Spain. He is carted off to the bullring in Madrid, where a surprise awaits the spectators. For grades K–3. 1936.
RC 25500
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter.
All about the famous rabbit family: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and especially Peter—who disobeys Mother Rabbit’s order to stay out of Mr. McGregor’s garden. For preschool–grade 2. 1902.
BR 05087
RC 13917
Complete Tales: The Twenty-Three Original Peter Rabbit Books
by Beatrix Potter.
Collection of classic stories with animal characters by British author. Presented in chronological order with a brief note about the origins of each piece. Begins with "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," first published in 1902. For grades K–3 and older readers. 1989.
RC 48836
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
by Jon Scieszka.
Alexander T. Wolf, also known as the Big Bad Wolf, gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs. For preschool–grade 2. 1989.
RC 31436
RC 48678 in Spanish
Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak.
The night that Max wears his wolf suit and makes mischief, he is sent to bed without his supper. So he sails to the land of the wild things, where he becomes king. For preschool-grade 2. Caldecott Medal. 1963.
BR 16352 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 22906
For Beginning Readers
The Cat in the Hat
by Dr. Seuss.
A story in rhyme tells about two bored children sitting at home on a rainy day while their mother is out. Then the Cat in the Hat arrives on their door mat to show them good fun with his tricks and games. For grades K–3. 1957.
BR 16724 Uncontracted braille. PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 33062
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
by Dr. Seuss.
In this sequel, the Cat in the Hat eats cake in the bathtub while the mother is away. The children are upset by the mess, but the Cat in the Hat calls on many Little Cats to help him clean up. For grades K–3. 1958.
BR 04655 PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 35107
Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss.
In this rhyming story, Sam-I-am follows his companion everywhere, begging him to taste a dish of green eggs and ham. For preschool–grade 2. 1960.
BR 08956 PRINT/BRAILLE
BR 16721 Uncontracted braille. PRINT/BRAILLE
RC 34056
Please consult the catalog for other titles by Dr. Seuss.
Frog and Toad Are Friends
by Arnold Lobel.
Five stories about the adventures of two best friends. Frog and Toad are always there for each other, whether they are telling stories, finding lost buttons, or swimming in the river. For grades K–3 and older readers. 1970.
BR 16435 Uncontracted braille
RC 51143
Little Bear
by Else Holmelund.
Four episodes about Little Bear in which he cooks himself some birthday soup and takes an imaginary trip to the moon, while his mother keeps him warm and reads him to sleep. Beginning chapter book. For grades K–3. 1957.
RC 44738
Stories
Babe: The Gallant Pig
by Dick King-Smith.
A piglet named Babe comes to Farmer Hogget’s farm, where he is adopted by an old sheepdog. Soon Babe handles the farmer’s flock of sheep so well that the farmer enters Babe in a sheepdog contest. For grades 3–6. 1983.
RC 33742
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson.
The Herdmans are the worst kids in town, so when they take over the lead roles in the church’s annual Christmas pageant, they cause quite a commotion. For grades 4–7. 1972.
RC 38116
The Book of Three
by Lloyd Alexander.
Inspired by ancient Welsh legends, this is the first of five fantasies about the mythical land of the Prydain Chronicles. It tells the story of Taran, an assistant pig-keeper, and his fight with Prince Gwydion against the evil which threatens the kingdom. For grades 5–8.
RC 25013
The Borrowers
by Mary Norton.
Pod, Homily, and Arrietty are a family of tiny people who live beneath the floors of an old country house, borrowing what they need from humans. When Arrietty encounters a human boy, the endangered Borrowers must relocate. First in a series. For grades 3–6. 1952.
RC 51409
The Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson.
Jess finds his biggest rival and best friend in Leslie, a girl who moves to his rural Virginia community from the city. Together they create Terabithia, a secret kingdom in the woods where they reign supreme—until tragedy strikes. Newbery Medal. For grades 5–8.
RC 48732
Charlotte’s Web
by E.B. White.
A little girl who can talk to animals is devoted to both Wilbur, the foolishly smug pig, and Charlotte, the beautiful gray spider who saves Wilbur’s life. This sensitive story is a delight for children of all ages as well as adults. For grades 3–6.
