The long-ago mysteries of the great opera house in Paris havenever been explained. Why did so many terrible tragedies happenthere? Why did everyone flee from it in fear? This gripping storyabout the “opera ghost” and the beautiful singer he loves launchedone of the most popular musicals in Broadway history—and it servesup enough thrills, chills, and surprises to keep even the mostreluctant reader fascinated.

0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%" A searing tale of fear andcourage, set during the Civil War, but more powerful today thanever. A young man enlists in the Union Army, but nervously wondershow he will react to the blood, violence, and death of a realbattle. When that terrible day arrives, he flees the fighting interror. But his cowardly behavior gnaws at his conscience, and hesearches for redemption for what he has done.

A shipwreck; a deserted island; a single family, wonderingif they can survive. Rich in suspense and surprises, The SwissFamily Robinson entices young readers to come along on awonderful adventure, where each moment brings a new thrill.Featuring amazingly resourceful characters and a wondrous landscapebursting with exotic wildlife and plants, it’s an irresistible taleof ingenuity.

0in 0in 0pt" Here come the animals! From RudyardKipling’s most popular Just-So Stories to Jack London’s“Brown Wolf,” this collection features some of the best-lovedanimal tales of all time. They include Kipling’s “How the ElephantGot His Trunk”; Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans”; MarkTwain’s “A Dog’s Tale”; Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “The Squirrels ThatLive in a House,” and more.

once upon a time… there were two brothers, Jacob and WilhelmGrimm, who gave the world some of the best-loved fairy tales everwritten. From “Cinderella” and “Rumpelstiltskin” to “Snow White”and “The Brave Little Tailor,” this charming anthology offers youngreaders a wonderful introduction to 12 of the Grimms' most popularstories.

one very special boy weaves some magic in Frances HodgsonBurnett’s sentimental favorite. When young Cedric Errol learns thathe is actually a British lord and heir to an estate, his life istransformed. He leaves Boston for Dorincourt Castle to live withhis uncle, the Earl—a tyrant who’s loathed by one and all. WillCedric succeed in melting his cold, cruel uncle’s heart?

0in 0in 0pt" This lovely collection will make littleballerinas dance for joy! Inside, they’ll find eight of the mostbeautiful ballet stories, including “Swan Lake,” “Coppélia,” “TheFirebird,” and of course, that perennial holiday favorite, “TheNutcracker.” It’s the perfect way to prepare a child forseeing a performance--or to keep the magic going afterward.

“Once you start looking for the happy things, you don’t thinkabout the bad ones as much.” That’s the joyful way Pollyanna seesthe world: no matter what happens, she plays her “Just Be Glad”game and finds the sunny side of any situation. But when she’sorphaned and forced to live with her rigid Aunt Polly, willhigh-spirited Pollyanna succeed in melting her Aunt’s coldheart?

“Go down the crater of the volcano Snaefells. Follow theshadow just before the month of July. You will find your way to thecenter of the Earth. I did it.” That mysterious message, found in along-lost letter, propels a young man and his uncle on theadventure of a lifetime: to a prehistoric world below the earthwhere dinosaurs and other strange creatures still roam. JulesVerne's classic fantasy will enchant a new generation ofreaders.

Hot on the heels of the blockbuster film comes a version ofH.G. Wells’ chilling tale of alien invasion that every child canenjoy. It begins as the sky lights up with bright cylinders fromMars that look like falling stars—and continues as the Martiansemerge from their vessels with machines of fire and deadly smoke.Wells’s depiction of a city in panic—written in 1898—still remainsshockingly contemporary.

The Aldens find a castaway on a South Sea island. How did heget there and who is he?

When Heidi’s Aunt Dete brings the orphaned girl to live withher grandfather, no one can imagine the bitter, solitary old mancaring for a child. But, to everyone’s surprise, the two grow tolove each other—and Heidi blossoms in her new home. Johanna Spyri’scharming story—and spirited heroine—have won children’s hearts formore than a century.

