Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.

Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.




Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.




Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Great colourful pictures , 23 Jun 2008
My son is only 5 months, but he loves looking at this book even if he doesn't understand the "story" yet - there are lots of bright colours and things to see in the pictures. I can see him enjoying it more and more as he gets older as we discuss the content of the pictures (people, animals, clowns, magicians...) My only problem is to stop my son from eating the book! The CD is a great bonus.

Entertaining!!, 19 Jun 2008
my son just loves this book and will sit for ages looking through each page as there is so much happening at every turn including the texture of the cut out sections....i would definately recommend it.

great book, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old has had this book for a while, and loves it.
It's great fun to sing through it with him, he loves turning the pages, and he always picks this book up if there's more than one choice in front of him.
A lovely, colourful, and fun book for all.

Great fun, 21 Mar 2008
It's great when a children's rhyme we all know is given a new lease of life. This book does this. Yes there is the bus, yes there are the wheels and all the rest, but there is so much going on in each picture and each picture is so full of colour and life, that my youngster never gets tired of the book.
That's the best recommendation I can give.

This book ROCKS, 13 Jan 2008
A major favourite with my 18 month old girl. She requests it about 10 times a day, sits on my lap and ROCKS - no other way to put it. She does the wipers with her arms flailing, sticks her little fingers through the holes to turn the pages and observes the well drawn detail of doggies, butterflies etc etc. Much recommended! But of course you can't just read it, you've got to sing it and do the actions/ baby signs too!

Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.




Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Great colourful pictures , 23 Jun 2008
My son is only 5 months, but he loves looking at this book even if he doesn't understand the "story" yet - there are lots of bright colours and things to see in the pictures. I can see him enjoying it more and more as he gets older as we discuss the content of the pictures (people, animals, clowns, magicians...) My only problem is to stop my son from eating the book! The CD is a great bonus.

Entertaining!!, 19 Jun 2008
my son just loves this book and will sit for ages looking through each page as there is so much happening at every turn including the texture of the cut out sections....i would definately recommend it.

great book, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old has had this book for a while, and loves it.
It's great fun to sing through it with him, he loves turning the pages, and he always picks this book up if there's more than one choice in front of him.
A lovely, colourful, and fun book for all.

Great fun, 21 Mar 2008
It's great when a children's rhyme we all know is given a new lease of life. This book does this. Yes there is the bus, yes there are the wheels and all the rest, but there is so much going on in each picture and each picture is so full of colour and life, that my youngster never gets tired of the book.
That's the best recommendation I can give.

This book ROCKS, 13 Jan 2008
A major favourite with my 18 month old girl. She requests it about 10 times a day, sits on my lap and ROCKS - no other way to put it. She does the wipers with her arms flailing, sticks her little fingers through the holes to turn the pages and observes the well drawn detail of doggies, butterflies etc etc. Much recommended! But of course you can't just read it, you've got to sing it and do the actions/ baby signs too!

a story for all time, all ages, 20 Jul 2008
This is a classic story for children, set in the 50's, it is about time, memory and friendship.
Tom, lonely and isolated as he is in quarantine, finds his way back in time, at night (when the hall clock strikes 13), to a wonderful old garden and a little girl called Hattie, who, to his curiosity, is dressed in old fashioned clothes. The two lonely children become friends and I don't want to give away the beautifully devoloped plot, but Tom slowly realises that Hattie is growing up, while he remains the same age.
The atmosphere of the story is both mysterious and engaging, as Tom slowly works out where he is and who Hattie really is.
The end of the story takes in the biblical idea of time coming to and end, or the modern notion of not existing at all and the recognition that Tom and Hattie can/could be friends across time and for always.





Let your imagination soar into your own midnight garden, 13 Jul 2008
Tom, quarantined from his brother's measles and sent off to relatives, faces several weeks in a house converted into flats with no other kids, no playground and nothing at all for a boy of his age to do. A grandfather clock that tells the correct time but clangs different hours stands in the hallway of the house. One night, when the clock chimes a mysterious thirteenth hour, Tom goes down to investigate.

What he finds is an entirely different house with rich decorations and carpeting. And, behind the back door that in the daytime gives out to an alley, is his fondest wish - a vast garden to play in and a friend with whom to explore every tree and hedge and even the meadow and river beyond.

Time is the great mystery in this book. For Tom only 24 hours may have gone by since his last visit but seasons have passed in the garden. As for his friend, a girl named Hatty, sometimes she appears younger than he is and sometimes, she is almost an adult. And while he may spend a whole day in the garden, the grandfather clock shows that he only spent a few minutes out the door.

As with all good stories, the reader is not only immersed in the mystery and the enjoyment while reading, her imagination is stirred. And who knows what kind of concoction boils up when that happens? Oh to find one's own secret garden and a good friend behind a seemingly mundane door!

This book is not only for children but for adults as well. I would translate Tom's adventures to Zoe's Mid-afternoon Caribbean Cabana in which a cubicle-dwelling computer programmer enters a supplies closet in that hazy time between lunch and tea and finds a white sand beach, a hammock, a chick-lit novel and a cold, umbrella-decorated cocktail.

Essential reading, , 22 Jan 2008
A beautiful and tradtional story of magic, freindship & growing up. Adored by my children, loved by me.
Every school shelf should be stocked with this classic and every home shelf too.
When the trend for books is to 'gross out' young readers, this story reminds us that there is and always will be space for beautifully written well told enchanting stories.

A timeless classic, 13 Nov 2007
Tom is sent away to stay with his uncle and aunt in their small flat when his brother gets the measles. He misses his brother and their garden but one magical night, the grandfather clock in the hall strikes thirteen and Tom discovers a secret garden outside. Over the next few weeks, he spends time in the garden and befriends Hatty, a lonely orphan girl. But time obeys different rules in the "midnight garden" and gradually Hatty grows up and away from Tom...
This is a breathtakingly beautiful book. Not only are the descriptions of the garden and the frozen river lovely and evocative but the book raises all sorts of interesting questions about the nature of time, about ghosts, about dreams, about growing up and about the power of the imagination. It is quite similar in theme and feeling to "The Children of Green Knowe" - another book about a lonely boy who meets children from the past in a big garden - but is none the worse for that.
I read this book to my son, aged 7. He's probably still a little young for it but loved it all the same and I hope he'll read it for himself when he's older.

Absolutely timeless!, 04 Jun 2007
I first read this book when I was about ten and I still absolutely love it! Despite the fact it was written nearly half a century ago it has not dated at all and however many times I re-read it I still enjoy every page of it.

An absolutely magical book about time, growing up and long hours playing in leafy gardens, not just for kids but for everyone!