RC 46839
Harriet the Spy
by Louise Fitzhugh.
Harriet M. Welsch, eleven, is a spy. She has her own sleuthing outfit and her special secret notebook in which she records observations—sometimes good and sometimes bad—about all of her friends. When members of her sixth-grade class discover the book, Harriet must find a way to get out of trouble. For grades 5–8.
RC 44768
The Hobbit: Or, There and Back Again
by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The wandering wizard Gandalf recruits Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, to be the fourteenth member of an expedition. Hobbits prefer comfort to adventures, but Bilbo joins the quest and encounters many perils, including a dragon. For junior and senior high readers.
RC 48978
RC 61051 in Spanish
Humbug Mountain
by Sid Fleischman.
Wiley never dreamed that the search for his Grandpa Tuggle would lead him into the hands of foul villains, or that he and his sister would discover a petrified man, or that one of his mother’s chickens would precipitate a gold rush. A tall tale for grades 3-6.
RC 14185
The Hundred Dresses
by Eleanor Estes.
The girls in her class mock Wanda Petronski because she claims to have a hundred dresses lined up in her closet but wears the same faded dress everyday. And they tease her about her Polish last name. Then Wanda stops coming to school. For grades 3–6. Newbery Honor. 1944.
RC 42016
The Incredible Journey
by Sheila Burnford
A Siamese cat, an old bull terrier, and a young Labrador retriever travel 250 miles together through the Canadian wilderness to find their family. Along the way they face the dangers of starvation, wild animals, and natural disasters. For grades 6–9 and older readers. 1960.
RC 33792
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O’Dell.
When her tribe moved, a Native American girl was accidentally left behind on an island off the California coast. She tells about the eighteen years that she managed to survive and to find comfort, beauty, and, at times, joy in her solitude. For grades 6–9. Newbery Medal. 1960.
RC 62761
Johnny Tremain
by Esther Forbes.
After injuring his right hand, fourteen-year-old Johnny, a silversmith’s apprentice, becomes a messenger for the Sons of Liberty in the days before the American Revolution. He meets Massachusetts patriots and becomes involved in events leading to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington. For grades 5–8. Newbery Medal. 1943.
RC 22808
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis
Four English children find their way through a huge wardrobe in an old house to the mysterious land of Narnia, which is under the spell of the White Witch. For grades 4–7 and older readers.
RC 16892
RC 54964 in Spanish
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis.
Seven stories presented in the chronological order in which C.S. Lewis intended them to be read. The first is The Magician’s Nephew, telling how the journeys between the two worlds began and how the wardrobe came to be a doorway leading into Narnia. For grades 4–7. 1998.
RC 50083
Little House in the Big Woods
by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Wisconsin, 1871. The Ingalls family experiences pioneer life in a little log house, miles from any settlement. They feel safe and secure despite blizzards, wolves, and the loneliness of the big woods. First in a series. For grades 4–7 and older readers. 1932.
RC 50921
Many Moons
by James Thurber.
Princess Lenore does not feel well and her father, the king, promises her anything her heart desires to make her better. But when she requests the moon, only the court jester figures out how to obtain it. For grades K–3. Caldecott Medal. 1943.
RC 39639
Mary Poppins
by P.L. Travers.
An extraordinary English woman blows in on the East Wind with her parrot-headed umbrella and magic carpetbag to become the Banks family’s new nanny. Mary Poppins introduces her elder charges, Jane and Michael, to some delightful people and experiences. First in a series. For grades 4–7. 1934.
RC 50917
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
by Robert C. O’Brien.
Threatened with the loss of home and family, Mrs. Frisby, a widowed field mouse, seeks help from a colony of rats. Escapees from the NIMH laboratory, these superintelligent rats provide a solution to her dilemma. For grades 4–7. Newbery Medal. 1971.
RC 23562
The Perilous Gard
by Elizabeth Pope.
