From the Introduction
There is a story that the king of Spain once looked out a window onto the street and saw a man walking along reading a book, slapping his head and roaring with laughter. “I’ll bet he is reading Don Quixote,” the king exclaimed.
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ISBN: 978-1-890517-10-6
From the Introduction
When Gulliver’s Travels was written nearly 300 years ago, European explorers were making maps of all the world. But the Pacific Ocean, where some of the story takes place, was a mystery. Some geographers thought there must be an undiscovered continent somewhere in its lonely reaches. Explorers and sailors who came back from the Pacific wrote vivid tales of their voyages and claimed to have seen strange cultures and fantastic animals, such as unicorns, griffins and giant eagles. Jonathan Swift presented his book’s hero, Gulliver, as such a traveler.
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ISBN: 978-1-890517-00-7
The latest volume in the Core Classics series, this edition of the King Arthur legends will please teachers and students alike. The magic realm of Camelot is made inviting by a lively text that preserves the spirit and feel of the Middle Ages but also makes the story accessible to young readers. Enhanced by the Howard Pyle illustrations, the adventures of Gawaine, Galahad, and the other Knights of the Round Table are enchanting in their own right but also make a perfect supplement to the Core Knowledge history unit on the Middle Ages. As always in the Core Classics series, helpful word glosses are added to the text and an introduction is provided by E. D. Hirsch, Jr.
ISBN: 978-1-890517-35-9
Little Women, by Louis May Alcott, has been one of America’s favorite novels for almost 150 years. This edition of Little Women is designed to ensure that students get the most out of their time with the March sisters — Beth, Amy, Jo, and Meg — as they endure hard times and learn about the importance of family and friends. Set in New England during the Civil War, the novel exposes readers to life in America during a pivotal time in history, from the emotional turmoil caused by the Civil War to austere yet elegant fashions and ideals of the Victorian era, from bouts with scarlet fever to the complexities of human relationships.
ISBN: 978-1-933486-01-7
Update: The Teacher's Guide for Frederick Douglass is now available as a download from the online bookstore.
A powerful testament to the human spirit — the life of Frederick Douglass is presented in a new Core Classics Plus study edition especially prepared for young readers. To the classic text we’ve added lavish illustrations, historical backgrounds, vocabulary in context, lots of cross curricular activities, writing extensions, projects and much, much more. This primary source material is splendidly suitable for American history, social studies, and literature classes.
ISBN: 978-1-933486-00-0
From the Introduction
When Pollyanna was published in 1913 it created an amazing sensation among readers and rapidly sold more than a million copies. People were very attracted to the story’s cheery main character. They wished they had her outlook on life.
Now available in eBook format on Amazon.com.
ISBN: 978-1-890517-06-9
From the Introduction
Two heroes from the Middle Ages still stir our imaginations. One is King Arthur, with his knights of the Round Table. The other is Robin Hood, with his band of forest outlaws. King Arthur and his knights live at court. They go into the dark woods when they are after adventure. But forests hold no danger to Robin Hood and his men. Sherwood Forest is their home, and they feel safe there. The King Arthur stories tell of the mighty noblemen who rule. The Robin Hood stories tell of common men who defy their masters and rule themselves.
ISBN: 978-1-890517-16-8
From the Introduction
The story of Robinson Crusoe was inspired by a real-life castaway. In 1705, Alexander Selkirk, a Scotsman, argued angrily with the captain of his ship over whether their boat was too leaky to sail. After the boat stopped to get fresh water at an island in the Pacific Ocean, Selkirk refused to go back on board. So the captain left him there alone with a Bible, a gun, a kettle, and a few tools and supplies. Four-and-a-half years later another English ship visiting the island saw a signal fire and found Selkirk still alive. Today, the island is named for him.
ISBN: 978-1-890517-02-1
From the Introduction
At the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, the most famous detective in fiction, most stories were told in parts in magazines over many months. The problem with that, Doyle thought, was that if readers happened to miss the first part, they would not be interested in picking up the story later. So he decided to write stories that were complete in one issue and had main characters that reappeared in future adventures. Edgar Allen Poe wrote the first detective story, but Doyle reinvented it with the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson.
ISBN: 978-1-890517-08-3
From the Introduction
At the time of the American Revolution Europeans tended to think of America as rough and uncivilized. Washington Irving’s short stories came as a surprise to them. Indeed, a great part of his fame in America rested on the fact that he was the first New World writer who Old World readers considered worth reading.
ISBN: 978-1-890517-14-4
