Noel's Booknook

Mary Botham Howitt (March 12, 1799 – January 30, 1888) was an English poet, and became interested in Scandinavian literature during the 1840s and, having learned Swedish and Danish, she translated many of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales for the delight of English children.  She may have been influenced by the dark side of some of his stories when she wrote her most famous piece, "The Spider and the Fly."

Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson (November 13, 1850 – December 3, 1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer , whose most famous works of literature are  "Treasure Island," "Kidnapped," "A Child's Garden of Verses," and "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde."

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 - 1896), is better known by his pen name of Lewis Carroll. He was an English writer of children's fiction but, is most famous for writing "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and its sequel, "Alice Through the Looking-Glass." His talent at word play, logic, and fantasy and has been loved for generations, and is still enjoyed, today.

Hans Christian Andersen wrote many fairy tales but this, by far, is his most famous. "The Little Mermaid" follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea to gain a human soul. The tale was first published in 1837 as part of a collection of fairy tales for children and has since been adapted, many times, for movies, television, and live theater.

Lyman Frank Baum (1856 - 1919) was an American author who wrote 41 novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He is most famous for his children's books, particularly "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and its sequels, a total of 14 novels in the Oz series. This is the introduction and the first two chapters of the first book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875) was a Danish author, a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems. But, he is best remembered for his fairy tales, which are not limited to children; his stories express themes that transcend age and nationality, to this day. These are two such examples - "The Princess & the Pea" and "The Emperor's New Suit."

Helen Beatrix Potter (1866 - 1943) wrote and illustrated many books for children featuring animals who acted like people. This is two stories she wrote; one about a naughty kitten and the other about two bad mice.

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854 – 1900) wrote in many different forms throughout the 1880s, when in the early 1890s he became one of the most popular playwrights in London. He wrote a collection of stories for children first published in May 1888. It contains five stories: "The Happy Prince," "The Nightingale and the Rose," "The Selfish Giant," "The Devoted Friend," and "The Remarkable Rocket."

I love poems and these are two of my favorites that I would read to my son for bedtime. The authors are Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) and Eugene Field (1850 -1895) whose poems take you away on two magical journeys.

Kenneth Grahame (1859 - 1932) was a Scottish writer, whose most famous book is the now children's literature classic "The Wind in the Willows." I've always loved this book and these characters, whose friendship is so strong. This is a chapter from the book when Rat, Mole, and Badger try to help their friend, Toad, stay out of trouble.

This is another tale from Beatrix Potter. It's about a duck named Jemima who, while trying to find the perfect place to make a nest and lay her eggs, meets a "bushy tailed gentleman" who's more than happy to help- a fox!

Hugh Lofting (1886 - 1947) wrote three books about Dr John Dolittle, a man who learns to talk directly to animals in their own language and became the most famous animal doctor in the world. This is the chapter from the first book, "The Story of Doctor Dolittle," that explains how it happened.

Beatrix Potter wrote many children's stories about animals and her most famous is "THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT." But did you know that THIS is the "sequel." Listen and find out what else happened to Peter.

This is a very special "toy story" written by Margery Williams (1881 - 1944). It's a unique "toy story" all about how toys become "real." 

Hello!

Helen Beatrix Potter (1866 - 1943) was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist who wrote and illustrated many  children's books featuring animals. This is her most famous one - "THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT."