The National Review Treasury of Classic Children’s Literature
Compiled by William F. Buckley Jr.
Original Volume (2002): 528 pages / hardcover / 7” by 10” / lavishly illustrated / 37 stories
This critically acclaimed collection features delightful and wholesome children’s stories – personally selected by William F. Buckley Jr. – from some of America’s best writers from the late-19th/early-20th centuries. The volume contains dozens of stories from literary giants, many first published in St. Nicholas Magazine, the famous journal that established a Golden Age of children’s literature over a century ago.
Among the many renowned authors and beautiful tales in our original 2002 volume are:
• Mark Twain – “Tom Sawyer Abroad”
• Lewis Carroll – “Bruno’s Revenge”
• Rudyard Kipling – “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” “Mowgli’s Brothers,” and “Tiger! Tiger!”
• L. Frank Baum – “Juggerjook”
• Jack London – “In Yeddo Bay” and “To Repel Boarders”
• Louisa May Alcott – “Tabby’s Table-Cloth” and “Onawandah”
• Frances Hodgson Burnett – “The Spring Cleaning,” “The Story of Prince Fairyfoot,” and “The Proud Little Grain of Wheat”
• Thornton Burgess – “Tommy and The Meadow Mice”
• Frank Stockton – “Sweet Majoram Day”
• Bret Harte – “Baby Sylvester”
• Allen French – “Sir Marrok”
• Palmer Cox – “The Brownies”
The National Review Treasury of Classic Children's Literature, Volume Two
Like the first volume, “Treasury 2” contains dozens of stories from literary giants, many first published in St. Nicholas Magazine, the famous journal that established a Golden Age of children's literature over a century ago. Here are some of the many authors and stories you will find:
* MARK TWAIN, the famed author of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, wrote the equally entertaining (but too-forgotten) sequel Tom Sawyer, Detective. This classic mini-novel — featuring Tom, Huck, and Jim up to their old, beloved antics — was first published in 1896 in Harper's, and is republished here (along with all the original artwork!). You'll find it to be rollicking fun (and far superior to anything published today).
* JACK LONDON, the revered author of The Call of the Wild and so many more, appeared in our first collection. He returns in the sequel with the exciting sea tale, “The Cruise of the Dazzler.” It's classic London, and one of five mini-novels — the others are Julia Truitt Bishop's delightful Another Chance, Marion Ames Taggart's The Wyndham Girls, and Adeline Knapp's action-packed The Boy and the Baron — that will thoroughly entertain and enthrall boys and girls of all ages (while promoting those values and lessons that we share, and that are increasingly at a premium!).
* LOUISA MAY ALCOTT, of Little Women and Little Men renown, is another repeat contributor to our series. The National Review Treasury of Classic Children's Literature, Volume Two, includes her heart-tugging “The Blind Lark,” and the delightful “Daisy's Jewel-Box and How She Filled It.” They'll fill the special someone who reads them with that rare feeling that wonderful tales finely told impart.
* FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT is unrivaled as a writer of exquisite children's stories, such as Little Lord Fauntleroy and The Secret Garden. Readers of this wonderful book will delight in her forgotten classics — “The Troubles of Queen Silver-Bell” and “The Cozy Lion” — and they'll also cherish the stunning accompanying artwork from the incomparable Harrison Cady.
* FRANK BAUM entertained millions of children with his “Oz” books. He appeared in our first book, and has an encore here: His story, “Aunt 'Phroney's Boy,” is typical of the tales in The National Review Treasury of Classic Children's Literature, Volume Two. It's an engaging story marked by unsurpassed prose and offering a clear lesson — precisely the kind of literature children deserve (need!) to be exposed to!
* RUDYARD KIPLING is one of the greatest writers in Western literature. Two of his famous Jungle Book stories (they were were first published as a series in St. Nicholas) are in our new collection: “The King's Ankus” (one of the original "Mowgli" stories) and “Toomai of the Elephants.” Children's literature just doesn't come any better!
The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories
Ten wholesome tales by the great Thorton Burgess, lavishly illustrated by Harrison Cady
Hardcover, 360 pages
Thornton Burgess thrilled two generations of children with his delightful nature tales, publishing over 150 books, most of them illustrated by the great Harrison Cady, featuring an array of woodland creatures — some saintly, some personable, others cranky and haughty, some even naughty, but all fun (and not a single one dull) — in simple, well-written tales that always entertained but that also had a moral and taught a lesson about human nature.
