Children & Teen Fiction Books

Book SynopsisJAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

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Book SynopsisEver since Whit and Wisty Allgood were torn from their home and family in the middle of the night, the soldiers of the New Order government have relentlessly tried to capture and execute them for ''collusion, conspiracy, and experimentation with the dark and foul arts''. But this supremely skilled witch and wizard have instead boldly spearheaded the fight against the cruel and brutal regime.The villainous leader of the New Order is just a breath away from the ability to control the forces of nature and to manipulate his citizens on the most profound level imaginable - through their minds. There is only one more thing he needs to triumph in his evil quest: the Gifts of Whit and Wisty Allgood. And he will stop at nothing to seize them.

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Book SynopsisJAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.Trade ReviewA fast, exciting fantasy adventure ... with wall-to-wall thrills and spills ... page-turning suspense, pace and invention, street smart irony and upbeat humour * Books for Keeps *

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Book SynopsisJAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.Trade Review"Has all the characteristics of Patterson's work ... pace, action, mystery and cool" Sunday Times

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Book Synopsis_________________________________Has all the characteristics of his work . . . pace, action, mystery and cool' SUNDAY TIMESMaximum Ride and her best friends have always had one another''s backs, no matter what. Living as fugitives, they never had a choice but, just when they need one another the most, Fang has left the flock. Max is heartbroken at losing her closest ally but, with Dylan ready and willing to fight by her side, she can no longer deny that his incredible intensity draws her in.With a deadly force racing across the globe, Max will need Fang for the greatest battle they've ever faced.Can they reunite for the ultimate showdown?________________________________This book was recently reissued with a new cover, so stock may vary.Trade ReviewThe latest young adults' thriller from James Patterson continues the gripping Maximum Ride series -- 5 stars * Star Magazine *

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Book SynopsisJAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

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Book SynopsisJames Patterson''s high-octane sci-fi adventure series comes to a white-knuckle conclusion in the final battle that Daniel X has been waiting for. Daniel X has been hunting aliens most of his life. Aided by his power to create anything he can think of, he''s fought his way up the list of the galaxy''s most wanted aliens, demons and scumbags. There''s only one name left.The Prayer. Evil incarnate. The one who robbed Daniel of a normal, happy life the day he gunned down Daniel''s entire family. They say The Prayer is basically a god, hell-bent on bringing death to every corner of the universe. And only Daniel X can stop him.But Daniel''s amazing power seems to have abandoned him, and he''s grasping at answers he can''t quite reach. With the fate of Earth hanging in the balance, can Daniel find a way to win a fight that has him hopelessly outmatched?

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Book SynopsisOn the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, their daughter, Tandy, knows just three things: 1. She was one of the last people to see her parents alive. 2. She and her brothers are the only suspects. 3. She can't trust anyone maybe not even herself. Having grown up under their parents' intense perfectionist demands, none of the Angel children have come away undamaged.Tandy decides that she will have to solve the crime on her own, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous game. As she uncovers haunting secrets and slowly begins to remember flashes of disturbing past events buried in her memory, Tandy is forced to ask: What is the Angel family truly capable of?Returning to the genre that made him the world's bestselling author, James Patterson introduces a teen detective on a mission to bring her parents' killer to justice, even if it means uncovering her family's darkest secrets and confessing some of her own.

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Book SynopsisCONFESS IF YOU DON''T FEEL SAFE.Young women from New York''s most exclusive neighbourhoods are being murdered, and the police aren''t looking for answers in the right place.CONFESS IF YOU DON''T TRUST ANYONE.Enter Tandy Angel. The first case she nailed was the mystery of her magnificently wealthy parents'' deaths. Now she''s working to exonerate her superstar brother in his glamorous girlfriend''s murder. And danger just got closer.CONFESS IF YOU''RE IN TOO DEEP.One of the victims of the recent murder streak was a student at Tandy''s own elite school. She has a hunch it may be the work of a serial killer, but the NYPD isn''t listening to her... and Tandy can''t ignore the disturbing fact that she fits the profile of the killer''s targets. Can she untangle the mysteries before she becomes the next victim?THE CONFESSIONS REVEAL ALL.

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Book Synopsis_____________________________________Has all the characteristics of his work . . . pace, action, mystery and cool' SUNDAY TIMESAll her life, Maximum Ride has been fighting to save the world. But the unthinkable has happened, and the world she once knew is gone.Max and her broken flock are left roaming the post-apocalyptic earth, searching for answers to what happened, and for the few survivors.In the midst of the chaos and destruction, a new evil force has emerged one that threatens to end everything, once and for all. In the final battle of good versus evil, who will emerge victorious?________________________________This book was recently reissued with a new cover, so stock may vary.

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Book SynopsisJAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

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Book SynopsisJAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.Trade ReviewA great new series from an outstandingly talented author ... A fabulous read with great characters – can't wait for more! * Booktrust *

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Book SynopsisTory Brennan - great niece of Dr Temperance Brennan - and the Virals return for their most terrifying adventure yet.Life appears peaceful on Loggerhead Island rescued from financial disaster, the research institute is flourishing once more. But the tranquility is quickly shattered when Tory Brennan and her technophile gang discover a mysterious box buried in the ground. A seemingly innocent treasure hunt soon turns into a nightmarish game of puzzles, as it becomes clear that one false move will lead to terrible, explosive consequences.The clock is ticking. Can Tory and the Virals crack the code in time to save the city - and their own lives?

