The children’s classics here were not all written for children. Alice was told to a dean’s daughters, Peter and Wendy grew out of a play, and Huckleberry Finn was written for adults in a boy’s voice. What they share is a child’s-eye view and a willingness to take nonsense seriously.
Books in this collection
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — Lewis Carroll, 1865 · ~27,000 words · ~1.5 hours
- Peter and Wendy — J. M. Barrie, 1911 · ~47,000 words · ~2.6 hours
- The Jungle Book — Rudyard Kipling, 1894 · ~52,000 words · ~2.9 hours
- The Secret Garden — Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1910 · ~80,500 words · ~4.5 hours
- Anne of Green Gables — L. M. Montgomery, 1908 · ~118,000 words · ~6.6 hours
- Little Women — Louisa May Alcott, 1868 · ~188,000 words · ~10.4 hours
- Treasure Island — Robert Louis Stevenson, 1883 · ~67,000 words · ~3.7 hours
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer — Mark Twain, 1876 · ~70,000 words · ~3.9 hours
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — Mark Twain, 1884 · ~109,000 words · ~6.1 hours
- A Christmas Carol — Charles Dickens, 1843 · ~28,500 words · ~1.6 hours
- The Blue Castle — L. M. Montgomery, 1926 · ~82,000 words · ~4.6 hours
Where to start
For reading aloud: Alice, Peter and Wendy, The Jungle Book. For a child reading alone: The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, Treasure Island. For the older end: Little Women, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What age are these children’s classics for?
Roughly 7–12 for Alice, The Jungle Book and Peter and Wendy; 10+ for The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables and Treasure Island.
Which should I read aloud first?
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and A Christmas Carol read best aloud — short chapters, strong voices.
Are these editions abridged?
No. Each is the complete text as originally published.
Do they contain the original illustrations?
The Standard Ebooks sources include the original illustrations where they were part of the first edition.
Why is Huckleberry Finn on a children’s list?
It is often read as one, though Twain wrote it for adults; the narration is a boy’s.
Are these books public domain?
Yes, all are public domain in the United States.