Commencing in 1913, over the course of several years Burgess published 20 books — the famous Bedtime Story Books series — that introduced his charming woodland characters to young readers. With an eye toward bringing wonderful stories to children in the earlier grades (who may find London, Twain, and others easier to handle in another year or two), we've collected the first ten Bedtime books and faithfully reproduced them in The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories.
You will love it. And so (more so!) will those youngsters whom you give it to, whether for a birthday or Christmas gift (or as a reward for that very good report card!). Inside this large, handsome hardcover's 360 pages — brightened by some 60 of Cady's truly special drawings (reproduced just as they appeared in the original old books!) — are ten terrific “adventure” tales of Reddy Fox, Johnny Chuck, Peter Cottontail, Unc' Billy Possum, Mistah Mocker, Jerry Muskrat, Danny Meadow Mouse, Grandfather Frog, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, Sammy Jay, and the other colorful and loveable denizens of the “Green Meadows” and the “Briar Patch.”
These are exactly the kind of little dramas you can read to your wee ones or your grandchildren at night as a prelude to sweet dreams: Each of the “adventure” stories unfold and progress over some 24 chapters (because they are designed to be real “bedtime” reading!). And new and developing readers will take to the book on their own like, well ... like Chatterer takes to acorns!
Graced by the author's very unique literary talents — his witty poems are as wonderful as his stories are captivating — The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories is refreshingly old-fashioned: Its tales are clean, wholesome, fun, innocent, and instructive. These are the type of horizon-opening stories that one would look back upon, as an adult, with fond and cherished memories. This is doubtless one book that you will really want to share with a deserving child.
The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories, Volume Two (2006): 348 pages / hardcover / lavishly illustrated / 10 tales
Thornton Burgess thrilled two generations of children with his delightful nature tales, publishing over 150 books, most of them illustrated by the great Harrison Cady, featuring an array of woodland creatures — some saintly, some personable, others cranky and haughty, some even naughty, but all fun (and not a single one dull) — in simple, well-written tales that always entertained but that also had a moral and taught a lesson about human nature.
Commencing in 1913, over the course of several years Burgess published 20 books — the famous Bedtime Story Books series — that introduced his charming woodland characters to young readers. With an eye toward bringing wonderful stories to children in the earlier grades (who may find London, Twain, and others easier to handle in another year or two), we collected the first ten Bedtime books and faithfully reproduced them in 2003 in The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories. We are now happy to announce the publication of “Volume Two,” which includes the remaining ten Bedtime tales.
You will love both of these books. And so (more so!) will those youngsters whom you give them to, whether for a birthday or Christmas gift (or as a reward for that very good report card!). Inside each of these large, handsome hardcovers’ pages — brightened by some 60 of Cady’s truly special drawings (reproduced just as they appeared in the original old books!) — are ten terrific “adventure” tales.
Our new edition features these wonderful Burgess tales:
* The Adventures of Buster Bear
* The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad
* The Adventures of Prickly Porky
* The Adventures of Old Man Coyote
* The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver
* The Adventures of Poor Mrs. Quack
* The Adventures of Bobby Coon
* The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk
* The Adventures of Bob White
* The Adventures of Ol’ Mistah Buzzard
If you are a parent or grandparent concerned about the quality of today’s children’s books, you will find National Review’s “Bedtime Classics” a reassuring safe haven. Graced by the Burgess’s very unique literary talents — his witty poems are as wonderful as his stories are captivating — both volumes of The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories are refreshingly old-fashioned: the tales are clean, wholesome, fun, innocent, and instructive. These are the type of horizon-opening stories that one would look back upon, as an adult, with fond and cherished memories. This is doubtless one book that you will really want to share with a deserving child.
And for good reason. These are exactly the kind of little dramas you can read to your wee ones or your grandchildren at night as a prelude to sweet dreams. Each of the “adventure” stories unfold and progress over some 24 chapters (because they are designed to be real “bedtime” reading!). And new and developing readers (first and second graders) will take to the book on their own like, well ... like Chatterer takes to acorns!
Each book costs $29.95. Order both for only $49.90 – you save $10. Shipping (via US “Media Mail”) and handling are free. And if your final order is over $75, we will ship your books free via UPS Ground. If you’re sending the books as gifts, please look at the form below – we will gladly send them along to the lucky recipients, and we will include a gift announcement card (with your personal message, if you’d like that!). This is a complimentary service.
