Books from Looking Glass Library

[Bmat]

Looking Glass Library offers children's books from "yesterday." Each book opens with an introduction by a writer from today.

[Bmat]

The Book of Dragons

By E. Nesbit (1858 – 1924)

(introduction by Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrated by H. R. Millar)

The Book of Dragons is a collection of 8 tales about dragons written over a hundred years ago. The Looking Glass Library edition that I have includes H. R. Millar’s black and white illustrations from the original book.

There are princesses and kings and ordinary children and brave heroes. The first story is about a young king who disobeys his advisers and releases a dragon from a book in the library. The dragon soon consumes the football team. The king must find a way to return the dragon to the book. This was my favorite story, and the ending took me by surprise. The other stories are also enchanting.

The stories are charming. Some instruction to children takes place, which seems to be typical of children’s books from those times, and some of the attitudes are outdated, which makes the stories even more fun to read.

The book is listed for ages 9 to 12. There are some scary parts, but a little younger child would also find the stories fun, and adults will also enjoy not only the stories but the style of writing.

[The Master]

That sounds like a fun anthology. Makes me want to find some kids to read it to lol. Thanks for the insight Bmat.

[Bmat]

Five Children and It

By E. Nesbit

(Introduction by Laurel Snyder, illustrations by H. R. Millar)

originally published 1902

Four young brothers and sisters, and their baby brother, find a Psammead, who calls himself a sand fairy. He had been asleep for many years, and he is not very happy about being disturbed. The Psammead reluctantly agrees to grant one wish a day for the children. However their wishes do not turn out the way that they expected. They wished to be beautiful, but their nurse did not recognize them. They wished to be wealthy, but their gold was not accepted as payment. At sunset the effects of the wishes expired, which was a good thing.

Edith Nesbit is said to be the founder of children’s adventure tales. Her light way of writing is very entertaining, and it is fun to find about children’s stories and children’s behavior of over a hundred years ago.

I enjoyed Five Children and It. The adventures of the children were amusing. It was fun to watch the children as they reasoned out, or not, which wishes to make. I recommend the book for children and for adults who want some very light and fast reading. The book is listed for ages 9 to 12. I would think that younger children would enjoy the stories even more. Older children might find them too silly. Adults will find them entertaining.

[ambok]

this is awesome. . . .i really like archie.