George MacDonald's fairy stories and fantasy have inspired a number of writers including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and of this popular fairy story, which as you might suspect concerns a little princess plotted against by a race of goblins, G.K. Chesterton said that it "made a difference to my whole existence." (Summary by Andy Minter)
32 episodes
These are 25 fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen - A collection of something for everyone - the very popular stories, the less well-known stories and favorites, that both children and grownups can enjoy.(Summary by Neeru Iyer)
25 episodes
De familie Holgersson woont in Skåne in het uiterste zuiden van Zweden op een kleine boerderij. Daar groeit hun enige zoon Niels op. Niels is niet zo vriendelijk voor de dieren thuis, hij houdt er van om ze te plagen en te sarren. Als hij op een dag een kabouter vangt en weigert die weer vrij te laten, spreekt de boze kabouter een betovering uit over Niels. Hij wordt zo klein als een duim. Op de vlucht voor de dieren die hém nu eens willen pesten, gaat Niels mee met een groep wilde ganzen. (samenvatting naar Wikipedia)
This is the Dutch translation of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, by Selma Lagerlöf
41 episodes
This is a collection of 14 songs chosen from Walter Crane's "The Baby's Opera" and "The Baby's Bouquet" containing classic nursery rhymes from England, France, and Germany. The songs are sung by LibriVox's very own Carol Stripling.
14 episodes
In LibriVox’s Multilingual Fairy Tale Collection, LibriVox volunteers read their favourite public-domain fairy tales. This is a collection of 14 fairy tales in 6 languages recorded by a variety of LibriVox members.
14 episodes
"My name is Mary Cary. I live in the Yorkburg Female Orphan Asylum. You may think nothing happens in an Orphan Asylum. It does. The orphans are sure enough children, and real much like the kind that have Mothers and Fathers; and that’s why I am going to write this story." So begins Mary’s diary, which she fills with her various doings and misadventures at the Asylum in Virginia and her sharp observations about life and human nature. She loathes Miss Bray, the head of the Asylum, who is not above telling bald-faced lies to the Board to further her own selfish ends. She loves Miss Katherine, the Asylum’s resident nurse, who has befriended Mary and serves as a gentle role model for the child. As for Martha, she is Mary’s "other self" who speaks out—and sometimes acts out—in spite of Mary’s better nature. When she unexpectedly discovers her family background, Mary writes a letter to her uncle that leads to some surprising results on the way to a happy ending.
The Chicago Record-Herald of March 12, 1910 stated, "Let’s be glad for books like Mary Cary. It isn’t so much what Mary Cary does, however, as what she is, bless her! that warms the cockles of the chilliest, most snugly corseted heart." (Summary by Jan MacGillivray)
15 episodes
"Not once upon a time but just now, in a white house by the side of a road, live three happy children.
Their mother and father gave them very odd names, for two old uncles and one aunt, which pleased the old people very much. Their names are all written in the big family Bible,--Jehosophat Green, Marmaduke Green, and Hepzebiah Green." So begins this collection of bedtime stories for children, one each night for twenty days, involving these three happy children and their playmates.
(Summary by P. Cunningham)
20 episodes
Cat Tales is the first of a series of kid-friendly collections of animal stories and non-fiction. There'll be one or two grade-school-level texts on the animal, with eight-nine fiction works. Source for these is Project Gutenberg. (Summary by BellonaTimes)
10 episodes
“THE FARTHER ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE; Being the Second and Last Part OF HIS LIFE, And of the Strange Surprizing Accounts of his Travels Round three Parts of the Globe.” After the death of his wife, Robinson Crusoe is overcome by the old wanderlust, and sets out with his faithful companion Friday to see his island once again. Thus begins a journey which will last ten years and nine months, in which Crusoe travels over the world, along the way facing dangers and discoveries in Madagascar, China, and Siberia. (Summary by D. Leeson)
17 episodes
When Jenny goes to stay with her Aunt Abby, a caretaker in a grand old manor-house, she discovers a wonderful twisting passage on the second floor with an array of colourful characters living in the rooms along it – each of them with a story to tell. (Summary by Xenutia)
22 episodes
The object of this volume is to excite interest in one of the greatest poems of English literature, which for all its greatness is but little read and known--to excite this interest not only in young persons who are not yet able to read "The Faerie Queene," with its archaisms of language, its distant ways and habits of life and thought, its exquisite melodies that only a cultivated ear can catch and appreciate, but also in adults, who, not from the lack of ability, but because they shrink from a little effort, suffer the loss of such high and refined literary pleasure as the perusal of Spenser's masterpiece can certainly give. (From the Author's introduction)
23 episodes
Dimple, the nine-year-old little girl is accustomed to being always the first. She has Bubbles, a little coloured girl as playmate and servant. One day Dimple’s cousin, Florence comes to visit her and they have a wonderful time together. But then come the rainy days and the two children easily get bored in the house… and that’s how the adventures and troubles begin. (Summary by Diana Majlinger)
11 episodes
Every boy and girl—and for that matter every man and woman, too—rejoices when the winter snows have vanished and the earth once more puts on her beautiful dress of green, for then the flowers wake from their sleep and clothe the earth with beauty.
Because all boys and girls love flowers, those of them who read this book will be interested in the beautiful stories they have to tell, loving them even more when they know something of their past history and some of the events with which they are associated. (Summary from book introduction)
14 episodes
This is the story of a little girl from New York who moves with her family to Florida in the late 19th Century. Parental warning: as this book was first published in 1903 and set in the American South, and although the author tries to be open-minded, please be aware that there are slang words used for African Americans.(Summary by BellonaTimes)
14 episodes
Humorvolle Geschichte einer Musikerfamilie mit sieben Kindern zu Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts (Summary by Wolfgang)
14 episodes
Lisbeth Longfrock - (Sidsel Sidsærkin in its original Norwegian) was seen by the author as a book written for adults, telling the story of a young girl growing up in a farming district in a steep-sided Norwegian Valley. First written when the author's daughter was 8 years old so she would know about his childhood spent in similar surroundings, living on a farm and spending summer in charge of the cows and goats on the mountain pastures. (Summary by Annise)
11 episodes
Jantje zag eens pruimen hangen, o! als eieren zo groot, 't Scheen, dat Jantje zou gaan plukken, schoon zijn vader 't hem verbood.’ ‘Daar alleen kan liefde woonen, daar alleen is 't leven zoet, Waar men, blij en ongedwongen, voor elkander alles doet.’ Twee citaten uit Proeve van Kleine Gedigten voor Kinderen. Van Alphen schreef voor zijn zonen drie dichtbundels (’Ziedaar, lieve wigtjes! Een bundel gedigtjes’) en gaf ze aanvankelijk anoniem uit. Deze bundels werden een groot succes, zijn tientallen malen herdrukt en zijn vertaald in het Frans, Duits, Engels, Fries en Maleis.Gelezen door: Bianca Kramer, Bart de Leeuw, Anna Simon en Peter Zinn.
3 episodes
This is a jolly little book about a little boy, a dog, a train and a house. But not an ordinary train, oh no, and not an ordinary house either! And there are songs, too. The Preface is short, dull and only for the grown-ups. (Summary by Ruth Golding)
9 episodes
This is the second book of the much loved Elsie Dinsmore series and starts where the first book left off. Elsie is still recuperating from her weakness, with her kind and indulgent father by her side.
The story revolves around how a strong bond of love and understanding takes root between the father and daughter, as they holiday at Roselands, and visit exciting places, with some of our favorite friends from the first book, Mr. Travilla, Adelaide, Chloe, Lora and the others. (Summary by Neeru Iyer)Previous book in series: Elsie Dinsmore
Next book in series: Elsie's Girlhood
26 episodes
A collection of short stories by Louisa May Alcott that were written with the intent to entertain the whole family and to fill children's heads with wonder and delight. (Summary by Jennifer Stearns)
15 episodes
Franz Graf von Pocci, der „Kasperlgraf“ verfasste mehr als 40 Kasperlstücke für das Marionettentheater mit Themen aus der Märchen- und Sagenwelt sowie Beiträge für die Münchener Bilderbogen. Seine Kasperlgeschichten ranken sich um den Kasperl Larifari, der jedoch kein netter Held, sondern eine eher ambivalente Figur ist. Larifari weist auch dunkle Seiten auf und ist als ein nie erwachsen gewordener Erwachsener zu verstehen. Er hat nie die Chance, in einer intakten Familie aufzuwachsen und wird zum Blender, Trickser und Narzissten. (Zusammenfassung von Wikipedia und Elli)
2 episodes
When Christopher Mason walked into Mr. Wicker's antique shop, he had no idea he would soon be embarking on a marvellous journey to China to find a wonderful tree made of jewels. He had no idea that Mr. Wicker was a magician and could travel through time. And that the tree was sought by others, not least among them the murderous Claggett Chew, a merchant in port and a pirate on the high seas, who also had knowledge of magic. But before Chris succeeded in quest, he would know of all these things and more. And of Mr. Wicker's friends, the sailor Ned Cilley, Becky Boozer, and the African boy Amos, changed from wood to flesh. And Christopher Mason would never be same, after. (Introduction by Arthur Piantadosi)
36 episodes
"This comical children's tale about the funny adventures of a funny pig written by an unknown author. The publisher has hired authors to write children's tales, and gave them "house names". The "name" of the author who wrote this tale is Richard Barnum. It became very successful, the most well known of Richard Barnum's tales. So, if you want to laugh a little, even if you are not a child, read this book". Summary by Stav Nisser.
