The Junior Classics

This anthology gathers folk tales, fairy tales, and fables from many lands for young readers. Its contents range from trickster stories centred on Manabozho and the animals of North American lore, to Indian and Chinese tales of jackals, tigers and clever farmers, to familiar European favourites such as Cinderella, Hansel and Grethel, Little Red Riding-Hood, and The Ugly Duckling.

Alongside the longer fairy tales are many short fables, in which foxes, crows, ants, lions and mice teach lessons about pride, greed, cleverness and fair dealing. Stories about kings, simpletons, brave tailors and talking animals appear throughout, so readers can move between tales of magic and tales of everyday wit.

The book suits children who enjoy story collections they can dip into, whether reading one tale at a time or working through the whole selection.