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Book SynopsisArthur Ransome was born in Leeds in 1884. He had an adventurous life - as a baby in he was carried by his father to the top of the Old Man of Coniston, a peak that is 2,276ft high! He went to Russia in 1913 to study folklore and in 1914, at the start of World War I he became a foreign correspondent for the Daily News. In 1917 when the Russian Revolution began he became a journalist and was a special correspondent of the Guardian. He played chess with Lenin and married Trotsky's personal secretary, Evgenia Petrovna Shelepina. On their return to England, he bought a cottage near Windermere in the Lake District and began writing children's stories. In a 1958 author's note, Ransome wrote: ''I have been often asked how I came to write Swallows and Amazons. The answer is that it had its beginning long, long ago when, as children, my brother, my sisters and I spent most of our holidays on a farm at the south end of Coniston. We played in or on the lake or on the hills abTrade ReviewI read the entire series of Arthur Ransome's children's books as a child and thought they were absolutely fantastic. They were full of adventure, all sorts of exciting things happened and they were truly inspirational -- Ellen MacArthurThe book I remember most from childhood. I wanted to be with them on their escapist adventures with their boats and picnics and summer in beautiful Cumbria -- Miranda Hart * Daily Express *You'll want to give this to your children as a window on a time when adventures came from swimming, fishing, camping and exploring rather than in an Xbox...The best line is when Nancy reveals that she is really called Ruth, but changed her name when she heard that pirates are ruthless * Independent *A book that has stood the test of time... enchanting and escapist * Sunday Express *My favourite was the first, Swallows and Amazons, which starts with Roger, aged seven, tacking his way up a field. I knew nothing of halyards, forestays, strops or sheaves, but I was enchanted by what Swallows Roger, Susan, John and Titty, and Nancy and Peggy, the Amazons, got up to with them so cleverly and bravely.My own summer holidays were never quite as exciting, and I never stopped longing to meet them all -- Sue MacGregor * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''Ahoy! Ahoy! Swallows! Ahoy!''Have you ever sailed in a boat or built a camp? Have you caught trout and cooked it yourself? The four Swallows, John, Susan, Titty and Roger return to the lake full of such plans and they can''t wait to meet up with Nancy and Peggy, the Amazon Pirates. When the Swallow is shipwrecked and the Amazon''s fearsome Great-Aunt makes decides to make a visit their summer seems ruined. Then they discover a wonderful hidden valley and things take a turn for the better...BACKSTORY: Discover the real Swallowdale, swot up on seafaring and learn all about the adventurous author.Trade ReviewThe world that the children enter as soon as they get off the train in the Lake District is as separate from their everyday world as Hogwarts or Narnia... For most readers, the idea of cooking trout you have caught yourself is as strange and poetic as the idea of casting a spell that turns a teacup into a turtle * Guardian *There is plenty of excitement, a little danger, a quality of thinking, planning and fun which is delightful and stimulating * Times Literary Supplement *Delightful...I was entranced from page one. Not only did I like his way of writing about the children, and the projection of the pirate fantasy into the Lakeland landscape. He evokes nature, its power and presence deftly and economically...There are passages in this book of which Wordsworth himself would have been proud -- AN Wilson * Daily Telegraph *So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book SynopsisHaving lost their parents in the chaos of war, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are left alone to fend for themselves and hide from the Nazis amid the rubble and ruins of their city. They meet a ragged orphan boy, Jan, who treasures a paperknife - a silver sword - which was entrusted to him by an escaped prisoner of war.Trade ReviewOne of the great and enduring tales of survival, courage and hope. Ian Serrailler tells this extraordinary wartime story simply and directly, so that we feel the full force of its truth -- Michael MorpurgoAs a child I was tremendously moved by Ian Serrailer's The Silver Sword; the combination of childhood heroism in a bleak and horrific environment left me with many questions about the dichotomy of good and evil, as well as the importance of loyal friendship -- John BoyneOne of the most exciting books I've read for a long while * Daily Telegraph *Old-fashioned storytelling about courage at its best * The Times *One of the most remarkable children's books since 1945 -- Oxford Companion to Children's Literature

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Book SynopsisCassandra Mortmain lives with her bohemian and impoverished family in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere.Her journal records her life with her beautiful, bored sister, Rose, her fading glamorous stepmother, Topaz, her little brother Thomas, and her eccentric novelist father who suffers from a financially crippling writer''s block.However, all their lives are turned upside down when the American heirs to the castle arrive and Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the first time.''I know of few novels that inspire as much fierce lifelong affection in their readers'' Joanna Trollope**One of the BBC''s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**Trade ReviewThere are many good reasons to read Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle: it provides excellent advice about dressing on a budget (dye all your clothes sea-green); how to cope when the man you love falls for your elder sister (keep a diary) and your stepmother dances naked in the rain (ditto). Given that most teenagers believe their parents to be mad - and vice versa - the novel also serves as a helpful guide to recognising the fine line between eccentricity and outright insanity * Guardian *A book for anyone who is young, poor, fed up and yearning for something exciting to happen * Irish Times *When I read I Capture the Castle it immediately became one of my favourite novels of all time, and I was very annoyed that nobody had told me about it before -- J.K RowlingUnputdownable and loved by teenagers and adults everywhere. * Observer *Everyone I've passed it on to has found it a hit - it works every time, for absolutely everybody -- Nigella Lawson

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Book SynopsisCELEBRATE 150 YEARS OF ALICEOh my ears and whiskers, how late its getting!Would you be surprised to see a white rabbit take a watch out of his waistcoat pocket? It certainly seems a remarkable sight to Alice and, full of curiosity, she follows him down a rabbit-hole into a very strange world. She meets a disappearing cat, plays croquet with a bad-tempered Queen, joins a mad Hatter''s tea party and becomes entangled in the case of some missing tarts. In Wonderland nothing but out-of-the-way things happen...Includes Through the Looking Glass.BACKSTORY: Learn about the author and what inspired him to create Wonderland, and try writing some nonsense verse!Trade ReviewOnly Lewis Carroll has shown us the world upside down the way a child sees it, and has made us laugh as children laugh -- Virginia WoolfPrecise, dream-like, subversive -- Quentin Blake * Independent on Sunday *The clue to the enduring fascination and greatness of the Alice books lies in language. . .. It is play, and word-play, and its endless intriguing puzzles continue to reveal themselves long after we have ceased to be children -- A. S. ByattWithout these two books in my childhood I doubt whether my imagination would have developed at all -- Kate Atkinson"What is the use of a book" thought Alice "without pictures or conversation?" If you feel the same way, then you'll love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It is full of good conversations. Alice talks to a pipe-smoking caterpillar and a mad hatter -- Chris Riddell

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Book SynopsisHo! ho! I am the Toad, the motor-car snatcher, the prison-breaker, the Toad who always escapes! Tired of spring cleaning, Mole ventures above ground into the warm sunshine, and happens upon his friend Ratty. Together they picnic on the sparkling, burbling river, brave the sinister Wild Wood in wintertime to visit the bad-tempered Badger, and take to the open road in a caravan with dear, silly old Toad. But when Toad''s attention turns to motor cars, his reckless behaviour goes from bad to worse. Badger, Rat and Mole must save their friend from ruin, and Toad Hall from the clutches of the rascally Stoats and Weasels.BACKSTORY: Get outdoors and explore the natural world, and test your knowledge of The Wind in the Willows.Trade ReviewIt is a book that breaks nearly every rule of modern children's fiction...it wasn't about fairies at the bottom of the garden, but it was about magic - just the right kind of magic. It thrills me still to read it -- Shirley Hughes * The Times *"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.'' But reading about Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger runs it a close second. -- Michael MorpurgoPeople think of it as a children's book, but that's not all it is. What seared my imagination was its surrealism. The rat, the mole and badger could talk, but they could also change size: a badger could crawl down a rat hole, a toad could drive a car. At nine or 10 that fascinated me and that made a deep impression on my career -- Terry Pratchett * Independent on Sunday *A book about the love of friends and the joys of existence * Sunday Times *I loved Toad of Toad Hall and his merry antics, especially with his motor car - poop poop! -- Kenneth Branagh * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisChristmas won't be the same this year for Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, as their father is away fighting in the Civil War, and the family has fallen on hard times. But though they may be poor, life for the four March sisters is rich with colour, learn from their mistakes, nurse each through sickness and disappointments, and get into all sorts of trouble.Trade ReviewA Beautiful heartwarming read -- Cathy Rentzenbrink * Prima *Timeless. -- Helen Dunmore * Daily Express *I try to get every girly girl to read this one because those four sisters are so real. Everybody's favourite is Jo, the tomboy who wants to be a writer -- Jacqueline WilsonDeals with life's big questions - love and death, war and peace, and ambition versus family responsibility - in a way that is inspiring and realistic. Use a hankie as a bookmark - tears are guaranteed * Marie Claire *Louisa May Alcott's Little Women is as much a part of every girl's childhood as her first pair of ballet shoes and the Brothers Grimm * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis''Don''t you know a sand-fairy when you see one?''I dare say you have often thought about what you would do if you were granted three wishes. The five children - Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane, and their baby brother - had often talked about it but when they are faced with the grumpy sand-fairy they find it difficult to make up their minds. And that is just the beginning of their dilemmas.As they discover, there is nothing quite like a wish for getting you into terrible trouble.EXTRA ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: Learn about what it was like to be a child in 1902 and try some fun activities! This special edition includes fantastic extra educational resources.Trade ReviewI love E. Nesbit - I think she is great and I identify with the way that she writes. Her children are very real children and she was quite a groundbreaker in her day -- JK RowlingShe speaks to the reader, and it's almost as if though you could hear her voice -- Quentin BlakeThis one is definitely my favourite. The story is about five children who find a sand fairy that grants them wishes. But the wishes never turn out like the children imagine. The children had to spend the summer without TV or electronic games because they hadn't been invented. It makes me feel jealous of them, because they spend all day having adventures and the grown-ups don't bother them at all! I recommend this book to all children. If you can't read it yourself, your mum or dad should read it to you -- Viveak Todd, aged 11 * Sunday Express *So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book Synopsis'"Stand firm'" said Peter, "and wave like mad!"' They were not railway children to begin with. When their Father mysteriously leaves home Roberta (everyone calls her Bobbie), Phyllis and Peter must move to a small cottage in the countryside with Mother.Trade ReviewIt's a story that was written more than 100 years ago, yet The Railway Children commands the affections of the British people like few other fictions * Daily Telegraph *Guaranteed to jerk a tear from the most stony-faced child * Observer *The Railway Children was one of the first children's classics I ever read. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. I started reading the story and was immediately gripped. E. Nesbit remembered exactly what it felt like to be a child -- Jacqueline WilsonHer child characters were remarkable in her day because they are so entirely human. They are intelligent, vain, aggressive, humorous, witty, cruel, compassionate. . . in fact, they are like adults -- Gore VidalSo what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book SynopsisBursting with rich descriptive detail, discover the classic world of Treasure Island.Fifteen men on the dead man''s chest-Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!When young Jim Hawkins discovers a map showing the way to Captain Flint''s treasure, he and Squire Trelawney set sail on the Hispaniola to search for the gold. Little do they know that among their crew is the dastardly pirate Long John Silver. Silver has a devious plan to keep the gold all to himself. Can brave Jim outwit the most infamous pirate ever to sail the high seas? Will he escape from Treasure Island alive?BACKSTORY: Learn the truth about pirates and add to your seafaring vocabulary!Trade ReviewIt is a breathless journey and the closest thing to a real pirate adventure without an eye patch and a time machine... It is a unique work of genius -- Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis FowlThere are few novels which grip so thrillingly as those first read in childhood, and for me none which has quite matched the excitement of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island -- P.D. JamesWho can think of a pirate without conjuring up the image of Long John Silver? * Daily Mail *So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book SynopsisCome Away! Come Away!The Darling children are tucked up in bed when Peter Pan bursts in to their nursery. Peter and his mischievous fairy Tinker Bell entice Wendy and her brothers to fly away with them to a magical world called Neverland. There you can swim with mermaids and play all day with the Lost Boys. But you must watch out for pirates, especially Captain Hook. And how do you find Neverland? Second to the right and straight on till morning of course...BACKSTORY: Create your own Peter Pan costume and try building a Wendy House!Trade ReviewIntensely moving as well as enchanting in its evocation of childhood, the heartlessness of youth and parental grief as children grow older * Daily Telegraph *One of the classic children's stories of all time * Daily Mail *Clap your hands for the boy who refused to grow up and whom the world will never allow to grow old -- Geraldine McCaughrean, Carnegie Medal WinnerSo what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book SynopsisWait, wait! Save us! What'll we do?'Simon is determined to become a painter when he grows up so he sets off to London to make his fortune. But the city is plagued by wolves and mysterious disappearances. The Twite household, where Simon is lodging, seems particularly shifty. Before he even gets a chance to open his glistening new paints Simon stumbles right into the centre of a plot to kill the King. And worse than that Simon is kidnapped and sent to sea! Luckily there are two friendly stowaways aboard the feisty Dido Twite and the spoiled young Justin. But when the ship catches fire things look pretty dire. Can they escape? Will they save the king in time?BACKSTORY: Test your knowledge of Black Hearts in Battersea and play the name game.Trade ReviewA fantastic adventure story . . . highly entertaining * Sunday Telegraph *A writer of wild humour and unrestrained imagination * Oxford Companion to Children's Literature *Joan Aiken is a marvel -- Philip Pullman * Guardian *Joan Aiken is such a spellbinder * Evening Standard *So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book SynopsisRead this 19th-century childhood adventure story that confronts the reality of racism in America. ''There comes a time in every boy''s life when when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure''Impish, daring young Tom Sawyer is a hero to his friends and a torment to his relations. For wherever there is mischief or adventure, Tom is at the heart of it. During one hot summer, Tom witnesses a murder, runs away to be a pirate, attends his own funeral, rescues an innocent man from the gallows, searches for treasure in a haunted house, foils a devilish plot and discovers a box of gold. But can he escape his nemesis, the villainous Injun Joe?BACKSTORY: Find out some fascinating facts about the author and have a go at a game of marbles!Trade ReviewThis classic story will stay with you through life, and always remind you of the things that you knew were important when you first read it * Independent *Whet juvenile appetites with Tom, his entrepreneurial spirit and his taste for treasure-hunting adventure. A paean to true boyhood * Guardian *The language is hard to begin with but the hero is one of the most endearing in literature -- Michael Morpurgo * Daily Telegraph *Twain had a gift for reliving the innermost feelings of growing up, the insecurity, fears and hopes that lie beneath the swagger that young boys maintain. He turned them into literature * Daily Mail *Tom and Huck Finn are as immortal as their swashbuckling friendship * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisMeg, Jo, Beth and Amy have grown up together in Orchard House with their friend Laurie next door, and now it's time for them to go out and find their places in the big wide world, to do the great and marvellous things they've dreamed of and discover their 'castles in the air'.Trade ReviewSix generations of readers have found in the story of the March family universal truths about girls, families and growing up * Guardian *Deals with life's big questions - love and death, war and peace, and ambition versus family responsibility - in a way that is inspiring and realistic. Use a hankie as a bookmark - tears are guaranteed * Marie Claire *Good Wives is a glorious weep-a-minute...a more complex narrative that follows each of the girls' journeys, real or metaphorical, away from the parental home * Independent *So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book Synopsis''For God''s sake, hold on!''On a stormy night off the coast of Scotland, young David Balfour faces his most terrifying test yet. He''s been double-crossed by his wicked uncle, tricked into a sea voyage and sold into slavery. When the dashing Alan Breck Stewart comes aboard, he finds a brave friend at least, and the pair fight back against their treacherous, black-hearted shipmates. But then the ship hits a reef, it''s every man for himself, and David must battle against the raging sea itself!BACKSTORY: Learn about the true stories that inspired this adventurous tale!Trade ReviewIt's a pacy, twisting story that appeals to all ages and across classes and cultures. It's a tale of friendship in adversity, and a coming-of-age story -- Ian Rankin * Guardian *Generations of readers have been enthralled by his tale of the gauche young David, orphaned at 17, who is plunged into a life of danger and excitement... His rescue by the daredevil Jacobite Alan Breck Stewart, their bloody battle with the crew of the Covenant and shipwreck on rocks off the west coast isle of Earraid are among the most exciting scenes penned * Daily Mail *Stevenson conveyed such a strong sense of place and time that I felt I was right there with the Jacobites, running through the heather, being chased by the Redcoats -- Michael Morpurgo * Daily Mail *A rollicking adventure story * Sunday Mirror *So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book SynopsisJohanna Spyri was born in a country village in Switzerland in 1827. Her father was a doctor and she had five brothers and sisters. Later she moved to the capital Zurich to go to school and she eventually settled there with her husband Bernhard,who was a lawyer. Johanna began writing in 1871 and wrote many stories which quickly became very popular. Her husband and son both died tragically in 1884, but Johanna consoled herself with charity work and writing, as well as looking after her orphaned niece. She died in her Swiss village home in 1903. Heidi is Johanna Spyri's best known and most popular novel - it has been translated from German into over fifty languages and over fifty million copies have been sold worldwide.Trade ReviewThe narrative is so simple, yet so evocative that you can almost smell the Alpine trees...It was one of the first books to celebrate the way children see the world around them and was intended, according to Spyri, as 'a story for children and those who love children'. * Daily Mail *The story of the orphan sent to live with her grandfather on his alp, her stay in Frankfurt and triumphant homecoming is, arguably, more popular with the world's children, than the Harry Potter series * Daily Telegraph *Like Huck Finn and Harry Potter, Heidi is an orphan in a strange, foreign world who overcomes obstacles, remains strong and good-humoured and evokes emotions and sympathies that children can relate to * Independent on Sunday *Many a childhood vision of the Alps was founded on the nineteeth-century Swiss classic * Guardian *So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book SynopsisCharles Dickens was a brilliant and prolific writer, probably the most famous nineteenth century English novelist. He was very successful during his lifetime and his books have never been out of print. The exciting plots and fantastic characters in his books have meant they have all been adapted (in some cases, many times over) for television or the big screen.Charles Dickens was born on 7 February 1812 in Portsmouth. He was one of eight children, and at first his family enjoyed a happy life in the countryside of Kent. But Dickens' father was not very good at managing his money, and when the family fell into financial difficulties they had to move to London. In Dickens' time people who could not pay their debts were sent to a kind of prison, and Dickens' father eventually ended up in one of these debtor's prisons, called the Marshalsea. Charles was forced to leave school and go to work in a blacking factory' where he pasted labels on to pots for many hours a day. Even though ChaTrade ReviewIt has it all: a spooky ghost story, a heartwarming redemption and a great plot with a satisfyingly ending * The Times *A story which, perhaps more than any other, sums up the spirit of the British Christmas * Sunday Telegraph *A little masterpiece...irresistible * Sunday Express *Marley's ghostly face on the knocker of Scrooge's door still gives me the shivers -- Michael Morpurgo * Independent *So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics! * National Association for the Teaching of English *