Go and read it, if you haven't already. And then read it again.

Winnie the Pooh: The Complete Collection of Stories and Poems was originally published in 1994, but this beautifully produced slip-cased edition has been specially created to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the publication of the very first stories about Winnie the Pooh.

It consists of the classic, well-loved, tried-and-tested stories by AA Milne, from "Winnie the Pooh" (1926), "The House at Pooh Corner" (1928) and the poetry from "When We Were Very Young" (1924) and "Now We Are Six" (1927).

Here is Edward Bear coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn't. Anyhow, here he is at the bottom, and ready to be introduced to you. Winnie-the-Pooh.

So begins the opening sentences of chapter one of this wonderful book "in which we are introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh... and the stories begin".

Although the stories are aimed at young children, older children (i.e.,adults!) of all ages will be able to recapture the wonderful Pooh stories of their childhood, remembering once again playing at Pooh sticks, reading about Hundred Acre Wood and finding out why Edward Bear is called Winnie-the-Pooh. Was he really named after a swan?

The poems are not as well-known as the Pooh stories, but nevertheless some of them are ones to which children can still relate today, even though they were written 75 years ago when, in some circles, nannies and nurseries were commonplace.

Half Way Down
Half way down the stairs
Is a stair
Where I sit
There isn't any
Other stair
Quite Like
It
I'm not at the bottom
I'm not at the top
So this is the stair
Where
I always
Stop

This exquisite book will make an excellent gift for young and old alike. --Susan Naylor

Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.




Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Great colourful pictures , 23 Jun 2008
My son is only 5 months, but he loves looking at this book even if he doesn't understand the "story" yet - there are lots of bright colours and things to see in the pictures. I can see him enjoying it more and more as he gets older as we discuss the content of the pictures (people, animals, clowns, magicians...) My only problem is to stop my son from eating the book! The CD is a great bonus.

Entertaining!!, 19 Jun 2008
my son just loves this book and will sit for ages looking through each page as there is so much happening at every turn including the texture of the cut out sections....i would definately recommend it.

great book, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old has had this book for a while, and loves it.
It's great fun to sing through it with him, he loves turning the pages, and he always picks this book up if there's more than one choice in front of him.
A lovely, colourful, and fun book for all.

Great fun, 21 Mar 2008
It's great when a children's rhyme we all know is given a new lease of life. This book does this. Yes there is the bus, yes there are the wheels and all the rest, but there is so much going on in each picture and each picture is so full of colour and life, that my youngster never gets tired of the book.
That's the best recommendation I can give.

This book ROCKS, 13 Jan 2008
A major favourite with my 18 month old girl. She requests it about 10 times a day, sits on my lap and ROCKS - no other way to put it. She does the wipers with her arms flailing, sticks her little fingers through the holes to turn the pages and observes the well drawn detail of doggies, butterflies etc etc. Much recommended! But of course you can't just read it, you've got to sing it and do the actions/ baby signs too!

a story for all time, all ages, 20 Jul 2008
This is a classic story for children, set in the 50's, it is about time, memory and friendship.
Tom, lonely and isolated as he is in quarantine, finds his way back in time, at night (when the hall clock strikes 13), to a wonderful old garden and a little girl called Hattie, who, to his curiosity, is dressed in old fashioned clothes. The two lonely children become friends and I don't want to give away the beautifully devoloped plot, but Tom slowly realises that Hattie is growing up, while he remains the same age.
The atmosphere of the story is both mysterious and engaging, as Tom slowly works out where he is and who Hattie really is.
The end of the story takes in the biblical idea of time coming to and end, or the modern notion of not existing at all and the recognition that Tom and Hattie can/could be friends across time and for always.





Let your imagination soar into your own midnight garden, 13 Jul 2008
Tom, quarantined from his brother's measles and sent off to relatives, faces several weeks in a house converted into flats with no other kids, no playground and nothing at all for a boy of his age to do. A grandfather clock that tells the correct time but clangs different hours stands in the hallway of the house. One night, when the clock chimes a mysterious thirteenth hour, Tom goes down to investigate.

What he finds is an entirely different house with rich decorations and carpeting. And, behind the back door that in the daytime gives out to an alley, is his fondest wish - a vast garden to play in and a friend with whom to explore every tree and hedge and even the meadow and river beyond.

Time is the great mystery in this book. For Tom only 24 hours may have gone by since his last visit but seasons have passed in the garden. As for his friend, a girl named Hatty, sometimes she appears younger than he is and sometimes, she is almost an adult. And while he may spend a whole day in the garden, the grandfather clock shows that he only spent a few minutes out the door.

As with all good stories, the reader is not only immersed in the mystery and the enjoyment while reading, her imagination is stirred. And who knows what kind of concoction boils up when that happens? Oh to find one's own secret garden and a good friend behind a seemingly mundane door!

This book is not only for children but for adults as well. I would translate Tom's adventures to Zoe's Mid-afternoon Caribbean Cabana in which a cubicle-dwelling computer programmer enters a supplies closet in that hazy time between lunch and tea and finds a white sand beach, a hammock, a chick-lit novel and a cold, umbrella-decorated cocktail.

Essential reading, , 22 Jan 2008
A beautiful and tradtional story of magic, freindship & growing up. Adored by my children, loved by me.
Every school shelf should be stocked with this classic and every home shelf too.
When the trend for books is to 'gross out' young readers, this story reminds us that there is and always will be space for beautifully written well told enchanting stories.

A timeless classic, 13 Nov 2007
Tom is sent away to stay with his uncle and aunt in their small flat when his brother gets the measles. He misses his brother and their garden but one magical night, the grandfather clock in the hall strikes thirteen and Tom discovers a secret garden outside. Over the next few weeks, he spends time in the garden and befriends Hatty, a lonely orphan girl. But time obeys different rules in the "midnight garden" and gradually Hatty grows up and away from Tom...
This is a breathtakingly beautiful book. Not only are the descriptions of the garden and the frozen river lovely and evocative but the book raises all sorts of interesting questions about the nature of time, about ghosts, about dreams, about growing up and about the power of the imagination. It is quite similar in theme and feeling to "The Children of Green Knowe" - another book about a lonely boy who meets children from the past in a big garden - but is none the worse for that.
I read this book to my son, aged 7. He's probably still a little young for it but loved it all the same and I hope he'll read it for himself when he's older.

Absolutely timeless!, 04 Jun 2007
I first read this book when I was about ten and I still absolutely love it! Despite the fact it was written nearly half a century ago it has not dated at all and however many times I re-read it I still enjoy every page of it.

An absolutely magical book about time, growing up and long hours playing in leafy gardens, not just for kids but for everyone!

