"The Newbery Medal–winning classic novel about the courage and faith—and the love of a dog—that give a family strength in the face of inhumanity.
The boy knows that times are tough for his family. Every night, his father goes out hunting with their great coon dog, Sounder, to try to put food on the table. But even with the little they bring back, there is still never enough for the family to eat.
When the boy awakens one morning to a sweet-smelling ham on the table, it seems like a blessing. But soon, the sheriff and his deputies come to the house and take the boy’s father away in handcuffs. Suddenly the boy must grow up fast in a world that isn’t fair, keeping hope alive through the love he has for his father’s faithful dog, Sounder.
Readers who enjoy timeless dog stories such as Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows will find much to love in Sounder, even as they read through tears at times."
"This complete and unabridged original tale, which provided us with the best-loved classic movie starring Judy Garland, stands on its own as a great modern-day fairy tale.
This is the story of a little girl, Dorothy, and her dog, Toto, who are whisked away on a cyclone from their drab Kansas home to a land of adventure and achievement, inhabited by such creatures as a Cowardly Lion, a Tin Woodman, an animate Scarecrow, witches, munchkins, and the Wizard himself.
Join them on their enchanting journey along the Yellow Brick Road in search of the wonderful Wizard in the enchanted Emerald City."
"Padraic Colum's classic retelling combines the immortal stories from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey into one glorious saga of heroism and magical adventure. Come voyage to ancient Greece with Achilles who, guided by the gods, seeks vengeance on the Trojans. And follow Odysseus on his perilous journey on the sea—through the land of the Cyclopes, past Circe the Enchantress, the terrible Charybdis, and the six-headed serpent Scylla.
Young readers will delight in these accessible tales of action and adventure."
"Katy was the sort of girl who might do anything next, so long as it was something exciting! At twenty-one, she was as eager for adventure as ever, and what greater adventure could there be for an American girl than a trip to Europe? Watching a Punch-and-Judy show in London…driving down the Champs-Élysées in Paris…on to the Riviera and the picture-postcard blue of the Mediterranean…on again to Italy, Naples, Rome, Florence and, at last, to Venice and into a gondola on the Grand Canal, with a handsome young naval officer who-ah, but that would be telling!"
"The winsome Anne Shirley is grown, has been married to her beloved Gilbert Blythe for fifteen years, and is the mother of six spirited children. When a strange family moves into a nearby mansion,Anne and her family are drawn into a host of trials, schemes and triumphs. The Meredith family is comprised of two boys and two girls, a minister father but no mother, and a runaway girl named Mary Vance. The clever and mischievous Meredith kids join Anne's children in a private hideout to carry out plans to save Mary from the orphanage, to help the lonely minister find happiness, and to save a pet rooster from becoming a soup ingredient.
In this, another of L. M. Montgomery's beloved books, the sun-dappled world of Rainbow Valley is always full of adventure and delight."
"High in the Swiss Alps, Heidi, a five-year-old orphan, comes to live with her grandfather. His neighbors say he is a fierce old hermit of whom they are all afraid.
Heidi, however, proves to be a remarkable, unaffected child, who quickly charms her grandfather. In fact, for Heidi, nothing could be better than living with him. She has a genuine enthusiasm for life in the mountains: for the goats, which she helps Peter to tend, the spring flowers on the Alm, and the simple hay bed that she occupies in the loft.
However, her Aunt Dete doesn't understand, and it is a sad day when she takes Heidi to live in a strange city with a strange family that wants a companion for their young invalid daughter named Klara. Heidi does her best to be a friend to Klara, but her longing for home becomes too much to bear.
This beloved classic has delighted children and their parents for decades and will continue to do so with its winning heroine, memorable characters, and engaging portrait of a quaint Alpine village."
"Widely recognized as Willa Cather's finest book and one of the outstanding novels of American literature, My Ántonia tells of the life of early American pioneers in Nebraska.
Through Jim Burden's endearing, smitten voice, we revisit the remarkable vicissitudes of immigrant life in the Nebraska heartland with all its insistent bonds. Guiding the way are some of literature's most beguiling characters: the Russian brothers plagued by memories of a fateful sleigh ride, Ántonia's desperately homesick father and self-indulgent mother, and the coy Lena Lingard. Holding the pastoral society's heart, of course, is the bewitching, free-spirited Ántonia.
Infused with a gracious passion for the land, My Ántonia is a deeply moving portrait of an entire community and its way of life."
"Three years after the close ofLittle Women, the March girls, four of the most beloved young women in American literature, are young adults carving out their futures. John Brooke is home and planning a life with Meg, despite his modest financial situation. The other girls see promises of fulfillment ahead as well, as they grow and develop a certain amount of independence. Along the way, they all face painful trials, from Jo's struggle with her writing career to her friend Laurie's heartbreak in a love tragedy. Eventually, each of the girls finds happiness, but not always in the ways that they expect.
Though often classified as a children's book,Good Wives, with its lifelike characters and situations, has entertained millions of adults. The delightful adventures of the March children still possess great power to inspire countless listeners."
"Sara Stanley is only fourteen, but she can weave tales that are impossible to resist. In the picturesque town of Carlisle, children and grown-ups alike flock from miles around to hear her spellbinding tales.
When Bev and Felix, two city boys, are sent to Carlisle for the summer, they are captivated by this very different rural island and by Sara Stanley, the Story Girl. Their vacation becomes a time for magic and mischief as they spend their days with Sara and the eccentric local people, with a mysterious blue treasure chest and intrepid cat, and experience an ordeal that may cost a friend his life.
But woven through the sunlit days and starry seaside nights is another kind of enchantment as well-one spun by the tales of the talented Story Girl. She tells tales of love and death, good and evil, and wondrous times and lands that exist only in the imagination. Like all stories written by L. M. Montgomery, these are timeless stories that live forever in our hearts."
"Little Men, written by legendary author Louisa May Alcott, is widely considered to be one of the greatest books of all time. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of readers.
The lovable Jo March, introduced to us in Little Women, is now married, with two sons of her own and an adopted family of twelve boys. And she couldn't be happier.
Since starting an informal school at Plumfield, Jo and Professor Bhaer provide a haven for poor orphaned boys who thrive on warmth, goodness, and the affectionate interest of the March and Bhaer families. Sometimes it's difficult to tame the manners and spirits of wild boys who have had no nurturing. But the Bhaers have time for all and are rewarded with the trust of the boys, who confide all their hopes, plans, ambitions, and misfortunes.
This classic tale full of faces both familiar and new is a perfect family listen, engaging for audiences both young and old."
"Set in the Netherlands, the beautiful land of windmills, tulips, and wooden shoes, this timeless story relates the adventures of the impoverished but virtuous Brinker family. Young Hans and Gretel work toward two goals: finding the doctor who can restore their father's memory, and winning the competition for the silver skates. Their good deeds help to bring about good fortune for their whole family.
With many interesting details about Dutch family life and the history, this charming tale published over 140 years ago continues to delight countless readers with its inspiring story that encourages us all to pursue our dreams."
"In the era of Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Dyke, Spain had its own great painter—Diego Vel├ísquez. His assistant is Juan, an African slave who helps his master in his studio by preparing paints and stretching canvasses. Soon, by spending time in the studio and watching his master's technique, Juan begins to teach himself to paint too. But such work as the creation of art is forbidden to slaves. Delighted with his work but carefully guarding his secret, Juan is torn between the need to protect himself and the need to reveal his talent."