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Book SynopsisA day out in the countryside is never an ordinary outing if Mrs Pepperpot''s involved. First, she has to be rescued from a mountain of ice cream by an abandoned kitten. Then she has to use her wits to outsmart a crafty fox and rescue a puppy from the circus. In fact she shrinks five times - and Mr Pepperpot hardly notices a thing!A compilation of four fantastic short stories including: Mrs Pepperpot's Outing; Mrs Pepperpot Has a Visitor From America; Gapy Gob Gets a Letter From the King; Mrs Pepperpot and the Budgerigar.Trade ReviewThe stories have that sense of magic which all the best children's stories have * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisPenelope Farmer was born in 1939 in Kent. She was a twin, although doctors weren't aware of her existence until she was born twenty-five minutes after her sister was born. Many of Penelope's novels deal with the issue of identity and some readers suggest that this is because she is a twin. In Charlotte Sometimes the strange things that happen to Charlotte force her to question her own identity and ponder the possibility that it could be lost.Penelope Farmer has written many books for both adults and children in the course of her long career as a writer. Charlotte Sometimes is actually the third book in a trilogy featuring the characters of Charlotte and Emma Makepeace. Penelope currently lives on the Spanish island of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, and writes a blog under the name Granny P.Trade ReviewThis excellent book has haunted me since I first read it * Daily Mail *This year's most haunting fantasy * Sunday Times (1969) *The accomplished performance of a mature talent -- Jill Paton WalshA book of quite exceptional distinction...a haunting, convincing story which comes close to being a masterpiece of its kind * Growing Point *