In 1558 young Kate Sutton is exiled to a remote castle called Perilous Gard, where she becomes captive of an ancient fairy folk—the last practitioners of druidic magic. Kate struggles to prevent them from sacrificing Christopher Heron and to effect her own escape. For grades 5–8. Newbery Honor Book. 1974.
RC 62116
Pippi Longstocking
by Astrid Lindgren.
Escapades of a happy-go-lucky nine-year-old girl, Pippi Longstocking, who lives with a horse and a monkey—but without any parents—at the edge of a Swedish village. First in a series. For grades 3–6. 1950.
RC 24423
Ramona the Pest
by Beverly Cleary.
Ramona likes her kindergarten teacher, Miss Binney. Ramona also likes Davy—so much she wants to kiss him. So why does Ramona keep getting in trouble? Part of a series. For grades 2–4. 1968.
RC 24837
RC 52990 in Spanish
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
by Mildred D. Taylor.
Nine-year-old Cassie Logan recalls a turbulent time in Mississippi during the Great Depression—a year of night riders, burnings, and threats. She describes her African American family’s struggle to survive with their dignity and independence intact. Some strong language. For grades 6–9. Newbery Award. 1976.
RC 50326
Sarah, Plain and Tall
by Patricia MacLachan.
Anna and Caleb have lived alone with their father since their mother died. When Sarah comes to live with them in response to their father’s newspaper advertisement, the whole family falls in love with her. But they fear that Sarah’s homesickness for the Maine coast will keep her from staying with them in their prairie home. For grades 3–6. Newbery Medal. 1985.
RC 23524
The Shrinking of Treehorn
by Florence P. Heide.
One day Treehorn notices that he is shrinking. His parents ignore his plight and his teacher complains, "We don’t shrink in this class." Poor Treehorn barely keeps himself from disappearing with help from a cereal box game. For grades 2–5.
RC 42734
The Sword in the Stone
by T.H. White.
A boy named Arthur, king-to-be, grows up in the time of knights in armor, fair damsels, foul monsters, and evil witches. His tutor Merlin, the all-powerful magician, transforms Arthur into various animals as part of his schooling and prepares him for his destiny. First book of The Once and Future King series. For grades 6–9 and older readers. 1938.
RC 19285
Tuck Everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt.
Winnie Foster is ten when she meets seventeen-year-old Jesse Tuck in the woods and learns that his family hasn’t aged in eighty-seven years since drinking from a secret spring. She is mighty tempted to drink that water too. For grades 4–7. 1975.
RC 50587
RC 33900 in Spanish
Complete tales of Winnie-the-Pooh
by A.A. Milne.
The adventures of Christopher Robin, a boy, and his favorite companions—Winnie-the-Pooh, a bear; Eeyore, an old grey donkey; and Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, and Baby Roo. Contains the unabridged texts of Winnie-the-Pooh, first published in 1926, and The House at Pooh Corner, from 1928. For grades K–3 and older readers.
RC 48132
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
by Elizabeth G. Speare.
When sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler helps a woman accused of witchcraft in colonial New England, she too is brought to trial as a suspect. Kit’s friend Prudence, and Nat, a sailor who has fallen in love with Kit, come to her defense. For grades 6–9 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1958.
RC 22927
A Wizard of Earthsea
by Ursula LeGuin.
An intricate fantasy about Sparrowhawk, a talented but arrogant student of wizardry. On a rival’s dare, Sparrowhawk summons up a shadowy, evil spirit who threatens both the boy’s life and the entire world of Earthsea. First in a series. For grades 6–9.
RC 25315
Echoes of Times Past: Part One
A selection of retellings for children based on works from ancient days through the eighteenth-century.
Black Ships before Troy: The Story of the Iliad
retold by Rosemary Sutcliff.
A retelling of the Greek myth. Traces the story of the Trojan War, beginning with the quarrel of three goddesses over a golden apple. When Trojan prince Paris persuades the beautiful Helen of Troy to leave her baby and husband to become his wife, her husband pursues her, others take sides, and the war begins. Fighting continues until Troy is destroyed and Paris earns a tragic reward. For grades 5–8 and older readers.
