Independent reading level: 5th grade and up
Awards: None

30.00

A few years ago my brother asked for this book for his school but I wouldn't give it to him because I could not bear to part with it, batered though it is. Unfortunately my own daughters have never got into this collection but the extracts from famous children's books like Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz, Doctor Doolittle and The Hobbit introduced me to a set of books I would probably not otherwise have tried.

In addition to extracts from children's classics the volume contains full sections on fairy stories, with chapters devoted to the works of the brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andesron, Aesops Fables - even Oscar Wilde.

The illustrations are exquisite - taken from many different sources and including the classics such as those by Tenniel [Alice] and the ones for Milne [Pooh] and Grahame [Wind in the Willows].

The term 'treasury' is not hyperbole in this instance: the book may not have been quite as much fun as some others but it provided me with endless hours of delight and entertainment and ushered me into a huge, magical world. ( )

This is a great collection of children's literature. Many of the stories are complete in themselves, some are one tale out of a classic book, such as the Uncle Remus stories or the Jungle Book. Rather than condensing the original authors' works, they give a taste of the style so you can explore further if you wish. I used to use this to read my husband to sleep every night. ( )