0in 0in 0pt" Now every child can celebrate the 100thanniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s ever-popular story! Firstintroduced in Anne of Green Gables as a young orphan, Montgomery’sfeisty and imaginative heroine is now 16 years old and embarking ona new adventure: becoming a teacher in her old Avonlea school. It’san exciting year as Anne struggles to win over all her students,welcomes two new members to her family, and feels the firststirrings of love.

Following Sterling's spectacularly successful launch of itschildren's classic novels (240,000 books in print to date),comes adazzling new series: Classic Starts . The stories areabridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats theworld's beloved tales (and children) with the respect theydeserve--all at an incomparable price. Poor Sara Crewe. onceupon a time her beloved father pampered and adored her. But eversince he died, leaving her alone and penniless, she's been caughtin the cruel clutches of Miss Minchin, the headmistress at theSelect Seminary for Young Ladies, where Sara once studied. But nomatter how terrible things get, Sara always has her imagination andgoodness of heart to carry her through. This timeless tale of apoor orphan has won children's hearts for a century--and continuesto be a favorite.

Benny and his friend Mike are in trouble when they are curiousabout a uranium mine.

0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%" A single person—but with twopersonalities: one that’s noble and kind and another that’s pure,repulsive evil. Robert Louis Stevenson’s engrossing masterpieceabout the dual nature of man—and a good doctor whose thirst forknowledge has tragic consequences—serves up all the suspense andsatisfying chills one expects from the best horror and sciencefiction.

H. G. Wells’s sobering, thought-provoking novel is one ofthe greatest works of science fiction ever created—and as powerfultoday as when it was written. After inventing a machine that movesthrough time, the Traveler leaves Victorian London and goes far,far into the future. At first, the world he discovers seemspeaceful and prosperous. But as he looks below the surface herealizes that things are not exactly as they first appeared.

All for one and one for all! That’s the rallying cry ofthe Musketeers—guards of the French King—and the call to adventurefor young readers enjoying their first taste of Dumas’ classicswashbuckler. Aramis, Athos, Porthos, and the not-quite-yetMusketeer D’Artagnan use their wits and their swords to battle anevil Cardinal, the traitorous Milady, and other enemies of theFrench court.

one boy, penniless and in rags, forced to beg in the street.The other, a king’s son, coddled and given all he could want. Whathappens when the two boys change clothes and places, and each onelearns how the other half lives? Mark Twain’s satirical andsuspenseful novel about the thin line that separates prince andpauper is a perennial favorite.

With Classic Starts, young readers can experience the wonder oftimeless stories from an early age. Abridged for easier reading andcarefully rewritten, each classic novel is filled with all themagic and excitement that made the original story a belovedfavorite.

Following Sterling's spectacularly successful launch of itschildren's classic novels (240,000 books in print to date),comes adazzling new series: Classic Starts . The stories areabridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats theworld's beloved tales (and children) with the respect theydeserve--all at an incomparable price. No child is too young to appreciate the amazing deductive powers ofthe world's smartest detective. These easy-to-read Sherlock Holmesstories provide the perfect introduction to the super sleuth andhis friend and assistant, Dr. Watson. Among the intriguing tales:"A Scandal in Bohemia," Holmes's first encounter with themysterious Irene Adler; "The Red-Headed League"; "The Adventure ofthe Six Napoleons" and others.

Following Sterling's spectacularly successful launch of itschildren's classic novels (240,000 books in print to date),comes adazzling new series: Classic Starts . The stories areabridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats theworld's beloved tales (and children) with the respect theydeserve--all at an incomparable price. He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, and had escapadesenough to please any adventure-loving child. Now even the youngestreaders can have the chance to enter Sherwood Forest with Robin'sband of merry men, and meet such unforgettable characters as FriarTuck, Little John, Allan-a-Dale, the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham,and wicked King John. Every moment of the story is filled withaction and excitement.

A trip in a caboose at the end of a freight train leads to anold clown and a search.