The Arbuthnot Anthology was originally planned as a source book for classes in childrens literature and as a collection of materials to be enjoyed with children in groups or individually. Like the first three editions the Fourth Edition offers a balanced selection of different types of literature for children of all ages and wide range of styles and subjects for their differing tastes. The book contains a great variety of poems folk tales modern fantasy myths epics fables realistic stories historical fiction biography and informational writing. They are funny provocative tender informative exciting; there are old favorites and delightful new authors. Few activities whether in the home the library or the classroom are as rewarding as reading aloud which brings listeners closer to each other and to the reader as they share a selection and which can be a door to further inquiry a stimulus for discussion and an invitation to read more of the work of an individual author. The selections in this revision are grouped into three main parts -- Part One Time for Poetry; Part Two Time for Magic: Old and New; Part Three Time for Realism: Facts and Fiction.