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Book SynopsisLet fly jib sheet! Slack away main! Fenders out!' Dick and Dorothea also known as The Ds arrive in Norfolk all ready to learn how to sail. They couldn't hope for a better teacher than Tom Dudgeon. But Tom is in a spot of trouble. After seeing the beastly Margoletta moored clean across the nests of his beloved coots, Tom set the motorcruiser adrift. Now the enemy have offered a bounty on his head. Can they save the birds' nest from almost certain destruction? Will they avoid being caught by the awful Hullabaloos? Only some brave friends and quick thinking stands between them and disasterIncludes exclusive material: In The Backstory' you can test your knowledge of the book, learn about the adventurous author and get some handy facts about birds and boats.Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice'Trade ReviewIn my early teens I read Arthur Ransome's books, Coot Club and The Big Six. They're set in Norfolk and the kids in the books go sailing on the Broads. They impressed me so much that I persuaded my father to take me on holiday to the Norfolk Broads where we had great fun teaching ourselves to sail, all on the impetus of Ransome's books. -- Aidan Chambers * Observer *I read the entire series of Arthur Ransome's children's books as a child and thought they were absolutely fantastic. They were full of adventure, all sorts of exciting things happened and they were truly inspirational -- Ellen MacArthurCoot Club, that great classic of the Norfolk Broads * Evening News Norwich *

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Book SynopsisArthur Ransome was born in Leeds in 1884. He had an adventurous life - as a baby in he was carried by his father to the top of the Old Man of Coniston, a peak that is 2,276ft high! He went to Russia in 1913 to study folklore and in 1914, at the start of World War I he became a foreign correspondent for the Daily News. In 1917 when the Russian Revolution began he became a journalist and was a special correspondent of the Guardian. He played chess with Lenin and married Trotsky's personal secretary, Evgenia Petrovna Shelepina. On their return to England, he bought a cottage near Windermere in the Lake District and began writing children's stories. In a 1958 author's note, Ransome wrote: ''I have been often asked how I came to write Swallows and Amazons. The answer is that it had its beginning long, long ago when, as children, my brother, my sisters and I spent most of our holidays on a farm at the south end of Coniston. We played in or on the lake or on the hills above . .Trade ReviewA truly wonderful book by a gifted and now unforgivably neglected children's writer * Times Educational Supplement *In its own class, and wearing several gold stars for distinction. Pigeon Post stands head and shoulders above the average adventure book for and of children * The Times *There is plenty of excitement, a little danger, a quality of thinking, planning and fun in connection with a gold-mine. The ingenuity of this group of children is delightful and stimulating * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisOnce upon a time'Once upon a time there was a book, and inside the book were princes who had been turned into frogs or ferocious beasts, princesses so beautiful they astonished the sun, faithful sweethearts and evil stepmothers, giants taller than mountains and a boy no bigger than your thumb, houses made of bread and cake and birds made of gold - in fact, all manner of mysterious, monstrous and magical things. The book is in your hands. Read it happily ever after.Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can learn to make your own gingerbread!Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.Trade ReviewEveryone should possess and know Grimm's Fairy Tales - one of the great books of the world * New York Times Book Review *Rediscover stories from a time long before Disney got its hands on Rapunzel, of beautiful orphaned daughters and noble princes, when children still wished upon the moon. The perfect addition to any nursery library * Daily Telegraph *I, for one, devoured fairy tales as a little girl -- J.K RowlingThe Brother's Grimm were responsible for these fairytales that informed my life and made it as interesting, or as confused, or as wondrous as it is -- Terry GilliamIn a utilitarian age, of all other times, it is a matter of grave importance that fairy tales should be respected -- Charles Dickens

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Book Synopsis'Mush on!' Buck does not read the newspapers. If he had, he'd have known that for good strong dogs like himself trouble is brewing. Man has found gold and because of that Buck is kidnapped and dragged away from his sunny home to become a sledge dog in the harsh and freezing North.Trade ReviewEnthralling * Herald *I can't celebrate the romantic ideas or the killing of savages in this book. But I can say I'm fascinated by it and that I find it worth going back to. It's a story which has gained its own life and will probably be with us for as long as we're reading books -- David Vann * Daily Telegraph *A novel of...physical intensity and savage excitement * Sunday Times *Untouched by bookishness... The making and the achievement of such a hero [Buck] constitute, not a pretty story at all, but a very powerful one * The Atlantic Monthly (1903) *

