Classics Audiobooks

The Utter Nonsense of Edward Lear

A fine selection of hand-picked classics from the master of nonsense, enthusiastically narrated by Colin Jones. This collection contains some of Mr Lear's finest works: How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear The Jumblies The Owl and the Pussy-Cat The Pobble Who Has No Toes The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs Mr and Mrs Discobbolos The Dong With a Luminous Nose The Duck and the Kangaroo The Daddy Long-legs and the Fly The New Vestments The Quanglewangle's Hat The Two Old Bachelors Incidents in the Life of my Uncle Arly The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò And more!

Edward Lear (Author), Colin Jones, Recording Tales (Narrator)

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The Velveteen Rabbit

The bestselling children's classic with millions sold around the world. This version, read by Xe Sands, will delight listeners of all ages with its story of wisdom and boundless love. "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?" "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt." "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Margery Williams (Author), Xe Sands (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Secret Garden

Harriet Walter and Beryl Reid star in this full-cast adaptation of the much-loved children's classic. When spoilt young orphan Mary Lennox is brought back from India to live in her uncle's house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds the blunt ways of the staff at Misselthwaite Manor an unpleasant shock. Bored and miserable, it seems as though life in England will be awful. But Misselthwaite has hidden delights and, when Mary begins to discover them, nothing is the same again. First, there is the secret garden and with it comes a boy who knows all the wonders of the country. He can even talk to the birds! Then, as the old house gives up its biggest secret, Mary forms a magical friendship. Frances Hodgson Burnett's charming story is played out with all the freshness and warmth of the original novel in this BBC Radio full-cast dramatization.

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), , Beryl Reid, Harriet Walter (Narrator)

Audiobook

Alan Bennett Reads Childhood Classics: The Wind in the Willows; Alice in Wonderland; Through the Loo

Alan Bennett reads five much-loved stories by Kenneth Grahame, Lewis Carroll and AA Milne. Alan Bennett’s distinctive readings of these cherished children’s stories have become classics in their own right. Portraying each character in his own inimitable fashion, his delightfully expressive voice perfectly conveys the sparkling humour, charm and magic of these timeless tales. The Wind in the Willows tells the classic story of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad (of Toad Hall) and their waterside adventures. Alice in Wonderland sees Alice following a white rabbit down a hole and embarking on a series of adventures with some of the most weird and wonderful characters ever encountered. Through the Looking Glass continues Alice’s adventures, as she sees another world in the looking glass and wishes she could go there. In a selection of stories from Winnie-the-Pooh, Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place, Eeyore loses a tail, Piglet meets a Heffalump, Eeyore has a birthday, and an ‘expotition’ to the North Pole is mounted. The House at Pooh Corner finds Pooh and Piglet building a house for Eeyore, whilst Tigger comes to the forest and has breakfast. Piglet nearly meets the Heffalump again, Pooh invents a new game, and Owl moves house. Duration: 7 hours 50 mins approx.

A. A. Milne, A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll (Author), Alan Bennett (Narrator)

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Paddington at Work

When Paddington returns from his trip to Peru, he doesn’t waste any time getting back to business. The Stock Exchange, the ballet, the barber’s shop, Mr. Curry’s kitchen...nothing is safe when Paddington gets to work. First published in 1966, Paddington at Work is the seventh novel by Michael Bond, chronicling the adventures of this classic character. Paddington has warmed the hearts of generations of readers with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures.

Michael Bond (Author), Hugh Bonneville (Narrator)

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The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

Robin Hood is the archetypal English folk hero; a courteous, pious and swashbuckling outlaw of the medieval era who, in modern versions of the legend, is famous for robbing the rich to feed the poor and fighting against injustice and tyranny. This is probably one of the most beautiful audiobook versions ever made of this story.

Howard Pyle (Author), Group (Narrator)

Audiobook

The The Tale of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a British children's book that follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he is chased about the garden of Mr. McGregor. The book is a big success, and multiple reprints were issued in the years following its debut. It has been translated into 36 languages and with 45 million copies sold it is one of the best-selling books of all time.

Beatrix Potter (Author), Nathan John (Narrator)

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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The fictional character's name may have been derived from a jolly and flamboyant fireman named Tom Sawyer with whom Twain was acquainted in San Francisco, California, while Twain was employed as a reporter. Twain used to listen to Sawyer tell stories of his youth. "Sam, he would listen to these pranks of mine with great interest and he'd occasionally take 'em down in his notebook. One day he says to me: 'I am going to put you between the covers of a book some of these days, Tom.' 'Go ahead, Sam,' I said, 'but don't disgrace my name.'' Twain himself said the character sprang from three people, later identified as: John B. Briggs (who died in 1907), William Bowen (who died in 1893) and Twain, however Twain later changed his story saying Sawyer was fully formed solely from his imagination, but as Robert Graysmith says, "The great appropriator liked to pretend his characters sprang fully grown from his fertile mind."

Mark Twain (Author), Gregg Rizzo (Narrator)

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The Secret Garden

When Mary Lennox is sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody says she is the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It is true, too. Mary is pale, spoilt and quite contrary. But she is also horribly lonely. Then one day she hears about a garden in the grounds of the Manor that has been kept locked and hidden for years. And when a friendly robin helps Mary find the key, she discovers the most magical place anyone could imagine...

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Pearl Hewitt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Behind the White Brick

Shortly after a horrible scolding by her aunt, Jem stared moodily into the fire. Suddenly, she notices that a bit of soot has fallen from the side of the chimney, revealing an incredibly white brick. Before she knows it, Jem finds herself on an imaginative journey where toys can talk, babies do the scolding, and Santa Claus shows you his wonderful workshop.

Frances Hodgeson Burnett (Author), B.J. Harrison (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Devoted Friend

How far are you willing to go to secure your friend’s good opinion? Little Hans gives freely of all he possesses, in order that the miller will esteem him as a true friend. The miller even promises to give little Hans his wheelbarrow. Hans’ gratitude is never-ending, and he learns too late what it sometimes means to be a devoted friend.

Oscar Wilde (Author), B.J. Harrison (Narrator)

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Little House in the Big Woods

The book that started it all! Little House in the Big Woods is the first book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's treasured Little House series, which is based on her life growing up as an American pioneer. Told from four-year-old Laura's point-of-view, this story begins in 1871 in a little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Laura lives in the little house with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their trusty dog, Jack. Pioneer life is sometimes hard for the family, since they must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But it is also exciting as Laura and her family celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do the spring planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first trip into town. And every night they are safe and warm in their little house, with the happy sound of Pa's fiddle sending Laura and her sisters off to sleep. And so begins Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of a pioneer girl and her family. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier history and a heartwarming, unforgettable story. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts

Laura Ingalls Wilder (Author), Cherry Jones (Narrator)

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