In this sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, find out what happens to Alice after her initial journey down the rabbit hole as she experiences yet another whimsical realm.

Nothing is quite as it seems during Alice's exploits through the looking-glass as she parries with the Red Queen, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and other unlikely characters.

"When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." ~The Queen

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Myles Falworth was only eight years old the day a knight in black armor rode into the courtyard of his father's castle with murderous intent. Unexpectedly, it triggered a chain of events that forever changed Myles' life, culminating in an unjust accusation of treason that brought disgrace to the house of Falworth. The only hope of redeeming the family's reputation and fortunes rested on Myles' training for knighthood, so that he might challenge the king's champion and triumph in an ordeal by battle.

Set in fifteenth-century England, Men of Iron offers the finest historical fiction in the best traditions of the Knights of the Round Table and Ivanhoe. Author Howard Pyle, who wrote and illustrated many other classic Arthurian romances and stories of Robin Hood, blends fascinating period detail about knighthood and chivalry with a stirring coming-of-age tale. First published in 1892, this classic story remains a great favorite with young readers as well as among educators, due to the author's effortless way of teaching virtues such as courage, loyalty, steadfastness, and generosity. An excellent and inspiring choice to read aloud to children as young as nine, it can be read independently to 12- to 16-year-olds.

From the jacket of the 2003 Dover edition

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English Fairy Tales is a collection of over forty of the best loved fairy tales from all over England, as retold by the English author Flora Annie Steel. The collection includes Jack the Giant Killer, Tom-Tit-Tom, the Three Little Pigs, Dick Wittington and his cat, amongst many others.

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First published in 1924, ‘A Child's History of the World’ is a classic by V.M. Hillyer, a British children’s author and the Late Head Master of the Calvert School of Baltimore. One of the most pleasing history books for children, this well-loved Hillyer masterpiece features stories of world history from prehistoric man through the 20th century, encouraging an appreciation of how events relate to one another.

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"And what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?"

- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

Announcements:

We're premiering our first Read-Along Audio book this week! Check out Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. Listen and read-along as we go down the rabbit hole. This was a true labor of love and we are so proud to share it with you.

You can now request a book! If you're on the hunt for an audio version of a public domain book that you just can't seem to find a good version of, let us know.

Want to listen on your own player?  You can download mp3s of each book with a new paid supporter option. Look at the bottom of each post for downloads (or to sign up). Thank you to our new favorite reader, Autumn, for this great idea!

Hearing something funky? We are constantly improving the process, but there are still some mistakes. If you would like to help us out, tell us when you hear something out of the ordinary.

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New Books This Week

Alice's Adventure in Wonderland - the adventures of a perfectly ordinary little girl to whom the most extraordinary things happened (Children)

Our very first read-along audio book! Meet Alice as she follows a busy little white rabbit down a rabbit hole and enters another world.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (Read-Along Audiobook)

Scarcely anyone needs an introduction to Alice in Wonderland, the adventures of a perfectly ordinary little girl to whom the most extraordinary things happened. For generations children and adults have so delighted in this book’s droll wit, delicious humor, and fascinating fantasy that today it is o…

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The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood- Among the most beloved heroes of early England, gallant Robin Hood and his merry band of daring outlaws live on, in countless ballads and stories that have been handed down for over six hundred years. (Children)

For sheer entertainment, as well as a vivid picture of life in England after the Norman conquest, Howard Pyle's thrilling story of Robin Hood, is a delight that should not be missed by anyone, young or old.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle (Audiobook)

Among the most beloved heroes of early England, gallant Robin Hood and his merry band of daring outlaws live on, in countless ballads and stories that have been handed down for over six hundred years. But generations of storytelling reach a peak in Howard Pyle’s classic tale of the gay

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In Freedom's Cause- a fictional tale of heroism, told with accurate historical context that takes place during the First War of Scottish Independence against the English in the 13th century (Older Children)

In Freedom's Cause is an epic historical novel by G.A. Henty that follows the adventures of a young Scottish nobleman named Archie Forbes as he fights alongside the legendary Scottish warrior William Wallace.

