Classic Starts: Treasure Island (Classic Starts Series) [Hardcover]

Robert Louis Stevenson (Author), Chris Tait (Editor), Lucy Corvino (Illustrator), Arthur Pober Ed.D (Afterword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005 | Age Range: 7 - 9 years | Series: Classic Starts Series | Lexile Measure: 870L (What's this?)

Following Sterling's spectacularly successful launch of its children's classic novels (240,000 books in print to date),comes a dazzling new series: Classic Starts. The stories are abridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats the world's beloved tales (and children) with the respect they deserve--all at an incomparable price.

Pirates, buried treasure, and action aplenty--that's what's served up in this fine story, mates, and kids will eat it up. After Jim Hawkins finds the map to a mysterious treasure, he sets sail in search of the fortune. Little does he realize he's boarded a pirate ship, and that surprises and danger await him...including a meeting with the inforgettable Long John Silver.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-5–While this abridgement of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic captures most of the key details and action of the story, it feels choppy at times and listeners don't feel as emotionally attached to the vibrant characters. The female reader speaks clearly, but her high, pleasant voice doesn't always correspond to the rough and tumble action of the story and the predominantly male cast of characters. While she varies her pitch and pacing, individual characters are not given uniquely identifiable voices, making it difficult for listeners to become wholly invested in the telling. The paperback book has a nice font size for following along as well as plenty of white space and scattered black-and-white illustrations. Although the audio presentation is not stellar, those who need an accessible version of the story for younger children can make use of this audiobook.Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Age Range: 7 - 9 years
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402713185
• ISBN-13: 978-1402713187
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.7 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Introduction to Classic Literature February 11, 2010

By L. Wicke

Format:Hardcover

I am a high school English teacher, and I am a huge fan of the original Treasure Island. That said, I love the Classic Start series as a mother who believes in introducing my children to the classics from a very early age. I began using the series with my daughter when she was five. We have read Black Beauty, The Little Princess, Heidi, and Pollyanna to name a few, so I am very familiar with the content of the series, and I keep coming back for more.

My son just turned six. There is no way that he would be able to sit through nor understand the original, but with this abridged version, he not only becomes familiar with the story, he falls in love with it as well. We began reading Treasure Island last night, and he begged for more and more. Finally, after six chapters I insisted that I needed to read to his older sister. While I did, this little kindegartner slugged through another chapter, struggling over every word to try to get more of the story. I couldn't have been more thrilled; that is the love of reading and the love of good literature with which I am trying to bless my children.

Classic Starts are a fantastic way to begin, in my opinion. I see no difference between a beginning pianist first learning an easy version of a classical piano concerto and a young reader first introduced to an abridged version of a classic that, in it's original form would be above both his context and vocabulary level. I am sure that when my son does encounter the original, and he will--I'll make sure of that--he will not only be more ready, he will be more excited to get the rest of the story, thanks to his familiarity with and fondness for Billy Bones, Jim, and Long John Silver. My thanks, Classic Starts.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Treasure Pleasure November 23, 2005

A Kid's Review

Format:Hardcover

Treasure Island

Retold by Chris Tait Original story by Robert Louis Stevenson

I am ten-years-old and my Teacher, Mrs. McAuley asked us to write a book review on the book we read. This is mine.

This book is just one of the Classic Starts series. These books are easy to read and good for all ages. I highly recommend this book as a good family novel because it's easy to make a mind image of putting yourself in the story. I would like to see this made into a movie.

The story has many different settings, first you start out in Admiral BenBow Inn and then we go on board the Hispanola ship, eventually it all ends up on Treasure Island. At the Inn we meet Jim Hawkins and his mom who rents a room to Billy Bones. Billy Bones turned out to be a pirate with Captain Flint's secret treasure map that Jim Hawkins found.

Jim shares the map with his trusted friends and they all decide to buy a ship, hire a crew, and set sail for the treasure. Chapter Seven describes the crew which includes: The captain (Captain Smollet), the ships doctor (Doctor Livesey), the cook (Long John Silvers), 2nd mate (Officer Trelawney), 1st mate (Arrow), and 19 additional crew members. Can you tell which crew members are evil and which are good, read the book and see. However, it'll be hard to tell whether Long John Silvers is either a friend or a foe.

With so many crew members and only one treasure, a battle is about to spawn. Good sailors, and evil pirates, who will become victorious and receive Flint's treasure,?

Near the end they finally land on Treasure Island. While searching for the treasure suddenly... "Fifteen men on a deadmans chest--- Yo ho ho in a bottle of rum" everyone screams in fear, at the familiar voice... but if Flint's dead and the Island is uninhabited, who can it be?

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 20,000 leagues under the sea January 11, 2007

By Bianca

Format:Hardcover

my son is 19 years old, in jail and is finally trying to read and is enjoying it! thank you for having the classics starts, it's not heavy reading but it was exciting as he can accomplish reading a book in 2-3 days! it gives him accomplishment!