Category Great Books for Children

               ‘A Princess of Mars’ is the first novel in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom series, originally written and published  under the pseudonym Norman Bean.

               The story goes like this -John Carter was once mysteriously transported to Mars, called Barsoom by its inhabitants. Carter finds that he has great strength and superhuman agility in this new environment, as a result of its lesser gravity.

               He soon falls in with a nomadic tribe of Green Martians, or Tharks, as the planet’s warlike, six-limbed, green-skinned inhabitants are known.

               Thanks to his strength and martial prowess, Carter rises to a high position in the tribe, and earns the respect, and eventually the friendship of Tars Tarkas, one of the Thark chiefs. The Tharks subsequently capture Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium.

               Later, the inhabitants of Barsoom face a life threatening situation. To save life on Barsoom, Carter uses a secret telepathic code to enter the factory, bringing an engineer along with him who can correct the situation there. Carter then succumbs to asphyxiation (depriving oxygen), only to awaken back on Earth, left to wonder what has become of Barsoom and the princess whom he fell in love with.

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               ‘The Witches’ is a children’s fantasy horror novel by the British writer Roald Dahl. It was published in 1983 by Jonathan Cape in London, with illustrations by Quentin Blake.

               The story is set partly in Norway, and partly in the United Kingdom, and features the experiences of a seven-year-old British boy who goes to live with his Norwegian grandmother after his parents are killed in a car crash.

               The grand-mother is a wonderful story-teller. He loves all her stories, but he is enthralled by the one about witches, that she says, are horrific creatures who seek to kill human children.

               The book was published in 1983. In 2012 ‘The Witches’ was ranked number 81 among all-time children’s novels in a survey.

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               ‘The Railway Children’ tells the story of three young siblings, who live in a house near a railway station with their mother. Their father, an ex-government officer is in jail. Actually, he is an innocent man being falsely accused. The children befriend an old gentleman who regularly takes the 9:15 train near their home, who eventually helps the family in proving their father’s innocence, and the family is reunited.

               ‘The Railway Children’ is a children’s book by Edith Nesbit, originally serialized in The London Magazine during 1905 and first published in book form in 1906. The setting is thought to be inspired by Edith’s walks to Chelsfield railway station close to where she lived, and her observing the construction of the railway cutting and tunnel.

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               This famous children’s novel tells the story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered by the farmer, Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur in her web in order to persuade the farmer to let him live.

               ‘Charlotte’s Web’ is a children’s novel by American author E. B. White.

               The book was first published in 1952, with illustrations by Garth Williams. ‘Charlotte’s Web’ was adapted into an animated feature by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Sagittarius Productions in 1973. ‘Charlotte’s Web’ is considered a classic of children’s literature, enjoyable to adults as well as children. A live-action film version of E. B. White’s original story was released on December 15th, 2006. A video game based on this adaptation was also released in 2006.

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              The story revolves around a poor young boy named Charlie Bucket, born to penniless, starving parents. He resides with both his paternal and maternal grandparents, who are bedridden.

               Along with Charlie’s mother and father, they dwell in a dilapidated, tiny house. Charlie is fascinated by the universally-celebrated chocolate factory located in his hometown, owned by famous chocolatier Willy Wonka.

               One day, Charlie gets a ticket to visit Mr. Wonka’s factory, and he visits it with his grandfather. Do you know what happened next? Charlie Bucket became the successor of Willy Wonka!

               ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ is a 1964 children’s book by British author Roald Dahl. The story was originally inspired by Roald Dahl’s experience of chocolate factories during his school-days.

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               One Christmas Eve, a boy is lying quietly in his bed, listening for the ringing bells of Santa’s sleigh, despite having been told by a friend that Santa does not exist.

               He suddenly hears the sounds of, not Santa’s sleigh, but a train stopping in front of his house. A conductor steps outside and looks at the boy’s window, prompting the boy to put on his bath robe and slippers and go outside.

               The conductor explains to him that the train, called the Polar Express, is going to the North Pole. The boy puts out his hand, and he is pulled aboard. The train is filled with children on their way to the North Pole. The train takes the children to Santa. The boy is chosen to receive the first Christmas gift by Santa. He asks for a silver bell from Santa’s sleigh.

                Santa immediately gave him one. The Boy slips it into his pocket, but much to his disappointment, the bell just fell through a hole in his pocket. Heartbroken, he returns to his home. In the morning, his little sister finds a small box with the boy’s name on it among the presents. Inside is the silver bell!

               ‘The Polar Express’ is the classic work of Chris Van Alls-burg in 1985.

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