Go and read it, if you haven't already. And then read it again.

The mirror of us all, 23 Jul 2008
Very special book, very special bear :)
Great rendition, though I must admit, I prefer having the individual books! (Maybe one day I shall have...)

Beautifully done tho :)

Pooh and You, 14 Jun 2008
This lovely collection of Pooh Bear is superbly presented and includes all things Pooh! Perfect for anyone who is a fan or wishes to read to someone who is just starting out as a pooh fan. excellent

A Classic that every home should have..., 23 Feb 2008
Ahhh Winnie the Pooh! One of the GREATEST classics of our time. When i was young, my mum gave me her old collection of Winnie The Pooh stories. I never put it down. Until the age of 17 I continued to read the same book. Now at 18, when i saw that they had released this...i was over the moon. I still read it whenever i can and never get bored of it. This is defiantly a classic that every house should have a copy of...my copy will be handed down to my kids/neices and nephews. :)

Wonderful book, 26 Nov 2007
My daughter is 2 and I will not allow her to have any of the Disney Winnie the Pooh books, toys etc, so I was delighted when she was given this book for her birthday yesterday. We sat down last night after her bath and read the first few pages - it brought back wonderful memories of my own childhood.

The colour pictures bring the stories very much to life, although I agree with a previous reviewer that the book is a bit heavy for a younger child to read on their own, but that will only encourage me to read this with my daughter which can only be a good thing!

Beautifully presented in the sleeve. A truly thoughtful present. Thanks Grandad!

Very nice book to own, 10 Jan 2005
Whether you have been brought up on Pooh or not it's good to have all the stories you knew, and even some you didn't, in one book.
Nice and big and good bedtime reading, maybe a bit heavy for kids to take to bed, but I'd say if you wanted to get Mum or Dad a present for having read them to you a few years ago, this nicely presented book with it's solid slide-in box cover would be perfect!

Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.




Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Great colourful pictures , 23 Jun 2008
My son is only 5 months, but he loves looking at this book even if he doesn't understand the "story" yet - there are lots of bright colours and things to see in the pictures. I can see him enjoying it more and more as he gets older as we discuss the content of the pictures (people, animals, clowns, magicians...) My only problem is to stop my son from eating the book! The CD is a great bonus.

Entertaining!!, 19 Jun 2008
my son just loves this book and will sit for ages looking through each page as there is so much happening at every turn including the texture of the cut out sections....i would definately recommend it.

great book, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old has had this book for a while, and loves it.
It's great fun to sing through it with him, he loves turning the pages, and he always picks this book up if there's more than one choice in front of him.
A lovely, colourful, and fun book for all.

Great fun, 21 Mar 2008
It's great when a children's rhyme we all know is given a new lease of life. This book does this. Yes there is the bus, yes there are the wheels and all the rest, but there is so much going on in each picture and each picture is so full of colour and life, that my youngster never gets tired of the book.
That's the best recommendation I can give.

This book ROCKS, 13 Jan 2008
A major favourite with my 18 month old girl. She requests it about 10 times a day, sits on my lap and ROCKS - no other way to put it. She does the wipers with her arms flailing, sticks her little fingers through the holes to turn the pages and observes the well drawn detail of doggies, butterflies etc etc. Much recommended! But of course you can't just read it, you've got to sing it and do the actions/ baby signs too!

a story for all time, all ages, 20 Jul 2008
This is a classic story for children, set in the 50's, it is about time, memory and friendship.
Tom, lonely and isolated as he is in quarantine, finds his way back in time, at night (when the hall clock strikes 13), to a wonderful old garden and a little girl called Hattie, who, to his curiosity, is dressed in old fashioned clothes. The two lonely children become friends and I don't want to give away the beautifully devoloped plot, but Tom slowly realises that Hattie is growing up, while he remains the same age.
The atmosphere of the story is both mysterious and engaging, as Tom slowly works out where he is and who Hattie really is.
The end of the story takes in the biblical idea of time coming to and end, or the modern notion of not existing at all and the recognition that Tom and Hattie can/could be friends across time and for always.





Let your imagination soar into your own midnight garden, 13 Jul 2008
Tom, quarantined from his brother's measles and sent off to relatives, faces several weeks in a house converted into flats with no other kids, no playground and nothing at all for a boy of his age to do. A grandfather clock that tells the correct time but clangs different hours stands in the hallway of the house. One night, when the clock chimes a mysterious thirteenth hour, Tom goes down to investigate.

What he finds is an entirely different house with rich decorations and carpeting. And, behind the back door that in the daytime gives out to an alley, is his fondest wish - a vast garden to play in and a friend with whom to explore every tree and hedge and even the meadow and river beyond.

Time is the great mystery in this book. For Tom only 24 hours may have gone by since his last visit but seasons have passed in the garden. As for his friend, a girl named Hatty, sometimes she appears younger than he is and sometimes, she is almost an adult. And while he may spend a whole day in the garden, the grandfather clock shows that he only spent a few minutes out the door.

As with all good stories, the reader is not only immersed in the mystery and the enjoyment while reading, her imagination is stirred. And who knows what kind of concoction boils up when that happens? Oh to find one's own secret garden and a good friend behind a seemingly mundane door!

This book is not only for children but for adults as well. I would translate Tom's adventures to Zoe's Mid-afternoon Caribbean Cabana in which a cubicle-dwelling computer programmer enters a supplies closet in that hazy time between lunch and tea and finds a white sand beach, a hammock, a chick-lit novel and a cold, umbrella-decorated cocktail.

Essential reading, , 22 Jan 2008
A beautiful and tradtional story of magic, freindship & growing up. Adored by my children, loved by me.
Every school shelf should be stocked with this classic and every home shelf too.
When the trend for books is to 'gross out' young readers, this story reminds us that there is and always will be space for beautifully written well told enchanting stories.

A timeless classic, 13 Nov 2007
Tom is sent away to stay with his uncle and aunt in their small flat when his brother gets the measles. He misses his brother and their garden but one magical night, the grandfather clock in the hall strikes thirteen and Tom discovers a secret garden outside. Over the next few weeks, he spends time in the garden and befriends Hatty, a lonely orphan girl. But time obeys different rules in the "midnight garden" and gradually Hatty grows up and away from Tom...
This is a breathtakingly beautiful book. Not only are the descriptions of the garden and the frozen river lovely and evocative but the book raises all sorts of interesting questions about the nature of time, about ghosts, about dreams, about growing up and about the power of the imagination. It is quite similar in theme and feeling to "The Children of Green Knowe" - another book about a lonely boy who meets children from the past in a big garden - but is none the worse for that.
I read this book to my son, aged 7. He's probably still a little young for it but loved it all the same and I hope he'll read it for himself when he's older.

