"Everyone who met him agreed that L. Frank Baum was a born storyteller, but when The Wizard of Oz was published in 1900, its phenomenal success still surprised him. This American fairy tale was a radical departure from the religious and moral tales that were the standard fare of children’s literature at the turn of the century. It became so popular that avid readers urged Baum to write thirteen more books in the bestselling Oz series.
After Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away from Kansas by a cyclone, they embark on a remarkable odyssey accompanied by the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion. As they travel through enchanted lands toward the Emerald City, they find perils and colorful opponents including the wonderfully evil Wicked Witch.
The story and characters of The Wizard of Oz are beloved by generations of readers and moviegoers."
"When Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn join together, a rousing adventure is never far behind. In this classic tale, Tom and Huck might be in for more than even they can handle when they are kidnapped by a mad scientist in a balloon-powered airship. His unscrupulous plan is to end his flight around the world in a fiery crash-taking Tom and Huck with him. Now Tom must depend on his Mississippi River experiences to save him from new dangers."
"Anne Shirley is all grown up and married to her longtime sweetheart Gilbert Blythe. What’s more, they have six wonderfully mischievous children—who’ve just
discovered a new secret hideout. When the Blythe boys and girls learn that an eccentric family has moved into a nearby mansion, they are bubbling over with
curiosity. The new family is the Merediths, and they have two boys and two girls of their own. They also shelter a runaway named Mary Vance, but sadly she’s
about to be sent away to an orphanage. Can the Blythe children find a way to help?
Listeners will delight as the frolicsome bands of children team-up on a goodhearted adventure to save the day!
L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables novels are enduring classics that the whole family can cherish. First published in 1919, Rainbow Valley continues the
captivating saga begun in the books Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, and Anne of the Island."
"A Study in Scarlet is the novel that introduced Arthur Conan Doyle's eccentric detective Sherlock Holmes, as well as his faithful associate Dr. Watson, to the literary world."
"When Mary Lennox arrives in England from India, having crossed the dark Yorkshire moors to Misselthwiate Manor, she is as uncomely as a weed and every bit as contrary. Friendless, Mary spends long hours, lonely hours hiking across the moors or wandering about the gardens surrounding the manor. One blustery afternoon, the wind whisks aside a curtain of overgrown ivy which had hid the entrance to an unknown garden from view. From that point onward the deserted garden takes firm root in Mary's imagination and she determines to find a way inside. Introduce children to the enchanting classic behind the popular motion picture and the Tony Award-winning play."
"In 1914 Rilla Blythe, youngest daughter of Anne, is almost 15. Life with her many brothers and sisters has been delightful and Rilla dazzles everyone she
meets with her charm and beauty. Her biggest worries are the upcoming dance at the Four Winds Lighthouse and whether Kenneth Ford will ask her to dance.
Her special night is shattered with the announcement that war has been declared in Europe. As her brothers and friends prepare to go off to battle, the
irrepressible Rilla realizes that she will also be changed forever. In fact, the world will never be the same again.
Renowned author L.M. Montgomery penned some 500 short stories and poems with translations into 15 languages as well as the classic Anne of Green Gables novels."
"On an ordinary summer's afternoon, Alice tumbles down a hole and an extraordinary adventure begins. In a strange world with even stranger characters, she meets a rabbit with a pocket watch, joins a Mad Hatter's Tea Party, and plays croquet with the Queen! Lost in this fantasy land, Alice finds herself growing more and more curious by the minute . . ."
"Critically-acclaimed narrator Donal Donnelly breathes magical new life into this classic of fantasy literature. Listeners may be surprised to discover that J.M. Barrie's imaginative masterpiece is funnier, smarter, and more involving than the animated motion picture by Walt Disney! One starry night, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland--the island where lost boys play, mermaids splash and fairies make mischief. But a villainous-looking gang of pirates lurk in the docks, led by the terrifying Captain James Hook. Magic and excitement are in the air, but if Captain Hook has his way, before long, someone will be walking the plank and swimming with the crocodiles..."
"The Wind in the Willows is a classic of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animal characters in a pastoral version of England. The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie and celebrated for its evocation of the nature of the Thames valley."
"In 1865, Lewis Carroll won the hearts of children around the world with a wondrous story of a disappearing cat, a mad tea party, and a croquet-playing Queen of Hearts. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland quickly became a beloved classic of children's literature, and fans wrote thousands of letters to Lewis Carroll asking him to write a sequel to this magical book. The result was Through the Looking Glass, a timeless tale that has captivated generations with its unforgettable blend of laughter, magic and mischief. On a snowy winter day when it's too cold to play outside, Alice begins a game of make-believe inside her house. But make-believe soon becomes real when Alice steps through a mirror-and into another world! To find her way back to her world, Alice needs the help of Humpty Dumpty, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and the Jabberwocky."
"Pinocchio comes to life under the gentle hands of Geppetto, a humble cobbler with a loyal heart, who carves the little puppet from a piece of talking wood. Fond of Pinocchio and his boyish ways, Geppetto makes plans to send him to school, selling his own coat to buy Pinocchio a spelling book; But Pinocchio is determined to go his own way. Rambunctious and spoiled, the wooden boy meets with one misadventure after another, including a get-rich quick scheme with a Fox and a Cat; a journey to the 'Land of Boobies,' where little boys play all the time and never go to school; and a ticklish trip into the cavernous belly of a gargantuan Dog-fish."
"Ten-year-old Sarah Crue arrives at Miss Minchin's London boarding school arrayed like a princess. She wears velvet, lace and silk, carries a gorgeous life-like doll, and has a French maid. Charming and imaginative, she soon becomes the envy of the other girls. When tragedy suddenly takes away Sarah's fine clothes and privileges, her schoolmates wait to see if she will give up. But, now living in the school's dingy attic and toiling long hours for the demanding students who were once her friends, Sarah's generous spirit remains untouched by the hardship and cruelty. Frances Hodgson Burnett earned a special place in children's hearts with her wonderful books which include The Secret Garden. Since 1905, A Little Princess has captivated countless readers, and recently it has been made into a major motion picture. Now, through Leishman's lyrical narration, Sarah and the other unforgettable characters of this delightful riches-to-rags tale speak to new generations."
