A Victorian tale in which Tom, a sooty little chimney sweep with a great longing to be clean, is stolen by fairies and turned into a water-baby.

This edition of Charles Kingsley's 'The Water-Babies', illustrated by A. E. Jackson was originally published in 1920. The story was extremely popular in England and was a mainstay of British children's literature for many decades.

Thumbelina -- The princess and the pea -- The snow queen -- The brave tin soldier -- The Emperor's new suit -- The little match girl -- The little mermaid -- The Christmas tree

The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby is a children's novel by Charles Kingsley between 1862–63. It is written as part satire, satirising the events of the period. The book’s protagonist is Tom, a young chimney sweep, who falls into a river after encountering an upper-class girl named Ellie and being chased out of her house. There he appears to drown and is transformed into a "water-baby", as he is told by a caddisfly—an insect that sheds its skin—and begins his moral education. Tom embarks on a series of adventures and lessons, and enjoys the community of other water-babies on Saint Brendan's Island once he proves himself a moral creature. The major spiritual leaders in his new world are the fairies Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby (a reference to the Golden Rule), Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid, and Mother Carey. Weekly, Tom is allowed the company of Ellie, who eventually becomes a water-baby as well. Grimes, his old master, drowns as well, and in his final adventure, Tom travels to the end of the world to attempt to help the man where he is being punished for his misdeeds. Tom helps Grimes to find repentance, and Grimes will be given a second chance if he can successfully perform a final penance. By proving his willingness to do things he does not like, if they are the right things to do, Tom earns himself a return to human form, and becomes "a great man of science" who "can plan railways, design steam-engines, electric telegraphs, rifled guns, and so forth". He and Ellie are united, although the book states (perhaps jokingly) that they never marry, claiming that in fairy tales, no one beneath the rank of prince and princess ever marries. The book ends with the caveat that it is only a fairy tale, and the reader is to believe none of it, "even if it is true." Initially published in serial form Macmillan's Magazine, it was first published in its entirety in 1863. The story is thematically concerned with Christian redemption, though Kingsley also uses the book to argue that England treats its poor badly, and to question child labour, among other themes. ================ KEYWORDS/TAGS: Water Babies, fairy tale, land babies, childrens novel, childrens stories, Charles kingsley, satire, magical, enchanting, adventure, underwater, under sea, dragonfly, Land Babies, Water-Babies, Down To The Sea, Fairies, Tom, St. Brandans Isle, Leap Frog, Jump, Little White Lady, Give Chase, Lizards, Bathe, Old Dame, Cool, Clear Water, Pterodactyles, Cramchild, Queen, Learn, Old Salmon, Wicked, Old Otter, Coasting, Point Of Rock, Champagne, Swam, Buoy, Terns, Lazy Sunfish, Distinguished, Lobster, Professor, Ptthmllnsprts, Wise Man, Leap Frog, Town Clerk, White Sand, Inshore, Fishes, Nursery Maid, Nasty Old Monk, Ellie, Surprise, Warm Springs, Light Summer, Flapdoodle Tree, Eft, Pond, Beasts of the Sea, Grand Old Lady, Quakeress, Good Crow, Water Dog, Jellyfish, Mackerel, Epimetheus, Pandora, Old Mother Shipton, Great Sea serpent, Philosophers, Gotham, Spectacles, Poor Turnip Sun, Mr. Grimes, Bandage, Black Cedars, folklore, fantasy, waterfall, Caddisfly. education, Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby, Golden Rule, Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid, Mother Carey,

Just in time for the major motion picture Dolittle starring Robert Downey Jr.—soaring into theaters on January 17, 2020! Journey into the world of Doctor Dolittle, the kind and eccentric naturalist who can speak with animals. Working with original author Hugh Lofting’s son, these books have been fully updated for the modern reader, all while retaining the full charm of the originals. Rediscover the children’s literature classic with three novels from the beloved series! Here are the good Doctor’s three exciting tales of world travel, beginning with his greatest adventure. In The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal, the Doctor and his young assistant, Tommy Stubbins, travel in search of the brilliant naturalist Long Arrow, culminating in a meeting with the most fabled creature of all, the Great Glass Sea Snail! The Story of Doctor Dolittle details how the Doctor came to learn the languages of animals, and how he was called to Africa where he meets the rarest of all beasts, the marvelous two-headed pushmi-pullyu! And in another African adventure, Doctor Dolittle’s Post Office, the Doctor establishes the only postal service in the world where birds deliver the mail!

A collection of more than sixty Mother Goose nursery rhymes.

If a hungry little traveler shows up at your house, you might want to give him a cookie. If you give him a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk. He'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and then he'll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim.... The consequences of giving a cookie to this energetic mouse run the young host ragged, but young readers will come away smiling at the antics that tumble like dominoes through the pages of this delightful picture book.

Folk tales from England, Norway and India, as well as fairy tales from Grimm, Andersen and Perrault, fables from Aesop, and tales from the Arabian nights.

A Fish Out Of Water is a simple tale for young children just beginning to read. Ignoring the pet shop owner's advice, a little boy feeds his goldfish too much. What follows is an adventure that brings even the police and fire services out to help cope with a fish out of water! Beginning readers will delight in this fast-moving story.

This special edition commemorates the 30th anniversary of this classic multicultural picture book. Jo is ill and has to stay in bed for the day, but her mum promises to bring her home a surprise to make her feel better. All day long Jo looks out of the window waiting for her mum to return, and in the meantime sees all her friends from the neighbourhood, including the postman, the window cleaner and Mrs Ali from next door. But when will Mum be back with her surprise for Jo?