Absolutely timeless!, 04 Jun 2007
I first read this book when I was about ten and I still absolutely love it! Despite the fact it was written nearly half a century ago it has not dated at all and however many times I re-read it I still enjoy every page of it.

An absolutely magical book about time, growing up and long hours playing in leafy gardens, not just for kids but for everyone!

Go and read it, if you haven't already. And then read it again.

The mirror of us all, 23 Jul 2008
Very special book, very special bear :)
Great rendition, though I must admit, I prefer having the individual books! (Maybe one day I shall have...)

Beautifully done tho :)

Pooh and You, 14 Jun 2008
This lovely collection of Pooh Bear is superbly presented and includes all things Pooh! Perfect for anyone who is a fan or wishes to read to someone who is just starting out as a pooh fan. excellent

A Classic that every home should have..., 23 Feb 2008
Ahhh Winnie the Pooh! One of the GREATEST classics of our time. When i was young, my mum gave me her old collection of Winnie The Pooh stories. I never put it down. Until the age of 17 I continued to read the same book. Now at 18, when i saw that they had released this...i was over the moon. I still read it whenever i can and never get bored of it. This is defiantly a classic that every house should have a copy of...my copy will be handed down to my kids/neices and nephews. :)

Wonderful book, 26 Nov 2007
My daughter is 2 and I will not allow her to have any of the Disney Winnie the Pooh books, toys etc, so I was delighted when she was given this book for her birthday yesterday. We sat down last night after her bath and read the first few pages - it brought back wonderful memories of my own childhood.

The colour pictures bring the stories very much to life, although I agree with a previous reviewer that the book is a bit heavy for a younger child to read on their own, but that will only encourage me to read this with my daughter which can only be a good thing!

Beautifully presented in the sleeve. A truly thoughtful present. Thanks Grandad!

Very nice book to own, 10 Jan 2005
Whether you have been brought up on Pooh or not it's good to have all the stories you knew, and even some you didn't, in one book.
Nice and big and good bedtime reading, maybe a bit heavy for kids to take to bed, but I'd say if you wanted to get Mum or Dad a present for having read them to you a few years ago, this nicely presented book with it's solid slide-in box cover would be perfect!

Beatrix Potter - the Complete Tales: The 23 Original Tales, 08 Aug 2008
This is a single boxed book which is truly beautifully presented. The original pictures and stories in all their splendour are laid out with loving care. If like me, you do not have room for the 23 little books in a boxed set, this is simply a wonderful alternative. It would be a fantastic present or a perfect book that will make a great impact on your bookshelves. I maybe 50 and have never read a Beatrix Potter story before, but this has certainly caught my attention and made my day!

Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.




Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Great colourful pictures , 23 Jun 2008
My son is only 5 months, but he loves looking at this book even if he doesn't understand the "story" yet - there are lots of bright colours and things to see in the pictures. I can see him enjoying it more and more as he gets older as we discuss the content of the pictures (people, animals, clowns, magicians...) My only problem is to stop my son from eating the book! The CD is a great bonus.

Entertaining!!, 19 Jun 2008
my son just loves this book and will sit for ages looking through each page as there is so much happening at every turn including the texture of the cut out sections....i would definately recommend it.

great book, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old has had this book for a while, and loves it.
It's great fun to sing through it with him, he loves turning the pages, and he always picks this book up if there's more than one choice in front of him.
A lovely, colourful, and fun book for all.

Great fun, 21 Mar 2008
It's great when a children's rhyme we all know is given a new lease of life. This book does this. Yes there is the bus, yes there are the wheels and all the rest, but there is so much going on in each picture and each picture is so full of colour and life, that my youngster never gets tired of the book.
That's the best recommendation I can give.

This book ROCKS, 13 Jan 2008
A major favourite with my 18 month old girl. She requests it about 10 times a day, sits on my lap and ROCKS - no other way to put it. She does the wipers with her arms flailing, sticks her little fingers through the holes to turn the pages and observes the well drawn detail of doggies, butterflies etc etc. Much recommended! But of course you can't just read it, you've got to sing it and do the actions/ baby signs too!

a story for all time, all ages, 20 Jul 2008
This is a classic story for children, set in the 50's, it is about time, memory and friendship.
Tom, lonely and isolated as he is in quarantine, finds his way back in time, at night (when the hall clock strikes 13), to a wonderful old garden and a little girl called Hattie, who, to his curiosity, is dressed in old fashioned clothes. The two lonely children become friends and I don't want to give away the beautifully devoloped plot, but Tom slowly realises that Hattie is growing up, while he remains the same age.
The atmosphere of the story is both mysterious and engaging, as Tom slowly works out where he is and who Hattie really is.
The end of the story takes in the biblical idea of time coming to and end, or the modern notion of not existing at all and the recognition that Tom and Hattie can/could be friends across time and for always.





Let your imagination soar into your own midnight garden, 13 Jul 2008
Tom, quarantined from his brother's measles and sent off to relatives, faces several weeks in a house converted into flats with no other kids, no playground and nothing at all for a boy of his age to do. A grandfather clock that tells the correct time but clangs different hours stands in the hallway of the house. One night, when the clock chimes a mysterious thirteenth hour, Tom goes down to investigate.

What he finds is an entirely different house with rich decorations and carpeting. And, behind the back door that in the daytime gives out to an alley, is his fondest wish - a vast garden to play in and a friend with whom to explore every tree and hedge and even the meadow and river beyond.

Time is the great mystery in this book. For Tom only 24 hours may have gone by since his last visit but seasons have passed in the garden. As for his friend, a girl named Hatty, sometimes she appears younger than he is and sometimes, she is almost an adult. And while he may spend a whole day in the garden, the grandfather clock shows that he only spent a few minutes out the door.

As with all good stories, the reader is not only immersed in the mystery and the enjoyment while reading, her imagination is stirred. And who knows what kind of concoction boils up when that happens? Oh to find one's own secret garden and a good friend behind a seemingly mundane door!

This book is not only for children but for adults as well. I would translate Tom's adventures to Zoe's Mid-afternoon Caribbean Cabana in which a cubicle-dwelling computer programmer enters a supplies closet in that hazy time between lunch and tea and finds a white sand beach, a hammock, a chick-lit novel and a cold, umbrella-decorated cocktail.

Essential reading, , 22 Jan 2008
A beautiful and tradtional story of magic, freindship & growing up. Adored by my children, loved by me.
Every school shelf should be stocked with this classic and every home shelf too.
When the trend for books is to 'gross out' young readers, this story reminds us that there is and always will be space for beautifully written well told enchanting stories.