RC 40748
The Canterbury Tales
Retold by Geraldine McCaughrean.
Thirteen of Geoffrey Chaucer’s tales are retold in modern language. A group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury Cathedral entertain themselves by telling stories. For junior and senior high readers.
The Canterbury Tales
Retold by Selina Hastings.
Geoffrey Chaucer, often called "the father of English poetry," was born around 1342, and died probably in 1400. In the late 1380s Chaucer wrote the "Canterbury Tales," one of the greatest narrative poems in the English language. It consists of twenty-four tales told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury Cathedral. Hastings has selected seven of the tales and retold them in modern prose. For grades 5–8 and older readers.
RC 31894
Gulliver in Lilliput
retold by Margaret Hodges.
In a story adapted from Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, Hodges tells of a young doctor from England who loved to travel the world, and of his arrival on the island of Lilliput after being shipwrecked. The doctor falls asleep. When he awakens the next morning, he finds his arms and legs fastened to the ground and discovers six-inch-tall men crawling over him. For grades 3–6.
RC 41903
Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe.
Crusoe runs away to sea, is shipwrecked, and leads a solitary existence on an uninhabited island near the Orinoco River for twenty-four years. He meets the difficulties of primitive life with ingenuity and at length finds a companion in a native whom he saves from cannibals. First published in the early eighteenth century for adults, adopted by younger readers.
RC 27138
RC 24771 in Spanish
Saint George and the Dragon
adapted by Margaret Hodges.
A dramatic retelling of the classic tale recounts the battle between brave Saint George, the Red Cross Knight, and the deadly dragon that has terrorized the countryside for years. For grades 2–4 and older readers. Caldecott Medal 1985.
RC 22236
Tales from Shakespeare
by Charles and Mary Lamb.
A retelling of twenty plays by Shakespeare in prose form, intended as an introduction to Shakespeare for younger readers. Includes retellings of "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "Romeo and Juliet," "Othello," "The Tempest," "King Lear," and others. First published in 1807. For grades 6–9.
RC 24524
The Best of Shakespeare
by E. (Edith) Nesbit.
Ten of Shakespeare’s plays retold in simple language. Nesbit compiled the collection after a visit to the poet’s home with her children. She encouraged them to try reading some of the original plays, only to be told the writing was too difficult to understand. This volume includes "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," "The Tempest," "Macbeth," and "Othello." For grades 5–8 and older readers.
RC 45975
Echoes of Times Past: Part Two
A selection enduring stories from nineteenth and twentieth centuries through 1920.
The Adventures of Pinocchio
by Carlo Collodi.
Translated by E. Harden.
A little wooden puppet who can talk, think, and feel as a normal boy has a giant curiosity that leads him into exciting and unexpected adventures. And everytime he tells a lie, his nose grows and grows! For grades 3–6 to share with older readers.
BR 07796
The Adventures of Pinocchio
by Carlo Collodi.
Translated by Nancy Canepa.
Geppetto carves a wooden puppet and names him Pinocchio. The rascally marionette walks and talks like a real boy, but his nose grows longer each time he lies. Classic Italian children’s tale originally published in 1883. For grades 4–7 and older readers. 2002.
RC 55907
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain.
The escapades and high jinks of schoolboy Tom Sawyer, who lives with his Aunt Polly in a small Missouri town on the Mississippi River. Tom angles for the affections of Becky Thatcher, runs away with Huck Finn and Joe Harper, and tells the truth when it matters. For grades 6–9 and older readers. 1876.
RC 53084
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and through the Looking Glass
by Lewis Carroll.
Extraordinary things happen when a little girl falls down a rabbit hole and encounters the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and other unusual characters. Alice’s second adventure takes her to a land with a peculiar back-to-front order in which everything is reversed. For grades 3–6 and older readers. 1865.
RC 50842
Anne of Green Gables
by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm in Canada. There she proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her. Complete and unabridged text. First of a series. For grades 5–8 and older readers. 1908.
