Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children

Containing six enduring tales, this new edition of ‘Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children’ is an absolute delight.

The collection contains two of his best loved and best known stories, ‘The Happy Prince’ and ‘The Selfish Giant’, both tales which I loved as a child. There is always some debate with Wilde’s fairy tales as to whether they are truly meant for children as they are sometimes dark and emotionally charged. I cried for ages on first reading ‘The Happy Prince’- yet borrowed it from the library again and again. However, any adult considering sharing these stories with the children in their lives, whether at home or at school, would be well advised to pre-read them to be able to discuss and enjoy sharing them with younger readers as they feel appropriate.

However, these stories are full of memorable characters and offer so much to discuss and reflect on and this edition is so beautifully illustrated, making it the perfect choice. Pages are edged with papercuts which frame the text and adorn the endpapers whilst gorgeous paintings accompany each story. The style of these give the book a charming, timeless feeling, making this a wonderful collection to introduce children to Wilde’s stories.

Essential for readers young and old!

Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children

Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara

Little Island ISBN: 978-1915071897

At Home in a Book

In ‘At Home in a Book’, Lauren O’Hara introduces readers to nine classic tales through a combination of illustration and extracts. This is the sort of book which I would have loved as a child- one which can be explored in different ways, lingered over and enjoyed again and again.

Each book is introduced with an extract, followed by a cross section picture of the home central to that story. This is followed by additional information about characters and other details. Perfect for tempting children to explore one (or more) of these classic books, each section offers a taste of the story without spoiling it and allowing readers to have some understanding of the story before diving in.

But this is also a book to inspire the imagination and develop new stories. Gazing into the cottage Heidi shares with her grandfather, exploring below deck on the Jolly Roger or peeking into 221B Baker Street allows readers to engage with the stories in a different way, particularly if they are already familiar with them. They may question Lauren O’Hara’s interpretation of some of these homes or nod happily in agreement as her vision matches their own. It might inspire some to try capturing other favourite books in the same way- perhaps ‘Mole End’, 32, Windsor Gardens or the Buckets’ home.

The book also offers a world of nostalgia for adults looking back at some of their childhood treasures. It would make a wonderful gift for any booklover- old or young- as well as a lovely addition to libraries.

At Home in a Book

Lauren O’Hara

Puffin ISBN: 978-0241665794