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Book SynopsisMeet the Artful Dodger, as roistering and swaggering a young gentleman as ever stood four foot six. With him, you'll run down the dirty backstreets of London to be entertained by the Respectable Old Gentleman and his brood of thieves and pickpockets. Fagin will bring you to 'the trade', and make something of you, something profitable.Trade ReviewThe poor boy's life had the author's desired impact on me. Was life really that bad for children in the past? But in true Dickens style, the happy ending came, and I returned it to the library content. -- Sufiya Ahmed, YA authorIt was first ingrained into my mind thanks to a starring role in the school musical. Appetite whetted, I explored the source material and found beyond the ditties I knew were words full of power and illustration, as Dickens intended -- Dillon Khan, YA authorHe flings together characters from every walk of life into dazzling, swarming, state-of-the city narratives. In his London the rich cannot escape the poor, and the do-gooders and swindlers quaff ale elbow-to-elbow. The inanimate actors are as vivid as the living: the miserable workhouse that harboured Oliver Twist is no less legendary than the poor, begging boy himself or his criminal chum, the Artful Dodger * Economist *We sit entranced at Dickens' feet, safe in his stories; and when we come out, we have tools to help us guard against the dark * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisYou might think I''d have grown out of getting myself into scrapes now that I''m half past sixteen. But between being vexed by my freckles, taunted by a brazen Jersey cow and kept on my toes by the new twins, Dora and Davy, life at Green Gables is just as eventful as ever.I do try to be a little more grown-up now that I''m a school teacher. The other day I asked the class, ''If you had three candies in one hand and two in the other, how many would you have altogether?'' One of my pupil''s piped up, ''A mouthful.'' Could you have kept a straight face?!Includes exclusive material: In The Backstory' you can find out about going to school in Avonlea and learn all about the real Green Gables Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the STrade ReviewAnne is a captivating heroine, a whirlwind of energy and good intentions * New Statesman *It's no stretch to suggest that Anne was the Harry Potter of her day -- Elizabeth Epperly

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Book SynopsisOn the contrary, my dear Watson, you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from what you see'Herein lie the problems: a stolen jewel, the inexplicable death of a young woman, the disappearance of one of the most remarkable racehorses in England, a missing butler, the curious symbols of dancing men, a broken bust of Napoleon, a possible kidnapping and the bad business of a coachman shot through the heart.The solution? Elementary my dear friend. Call the super sleuth famed for his rapid deductions, his swift intuitions and ingenious solutions - Sherlock Holmes of 221b Baker Street. Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can test your powers of observation and deduction, learn about the author and brush up on your detective skills! Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice's Ad

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Book Synopsis''Two Surface-dwellers. Two! He's a Fattypuff and you're a Thinifer. There's no doubt about it!'This is the tale of two brothers. Edmund is a little on the plump side and Terry is a bit of a rake. When they discover the countries under the Earth they are divided and sent to the warring kingdoms of the Fattypuffs and the Thinifers. The Fattypuffs eat hourly with light snacks in between. The Thinifers like nothing more than discipline and work six days a week. Whether you are a jolly Fattypuff or a driven Thinifer you'll be rooting for the brothers to bring peace to the countries under the Earth.Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can take the quiz to find out if you're a Fattypuff or a Thinifer!Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to mTrade ReviewAn ingenious moral tale * Glasgow Herald *This classic story, first published in 1930, immediately seduces the reader with its hilarious world existing just under the surface of our own… Full of good jokes – mainly at the expense of the Fattypuffs – and good drawings by Fritz Wegner * Guardian *One of our favourite books as children -- Kevin Crossley-Holland * Daily Mail *Wegner’s drawings of the lands of the Thinifer and Fattypuff people are heartwarming, imaginative and kind, but, more importantly, they are very funny -- Rob Ryan * The Times *

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Book SynopsisSalman Rushdie was born in Bombay in 1947. He is the author of many adult novels including the Booker winning Midnight's Children. He wrote Haroun and Luka for his sons, Zarfar and Milan.Trade ReviewLively, wonderfully inventive comic tale -- Alison Lurie * New York Times Book Review on Haroun *A beautiful book... It's like a bridge, built between generations, fabulous and strange and from the heart -- Neil Gaiman on Luka

