Children's Classics to Read Aloud (Classic Collections) [Paperback]

Edward Blishen (Compiler), Yvonne Gilbert (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Classic Collections

Selections from favorite stories both old and new and from countries around the world have been included. Each selection or extract is accompanied by a brief introduction that provides parents and teachers with the background to the story.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 8-- A compilation of 20 selections from classic children's books. Only Western culture is represented: there are 12 British stories, 6 American, and 2 Scandinavian. Included are "The Elephant's Child," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "Under the Hill" from The Hobbit , "Wilbur's Escape" from Charlotte's Web , "The Ransom of Red Chief" and "Horror in the Pit" from The Pit and the Pendulum . Blishen provides approximate reading times but gives no age recommendations. Since some of the stories are quite sophisticated and employ very complex writing and elevated vocabulary, adults without a knowledge of children's literature will need to read the book first to determine whether a story is appropriate. Children may demand to hear the books in their entirety, but two are out of print. Brief notes about the authors and stories introduce each work and a word guide that defines many of the British, archaic, and/or difficult words is appended. However, fewer than half include pronunciation and several, such as "propitiatory" and "recusant," need that, too. Each story is decorated with two black silhouette drawings and a single color plate (usually placed several pages away from the appropriate text and often divulging an essential element of the plot). The large print and wide margins are good for the visually impaired. This kind of anthology may be useful in communities in which parents and teachers demand their read-alouds preselected and short, or it may be useful in exposing families and classrooms to classic literature that they might not otherwise hear, but librarians may want to steer patrons to the complete works instead. --Cynthia K. Richey, Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Edward Blishen won the Carnegie Medal with Leon Garfield for the God Beneath the Sea (1970). For Kingfisher he has compiled several collections in the Treasury of Stories series and Children's Classics to Read Aloud.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 255 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (October 31, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753456869
• ISBN-13: 978-0753456866
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,676,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)