W. F. Howes Ltd

Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell narrated by Flo Gibson

Amazingly fast, incredibly strong, and fantastically gentle, Black Beauty is a horse that touches the hearts of all who meet him.

Born on a grand estate in the English countryside, he spends his days galloping across open meadows and carrying adoring children on his back. But when a tragic accident forces Black Beauty's owner to sell him, this joyful life quickly comes to an end. Outside the estate is a world where horses are treated with bitter cruelty and thoughtless violence.

Nothing, however, can break Black Beauty's spirit - or his great love. For he knows that someday, he will find happiness again. Black Beauty was written in an age when people took horses for granted just as we take cars for granted today. Many times, people misused horses.

In her book, Anna Sewell spoke to the world on behalf of horses, reminding people that animals are living, feeling creatures who deserve to be treated with kindness. Today, Black Beauty is a beloved classic of children's literature that has captured the hearts of generations.

Heidi

by Johanna Spyri narrated by John McDonough

Orphaned at an early age, the young girl Heidi finds a home high in the Swiss Alps with her reclusive grandfather. There, each glorious day is filled with discovery, adventure and the friendship of a gentle goat boy, Peter. But when Heidi is sent away from her mountain paradise to a large, cold city, she is determined to find a way to return to the place she loves.

For generations, children around the world have fallen under the spell of this small alpine girl. Heidi is the heartwarming story of an exuberant child's goodness, courage, and love. Filled with unforgettable characters and majestic scenery, it is an enduring classic of children's literature. Author Johanna Spyri lived her entire life in a small Swiss town near Zurich.

Heidi, first published in 1881, is a largely autobiographical work that echoes Ms Spyri's affection for the countryside, flowers and animals that surrounded her. John McDonough brings Heidi vibrantly to life, enriching this beloved tale with the warmth and drama of his narration.

Pinocchio

by Carlo Collodi narrated by Donal Donnelly

Pinocchio comes to life under the gentle hands of Geppetto, a humble cobbler with a loyal heart, who carves the little puppet from a piece of talking wood. Fond of Pinocchio and his boyish ways, Geppetto makes plans to send him to school, selling his own coat to buy Pinocchio a spelling book; But Pinocchio is determined to go his own way.

Rambunctious and spoiled, the wooden boy meets with one misadventure after another, including a get-rich quick scheme with a Fox and a Cat; a journey to the "Land of Boobies," where little boys play all the time and never go to school; and a ticklish trip into the cavernous belly of a gargantuan Dog-fish.

Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow

by Washington Irving narrated by George Guidall

This selection includes two world-famous children's tales by American author, Washington Irving, well known for his ability to bring humor to the silly vanities that characterize human nature.

In the first story, Rip Van Winkle falls asleep only to wake up 20 years later, finding he has literally slept his life away. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tells the tale of the gawky schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, and his rival Brom Bones, who each woo pretty Katrina Van Tassel until a Headless Horseman makes his ghostly ride.

Washington Irving was one of America's earliest and most popular writers. Famous for his short stories, Irving was also a chronicler of the frontier, a folklorist and a noted political satirist and essayist. In The Sketch Book, of which these two selections are a part, Irving drew upon the myths and legends of local and European folklore.

His original creations of characters like Ichabod Crane and Rip Van Winkle have become lasting contributions to our national literary heritage, as distinctly American as Natty Bumppo, Captain Ahab, and Huckleberry Finn.

The Wizard of Oz

by L Frank Baum narrated by Flo Gibson

Everyone who met him agreed that L Frank Baum was a born storyteller, but when The Wizard of Oz was published in 1900, its phenomenal success still surprised him. This American fairy tale was a radical departure from the religious and moral tales that were the standard fare of children's literature at the turn of the century. It became so popular that avid readers urged Baum to write thirteen more books in the best-selling Oz series.

After Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away from Kansas by a cyclone, they embark on a remarkable odyssey accompanied by the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion. As they travel through enchanted lands toward the Emerald City, they find perils and colorful opponents including the wonderfully evil Wicked Witch.

The story and characters of The Wizard of Oz are beloved by generations of readers and moviegoers. Now Flo Gibson's splendid narration brings one of childhood's most magical tales to fresh new life.