A Treasury of Stories for Six Year Olds; A Treasury of Stories for Five Year Olds

Lively anthologies from a team who believe that certain stories are especially well-suited to particular ages. In the first collection we have old and new tales from all over the world with such contemporary delights as Margaret Mahy's 'Don't Cut The Lawn!' and Philippa Pearce's marvellous 'Brainbox' (about a horse who doesn't quite live up to his name but is determined to find another horse to be his friend), rubbing shoulders with traditional stories like 'Teeny-Tiny' and Edward Blishen's retelling of a Ugandan tale 'Hare and Crocodile', which is great fun.

The selection for 5-year-olds includes some newer 'old favourites' such as 'My Naughty Little Sister' who features prominently in 'The Cross Photograph' and one of David Harrison's giants - the tantrum throwing one, as well as Blishen's own (autobiographical?) delightful account of infant misadventure, 'Round the World with a Tyre'.

These make worthwhile additions to the primary staffroom bookshelf and are a good investment for parents, but don't be tied too much by the title age. There's plenty of variety in terms of mood, style and length so adult readers should find something for almost any occasion.