In Freedom’s Cause by G.A. Henty (Audiobook)

In Freedom’s Cause is an epic historical novel by G.A. Henty that follows the adventures of a young Scottish nobleman named Archie Forbes as he fights alongside the legendary Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against the English in the 13th century. Downl…

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Fifty Famous Stories Retold- There are numerous time-honored stories which have become so incorporated into the literature and thought of our race that a knowledge of them is an indispensable part of one’s education. (Children)

This book was originally intended as a historical reader, and was widely used in public schools throughout the United States. The stories are selected to be appealing to young children and to lay the foundation for broader literary studies, since nearly all are alluded to frequently in poetry and prose.

Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin (Audiobook)

This book was originally intended as a historical reader, and was widely used in public schools throughout the United States. The stories are selected to be appealing to young children and to lay the foundation for broader literary studies, since nearly all are alluded to frequently in poetry and pr…

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Whew! That's a lot. Thank you again for listening along on this new journey we have started.

Scarcely anyone needs an introduction to Alice in Wonderland, the adventures of a perfectly ordinary little girl to whom the most extraordinary things happened. For generations children and adults have so delighted in this book's droll wit, delicious humor, and fascinating fantasy that today it is one of the most beloved and widely quoted books of all time.

Meet Alice as she follows a busy little white rabbit down a rabbit hole. There she enters a world populated by the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and dozens of other amusing characters whose nonsense makes a great deal of sense most of the time. Alice herself begins to behave oddly as she finds herself shrinking and stretching.

Lewis Carroll was a well known professor of mathematics at Oxford University. He wrote this book because he loved children and because he particularly wanted to entertain one of his favorite friends, a little girl named Alice Liddell.

Adapted from the dust jacket of the Illustrated Junior Library edition

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Among the most beloved heroes of early England, gallant Robin Hood and his merry band of daring outlaws live on, in countless ballads and stories that have been handed down for over six hundred years. But generations of storytelling reach a peak in Howard Pyle's classic tale of the gay young outlaw leader and his stout Saxon yeomen—Little John, Friar Tuck, Allan a Dale and all the others—and of the carefree life they lead in the cool shades of Sherwood Forest, playing pranks on one another, plundering greedy Norman barons and sharing the spoils with the poor and oppressed, evading capture by the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham—sometimes by only a hair's-breadth, and finally entertaining King Richard the Lionheart himself under the greenwood tree.

For sheer entertainment, as well as a vivid picture of life in England after the Norman conquest, Howard Pyle's thrilling story of Robin Hood, is a delight that should not be missed by anyone, young or old.

Adapted from the dust jacket of the Illustrated Junior Library edition

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In Freedom's Cause is an epic historical novel by G.A. Henty that follows the adventures of a young Scottish nobleman named Archie Forbes as he fights alongside the legendary Scottish warrior William Wallace during the First War of Scottish Independence against the English in the 13th century.

This fictional tale of heroism is told with accurate historical context. It's an inspiring story about patriotism in the face of tyranny.

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This book was originally intended as a historical reader, and was widely used in public schools throughout the United States. The stories are selected to be appealing to young children and to lay the foundation for broader literary studies, since nearly all are alluded to frequently in poetry and prose.

Concerning these stories (from the beginning of the book)

There are numerous time-honored stories which have become so incorporated into the literature and thought of our race that a knowledge of them is an indispensable part of one’s education. These stories are of several different classes. To one class belong the popular fairy tales which have delighted untold generations of children, and will continue to delight them to the end of time. To another class belong the limited number of fables that have come down to us through many channels from hoar antiquity. To a third belong the charming stories of olden times that are derived from the literatures of ancient peoples, such as the Greeks and the Hebrews. A fourth class includes the half-legendary tales of a distinctly later origin, which have for their subjects certain romantic episodes in the lives of well-known heroes and famous men, or in the history of a people.