A timeless classic, 13 Nov 2007
Tom is sent away to stay with his uncle and aunt in their small flat when his brother gets the measles. He misses his brother and their garden but one magical night, the grandfather clock in the hall strikes thirteen and Tom discovers a secret garden outside. Over the next few weeks, he spends time in the garden and befriends Hatty, a lonely orphan girl. But time obeys different rules in the "midnight garden" and gradually Hatty grows up and away from Tom...
This is a breathtakingly beautiful book. Not only are the descriptions of the garden and the frozen river lovely and evocative but the book raises all sorts of interesting questions about the nature of time, about ghosts, about dreams, about growing up and about the power of the imagination. It is quite similar in theme and feeling to "The Children of Green Knowe" - another book about a lonely boy who meets children from the past in a big garden - but is none the worse for that.
I read this book to my son, aged 7. He's probably still a little young for it but loved it all the same and I hope he'll read it for himself when he's older.

Absolutely timeless!, 04 Jun 2007
I first read this book when I was about ten and I still absolutely love it! Despite the fact it was written nearly half a century ago it has not dated at all and however many times I re-read it I still enjoy every page of it.

An absolutely magical book about time, growing up and long hours playing in leafy gardens, not just for kids but for everyone!

Go and read it, if you haven't already. And then read it again.

The mirror of us all, 23 Jul 2008
Very special book, very special bear :)
Great rendition, though I must admit, I prefer having the individual books! (Maybe one day I shall have...)

Beautifully done tho :)

Pooh and You, 14 Jun 2008
This lovely collection of Pooh Bear is superbly presented and includes all things Pooh! Perfect for anyone who is a fan or wishes to read to someone who is just starting out as a pooh fan. excellent

A Classic that every home should have..., 23 Feb 2008
Ahhh Winnie the Pooh! One of the GREATEST classics of our time. When i was young, my mum gave me her old collection of Winnie The Pooh stories. I never put it down. Until the age of 17 I continued to read the same book. Now at 18, when i saw that they had released this...i was over the moon. I still read it whenever i can and never get bored of it. This is defiantly a classic that every house should have a copy of...my copy will be handed down to my kids/neices and nephews. :)

Wonderful book, 26 Nov 2007
My daughter is 2 and I will not allow her to have any of the Disney Winnie the Pooh books, toys etc, so I was delighted when she was given this book for her birthday yesterday. We sat down last night after her bath and read the first few pages - it brought back wonderful memories of my own childhood.

The colour pictures bring the stories very much to life, although I agree with a previous reviewer that the book is a bit heavy for a younger child to read on their own, but that will only encourage me to read this with my daughter which can only be a good thing!

Beautifully presented in the sleeve. A truly thoughtful present. Thanks Grandad!

Very nice book to own, 10 Jan 2005
Whether you have been brought up on Pooh or not it's good to have all the stories you knew, and even some you didn't, in one book.
Nice and big and good bedtime reading, maybe a bit heavy for kids to take to bed, but I'd say if you wanted to get Mum or Dad a present for having read them to you a few years ago, this nicely presented book with it's solid slide-in box cover would be perfect!

Beatrix Potter - the Complete Tales: The 23 Original Tales, 08 Aug 2008
This is a single boxed book which is truly beautifully presented. The original pictures and stories in all their splendour are laid out with loving care. If like me, you do not have room for the 23 little books in a boxed set, this is simply a wonderful alternative. It would be a fantastic present or a perfect book that will make a great impact on your bookshelves. I maybe 50 and have never read a Beatrix Potter story before, but this has certainly caught my attention and made my day!

Not what I was expecting, 26 Sep 2008
Anyone who thought that Frankenstein was the tall, slow, bolt-headed monster from the films will be very surprised by this gothic/horror story.
But, hopefully, like me, you will be pleasantly surprised. The story is about a young scientist named Frankenstein who becomes interested in creating life. He attempts to make a man out of acquired body parts. The result is a large, disfigured man. This "monster" is actually a sensitive and real human being. It is only after rejection by his creator that he starts to become more of a monster figure. 'Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me? I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned, and kicked, and trampled on.' This is the thought process that comes from rejection leads to the monstrous image. Although, I will not elaborate on this as it would spoil the story.
However, I will say that the key ideas in the book are definitely to do with how much power man should have and the problems caused by man's egotistical nature. If you do decide to read this book I am sure you will find that it is far more than a gothic tale or a horror story. It is infact more again to a heartbreaking tragedy.


False Advertising by Penguin?, 22 Aug 2008
Don't make the same mistake as me, and think the book shown in the 'Search Inside' facility is the book you get. It turns out this shows a more expensive penguin edition, the rather scruffy one I got didn't have the first 58 pages shown in the contents.

Poor show Penguin - 3 stars only, for cheating!

Focus on Emotional Tragedy and The Personal Responsibility of The Scientist, 04 Aug 2008
This book is a "must read" for all science fiction / horror lovers, as you will be able to, as previously pointed out by other reviewers, trace the roots and themes of the genre back to its beginnings.

The depth of the book, however, lies in the poignant questions Shelley raises about scientific discovery and creation. These issues are as valid today as they were at the time and have been literary motifs ever since. Shelley's discussion of these themes makes this book a classic, and as such it should be understood.

If you are only familiar with Frankenstein's monster through film adaptations, you will discover an entirely different story, depicting the monster as a tragic and unloved hero, who turns into a brute following the betrayal by his creator, Victor Frankienstein.

Shelley's story centres around the emotional tragedy endured by the monster rather than on the depiction of his crimes or his outward appearance. In this context, we have to mention that the reader does not even find out how Frankenstein assembled his monster or how he infused him with life. This aspect of the story is entirely left to the reader's imagination.


Interesting, 20 Apr 2008
I don't know why I put off reading this book for so long, in my mind I imagined this to be some standard gothic horror with a monster chasing civilians but the reality was much different. The book is far more complex, the characters more complicated and the idea of creation rebelling against creator throwing up various allegories. The book does admittedly take some getting into, but it is worth persevering with as it rapidly gets better.

Frankenstein - Immoral or Kinky?, 28 Jan 2008
Although Frankenstein is undoubtedly enjoyable due to its successful attempts at being a novel tale, superbly written and carefully considered; the real fascination and pleasure of the book is to be gained from modern analysis.
Since the birth of Freudian psycho-analysis came into mainstream literary criticism, we must question Shelly's true inspiration behind writing a horror novel and the curious characters within it.
It is clear that what lies on the surface of the tale (A maddened, genius scientist creating a creature, playing the role of God and suffering the consequences) is just the starting point for literary interpretation.
I would surmise the tale is a physical apparition of a polymerization of her super-ego formulating a will to over come nature, combined with a lust for a 'large powerful man' to create the menacing daemon of her work.

Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.




Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Great colourful pictures , 23 Jun 2008
My son is only 5 months, but he loves looking at this book even if he doesn't understand the "story" yet - there are lots of bright colours and things to see in the pictures. I can see him enjoying it more and more as he gets older as we discuss the content of the pictures (people, animals, clowns, magicians...) My only problem is to stop my son from eating the book! The CD is a great bonus.

Entertaining!!, 19 Jun 2008
my son just loves this book and will sit for ages looking through each page as there is so much happening at every turn including the texture of the cut out sections....i would definately recommend it.

great book, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old has had this book for a while, and loves it.
It's great fun to sing through it with him, he loves turning the pages, and he always picks this book up if there's more than one choice in front of him.
A lovely, colourful, and fun book for all.

Great fun, 21 Mar 2008
It's great when a children's rhyme we all know is given a new lease of life. This book does this. Yes there is the bus, yes there are the wheels and all the rest, but there is so much going on in each picture and each picture is so full of colour and life, that my youngster never gets tired of the book.
That's the best recommendation I can give.

This book ROCKS, 13 Jan 2008
A major favourite with my 18 month old girl. She requests it about 10 times a day, sits on my lap and ROCKS - no other way to put it. She does the wipers with her arms flailing, sticks her little fingers through the holes to turn the pages and observes the well drawn detail of doggies, butterflies etc etc. Much recommended! But of course you can't just read it, you've got to sing it and do the actions/ baby signs too!

a story for all time, all ages, 20 Jul 2008
This is a classic story for children, set in the 50's, it is about time, memory and friendship.
Tom, lonely and isolated as he is in quarantine, finds his way back in time, at night (when the hall clock strikes 13), to a wonderful old garden and a little girl called Hattie, who, to his curiosity, is dressed in old fashioned clothes. The two lonely children become friends and I don't want to give away the beautifully devoloped plot, but Tom slowly realises that Hattie is growing up, while he remains the same age.
The atmosphere of the story is both mysterious and engaging, as Tom slowly works out where he is and who Hattie really is.
The end of the story takes in the biblical idea of time coming to and end, or the modern notion of not existing at all and the recognition that Tom and Hattie can/could be friends across time and for always.





Let your imagination soar into your own midnight garden, 13 Jul 2008
Tom, quarantined from his brother's measles and sent off to relatives, faces several weeks in a house converted into flats with no other kids, no playground and nothing at all for a boy of his age to do. A grandfather clock that tells the correct time but clangs different hours stands in the hallway of the house. One night, when the clock chimes a mysterious thirteenth hour, Tom goes down to investigate.

What he finds is an entirely different house with rich decorations and carpeting. And, behind the back door that in the daytime gives out to an alley, is his fondest wish - a vast garden to play in and a friend with whom to explore every tree and hedge and even the meadow and river beyond.

Time is the great mystery in this book. For Tom only 24 hours may have gone by since his last visit but seasons have passed in the garden. As for his friend, a girl named Hatty, sometimes she appears younger than he is and sometimes, she is almost an adult. And while he may spend a whole day in the garden, the grandfather clock shows that he only spent a few minutes out the door.

As with all good stories, the reader is not only immersed in the mystery and the enjoyment while reading, her imagination is stirred. And who knows what kind of concoction boils up when that happens? Oh to find one's own secret garden and a good friend behind a seemingly mundane door!

This book is not only for children but for adults as well. I would translate Tom's adventures to Zoe's Mid-afternoon Caribbean Cabana in which a cubicle-dwelling computer programmer enters a supplies closet in that hazy time between lunch and tea and finds a white sand beach, a hammock, a chick-lit novel and a cold, umbrella-decorated cocktail.

Essential reading, , 22 Jan 2008
A beautiful and tradtional story of magic, freindship & growing up. Adored by my children, loved by me.
Every school shelf should be stocked with this classic and every home shelf too.
When the trend for books is to 'gross out' young readers, this story reminds us that there is and always will be space for beautifully written well told enchanting stories.

A timeless classic, 13 Nov 2007
Tom is sent away to stay with his uncle and aunt in their small flat when his brother gets the measles. He misses his brother and their garden but one magical night, the grandfather clock in the hall strikes thirteen and Tom discovers a secret garden outside. Over the next few weeks, he spends time in the garden and befriends Hatty, a lonely orphan girl. But time obeys different rules in the "midnight garden" and gradually Hatty grows up and away from Tom...
This is a breathtakingly beautiful book. Not only are the descriptions of the garden and the frozen river lovely and evocative but the book raises all sorts of interesting questions about the nature of time, about ghosts, about dreams, about growing up and about the power of the imagination. It is quite similar in theme and feeling to "The Children of Green Knowe" - another book about a lonely boy who meets children from the past in a big garden - but is none the worse for that.
I read this book to my son, aged 7. He's probably still a little young for it but loved it all the same and I hope he'll read it for himself when he's older.

Absolutely timeless!, 04 Jun 2007
I first read this book when I was about ten and I still absolutely love it! Despite the fact it was written nearly half a century ago it has not dated at all and however many times I re-read it I still enjoy every page of it.

An absolutely magical book about time, growing up and long hours playing in leafy gardens, not just for kids but for everyone!

Go and read it, if you haven't already. And then read it again.

The mirror of us all, 23 Jul 2008
Very special book, very special bear :)
Great rendition, though I must admit, I prefer having the individual books! (Maybe one day I shall have...)

Beautifully done tho :)

Pooh and You, 14 Jun 2008
This lovely collection of Pooh Bear is superbly presented and includes all things Pooh! Perfect for anyone who is a fan or wishes to read to someone who is just starting out as a pooh fan. excellent

A Classic that every home should have..., 23 Feb 2008
Ahhh Winnie the Pooh! One of the GREATEST classics of our time. When i was young, my mum gave me her old collection of Winnie The Pooh stories. I never put it down. Until the age of 17 I continued to read the same book. Now at 18, when i saw that they had released this...i was over the moon. I still read it whenever i can and never get bored of it. This is defiantly a classic that every house should have a copy of...my copy will be handed down to my kids/neices and nephews. :)

Wonderful book, 26 Nov 2007
My daughter is 2 and I will not allow her to have any of the Disney Winnie the Pooh books, toys etc, so I was delighted when she was given this book for her birthday yesterday. We sat down last night after her bath and read the first few pages - it brought back wonderful memories of my own childhood.

