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Children's quizzes

Quiz: Which classic children’s book should you read next?

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Children's reading lists

14 classic audiobooks you need to listen to

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16 of the best Scottish children’s books and authors

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Quizzes

Quiz: which fictional world do you belong in?

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9 books for fans of pirate stories

Brought to life by magical storytellers

Peter Pan

When Peter Pan flies through the Darling Children's nursery window one night, he is nearly captured and makes a hasty escape, leaving behind his shadow. Returning with the fairy Tinker Bell to reclaim it, he wakes up Wendy, John and Michael, and whisks them away to the magical shores of Neverland. 
 
There they meet the Lost Boys, befriend Tiger Lily and her Braves, swim with the mermaids in the lagoon and have a host of wonderful adventures. But danger awaits too, for the terrible Captain Hook and his pirate gang are determined to make them walk the plank... 
 
Abridged by Martin Jarvis, JM Barrie's timeless masterpiece is introduced by Michael Morpurgo and read by ten star actors: Kit Harrington, Martin Jarvis, Alex Jennings, Alex Kingston, Joanna Lumley, Helen McCrory, Jennifer Saunders, Juliet Stevenson, David Walliams and Zoe Wanamaker. 
 
All publisher's profits from the sale of this recording will be shared equally between The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (Registered Scottish Charity Number SC041382 and Company Number SC363695) and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (Registered Charity Number 1160024 and Company number 09338724).

J M Barrie (Author) 
James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937) was born in Scotland. He moved to London in 1885. He had a high reputation as a playwright, with productions including Quality Street (1901) and The Admirable Crichton (1902). Peter Pan was first produced on stage in 1904 and in 1911 he turned the story into a book. 
 
David Walliams (Reader) 
David Walliams is a comedian, actor and writer, best known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the hugely successfully BBC sketch comedy Little Britain. He is an active fundraiser, memorably swimming both the English Channel and the Thames, as well as broadcasting continuously for 24 hours. His love life has been the focus of much media attention, and in 2011 he tied the knot with Dutch model Lara Stone. 
 
Jennifer Saunders (Reader) 
Jennifer Saunders is a comedian, writer and actress. She has won three BAFTAs (including the Bafta Fellowship), an International Emmy, a British Comedy Award, a Rose d'Or, two Writers' Guild Awards and a People's Choice Award. She also has a certificate for coming third in the discus at the Northwich Area Sports championships, and numerous rosettes for clear round jumping and gymkhana on her pony. She lives in Devon and London with her husband Adrian Edmondson. She has three daughters who are all grown up and have left home. They have been replaced with a whippet called Olive. She has recently been forced to become a grandmother despite only being 55. Bonkers is her first book. 
@ferrifrump 
 
Michael Morpurgo (Reader) 
Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's best-loved storymakers. He has written over 150 books loved by readers around the world. His best-known work, War Horse, was adapted into a multi-Oscar-nominated film by Steven Spielberg and into a widely acclaimed play by the National Theatre. In 2003 Michael became the third Children's Laureate, a position he helped to create with the poet Ted Hughes. With his wife, Clare, he set up the charity Farms for City Children, and for their pioneering work they were both awarded the MBE in 1999. In 2017 he was awarded a knighthood for services to literature and charity.

Peter Pan and other BBC Radio plays

J. M Barrie

Four of JM Barrie’s finest plays, plus two documentaries exploring the history of Peter Pan 
 
JM Barrie is famous worldwide for his iconic creation, Peter Pan. However, many of his other works have been undeservedly forgotten. This collection contains three of his lesser-known plays, revisited for radio, as well as a dramatisation of his beloved story of the boy who never grew up. 
 
Dear Brutus 
On Midsummer’s Eve, in a magic wood, a group of guests invited by the mysterious, Puck-like Lob are offered something they all desire – a second chance... Starring Jeffrey Segal as Lob. 
 
