This American classic is as fresh and meaningful today as it was when it was first written in the 19th century. Largely based on the author's own childhood, Little Women is a timeless tale of the four young March sisters -- Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy -- who grow to maturity in their mother's tender but strong care. As different in their personalities as they are alike in their devotion to each other, the girls vow to support their beloved mother, Marmee, by behaving their best while Father is away, serving as an army chaplain in the Civil War.
Literary-minded tomboy Jo develops a...

The gods help them that help themselves . . . We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified . . . Appearances are deceptive . . . These and many other familiar proverbs -- in fact, many of the moral values that form the foundation of our daily lives -- were expressed in tales from ancient Greece, credited to Aesop, the legendary storyteller.
This volume, edited by the celebrated English folklorist Joseph Jacobs, contains a rich selection of these time-honored tales, among them "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse," "The Fox and the Crow," "The Lion and the...

When orphaned Pollyanna Whittier comes to live with her stern maiden aunt, the entire town of Beldingsville is affected by the bubbly nature of this lively eleven-year-old. Not only is she perpetually cheerful, she also brightens the lives of everyone she meets.
How does Pollyanna manage to be so eternally optimistic? How does she spread her bright outlook among the sick, sad, and abrasive people of the town and transform the life of her lonely aunt? It's the "glad game," she says, describing the antidote to hardship and depressed spirits. But in a serious accident, the town almost...