Sixth Grade Read-Aloud Set

Orphaned at birth, Oliver Twist seems destined for a life of misery. Miraculously, he survives years of neglect, hunger, and violence. On his eighth birthday he is taken to the workhouse, and now his troubles are really about to begin.

In the heart of New England, the March sisters - sweet, beautiful Meg; headstrong, intelligent Jo; gentle, tenderhearted Beth; and lively, dramatic Amy - grow up amidst the backdrop of the Civil War. With their father away serving as a chaplain in the war, the four girls and their steadfast mother, Marmee, hold the front line at home.

Follow the girls as they navigate the triumphs and valleys of adolescence and young adulthood, from first loves to first losses. Drawing inspiration from her own life and the lives of her sisters, Louisa May Alcott paints a heartwarming picture of lives often overlooked in the society of her time: that of "little women."

"The following Tales are meant to be submitted to the young reader as an introduction to the study of Shakespeare…"

Thus begins the preface to Charles and Mary Lamb's classic work, which seeks to prepare readers for the Bard of Avon's plays. In these pages children will encounter some of Shakespeare's most famous works, such as Hamlet and Macbeth, alongside lesser-known but equally worthwhile plays such as Cymbeline and Timon of Athens. By familiarizing themselves with the storylines and characters, young students will form a foundation that will later help them venture into the complexities and rich language of Shakespeare's originals.

From the publisher:

Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks.

Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region, and the combination of Old Dan’s brawn, Little Ann’s brains, and Billy’s sheer will seems unbeatable. But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair, and that the seeds of the future can come from the scars of the past.

Where the Red Fern Grows is a beloved classic that captures the powerful bond between man and man’s best friend.

From the publisher: "Juan is the slave of the great Spanish painter Diego Velásquez and helps his master in his studio by preparing paints and stretching canvases. But Juan is an artist, too; he has taught himself by watching his master's technique. Although such work is forbidden to slaves, Juan cannot keep his secret any longer. What will happen when the truth is known?"

From the publisher: In 1861, America is on the cusp of war, and young Jethro Creighton is just nine-years-old. His brother, Tom, and his cousin, Eb, are both of fighting age. As Jethro's family is pulled into the conflict between the North and the South, loyalties are divided, dreams are threatened, and their bonds are put to the test in this heart-wrenching, coming of age story.

Many people know of the story of the three wise men, but have you ever heard the story of the other wise man? This work by Henry van Dyke explores the travels of the other wise man, Artaban. Although his experience was different than that of the three wise men, Artaban has a journey that he did not expect.

George MacDonald's classic fantasy story is a simple one at its center: the enduring struggle between light and dark, the seen and the unseen. The Princess and the Goblin was one of the earliest books of the modern Western fantasy genre, a new blend of fairy tale, folklore, and magic. Tolkien and Lewis both cite MacDonald's book as a significant influence on their own later works.

The curious and restless young Princess Irene lives in a vast castle on the side of a mountain. Far below, in the dark and winding places underneath, lives a kingdom of goblins. Grotesque but cunning, they are discontent and mischievous; they delight in tormenting their neighbors above. They are eager for vengeance on the world of men that cast them out long ago, and Irene gets caught up in their plans after a chance encounter one night. To save her kingdom she must rely on the help of the mysterious silver-haired lady she meets in a castle tower, as well as the brave and clever Curdie, a miner-boy with a talent for rhyme and song. This unabridged edition includes original 1920 illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith.