First published in 1812, Johann David Wyss’s “The Swiss Family Robinson” is a classic story of survival on a deserted tropical island. While en route to Australia, the titular Swiss Family Robinson finds themselves in great peril when their vessel is caught in a violent storm. As the ship breaks apart when it is battered against a reef, the family is abandoned by their crew, who escape without them in the lifeboats. The family, which consists of ...
One of the most beloved children’s stories of all time “The Secret Garden” is arguably Francis Hodgson Burnett’s most famous novel. First serialized in the fall of 1910 and in book form in 1911, “The Secret Garden” is the story of Mary Lennox, a sick young girl living in India with her parents. Mary rarely sees her parents though, as her sick and unsightly condition is too much for them to bother with. She is placed in the constant care of India ...
First published in 1901, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” follows the magical adventure of Dorothy, a young girl who lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a farm in Kansas. One day when Dorothy is caught up in tornado with her little dog, Toto, she finds her farmhouse has been magically transplanted to Munchkin Country in the mystical Land of Oz. Her house lands on the evil Wicked Witch of the East, killing her, and freeing the Munchkins from he ...
First published in 1908, “The Wind in the Willows” is one of the most cherished works of children’s literature ever written, undoubtedly Kenneth Grahame’s most famous work. Originally written as a series of bedtime stories for the author’s son, the story begins at the arrival of spring where we find the good-natured Mole tired of doing his spring cleaning. Mole decides to abandon his cleaning in order to enjoy the fresh air of spring. He journey ...
First published in 1877, “Black Beauty” is Anna Sewell’s classic tale of a horse living in 19th century England. Having been injured in early childhood, Anna Sewell would have difficulty walking for most of her life. As such she had to rely on horse-drawn carriages to get around. It was this experience that inspired her love of horses. “Black Beauty” is a fictional autobiography told from the perspective of the horse. This use of an anthropomorp ...
First published in 1908, “Anne of Green Gables” is Lucy Maud Montgomery’s enduring children’s classic which chronicles the coming of age of a young orphan girl, from the fictional community of Bolingbroke, Nova Scotia. The story begins with her arrival at the Prince Edward Island farm of Miss Marilla Cuthbert and Mr. Matthew Cuthbert, siblings in their fifties and sixties, who had decided to adopt a young boy to help out on the farm. However, th ...
The history of the fable likely does not originate with Aesop; however it is with him that we associate the fable’s most ancient of known origins. Little is actually known of the life of Aesop. According to the historical accounts of Herodotus, Aristotle, and Plutarch, he was a slave from the Greek island of Samos who lived between 620 and 564 BC. Described as a strikingly ugly man he is said to have secured his freedom through his cleverness. K ...
Examines how scientists study volcanic eruptions. With fun facts and engaging discussion topics, this short audiobook provides an exciting look at the science of disaster detection. ...
First composed as a play in 1904 and subsequently as a novel in 1911, James Matthew Barrie’s “Peter Pan” is one of the greatest fantasy tales ever written. Inspired by Barrie’s friendship with the Llewelyn Davies family, the story concerns its titular character, Peter Pan, a boy who refuses to grow up. The book opens with Peter’s nighttime visits to the house of Mrs. Mary Darling, who entertains her children with bedtime stories that Peter eaves ...