The Admirable Crichton 
Crichton is the perfect butler, and the perfect snob, but his employer, Lord Loam, believes all men should be equal. Crichton is horrified by his master’s liberal opinions – and it will take a sea change to alter them. Starring Russell Tovey as Crichton. 
 
Mary Rose 
A soldier stares into the fire in an empty, dark house as an unsettling and tragic history unfolds before him. This haunting, eerie drama about a sinister Scottish island and a mysterious, elusive girl stars Bill Paterson and Bryony Hannah. 
 
Peter Pan 
A strange visitor transforms the Darling household one bedtime, whisking the children away to a land of adventure and wonder… This swashbuckling dramatistion of Barrie’s timeless tale, directed by the award-winning Dirk Maggs, stars Toyah Willcox, Ron Moody, June Whitfield and Roy Hudd. 
 
Bonus programmes include Opening Nights: Peter Pan Takes Flight, in which Russell Davies presents a fascinating insight into the world premiere of Peter Pan in 1904, and Why JM Barrie Wrote The Little White Bird, exploring the origins of Peter Pan and his first adventures. 
 
 
Peter Pan published with the support of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity 
A company limited by guarantee (company number 09338724) and a registered charity (charity number 1160024) 
Text copyright © 2019 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London 
All rights reserved

James Matthew Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland in 1860. Peter Pan was inspired by the author's friendship with the Llewelyn-Davies family. Barrie would tell George and Jack Llewyllen-Davies - the original lost boys - stories about Neverland. He originally wrote the story as a play and its first performance in 1904was a hit. Barrie then adapted the play into the 1911 novel Peter Pan and Wendy. He was made a baronet in 1913 and awarded the Order of Merit in 1922. J.M. Barrie died on June 19, 1937. Proceeds from every copy will go to benefit Great Ormond Street Hospital

Four of JM Barrie’s finest plays, plus two documentaries exploring the history of Peter Pan

V&A Collector's Edition

"All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust" 
 
When Peter Pan loses his shadow in the Darling children's nursery, things will never be the same again... 
 
----- 
 
Over the rooftops of London, Peter Pan and the fairy Tinkerbell lead Wendy, Michael and John Darling to Neverland to start a new life with his gang of Lost Boys. 
 
There, they will encounter mermaids, princesses, a ticking crocodile and the fearsome Captain Hook and his terrible crew of pirates. 
 
What will their new life be like in Neverland? If Captain Hook has his way, they won't live long enough to find out... 
 
----- 
 
 This special Puffin Classics edition brings together two of the most inspirational collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London - the works of Arts and Crafts pioneer William Morris and the literature of J.M Barrie. 
 
 Illustrator Liz Catchpole has selected patterns from the V&amp;A archive and introduced new artwork inspired by the collection to create a beautiful cover which brings JM Barrie's timeless story to life.

James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937) was born in Scotland. He moved to London in 1885. He had a high reputation as a playwright, with productions including Quality Street (1901) and The Admirable Crichton (1902). Peter Pan was first produced on stage in 1904 and in 1911 he turned the story into a book.

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland - the island where the lost boys play. Magic and mischief is in the air but if villainous Captain Hook has his way, before long someone will be swimming with the crocodiles . . . 
 
This special Puffin Classics edition brings together two of the most inspirational collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London - the works of Arts and Crafts pioneer William Morris and the literature of J.M Barrie. 
 
Illustrator Liz Catchpole has selected patterns from the V&amp;A archive and introduced new artwork inspired by the collection to create a beautiful cover which brings Robert Louis Stevenson's timeless story to life.

<a href="https://shop.penguin.co.uk/collections/book-bundles-penguin-english-library/?&amp;utm_source=Penguin.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=Linked_text&amp;utm_campaign=Penguin_English_Library_Series_26_06">Choose 5 classics for £25 over on the Penguin Shop</a>

'All children, except one, grow up.' 
 