It is to this last class that most of the fifty stories contained in the present volume belong. As a matter of course, some of these stories are better known, and therefore more famous, than others. Some have a slight historical value; some are useful as giving point to certain great moral truths; others are products solely of the fancy, and are intended only to amuse. Some are derived from very ancient sources, and are current in the literature of many lands; some have come to us through the ballads and folk tales of the English people; a few are of quite recent origin; nearly all are the subjects of frequent allusions in poetry and prose and in the conversation of educated people. Care has been taken to exclude everything that is not strictly within the limits of probability; hence there is here no trespassing upon the domain of the fairy tale, the fable, or the myth.

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Our biggest week ever, with five (5!) books added!

Legends of Norseland- twenty stories from Scandinavian legends (young readers)

Stories about the gods such as Odin, Loki, and Thor, as well as stories about the beginning of Norse mythology, and creatures such as Fenris the wolf.

Legends of Norseland - Audiobook

Legends of Norseland is a book aimed at younger readers. First published in 1894, it contains twenty stories from Scandinavian legends about the gods such as Odin, Loki, and Thor, as well as stories about the beginning of Norse mythology, and creatures such as Fenrir the wolf. Excerpt: “In the

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The Little Duke- the drama of a real boy, Richard the Fearless, whose father was Duke of Normandy. (children)

The excitement of feudal days comes alive in the absorbing story of an eight-year-old boy who became the ruler of a great land.

“The Little Duke” by Charlotte Mary Yonge (Full Audiobook)

The excitement of feudal days comes alive in the absorbing story of an eight-year-old boy who became the ruler of a great land. This is the drama of a real boy, Richard the Fearless, whose father was Duke of Normandy. When the Duke was murdered, young Richard was taken to

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Book of Dragons- a classic collection of dragon stories that will take you on a journey through the realm of mythical beasts (children)

Who doesn't love dragons? Whether they're breathing fire or thrashing their tails, frightful or friendly, gigantic or tiny, their adventures are always filled with magic and surprises—and sometimes even humor.

In this exciting collection, E. Nesbit unleashes a flock of these mysterious, wild, and unpredictable creatures.

Book of Dragons by Edith Nesbit - Audiobook

“Who doesn’t love dragons? Whether they’re breathing fire or thrashing their tails, frightful or friendly, gigantic or tiny, their adventures are always filled with magic and surprises—and sometimes even humor. In this exciting collection, E. Nesbit unleashes a flock of these mysterious, wild, and…

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The Boxcar Children- follows the adventures of four orphaned siblings as they solve mysteries and go on exciting adventures (children)

This is the first book from a beloved children's series that has captured the hearts of readers for over 75 years.

“The Boxcar Children” - Audiobook

One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them. No one knew where they had come from. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are orphans. Determined to make it on their own, they set out to find a safe place to live. They discover an

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The Wind in the Willows-  Enjoy this story of Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they try to help their friend Mr. Toad (children)

Since its first publication, more than fifty years ago, The Wind in the Willows has enjoyed a secure position as one of the truly great classics in the world of children's books. As fresh and timeless now as then, the story is imbued with the spirit of youth, exuberance, mischief and laughter.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Audiobook)

Since its first publication, more than fifty years ago, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS has enjoyed a secure position as one of the truly great classics in the world of children’s books. As fresh and timeless now as then, the story is imbued with the spirit of youth, exuberance, mischief

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In case you missed it: Our Island Story has gone viral.

Since our last update, over 300 hours of Our Island Story have been listened to. If you're looking for more after The Little Duke, give it a listen!

Legends of Norseland is a book aimed at younger readers. First published in 1894, it contains twenty stories from Scandinavian legends about the gods such as Odin, Loki, and Thor, as well as stories about the beginning of Norse mythology, and creatures such as Fenris the wolf.

