Fairy Tales for Young Readers

When I was young, I remember reading and listening to a few of the wonderful children's books by English author, E. Nesbit, so I was intrigued to see that a book was being republished of her classic fairy tales interpretations. I expected to enjoy them, but I had forgotten what an influence she had been on writers such as P. L. Travers (Marry Poppins), C.S. Lewis (Narnia books) and J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter books), all of whom echo at times her wry, clever humor. I recommend that parents read these aloud to their children, as there is as much for adults to enjoy as for the children, and both will delight and laugh in the imagery and wit.

As I read through the stories, I kept stopping and reading passages to my wife, so I thought I'd share a couple that I shared with her.

From the middle of Cinderella: "For in those days shoes were not sold ready-made in shops, but were made specially to fit the people who were to wear them. And besides, the glass slipper was magic, and so had too much sense to have fitted any one but its owner, even if the country had been full of shops selling Rats' Ready-made Really Reliable Boots."

From the beginning of Jack the Giant-Killer: "In the long-ago days of King Arthur, who invented round tables, there was a sort of plague of giants in the West Country-just as nowadays there are plagues of wasps, and mosquitoes, and millionaires, and the giants threatened to spread, like other plagues, till they had eaten up all the nice, proper-sized people in England."

While a few of the words may seem unfamiliar or antiquated, by and large the stories are timeless and charming. I strongly recommend these to both adults and children. They will remind you that children's literature can be so much richer than Captain Underpants without being boring or irrelevant to modern children.

Nesbit's book has retellings of several classic tales but told in her delightful early 20th Century style, full of humor, lovely prose, and asides.

The combination is perfect! not only do you have all the whimsy of classic stories such as Jack and the Beanstalk. These are combined with the voice of a more modern author who comments wittily on the tale. For example in Dick Wittington there is a cooment about how it isn't easy to get to London because there aren't trains or cars.

It's that presence that makes this little book such a delight. And such fun to read aloud. The reader becomes enchanted with these classic tales while still giving a wink and a nudge tp the conventions of these stories.

Nesbit is a wonderful writer of children's stories and chapter books. This low-cost edition is a perfect introduction to her.

I love fairy tales and always have. Of course I like some better than others, and it's far from all that I love. When I saw this title on Netgalley, I just had to request it.

I knew the classic tales such as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Jack and the Beanstalk, but there were also some I didn't know like The White Cat and Hop-o'-my-Thumb. All of them were great reads and Nesbit has a fantastic ability to tell these old stories. I enjoyed reading a tale here and there and relive childhoods magical universe. If you like fairy tales then you should definitely check this one out. It's short and has a really nice cover.

My favorite fairy tale was Puss in Boots. What is yours?

A newly-reset collection of traditional fairy tales by E. Nesbit: Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Jack the Giant-Killer, Puss in Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington and his Cat, The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood, The White Cat and Hop-O'-my-Thumb.

Originally published under a different title, these nine stories are faithful to the heart of the traditional tales without being Grimm. Truth and kindness are encouraged, while bravery and pure chance also play their part. There's a satisfactory end to each, balanced reward and justice, and the familiar touch of an actual narrator.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it is really great and that everyone should read it. I highly recommend it!

This is perfect for children of all ages! It reintroduces the traditional fairy tale to contemporary readers!

I love fairy tales since I was a child, when in the evening I huddled under blankets and someone opened the big book (yes, I had one of those in hardcover which collected many stories) and he read one, any one. Find myself, after many years, such a book in his hands - even in digital format - took me back in time. The Edith Nesbiy's style is able to capture large and small, giving the ticket to fantastic worlds filled with extraordinary characters and magic. Among the various accounts, there were some who did not know and have proved wonderful surprises. A reading dedicated to all who love fairy tales and for those who want to fantasize with the eyes of a child.

Fabulous collection of fairy tales for the little ones and adults alike. The stories are all quite imaginative and a joy to read. Definitely recommend!