It was Friday night. Mr and Mrs Darling were dining out. Nana had been tied up in the backyard. The poor dog was barking, for she could smell danger. And she was right - this was the night that Peter Pan would take the Darling children on the most breath-taking adventure of their lives, to a place called Neverland, a strange country where the lost boys live and never grow up, a land with mermaids, fairies and pirates - and of course the terrible, evil, Captain Hook. Peter Pan is undoubtedly one of the most famous and best-loved stories for children, an unforgettable, magical fantasy which has been enjoyed by generations. 
 
The Penguin English Library - collectable general readers' editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the end of the Second World War.

James Matthew Barrie was born in 1860 near Dundee in Scotland. He was the son of a weaver. He was educated at Glasgow Academy, Dumfries Academy and Edinburgh University. After working as a journalist in Nottingham he went to London and wrote for various newspapers and journals there. Between 1891 and 1902 Barrie published several successful novels and plays. Peter Pan, his greatest work, was first performed as a play in 1904. Although the original idea for Peter Pan appeared in an earlier adult novel, The Little White Bird, the full 'story' version for children was not set down on paper until 1911. J. M. Barrie died in 1937.

One starry night, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland - the island where lost boys play, mermaids splash and fairies make mischief. But a villainous-looking gang of pirates lurk in the docks, led by the terrifying Captain James Hook. Magic and excitement are in the air, but if Captain Hook has his way, before long, someone will be walking the plank and swimming with the crocodiles...

Ladybird Classics: Peter Pan

This beautiful hardback Ladybird Classic edition of Peter Pan by Sir J. M. Barrie is a perfect first illustrated introduction to the classic Neverland story for younger readers. 
 It has been sensitively abridged and retold to make it suitable for sharing with young children from 5+, whilst retaining all the key parts of the story including Peter's ongoing feud with Captain Hook, his adventures with Wendy, John and Michael as well as the friendship between the Lost Boys. 
 
 
 Detailed full-colour illustrations throughout also help to bring this classic tale to life. 
 
 Other exciting titles in the Ladybird Classics series include Alice in Wonderland, Black Beauty, Gulliver's Travels, The Secret Garden, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol and Treasure Island.

J. M. Barrie (Author) James Matthew Barrie was born in 1860 near Dundee in Scotland. He was the son of a weaver. He was educated at Glasgow Academy, Dumfries Academy and Edinburgh University. After working as a journalist in Nottingham he went to London and wrote for various newspapers and journals there. Between 1891 and 1902 Barrie published several successful novels and plays. Peter Pan, his greatest work, was first performed as a play in 1904. Although the original idea for Peter Pan appeared in an earlier adult novel, The Little White Bird, the full 'story' version for children was not set down on paper until 1911. J. M. Barrie died in 1937.

This Ladybird Classic is an abridged retelling of the classic story of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, making it perfect for introducing the story to younger children, or for newly confident readers to tackle alone. 
 
 Beautiful new illustrations throughout and a gorgeous larger format with ribbon marker bring the magic of this classic story to a new generation of children.

J. M. Barrie

Rediscover the Puffin Classics collection and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this charming edition of Peter Pan. 
 
The Darling children's lives take an extraordinary turn when Peter Pan loses his shadow in their nursery... 
 
Soaring over a sleepy London and through twinkling stars, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell lead Wendy, Michael, and John Darling on a brilliant adventure to Neverland, where pirates, mermaids, and the Lost Boys play! 
 
With magic in the air, it all seems too good to be true until the Darling children meet Capitan Hook and his terrible crew and their tick tick ticking crocodile...

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Everyman's Children's Classics has more than 50 titles in print. It offers the finest editions currently available of the world's greatest children's books in handsome, full cloth hardcover bindings. 
 
The library brings back into print major illustrators such as Ivan Bilibin, Kate Greenaway, Arthur Rackham, Nicolas Bentley, Walter Crane, Aubrey Beardsley, Edward Ardizzone, W.Heath Robinson and Mervyn Peake.

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Quiz: Which classic children’s book should you read next?

14 classic audiobooks you need to listen to

16 of the best Scottish children’s books and authors

Quiz: which fictional world do you belong in?

9 books for fans of pirate stories

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