12 episodes
The Just So Stories for Little Children are among Kipling's best known and loved works. This recording aims to be the first complete audio book of this title with nothing left out.The Nobel prize-winning author's enjoyment in playing with the sounds and meanings of words is very evident throughout, and adds to adults' enjoyment of these stories for children. This playfulness is also dramatically present in the plotting. For both reasons these stories been loved by generations of children and adults alike. Because the writing plays with sound and meaning the Just So Stories are best enjoyed when read aloud.As we all are, Kipling was a child of his time and social setting, so for example in "How the Leopard Got his Spots" he uses what one recent reviewer called "the N word" to refer to the Ethiopian. Each listener will need to examine critically both Kipling's attitudes and their own.This recording of the Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling includes Kipling's descriptions of the pictures he drew for the book. These pictures can be found in a PDF file to accompany each chapter. As well as the twelve stories most often published under this title (from the first British edition) it also includes "The Tabu Tale" a thirteenth story (included in the first US edition). The last story Kipling wrote "Ham and the Porcupine" is also a just so story, but has not usually been collected with the others, and perhaps lacks their verve and wordplay. The Kipling Society publishes an excellent freely available online edition with a good set of notes on the text.The stories are fanciful, and not intended to offer historical, scientific or religious accounts of the way things became. They are simply and exquisitely stories to enjoy.So please enjoy them in this reading. (Introduction by Tim Bulkeley)
13 episodes
Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville is a 1908 young-adult novel written by L. Frank Baum, famous as the creator of the Land of Oz. It is the third volume in "the successful Aunt Jane Series," following Aunt Jane's Nieces and Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad.
Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville picks up the story of the three cousins, Patsy Doyle, Beth De Graf, and Louise Merrick, soon after their return from Europe in Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad. As in that earlier book, their benign and eccentric millionaire Uncle John devotes much of his fortune to helping others — an effort managed by Patsy's father, Major Doyle. These efforts do not always yield fiscally sound results... (Summary by Wikipedia)
25 episodes
Do you believe in magic? Caroline, Charles and Charlotte do, and nothing that happens during their summer holiday at their great uncle's house does anything to diminish that belief. There the Three C.'s find a wonderful garden and some very old books, resulting in escapades which do not necessarily please the grown-ups.E. Nesbit, as usual, transports us back to the hazy summer days of a well-to-do Edwardian childhood, liberally spiced with magic, humour and lessons learned.Published exactly 100 years ago, this is one of her least-known children's books, out of print for many years, and with no text available online at the time of recording. Yes, it's dated. Yes, it's politically incorrect. But it is delightful nonetheless. As Gore Vidal once wrote: "...though a reading of E. Nesbit is hardly going to change the pattern of a nation, there is some evidence that the child who reads her will never be quite the same again, and that is probably a good thing." (Introduction by Ruth Golding)
No online text is currently available. The reader read from her own copy of the 1911 1st edition.
23 episodes
This wonderful children’s short story tells all about the youth, manhood and old age of Santa Claus and how he became immortal. (Introduction by jedopi)
22 episodes
The singing mouse tells tales of nature in songs. This book is for those who want to know how the mountains ate up the plains, what the waters said or where the city went. (summary by Nadine)
22 episodes
Follow the adventures of Katy Carr and her family, through good times and bad. (Summary by Karen Savage)
13 episodes
Viking tales are tales from Iceland, featuring the king Halfdan and his son Harald. (Summary by Nadine)
19 episodes
An Australian childrens' classic about life on a ranch around the same time of A Little Florida Lady, with a similarly plucky tomboy heroine. Also, like the latter story, expect some racial stereotyping of Asian and Aboriginal characters. (Summary by BellonaTimes)
18 episodes
Carroll Watson Rankin's best known novel is Dandelion Cottage, published in 1904 by Henry Holt and Company. She first wrote the story serially for her own children. Considered a regional classic in the midwest, it tells of four young girls who negotiate the use of a derelict cottage as a playhouse by pulling dandelions for the owner, prosperous Mr. Black. The real life model for Mr. Black is generally acknowledged to be Marquette businessman and philanthropist, Peter White. The original Dandelion Cottage is located at 440 East Arch and is privately owned. (Summary from Wikipedia)
21 episodes
In LibriVox’s Multilingual Fairy Tale Collection, LibriVox volunteers read their favourite public-domain fairy tales. This is a collection of 20 fairy tales in 6 languages recorded by a variety of LibriVox members.