RC 56114
Anne of Green Gables: Three Volumes in One
by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
An anthology of three complete novels chronicling Anne’s passage from eleven-year-old orphan to village schoolteacher to the bride of young doctor Gilbert Blythe, who provides her with the house of her dreams. The first book was originally published in 1908. For grades 5–8 and older readers. 1985.
RC 50475
Around the World in Eighty Days
by Jules Verne.
London, 1872. Well-to-do, eccentric Phileas Fogg is certain that he can travel around the world in eighty days. He’s so sure that he’s wagered half of his fortune and set off on the grand adventure with his servant, Passepartout. 1988 afterword. For senior high and older readers. 1873.
RC 53171
Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse
by Anna Sewell.
England, 1870s. Black Beauty, a good-natured and strong stallion, tells of his adventures working with many types of people, some kind and others cruel. Written to encourage better treatment of horses. Some violence. For grades 4–7. 1877.
RC 41291
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens.
This traditional favorite—a nineteenth-century English tale—recounts how the elderly miser Ebenezer Scrooge is transformed into a benefactor. He is visited three nights in succession by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future and emerges from the experience changed for the better. 1843.
RC 43546
The Enchanted Castle
by E. Nesbit.
During the winter holiday, three English siblings Gerald, Jimmy, and Kathleen, with their friend, Mabel, discover a magic ring that leads them on strange adventures. They try to control the powers of the ring and solve the mystery of the enchanted castle. For grades 4–7. 1907.
RC 11778
Heidi
by Joanna Spyri.
Heidi loves her old grandfather and their simple life high in the Swiss Alps. When she is sent to the city to be a companion to the ailing Klara, Heidi almost dies from homesickness. For grades 4–7. 1884.
RC 22936
The Jungle Book: The Mowgli Stories
by Rudyard Kipling.
Eight stories about the adventures of Mowgli, a boy reared by a pack of wolves in a jungle in India. Presented in Kipling’s preferred arrangement. Includes a ninth non-Mowgli tale "Rikki-tikki-tavi," about a valiant mongoose. For grades 4–7 and older readers. 1894.
RC 63091
Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott.
Recounts the lives of the four March sisters—quick-tempered Jo, who is restless for freedom; Beth, who loves her home and family; Meg who longs for pretty clothes; and self-absorbed Amy. Includes 1989 introduction by Elaine Showalter. For grades 6–9 and older readers. 1868.
RC 58830
Peter Pan
by James M. Barrie.
Siblings Wendy, John, and Michael fly to Never-Never-Land with Peter, the boy who refuses to grow up. Unabridged version of original. For grades 5–8. 1911.
RC 59430
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
After becoming an orphan, Mary—ill-tempered and neglected—is sent to live on an uncle’s huge estate where she meets an equally wretched cousin who is an invalid. Together they conspire to restore a locked, secret garden while the boy regains his health and his father’s affection. For grades 4–7.
RC 23638
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Young Jim Hawkins finds a map in a dead seaman’s possessions. His friends, Squire Trelawney and Doctor Livesey, realize it’s a treasure map. They hire a ship, unaware that the crew includes the pirate Long John Silver. For grades 6–9 and older readers. 1881.
RC 52436
Twelve Tales: Hans Christian Andersen
Translator Erik Blegvad, a native Dane who grew up hearing Andersen’s stories, has retained the "old-fashioned" language of Andersen’s time. The collection includes well-known tales such as "The Princess and the Pea," "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," and "The Emperor’s New Clothes" and lesser-known stories such as "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep" and "The Pixie at the Grocer’s." For grades 3–6.
RC 41551
Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen
Twelve of Andersen’s stories translated by Neil Philip. He has included such well known tales as "The Princess and the Pea," "Thumbelina," and "The Ugly Duckling," as well as several lesser known, such as "The Shadow," "Grief," and "Father’s Always Right." For grades 2-4 and older readers.
RC 44585
Tales of Hans Christian Andersen
Thirteen short fairy stories, translated in 2004 by Naomi Lewis, with a biography of the Danish author and introductory headnotes. Includes old favorites and the less familiar "The Flying Trunk" and "The Goblin at the Grocer’s." For grades 4–7 and older readers. 1840.
Please consult the catalog for other editions.
