Classic Nature

No thanks to his naughty cat Simpkin, the tailor of Gloucester has no more twisted silk thread to finish the coat he has promised the mayor for his wedding on Christmas day. With the help of some special friends, the tailor finds that a kind favor is returned.

Old Mother West Wind is a children's bedtime story book written by Thornton Burgess. Burgess used his outdoor observations of nature as plots for his bedtime stories. The characters in the Old Mother West Wind include Peter Rabbit (known briefly as Peter Cottontail), Jimmy Skunk, Sammy Jay, Bobby Raccoon, Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog, Billy Mink, Jerry Muskrat, Spotty the Turtle, Old Mother West Wind, and her Merry Little Breezes.

Ben and his trained dog, Sancho, run away from the circus and soon find a warm welcome in a kind community where spirited games are played. Theatricals and imaginative pageantry are all part of the fun.

Celebrate the very special anniversary of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and share in 50 years of magic with this wonderful audio collection of five classic stories from the inimitable Judith Kerr.

The Enormous Crocodile is planning what to have for his lunch. He's the greediest croc in the whole river, and he wants to eat something juicy and delicious. But what can the greedy grumptious brute guzzle up? Beware! He's looking for someone to feast upon... someone who looks a lot like YOU!

Step into the exquisite miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge in this beautiful new edition of the classic picture book. Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in! Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost.

In this fable by Aesop, two mice with very different lives highlight the value of simplicity.

The Burgess Bird Book for Children introduces children to the fascinating subject of bird life in storybook fashion. Thornton Burgess uses Peter Rabbit as a means for younger children to learn about birds in the Green Forest and Green Meadows. On the journey through the book, Peter learns a great deal from sassy Jenny Wren and other neighbors. Listeners learn about common birds' physical appearance, eating, nesting habits, and songs and calls.

Officer Buckle knows more about safety than anyone in the town of Napville. But whenever he tries to share his safety tips, nobody listens - until the day the Napville Police Department buys a police dog named Gloria, who has her own way of demonstrating safety tips.

Wilfred woke early. It was his birthday. He had lots of lovely presents, but the best one was a surprise.… Mr Apple had organised a secret celebration picnic and all the mice of Brambly Hedge were invited. There was so much to carry. Poor Wilfred got very tired as he lurched and bumped his way along the grassy track. What was it Mrs Apple had said was in his hamper? Knives? Sandwiches? They were certainly heavy! When they finally arrived, Wilfred was allowed to open up the hamper and there he found the best treat of all….

Selections from Henry David Thoreau's Walden and Civil Disobedience, and Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Introduction to Thoreau", "Self-Reliance", "Nature", "The American Scholar", "Education", and "Politics". Thoreau dedicated his life to preserving his freedom as a man and an artist.

The Ugly Duckling, narrated by Glenn Hascall and written by Hans Christian Anderson, is indeed an inspiration to those of us who believe we were born ugly or less talented than our peers. Barnyard abuse, verbal abuse, or bullying: it's all pretty much the same. This classic piece by Hans Christian Anderson has delighted children for over 150 years.

Winnie-the-Pooh was Milne's first collection of stories about a fictional toy bear, which is owned by a boy called Christopher Robin, who was named after Milne's son. It was published in 1926. The stories also feature several characters modelled after Christopher's other stuffed toys, including Piglet, Eyeore, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, and Owl. The bear was originally named Edward but was later renamed after a Canadian black bear called Winnie which was left at London Zoo during the First World War.

The story of noble Black Beauty is one of the most popular children's books of all time. In this sensitive children's adaptation, Beauty movingly describes the friends, people, and places - good and bad - that he encounters in the course of his dramatic life as he is passed from master to master.

Finally, Goldilocks tasted the porridge from Baby Bear’s teeny-tiny bowl, and it was just right. In fact, it was so delicious, she ate it all up! Listen to this classic tale of a little house in the woods, a Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear, and one curious girl who is much too nosy!

Emerson wrote most of his important essays as lectures first and then revised them for print. His first two collections of essays, Essays: First Series (1841) and Essays: Second Series (1844), represent the core of his thinking. They include the well-known essays "Self-Reliance" and "The Over-Soul". Together with "Nature", these essays made the decade from the mid-1830s to the mid-1840s Emerson's most fertile period.

Little Bobby was the only son of a small farmer who lived out of town upon a country road. It was lonely on the farm, especially when his father and mother were both busy working, but the boy found a special way to amuse himself. He was very fond of music, and his father one day brought him a small fiddle, which he soon learned to play. Bobby enjoyed learning new tunes and the fiddle soon became his constant companion. To find out how the cow, the cat, and the moon became involved, you will need to listen to this delightful tale and become much wiser.

Deep in the rain forests of the Amazon jungle, a village of very lazy people wishes to do nothing but lie in their hammocks and think great thoughts. One day, a mysterious man arrives who is able to create monkeys that do absolutely everything for them. Soon, the monkeys multiply and take on every human activity - including complaining.

Everyone knows and loves the adventures of that silly old bear Winnie the Pooh, the beloved teddy bear of young Christopher Robin. This collection of 10 short stories by A. A. Milne is a family favorite, introducing Pooh Bear as well as Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, and of course, the delightful Christopher Robin, inspired by Milne's own son. This charming children's classic from 1926 continues to appeal to young and old alike.

"The Three Little Pigs" is a very funny and famous fairytale featuring anthropomorphic pigs who build three houses of different materials. The story begins with the title characters being sent out into the world by their mother, to "seek out their fortune". The first little pig builds a house of straw, but a wolf blows it down and eats him. The second pig builds a house of furze sticks, which the wolf also blows down and eats him. Each exchange between wolf and pig features ringing proverbial phrases, namely: "Little pig, little Pig, let me come in." "No, no, not by the hair on my chinny chin chin." "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in." The third pig builds a house of bricks. This little pig is very smart, and the end is a big surprise for everyone.