20 episodes
This is the story of Joyce, an American girl who has been sent abroad to France to study, and of her adventures in France, - the wonderful house with the gate of The Giant Scissors, Jules, her little playmate, Sister Denis, the cruel Brossard, and her dear Aunt Kate. (Summary from an original 1898 copy of book.)
10 episodes
Years ago, a manufacturer built a great dock, jutting out from and then turning parallel to the shore of a northern Michigan town. The factory was abandoned, and following the habits of small towns, the space between the dock and the shore became "The Cinder Pond." Jean started life in the colony of squatters that came to live in the shanties on the dock, but fortune, heroism, and a mystery combine to change her fortunes and those of her friends near the Cinder Pond. (Advertising material from the publisher, 1915)More than one girl who reads this story will envy Jeanne her queer little home out on the end of the old dock in Lake Superior. It must indeed have been a fascinating place to live, but Jeanne's father, a gentleman himself, wanted her to grow up to be a lady, so she was sent away to be trained and educated among strangers. They were her own relatives, but they could never be anything but strangers to her, for they had no love in their hearts for the little girl who had come to make a home with them. Only her grandfather learned to love her, for she filled a bright place in his lonely life, and the story tells how he showed his feeling for her and how she was able to go back to Cinder Pond to help her little stepbrothers and -sisters. (Book Review Digest, vol. 11, 1916)An interesting story of a little French girl, who lived with her step-family on a dock near the Cinder Pond and who after several trying experiences finds a good home and real joy in helping care for her several step-brothers and sisters. Though reason for the marriage of Jeannette's father to a shiftless, but kindly Irish woman is unnecessarily emphasized, the story is a very usable one, stamped with Jeanne's friendliness and sincerity. (The Booklist, vol 12, Oct. 1915--July, 1916)
27 episodes
These articles, pamphlets, and stories relating to the Girls Scouts of America touch on the history, activities, ideals, and traditions of this remarkable girls' organization. Though some of the articles appear redundant, they were selected to represent a contemporary view spanning five years of the organization's early popularity (1917-1921). Of significance are the detailed descriptions of Girl Scout involvement in war work during what is now known as World War I. Girl Scouts were prepared through their training for merit badges to be independent, resourceful, reliable, and helpful. They were able to make their own clothes, grow and cook their own food, care for the sick, and start a small business--skills that prepared young women for their future roles as homemakers, workers, and citizens.A version of the story "The Brownies" is still part of the Brownie Girl Scout literature into the 21st century. The Encyclopaedia and Dictionary of Education edited by Foster Watson (1921) provides the following explanation under the entry for "Girl Guides": "The 'Brownies' are children under 11, who take two promises only, and whose motto is 'Lend a hand.' The scheme is based on Mrs. Ewing's story of the 'Brownies.'"Though not an official Girl Scout story, The Tadger Tales have become a tradition with many Girl Scout summer camp programs. The stories are read aloud and acted out with improvisation and much silliness. The event concludes with a secret Tadger club ritual involving a safety pin, some tape, and a bit of string.
