This engaging series of childhood recollections tells about an ideal school in Tokyo during World War II that combined learning with fun, freedom, and love. This unusual school had old railroad cars for classrooms, and it was run by extraordinary man—its founder and headmaster, Sosaku Kobayashi—who was a firm believer in freedom of expression and activity. In real life, the Totto-chan of…
When Bao finds out that her beloved forest is threatened with demolition, she decides to organise a protest. The boys take a bit more persuading than her best friends Tuva and Linnea. But how can she make the adults listen, when she’s old enough to know what needs to be done but too young to be taken seriously?
Headache? Tummy troubles? A patient could not hope for a better doctor than John Dolittle, MD, of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh — not if one searched the entire kingdom — the animal kingdom, that is. Whether curing a horse in need of spectacles or a poodle that has eaten too much cake, Doctor Dolittle knows just the thing to do because he can, in fact, ask them. Creatures come from far and wide …
When Geppetto carves himself a son from an enchanted piece of wood, the mischievous Pinocchio is born — and a fantastical story begins. Along the way, Pinocchio is swindled by a fox and a cat, saved by a fairy, all before he learns what it truly takes to become a real boy… The puppet whose nose grows when he tells a lie has remained an iconic children’s character for over a century…
When a tornado hits Dorothy’s home in the Kansas prairies, she and her dogs, Toto, are whisked away to the magical Land of Oz. To return home, Dorothy must follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and seek help from the great and powerful Wizard of Oz. so, accompanied by the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy sets out on a wild and magical adventure. This …
As a young orphan, Heidi is brought to live with her gruff grandfather in the Swiss Alps. There the bright and cheerful girl soon wins his love and befriends their neighbours, including the young goatherd Peter. One of the bestselling books ever written, Heidi tells the heart-warming story of her life growing up in the mountains, her experiences of an unfamiliar city while caring for a sick…
Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are looking to adopt a boy to help out on their farm – so when the orphanage delivers a red-haired eleven-year-old girl named Anne instead, they are determined to fix the mistake. However, as Anne’s vibrant character and vivid imagination brighten up their home, the Cuthberts soon realise Anne must stay at Green Gables. The inimitable Anne Shirley is fanciful…
A pup is born to the snow-bitten wilds of the Northwest Territories, not quite a wolf and not quite a dog either. In this brutal landscape, he must fight tooth and claw to live – and soon earn his name, White Fang. Journeying from the Yukon to California, White Fang will encounter savage lynxes, before finding his home at last. Inspired by author Jack London’s own experiences and comp…