The Kingfisher Book of Great Girl Stories: A Treasury of Classics from Children's Literature [Hardcover]

Rosemary Sandberg (Editor)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Kingfisher Book Of

Bringing together all of the most popular girl characters from children's literature, this gorgeous anthology features feisty heroines such as Ramona Quimby, Alice in Wonderland, Pippi Longstocking, and Anne of Green Gables. The attractively illustrated extracts offer the perfect introduction to stories that have enchanted generations of young girls.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Grade 3-6-Sixteen excerpts from classic stories that feature girls as protagonists. The selections, each illustrated by a contemporary British illustrator, are from classics such as Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess, Eleanor H. Porter's Pollyanna, and Katherine Paterson's The Great Gilly Hopkins. In spite of the brief introductions, most of the stories don't provide enough context for readers to understand their circumstances and characters. Only a few, such as Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods, stand alone. Joyce Lankester Brisley's "Milly-Molly-Mandy," with its archly sweet tone and simple plot, seems a quirky individual choice. Each story has several illustrations set into the text and pages bordered with strips of small, simple pictures. Among the best are Quentin Blake's illustrations from the original publication of Roald Dahl's Matilda, Tony Ross's giddy take on Ramona, and Alison Jay's neo-folk art for the piece from Susan Coolidge's What Katy Did. Some of the original novels are no longer available, which may be a sign of their inaccessibility to modern readers. For the rest, children will be better served by the original books and better able to appreciate these memorable girls within the context of their times.
Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Publishers Weekly

Girls will likely enjoy the excerpts from 16 stories gathered by Rosemary Sandberg in The Kingfisher Book of Great Girl Stories and illustrated by a variety of children's book artists.

Children's Literature

As a way of introducing some favorite girl storybook heroines, this book works well...The notes on the authors at the end of the book are both intriguing and informative.

Children's Literature

provide a taste of the children's book classic and will hopefully send readers, both girls and boys, to the original work.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher; 1st edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753452073
• ISBN-13: 978-0753452073
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,737 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific introduction to Girl Classics, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Kingfisher Book of Great Girl Stories: A Treasury of Classics from Children's Literature (Hardcover)

This book offers a terrific introduction to a dozen or so classic stories in shortened form. The Wizard of Oz, Heidi, Alice Through the Looking Glass, and others, have been condensed to 10 or so pages, making them ideal for bedtime reading.

My daughter is five and loves the illustrations. There are colorful, unique page boaders for each story. The other illustrations are sparse - one or two per story - but are both vivid and unique in style to each story.

I also appreciate the prose. Perhaps too difficult for young(er) children, however the various authors don't pander to children either in terms of simplified vocabulary or style.

Great character builder too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kingfisher Book of Great Girl Stories, March 19, 2006

By 

John Miles (La Vergne, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Kingfisher Book of Great Girl Stories: A Treasury of Classics from Children's Literature (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my granddaughter who is 9 years old and she thoroughly enjoyed it and wants me to buy her more books just like this one.

John Miles
Happy Grandfather

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book every little girl will adore!, August 6, 2009

By 

R. Joseph "Trinihibiscus" (Caribbean) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Kingfisher Book of Great Girl Stories: A Treasury of Classics from Children's Literature (Hardcover)

Where do I begin? The fact that the book is hard cover makes it worthy of purchase. That way the book can be handed down in great condition. The print is a good size for easy reading and the accompanying pictures made it attractive even to me!
I am really pleased with the selection of stories and more importantly my niece was thrilled with the book! Thinking of purchasing? Think no more, buy it!!!