12 episodes
Sylvie and Bruno Concluded continues the adventures of the many characters in the previous volume Sylvie and Bruno. The fairy-children Sylvie and Bruno are charming whenever they appear, their fairy companions such as the Professor delight in taking ideas to their logical (and humorous) conclusions, and many nonsense songs are sung. Meanwhile, the mortals (comprised of the unnamed narrator, the gracious Lady Muriel and the sententious Arthur) tend to become the vehicles for Carroll's regular sermons on morality and proper Christian values. (Summary by Catharine Eastman)
26 episodes
This children's book retells twelve of Shakespeare's most popular plays as stories for children. Each of the plays are rewritten as short stories or fairy tales suitable to keep the attention of child readers or listeners. The introduction of the book cites a child's ability and desire to become familiar with the works of Shakespeare as a stepping-stone toward a greater appreciation of the actual plays later in life. (Summary by timferreira)
13 episodes
This classic tale by Lewis Carroll has delighted children for generations. Alice falls down a rabbit hole and encounters a wide variety of strange and wonderful creatures in all manner of bizarre situations. Join Alice as she journeys through Wonderland, trying to make sense of what she finds there. This version is read dramatically, with different readers voicing the different characters. (Summary by Lucy Perry)CastNarrator: David GoldfarbAlice: Miss AvariceThe White Rabbit: BellonaTimesMouse: cher0520Lory: AvailleDuck: Jessamy GloorDodo: Tim FerreiraEaglet: Dennis D.Old Crab: Joshua LoganYoung Crab: SonjaMagpie: Lucy PerryCanary: ElleyKatPat: Terence TaylorBill: Aidan BrackGuinea Pig 1: Rat KingGuinea Pig 2: KelseighCaterpillar: Algy PugPigeon: KelseighFish-Footman: TerenceFrog-Footman: Peter YearsleyCook: AnaBaby: Elizabeth KlettDuchess: Heather PhillipsCheshire Cat: Elizabeth KlettMarch Hare: Denny SayersHatter: Arielle LipshawDormouse: Ruth GoldingFive: Neeru IyerTwo: ElliSeven: Henry FrigonSoldier 1: Dennis D.Soldier 2: PhilbertSoldier 3: Lucy PerryQueen of Hearts: Nadine Eckert-BouletKing of Hearts: Peter YearsleyGryphon: Algy PugMock Turtle: Kara ShallenbergKnave of Hearts: Levi ThrockmortonAlice's Sister: Diana MajlingerAudio edited by Elizabeth Klett and Arielle Lipshaw
13 episodes
Born on Christmas Day, little Carol Bird is a gentle soul who touches every life around her. Despite physical illness, Carol is loved by everyone who knows her. This year, she is going to make Christmas extra special for her family and the little Ruggles children who live nearby. (Introduction by Andrea Boltz)
7 episodes
This story is based upon the experiences of two Belgian refugees in World War I. When their parents are marched of by Germans, Jan and Marie are left alone. Now they, along with their dog, have to find their parents! (Summary by ashleighjane)
15 episodes
Dit is het derde van zes boeken over Dik Trom. We volgen de avonturen van de nu twaalfjarige Dik en zijn vrienden Piet van Dril en Jan Vos. Zijn aardsvijanden Bruin Boon en veldwachter Flipsen zijn ook weer van de partij..Andere boeken uit deze serie op LibriVox
24 episodes
The Candy Rabbit wakes up one morning to find his Destiny has arrived: he is part of a wonderful Easter display at the toy shop in which he lives -- and any moment now the customers will arrive! Follow this sweet chap as he has many little adventures, making new friends and catching up with old friends along the way. (Summary by Cori.)
10 episodes
The Happy Prince and Other Tales (also sometimes called The Happy Prince and Other Stories) is an 1888 collection of stories for children by Oscar Wilde. It is most famous for The Happy Prince, the short tale of a metal statue who befriends a migratory bird. Together, they bring happiness to others, in life as well as in death.
The stories included in this collection are:
The Happy Prince
The Nightingale and the Rose
The Selfish Giant
The Devoted Friend
The Remarkable Rocket
The stories convey an appreciation for the exotic, the sensual and for masculine beauty. (summary from Wikipedia.)
5 episodes
This delightful children's story can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike! A mischievous goat, Billy Whiskers, gets into trouble so often that the book could be named, "Billy Trouble Whiskers"! This humorous story will bring you many chuckles and give you a chance to get lost in Billy's adventures with childlike enthusiasm. From riding in a police car, to being a firehouse mascot, getting married, and finding himself a circus goat, Billy's adventures will certainly keep you entertained! (Introduction by Allyson Hester)
18 episodes
When Mary Lennox, who has been brought up in India in a spoiled manner, is orphaned she has to move to Yorkshire, England, to live with her uncle in Misselthwaite Manor. Here she is treated much differently than she was in India - she is able to make friends with children her own age, one of these being her sickly cousin, Colin Craven (Introduction by ashleighjane)
27 episodes
Kindred Spirits return for their Sophomore year at Briarwood College. There's a new girl who upsets the status quo. (Introduction by Linda Velwest)
6 episodes
The Woodpeckers is a wonderful introduction to the world of bird study for the young naturalist, covering such topics as how he finds food, courting, how he builds his nest, the interesting ways he uses his different body parts as tools, among other topics discussed in the book.If you wish to investigate further, the online text has a few diagrams and an Appendix that contains more technical information such as detailed descriptions of the different species of North American woodpeckers which were not read as part of this audiobook.
(summary by Laura Victoria)
17 episodes
In dit vierde van zes boeken over Dik Trom, krijgt Dik een nieuw buurmeisje die blind is. Ook bezoekt hij het circus, ofwel zoals ze vroeger zeiden: het Paardenspel.Andere boeken uit deze serie op LibriVox
14 episodes
A history of France from Ancient Gaul up until 1880, written in short easy to comprehend chapters aimed at teaching English children. (Summary by Guero)
52 episodes
