Jamel Akib
1) Pollyanna
Dracula, that compelling creature of the night, continues his neck-biting ways in a version of the novel that children will devour. Moving from Transylvania to London, the timeless vampire serves up thrills and chills as he imprisons and terrorizes the innocent Jonathan Harker, and then goes after his fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy. From creepy, insect-eating Renfield to Dr. Van Helsing—who valiantly fights Dracula's evil—the
...All for one and one for all! That's the rallying cry of the Musketeers—guards of the French King—and the call to adventure for young readers enjoying their first taste of Dumas' classic swashbuckler. Aramis, Athos, Porthos, and the not-quite-yet Musketeer D'Artagnan use their wits and their swords to battle an evil Cardinal, the traitorous Milady, and other enemies of the French court.
Take a thrilling whirlwind trip around the world with Phileas Fogg! When Fogg—a man of habit whose every day is just like the one before—makes a bet that he can circle the globe and be back in his men's club in just 80 days, the race is on. Jules Verne's classic tale bubbles with excitement, suspense, and colorful locations.
A shipwreck. A sole survivor, stranded on a deserted island. What could be more appealing to children than Robinson Crusoe's amazing adventure? Set in the 17th century, and unfolding over a 30-year period, it offers plenty of suspense and everyday detail about how Crusoe manages to stay alive. Additionally, it paints a fascinating portrait of the age—including references to slavery and Europe's view of the "New World."
One boy, penniless and in rags, forced to beg in the street. The other, a king's son, coddled and given all he could want. What happens when the two boys change clothes and places, and each one learns how the other half lives? Mark Twain's satirical and suspenseful novel about the thin line that separates prince and pauper is a perennial favorite.
When Heidi's Aunt Dete brings the orphaned girl to live with her grandfather, no one can imagine the bitter, solitary old man caring for a child. But, to everyone's surprise, the two grow to love each other—and Heidi blossoms in her new home. Johanna Spyri's charming story—and spirited heroine—have won children's hearts for more than a century.
Since 1903, the escapades of Mole, his friend Water Rat, shy Badger, and Toad of Toad Hall have delighted children, and adults, too. Follow the winning foursome through the seasons as they sail the river, get lost in the Wild Wood, take off on a merry adventure in Toad's colorful carriage, and rescue Toad Hall from a band of nasty marauding weasels.
Eleven-year-old Rebecca Randall is quite a handful—and now she's leaving her beloved Sunnybrook Farm to live with her well-to-do elderly aunts and get an education. But they were expecting Rebecca's quiet, hard-working older sister instead. Can the bright-eyed and talkative girl win them over...especially her strict, rule-bound Aunt Miranda? Just as Rebecca's "grand spirit" charms everyone in the story, it will captivate readers, too.
A shipwreck; a deserted island; a single family, wondering if they can survive. Rich in suspense and surprises, The Swiss Family Robinson entices young readers to come along on a wonderful adventure, where each moment brings a new thrill. Featuring amazingly resourceful characters and a wondrous landscape bursting with exotic wildlife and plants, it's an irresistible tale of ingenuity.
"Once you start looking for the happy things, you don't think about the bad ones as much." That's the joyful way Pollyanna sees the world: no matter what happens, she plays her "Just Be Glad" game and finds the sunny side of any situation. But when she's orphaned and forced to live with her rigid Aunt Polly, will high-spirited Pollyanna succeed in melting her Aunt's cold heart?