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Book SynopsisArthur Ransome was born in Leeds in 1884. He had an adventurous life - as a baby in he was carried by his father to the top of the Old Man of Coniston, a peak that is 2,276ft high! He went to Russia in 1913 to study folklore and in 1914, at the start of World War I he became a foreign correspondent for the Daily News. In 1917 when the Russian Revolution began he became a journalist and was a special correspondent of the Guardian. He played chess with Lenin and married Trotsky's personal secretary, Evgenia Petrovna Shelepina. On their return to England, he bought a cottage near Windermere in the Lake District and began writing children's stories. In a 1958 author's note, Ransome wrote: I have been often asked how I came to write Swallows and Amazons. The answer is that it had its beginning long, long ago when, as children, my brother, my sisters and I spent most of our holidays on a farm at the south end of Coniston. We played in or on the lake or on the hills above . . .Trade ReviewMr Ransome again equals or perhaps excels himself...every boy will vote this detective story super * New Statesman *In my early teens I read Arthur Ransome's books, The Coot Club and The Big Six... They impressed me so much that I persuaded my father to take me on holiday to the Norfolk Broads where we had great fun teaching ourselves to sail, all on the impetus of Ransome's books -- Aidan Chambers * Observer *A continuation of Coot Club and as good as ever * Observer *The adventure, though engrossing, is only part of a book in which the cry and flight of birds, the small of water and tarry ropes, and the jargon of men and boys brought up to use their hands and senses are all delightfully plain to us * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis''You'll start with a blank map, that doesn't do more than show roughly what's water and what isn't'When the Walker family's holiday plans are ruined by Daddy having to work, the whole summer seems lost at sea. But a dull holiday for the children is too miserable to bear so their parents hatch a plan. The Swallows are to be marooned on an island with only a blank map and a little sailing dinghy. Their task? To explore and chart the area, avoid the endless mud and survive. And what do they discover? Well, they might not be as alone as they first thoughtIncludes exclusive content: In the ''Backstory'' you can find out about some real life explorers! Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the Striped PyjamasTrade ReviewOnce more the Swallows and the Amazons have a magnificent exploring adventure, one more Mr Arthur Ransome has kept a complete record of their experiences, terrors, triumphs, and set it down with the cunning that casts a spell over new children and old * Times Literary Supplement *This time the Walker children are 'marooned' on an island somewhere in England, and for their adventures there is but one word - enchanting! * Sunday Times *Many of the adventures were set in the Lakes, but my favourite is the one set at the other end of the country: Secret Water -- Graham Hoyland * Independent *

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Book SynopsisFlat on his front, binoculars to his eyes, alone at dusk, Dick makes a remarkable discovery: two rare birds, never before seen in the British Isles. Captain Flint and his crew decide to consult an expert to confirm the discovery. But when the man they ask turns out to have his collector's eye on the birds' eggs, not to mention skins, an enjoyable voyage around the Outer Hebrides becomes a desperate race to save the birds, and themselvesTrade Review[Ransome] makes a tale of adventure a handbook to adventure. His characters are more eager, more resourceful than the majority: that surplus of vitality is their magic -- Eric Linklater * Observer *Written in the most beautiful English, this is one of the books which I would be proud to give to anyone * BBC *

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Book Synopsis***SOON TO BE A NETFLIX SERIES*** Welcome to Redwall Abbey. Inside its enormous doors, mice live in peace, helping those in need and throwing epic feasts for the great and the good of Mossflower Woods.But outside a grave threat is gathering. An army of evil rats led by a vicious, one-eyed warlord, is on its way.Matthias is just one little mouse but he knows it''ll take more than stones and mouse-sized arrows to keep the rats at bay. Enlisting the help of a military hare, wild sparrows and argumentative stoats, Matthias sets out to defend his freedom, his friends, and the abbey he calls home.Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can learn to make a Redwall Abbey pudding!Vintage Children''s Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from Peter Pan and Alice''s Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.Trade ReviewNot since Roald Dahl have children filled their shelves so compulsively * The Times *He is a wonderful storyteller, immersed in his own kingdom * Guardian *A constant hit ever since Martin the Warrior first took up arms against his foes * Scotsman *There are quests and riddles; cunning treachery and chivalric derring-do; and, in a feature that became a hallmark of the entire series, groaning boards spread with sumptuous feasts, lovingly described * New York Times *The combination of a completely imagined world full of domestic detail...with a strongly created mythology to underpin them, big-scale plots and Jacques's rolling prose quickly turned Redwall into a leading international brand in children's books * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisL. Frank Baum was born in New York in 1856. The Wizard of Oz, published in 1900, was based on a story he used to tell his own children. It became an international bestseller and was subsequently adapted into a stage play (1902) and a film starring Judy Garland (1939). Baum wrote thirteen further Oz books, alongside numerous other novels, short stories, scripts and poems. After his death in 1919, his publishers carried on producing Oz stories and didn't stop until 1963.Trade ReviewLike Robin Hood, Alice or Winnie the Pooh, Baum's inventions - the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Woodman, the Wizard and the Wicked Witch of the West, as well as Dorothy and her dog Toto - have become the mythological furniture of our children's minds, and of our own and our parents... Funny and inventive -- Marina Warner * Guardian *The tales of Aesop and other fabulists...will never pass entirely away, but a welcome place remains and will easily be found for such stories as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz * New York Times *Baum created a truly extraordinary world, a real world…and filled it with amazing things -- Dinitia Smith[It] has worked its way into the national psyche as a fable of eternal hope in which things are not always as fearsome as they seem * New York Times *Baum dared to offer delight without instruction * Michael Patrick Hearn *

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Book SynopsisJAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

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