The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame.
Relates the escapades of four animal friends—Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger—who live along a river in the English countryside. For grades 4–7. 1908.
RC 24592
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum.
When a cyclone blows Dorothy and her dog Toto from their Kansas home to the magical Land of Oz, Dorothy meets the Munchkins and witches. With her new companions the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy travels to the Emerald City to petition the Wizard. First in a series. For grades 4–7. 1899.
RC 51047
Myths, Legends, and Folklore
About Wise Men and Simpletons: Twelve Tales from Grimm
Translated by Elizabeth Shub.
Twelve of the Brothers Grimm’s best-loved folktales. Includes "About a Fisherman and His Wife," "The Elves and the Shoemaker," "Brier Rose," "The Golden Goose," "Rumpelstiltskin," "Hansel and Gretel," and "The Bremen Town Musicians." In "The Wolf and the Seven Kids," a mother goat outwits a wolf. For grades 4–7. 1971.
The Juniper Tree: and Other Tales from Grimm
Translated by Lore Segal and Randall Jarrell.
Twenty-seven stories translated from the Brothers Grimm collection of German folktales. Features "Hansel and Gretel," "The Fisherman and His Wife," "Rapunzel," and lesser-known tales like the title piece, in which a wicked stepmother is punished for her crime. Some violence. For grades 4–7. 1973.
RC 61577
Please consult the catalog for other editions of Grimm’s fairy tales.
Aesop’s Fables
(Fritz Kredel’s edition)
Tales, with morals, about animals who talk and act like human beings. Originally told by the Greek slave Aesop over two thousand years ago, the hundred-plus fables include such favorites as "The Hare and the Tortoise" and "The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse." For grades 3–6 and older readers. 1963.
Aesop’s Fables
(Jerry Pinkney’s edition)
A collection of nearly sixty fables from the Greek thinker Aesop. Includes such well-known tales as "The Fox and the Grapes," "The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf," and "The Grasshopper and the Ants." For grades 2–4. 2000.
RC 52555
Fables from Aesop
retold by Tom Lynch.
A baker’s dozen of traditional Aesop tales retold in modern English and ending with a short moral. Includes the familiar favorite "The Tortoise and the Hare" and closes with the admonition, "So remember! Slow and steady wins the race." For preschool–grade 2. 2000.
BR 13077 PRINT/BRAILLE
Please consult the catalog for other editions.
The Arabian Nights: Their Best Known Tales
edited by Kate D. Wiggins and Nora A. Smith.
Ten stories from the Tales of a Thousand and One Nights, including such characters as the well-known Aladdin and his lamp, Ali Baba and the forty thieves, and Sinbad the sailor. Based on earlier translations, especially Jonathan Scott’s edition. For grades 5–8 and older readers. 1909.
Arabian Nights
retold by Neil Philip.
Once there was a king who married a new bride every night and had her beheaded the next morning. When Sheherazade marries this king, she tells him such wonderful stories that he spares her life each day to hear another. Fifteen of her tales are retold here. For grades 4–7. 1994.
RC 47436
D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths
retold by Ingri and Edgar P. D’Aulaire.
Humorous, earthy retellings of the adventures of the gods, goddesses, and legendary figures of ancient Greece. For grades 4–7. 1962.
RC 56456
D’Aulaire’s Book of Norse Myths
retold by Ingri and Edgar P. D’Aulaire.
Introduces the Norse legends of gods, goddesses, tricksters, and heroes. Contains tales of Thor, the thunder-god, mischievous Loki, and the leader Odin with his band of Valkyrie maidens, as well as elves, gnomes, weird monsters, and grim giants. For grades 4–7. 1967.
RC 61851
Favorite Fairy Tales Told around the World
retold by Virginia Haviland.
Stories, some well-known and some less familiar, from sixteen countries. Includes "The Flying Ship" from Russia about a young fool whose kindness to others is rewarded, and from Japan, "The Tongue-cut Sparrow" about a mean, nagging wife who is taught to change her ways. For grades 3–6. 1959.
BR 16699, volume 3 of 3
RC 24260
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
by Howard Pyle.
