Reviews

K-Gr 8-- A compilation of 20 selections from classic children's books. Only Western culture is represented: there are 12 British stories, 6 American, and 2 Scandinavian. Included are ``The Elephant's Child,'' ``The Emperor's New Clothes,'' ``Under the Hill'' from The Hobbit , ``Wilbur's Escape'' from Charlotte's Web , ``The Ransom of Red Chief'' and ``Horror in the Pit'' from The Pit and the Pendulum . Blishen provides approximate reading times but gives no age recommendations. Since some of the stories are quite sophisticated and employ very complex writing and elevated vocabulary, adults without a knowledge of children's literature will need to read the book first to determine whether a story is appropriate. Children may demand to hear the books in their entirety, but two are out of print. Brief notes about the authors and stories introduce each work and a word guide that defines many of the British, archaic, and/or difficult words is appended. However, fewer than half include pronunciation and several, such as ``propitiatory'' and ``recusant,'' need that, too. Each story is decorated with two black silhouette drawings and a single color plate (usually placed several pages away from the appropriate text and often divulging an essential element of the plot). The large print and wide margins are good for the visually impaired. This kind of anthology may be useful in communities in which parents and teachers demand their read-alouds preselected and short, or it may be useful in exposing families and classrooms to classic literature that they might not otherwise hear, but librarians may want to steer patrons to the complete works instead. --Cynthia K. Richey, Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Pittsburgh, PA