The colour pictures bring the stories very much to life, although I agree with a previous reviewer that the book is a bit heavy for a younger child to read on their own, but that will only encourage me to read this with my daughter which can only be a good thing!

Beautifully presented in the sleeve. A truly thoughtful present. Thanks Grandad!

Very nice book to own, 10 Jan 2005
Whether you have been brought up on Pooh or not it's good to have all the stories you knew, and even some you didn't, in one book.
Nice and big and good bedtime reading, maybe a bit heavy for kids to take to bed, but I'd say if you wanted to get Mum or Dad a present for having read them to you a few years ago, this nicely presented book with it's solid slide-in box cover would be perfect!

Beatrix Potter - the Complete Tales: The 23 Original Tales, 08 Aug 2008
This is a single boxed book which is truly beautifully presented. The original pictures and stories in all their splendour are laid out with loving care. If like me, you do not have room for the 23 little books in a boxed set, this is simply a wonderful alternative. It would be a fantastic present or a perfect book that will make a great impact on your bookshelves. I maybe 50 and have never read a Beatrix Potter story before, but this has certainly caught my attention and made my day!

Not what I was expecting, 26 Sep 2008
Anyone who thought that Frankenstein was the tall, slow, bolt-headed monster from the films will be very surprised by this gothic/horror story.
But, hopefully, like me, you will be pleasantly surprised. The story is about a young scientist named Frankenstein who becomes interested in creating life. He attempts to make a man out of acquired body parts. The result is a large, disfigured man. This "monster" is actually a sensitive and real human being. It is only after rejection by his creator that he starts to become more of a monster figure. 'Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me? I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned, and kicked, and trampled on.' This is the thought process that comes from rejection leads to the monstrous image. Although, I will not elaborate on this as it would spoil the story.
However, I will say that the key ideas in the book are definitely to do with how much power man should have and the problems caused by man's egotistical nature. If you do decide to read this book I am sure you will find that it is far more than a gothic tale or a horror story. It is infact more again to a heartbreaking tragedy.


False Advertising by Penguin?, 22 Aug 2008
Don't make the same mistake as me, and think the book shown in the 'Search Inside' facility is the book you get. It turns out this shows a more expensive penguin edition, the rather scruffy one I got didn't have the first 58 pages shown in the contents.

Poor show Penguin - 3 stars only, for cheating!

Focus on Emotional Tragedy and The Personal Responsibility of The Scientist, 04 Aug 2008
This book is a "must read" for all science fiction / horror lovers, as you will be able to, as previously pointed out by other reviewers, trace the roots and themes of the genre back to its beginnings.

The depth of the book, however, lies in the poignant questions Shelley raises about scientific discovery and creation. These issues are as valid today as they were at the time and have been literary motifs ever since. Shelley's discussion of these themes makes this book a classic, and as such it should be understood.

If you are only familiar with Frankenstein's monster through film adaptations, you will discover an entirely different story, depicting the monster as a tragic and unloved hero, who turns into a brute following the betrayal by his creator, Victor Frankienstein.

Shelley's story centres around the emotional tragedy endured by the monster rather than on the depiction of his crimes or his outward appearance. In this context, we have to mention that the reader does not even find out how Frankenstein assembled his monster or how he infused him with life. This aspect of the story is entirely left to the reader's imagination.


Interesting, 20 Apr 2008
I don't know why I put off reading this book for so long, in my mind I imagined this to be some standard gothic horror with a monster chasing civilians but the reality was much different. The book is far more complex, the characters more complicated and the idea of creation rebelling against creator throwing up various allegories. The book does admittedly take some getting into, but it is worth persevering with as it rapidly gets better.

Frankenstein - Immoral or Kinky?, 28 Jan 2008
Although Frankenstein is undoubtedly enjoyable due to its successful attempts at being a novel tale, superbly written and carefully considered; the real fascination and pleasure of the book is to be gained from modern analysis.
Since the birth of Freudian psycho-analysis came into mainstream literary criticism, we must question Shelly's true inspiration behind writing a horror novel and the curious characters within it.
It is clear that what lies on the surface of the tale (A maddened, genius scientist creating a creature, playing the role of God and suffering the consequences) is just the starting point for literary interpretation.
I would surmise the tale is a physical apparition of a polymerization of her super-ego formulating a will to over come nature, combined with a lust for a 'large powerful man' to create the menacing daemon of her work.

Absolutely brilliant, 02 Oct 2008
My 7 year old son loves audio books and we have lots! He likes King Arthur tales but they can often be quite difficult to read and understand. However this is read brilliantly and we have both been gripped. Admittedly I have quite often had to pause it and explain parts but it is read in chapters which gives you convenient places to recap. We have listened travelling to and from school and for 3 nights we sat in the car on the drive listening to see what happens. This is a great next step if they are getting a little to old for 'Stories for 5/6/7 year olds" audio books. It really is great. Buy it!

Fantastic - must have!, 15 Aug 2008
I bought this for my five year old son to listen to for our holiday in France. The idea was to entertain whilst driving - it was fantastic - both me and my husband loved it just as much as our son. Sean Bean has a wonderful voice - a great story teller. It had us all in tears - magical! If you are thinking of buying this - go for it - you wont be disappointed!

anon from Camberley, 04 Feb 2008
Loved it, as do my 4yr old and 6 yr old. listened to it on the way to school and like the other reviewer had to stop myself carrying on once I had dropped off the children. So good to hear one of the classics as well, reminds me of my childhood!!

Just brilliant, 04 Jan 2007
If you are interested in this CD enough to read the reviews then take it from me, you are safe to go ahead and buy it. I got this CD for Christmas and it really delivered on every front.
The adaptation itself is brilliant. It covers most of the main events in the classic Arthur legends and gets through them at a cracking pace without ever compromising the epic nature of the stories. The classical music works very well and compliments the production nicely.
Sean Bean gives a first class reading. I've never been a big fan of his 'grim northener' srceen persona but here he uses his distinctive voice to great effect. Children who know him from the Lord of the Rings movies will find a lot to enjoy here,
The CD does not skip over some of the sexual elements and complicated relationships from the legends but manages to convey the events in a way that should be appropriate for most families who want to listen to this together on a car journey or something similair.
I can't give this CD enough praise. I listened to 25 - 30 audio books last year and this one really stood out as a wonderful production. When I finished I listened to the whole thing over again. It also sparked my interest in the Authorian legend and led me on to further reading, I can think of no higher recommendation then that.

Beautiful tale, wonderfully read, 21 May 2006
You will want to listen to it again and again. I am in my twenties and listened to it on the long drive to work. Suitable for all ages!

The Enchanted Wood is one of Enid Blyton's most memorable and truly imaginative stories, capturing a world where almost anything can happen if you just believe in the magic of nature and its creatures.