Recounts the legend of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws–including Little John, Friar Tuck, and Allan a Dale–who plunder the rich to help the poor. Describes mistakenly poaching the king’s deer and Sherwood Forest escapades against their enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1883.
RC 63526
Nursery Tales around the World
retold by Judy Sierra.
An international collection of eighteen folktales from the oral tradition. Six themes group cultural variations together: runaway cookies; incredible appetites; the victory of the smallest; chain tales; slowpokes and speedsters; and fooling the big, bad wolf. For grades 3–6. 1996.
RC 49377
The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales
by Virginia Hamilton.
Animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and desire for freedom shape this anthology of retold African American folktales, born of slaves’ sorrow but passed on in hope. Includes several stories where Bruh Rabbit triumphs. For grades 4–7 and older readers. Coretta Scott King Award. 1985.
RC 59991
The Rainbow People
retold by Laurence Yep.
Twenty Chinese folktales, selected and retold by the author from stories collected in Oakland, California, in the 1930s as part of a WPA project. The book is divided into sections such as "Tricksters," "Fools," and "Love," each of which is prefaced by a short explanation of how the tales relate to the Chinese-American experience. For grades 4–7 and older readers. 1989.
RC 36672
The Three Bears and Fifteen Other Stories
by Anne Rockwell.
Sixteen famous tales retold in the spirit of the originals. In "The Lion and the Mouse" a small creature rescues a strong one. In "The Gingerbread Man" a clever fox has a tasty treat. In "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" a troll has an unfortunate encounter. For grades 2-4. 1975.
Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit
retold by Julius Lester.
A retelling of forty-eight Brer Rabbit tales in "modified, contemporary, Southern black English," with modern allusions. Includes "How the Animals Came to Earth," "Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby," and "Brer Rabbit Tricks Brer Bear." First in a series. For grades 5–8 and older readers.
RC 26183
Nonfiction
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
by Jean Fritz.
Paul Revere was a man of many talents. He was a silversmith and a bell-ringer, who also found time to fight in the French and Indian War. Then he became a leader in the secret society called the Sons of Liberty. And on April 18, 1775, when word came that British soldiers were about to march into the countryside to fight the rebellious colonists, Paul Revere knew that the time for his big ride had arrived. For grades 2–4. 1973.
RC 25588
Please consult the catalog for other titles by Jean Fritz.
The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank.
Translated by B.M. Mooyart-Doubleday.
Introduction by Eleanor Roosevelt.
In a remarkable account begun on her thirteenth birthday in 1942, a Jewish girl in German-occupied Amsterdam records her hopes, fears, and growing pains during two years of close confinement with her family hiding from the Nazis in a secret apartment. Original version edited by her father. For grades 6–9 and older readers. 1947.
RC 57022
Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction
by David Macaulay.
Details how generations of dedicated churchmen and craftsmen, working for nearly a century, build a great cathedral in an imaginary town in thirteenth-century France. For grades 5–8. 1973.
RC 42501
"Charlie Needs a Cloak."
by Tomie dePaola.
Charlie the shepherd and his flock of sheep enact a comedy of errors as Charlie makes himself a beautiful new red wool cloak. For grades K–3.
BR 02770
The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia
by Esther Hautzig.
An autobiography telling of the exile of the author’s Jewish family to Siberia and the hardships they endured. She also tells of her school days there and her subsequent discovery of the Russian classics.
BR 07756
RC 24519
Lincoln: A Photobiography
by Russell Freedman.
Biography of sixteenth U.S. president. Describes his rise from humble beginnings in rural Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois to become a self-educated lawyer, state representative, and, in 1860, president. Highlights Lincoln’s Civil War leadership before his 1865 assassination. For grades 4–7 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1987.
RC 58762
Please consult catalog for other titles by Russell Freedman.
Electronic braille versions of books in this list are available to registered Web-Braille readers and are listed as links. They, along with other braille versions that are not linked, are also available to registered braille readers as embossed braille from cooperating network libraries. Audio versions in recorded cassette (RC) are available to readers registered at a cooperating library.