Excerpt:

"In the beginning, when the beautiful and sunny world was first made, there stood, in the very midst of all its beauty, Mt. Ida—a mountain so high, so far away up among the snowy clouds, that its summit was lost in the shining light of the rays of the sun.

At its base, stretching away to the north, the south, the east, and the west, as far as even the eyes of the gods could reach, lay the soft, green valleys and the great, broad plain beyond. Encircling the whole great plain, and curling lovingly around in all the little bends and bays of the distant shore, lay the deep blue waters; and beyond the waters, hidden in the distant mists, rose the great mountains in which the frost giants dwelt.

On the top of Mt. Ida, the gods had built their shining city, Asgard; and from its golden gateway to the valley below was stretched the richly-colored, rainbow bridge, with its wonderful bars of red and yellow and blue, orange and green, indigo and purple.

And in this shining city, where the gods dwelt, there was no sorrow, no grief, no pain of any kind. Never was the sun’s light shut off by heavy clouds; never did the cruel lightnings flash, nor came their blights upon the harvest fields; never did the heavy rains fall, nor did the cold winds sweep down upon this shining city."

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The excitement of feudal days comes alive in the absorbing story of an eight-year-old boy who became the ruler of a great land.

This is the drama of a real boy, Richard the Fearless, whose father was Duke of Normandy. When the Duke was murdered, young Richard was taken to Rouen, dressed in the scarlet robes of state, invested with the ducal sword and mantle, and crowned Duke of Normandy. Now real wards replaced his childhood games, and Richard became the pawn in a plot of the wicked King Louis to win over the Norman people.

When King Louis kept Richard captive at the Court of France, the Normans feared for his life. How Richard bravely made his escape hidden in a bale of hay and how he dealt with the enemies of his people make an unforgettable story of the color and pageantry of another age.

~From the dust jacket of the Junior Deluxe Edition

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Since its first publication, more than fifty years ago, The Wind in the Willows has enjoyed a secure position as one of the truly great classics in the world of children's books. As fresh and timeless now as then, the story is imbued with the spirit of youth, exuberance, mischief and laughter.

From the moment the call of spring brings the Mole up from his dark little house to wander delightedly along the river bank, where he meets the Water Rat, the reader feels a joyous anticipation like that of spring itself. When Rat takes Mole for the first boat ride of his life. Mole manages to upset the boat, but it doesn't really matter. The two little friends already have eaten their picnic lunch, and what Water Rat minds an unexpected swim?

Mole meets the Badger and the Otter that first wonderful day, but when Ray takes him to Toad Hall to meet Mr. Toad, the fun really begins. Toad is a good-natured, affectionate animal, sometimes boastful and conceited, yet generous to a fault. But he is always taking up some new enthusiasm which inevitably lands him in trouble. This time it is motorcars. They do something to Toad which makes him completely irresponsible on the highroad. His loyal friends vainly try to save him from the consequences of his folly; and the hilarious adventures Toad encounters when he finally does escape his dismal fate make one of the high points of the book.

In contrast is the strange and moving experience Mole and Rat share when they are searching the river bank for the lost baby Otter. This is a book full of surprises.

From the dust jacket of the Illustrated Junior Library edition

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"Who doesn't love dragons? Whether they're breathing fire or thrashing their tails, frightful or friendly, gigantic or tiny, their adventures are always filled with magic and surprises—and sometimes even humor.

In this exciting collection, E. Nesbit unleashes a flock of these mysterious, wild, and unpredictable creatures. Here you will meet a dragon who flies out of an enchanted book and swallows an entire soccer team; two children who try and wake St. George while dragons of all shapes and sizes descend on England; and wicked Prince Tiresome, who trades half his kingdom with a pig keeper to catch a raging dragon. Five more stories will take you to worlds overflowing with daring adventure, cunning trickery, and madcap mayhem."

From the Peter Glassman edition

"The Book of Dragons" by Edith Nesbit is a classic collection of dragon stories that will take you on a journey through the realm of mythical beasts. Let's get lost in these enchanting adventures.

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