The original Aesop Fables, introduced by award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick. Over two hundred familiar tales from 'Look Before You Leap' and 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' to much less familiar tales, each with its own sharply pointed moral. Puffin Classics come with additional end material including author profile, things to think about and do, a guide to who's who, a glossary, and more.

Before Austen Comes Aesop presents an in-depth examination of the Children's Great Books, that is, the literature that has made the most profound impact on the lives of children throughout Western history. In addition to its invaluable chronological list of titles, from ancient times to the present, the book provides both students and their parents the guidance they need to read leisurely or study formally the Children's Great Books at home.

The book's premise is that children often do not spend enough time with the literature written or adapted for them before diving into adult works. An experienced teacher, the author argues that children benefit in many ways from lingering longer over literature created for them.

The Children's Great Books list includes the classic works that, while not written strictly for children, were orally passed on to them for generations and are foundational for understanding Western culture. These works include Greek and Roman fables, myths, and epics; European legends, sagas, folk stories, and fairy tales; and the Bible. The list also includes the acclaimed works written specifically for children, beginning in the age of the first printing presses and continuing into the late twentieth century. 

Additionally, acknowledging the changes in children's literature that have occurred since the mid-1960s, the author provides helpful information for discerning which contemporary influential books are appropriate, or perhaps inappropriate, for one's children. She also includes several appendices that are useful for the study of literature at both the elementary and the secondary levels.

Laura Ingalls Wilder grew up on the prairie, where food was something one worked for, cooking was a big part of daily life, and mealtime was a chance to gather with family and give thanks. By watching Pa hunt and farm and by helping Ma prepare the food, Laura learned the pleasures that come from a family working together. Laura also experienced the joy that comes from sharing food, made with love and care, with family and friends.

Here are over 100 unique recipes celebrating the foods and cooking techniques of Laura's pioneer childhood. Taken from dishes described in the beloved Little House books, these recipes were carefully researched by Barbara M. Walker and tested in her own kitchen. From pancake men and pumpkin pie to vanity cakes and ice cream, these recipes give adults and children alike the chance to experience a taste of Laura's childhood, reminding us of the connection between the food on the table and the work involved in getting it there.

This short classic novel set during World War II is an exciting, moving adventure story.

"Take care of the little riders," says Johanna's father to the eleven-year-old when he leaves her with his parents for an extended vacation in their Dutch village

And Johanna does. She loves the twelve metal figures on horseback who ride forth each hour from the clock on the ancient church tower. She would do anything to protect them, anything. And on night she risks her life to prove it.

Set during the Second World War when the German army occupied Holland, The Little Riders is a good fit for young independent readers as well as for reading aloud.

Children’s book legend Margaret Wise Brown—author of the cherished classic Goodnight Moon—and Caldecott Medal-winner Leonard Weisgard bring young readers an enduring picture book about the magic of nature.
 
Winner of the 1947 Caldecott Medal, this beautifully moving story centers around a little island in the midst of the wide ocean, and the curious kitten who comes to visit. As the seasons pass, the island and the creatures who call it home witness an ever-changing array of sights, smells, and sounds—proving that, no matter how small, we are all an important part of the world.