Many adults will have fond memories of discovering the world of The Enchanted Wood: from the delightfully gentle Silky the Fairy, to the wonderfully bizarre but terminally jolly Moon-Face who along with a host of strange and mysterious characters live among the branches of The Magic Faraway Tree.

Kate Winslet, the award-winning actress, was captivated by the stories at an early age and during her pregnancy approached the company who own the rights to the Enid Blyton name to ask them if they would be interested in having her record these magical stories on tape. The result is stunning.

Winslet, with her gentle, singsong voice, captures the pure joy of these unforgettable stories from the moment the tale begins, and Joe, Beth and Fanny--the three young children who move from the city with their family to the country house surrounded by the Enchanted Wood--are captured as the wide-eyed and open-minded children they really are, eager to become involved in all manner of adventure and never once questioning that this strange world they have entered might not be quite, well, normal.

Probably the most memorable and certainly the most magical Enid Blyton stories of all are here brought to life with aplomb, with Winslet's enthusiasm for the tales she tells on this five-hour collection shining through.

This recording of The Enchanted Wood is set to become a classic, and would make a fantastic gift for the young, while providing an enchanting trip down memory lane for the adult who has never quite let go of the magic. (Ages 4 and over) --Susan Harrison

Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.

Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.

A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.

Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.

My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.




Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Great colourful pictures , 23 Jun 2008
My son is only 5 months, but he loves looking at this book even if he doesn't understand the "story" yet - there are lots of bright colours and things to see in the pictures. I can see him enjoying it more and more as he gets older as we discuss the content of the pictures (people, animals, clowns, magicians...) My only problem is to stop my son from eating the book! The CD is a great bonus.

Entertaining!!, 19 Jun 2008
my son just loves this book and will sit for ages looking through each page as there is so much happening at every turn including the texture of the cut out sections....i would definately recommend it.

great book, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old has had this book for a while, and loves it.
It's great fun to sing through it with him, he loves turning the pages, and he always picks this book up if there's more than one choice in front of him.
A lovely, colourful, and fun book for all.

Great fun, 21 Mar 2008
It's great when a children's rhyme we all know is given a new lease of life. This book does this. Yes there is the bus, yes there are the wheels and all the rest, but there is so much going on in each picture and each picture is so full of colour and life, that my youngster never gets tired of the book.
That's the best recommendation I can give.

This book ROCKS, 13 Jan 2008
A major favourite with my 18 month old girl. She requests it about 10 times a day, sits on my lap and ROCKS - no other way to put it. She does the wipers with her arms flailing, sticks her little fingers through the holes to turn the pages and observes the well drawn detail of doggies, butterflies etc etc. Much recommended! But of course you can't just read it, you've got to sing it and do the actions/ baby signs too!

a story for all time, all ages, 20 Jul 2008
This is a classic story for children, set in the 50's, it is about time, memory and friendship.
Tom, lonely and isolated as he is in quarantine, finds his way back in time, at night (when the hall clock strikes 13), to a wonderful old garden and a little girl called Hattie, who, to his curiosity, is dressed in old fashioned clothes. The two lonely children become friends and I don't want to give away the beautifully devoloped plot, but Tom slowly realises that Hattie is growing up, while he remains the same age.
The atmosphere of the story is both mysterious and engaging, as Tom slowly works out where he is and who Hattie really is.
The end of the story takes in the biblical idea of time coming to and end, or the modern notion of not existing at all and the recognition that Tom and Hattie can/could be friends across time and for always.





Let your imagination soar into your own midnight garden, 13 Jul 2008
Tom, quarantined from his brother's measles and sent off to relatives, faces several weeks in a house converted into flats with no other kids, no playground and nothing at all for a boy of his age to do. A grandfather clock that tells the correct time but clangs different hours stands in the hallway of the house. One night, when the clock chimes a mysterious thirteenth hour, Tom goes down to investigate.

What he finds is an entirely different house with rich decorations and carpeting. And, behind the back door that in the daytime gives out to an alley, is his fondest wish - a vast garden to play in and a friend with whom to explore every tree and hedge and even the meadow and river beyond.

Time is the great mystery in this book. For Tom only 24 hours may have gone by since his last visit but seasons have passed in the garden. As for his friend, a girl named Hatty, sometimes she appears younger than he is and sometimes, she is almost an adult. And while he may spend a whole day in the garden, the grandfather clock shows that he only spent a few minutes out the door.

As with all good stories, the reader is not only immersed in the mystery and the enjoyment while reading, her imagination is stirred. And who knows what kind of concoction boils up when that happens? Oh to find one's own secret garden and a good friend behind a seemingly mundane door!

This book is not only for children but for adults as well. I would translate Tom's adventures to Zoe's Mid-afternoon Caribbean Cabana in which a cubicle-dwelling computer programmer enters a supplies closet in that hazy time between lunch and tea and finds a white sand beach, a hammock, a chick-lit novel and a cold, umbrella-decorated cocktail.

Essential reading, , 22 Jan 2008
A beautiful and tradtional story of magic, freindship & growing up. Adored by my children, loved by me.
Every school shelf should be stocked with this classic and every home shelf too.
When the trend for books is to 'gross out' young readers, this story reminds us that there is and always will be space for beautifully written well told enchanting stories.

A timeless classic, 13 Nov 2007
Tom is sent away to stay with his uncle and aunt in their small flat when his brother gets the measles. He misses his brother and their garden but one magical night, the grandfather clock in the hall strikes thirteen and Tom discovers a secret garden outside. Over the next few weeks, he spends time in the garden and befriends Hatty, a lonely orphan girl. But time obeys different rules in the "midnight garden" and gradually Hatty grows up and away from Tom...
This is a breathtakingly beautiful book. Not only are the descriptions of the garden and the frozen river lovely and evocative but the book raises all sorts of interesting questions about the nature of time, about ghosts, about dreams, about growing up and about the power of the imagination. It is quite similar in theme and feeling to "The Children of Green Knowe" - another book about a lonely boy who meets children from the past in a big garden - but is none the worse for that.
I read this book to my son, aged 7. He's probably still a little young for it but loved it all the same and I hope he'll read it for himself when he's older.

Absolutely timeless!, 04 Jun 2007
I first read this book when I was about ten and I still absolutely love it! Despite the fact it was written nearly half a century ago it has not dated at all and however many times I re-read it I still enjoy every page of it.

An absolutely magical book about time, growing up and long hours playing in leafy gardens, not just for kids but for everyone!

Go and read it, if you haven't already. And then read it again.

The mirror of us all, 23 Jul 2008
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