Marian Leighton

This selection is a good choice for the Great Illustrated Classics series, as it recounts an engaging story in a form appropriate for pre-teen readers. The excellent illustrations enhance the tale, as does a two-page map that illustrates the course of Phileas Fogg's journey. I found it amusing that he arrived a day earlier than he'd calculated, having passed over the International Date Line. No doubt this feature has amused and perplexed countless other readers, as it's a bit hard to grasp. show more This book is a good introduction to a work that is said to be the most popular of Jules Verne's novels.

PS. The adapter of this work made a mistake on p. 180, as sharp eyes will notice. It's a game of cards, where Phileas Fogg plays a spade, and a rude bystander (Col. Proctor) insists that he should play a diamond instead. In the small argument that follows, the adapter has Phileas assert that Proctor wanted him to play a "spade". The line should read that Proctor wanted him "not to play a spade." The conflict leads the two men to fight a duel with pistols, which is halted by the attack of a band of Sioux Indians. show less

A classic from childhood. Actually, I remember the movie better, with Haley Mills as Pollyanna (I think).

The classic plot of poor little wonderful girl who becomes an orphan, moves in with an unsympathetic relation (aunt), and gradually turns the cold hard woman into a loving person. All the while, making friends with everyone in town, all of whom love her.

Tragic accident, misery, eventual recovery.

It is a wonderful book, full of optimism, happiness and a positive mental outlook. I show more recommend it to anyone who needs a lift and is tired of violence, misery, gratuitous sex and profanity. show less

Pollyanna is all alone in the world, except for her cold and demanding aunt. And life in the small New England town is very different than in the West where Pollyanna grew up. Aunt Polly isn't used to children. . .or slammed doors or missed meals or any of the troublesome adventures that Pollyanna gets into. Will she ever accept this unexpected niece of hers, everyone wonders. But Pollyanna has a secret weapon, almost the only thing her father has left her. Soon the whole town will be show more playing the game that Pollyanna lives by. But will it help Pollyanna herself when her very life hangs in the balance? show less

I liked the story but I was not thrilled about the Illustrated Classics. It was too simple and too basic for me. I enjoyed the action but I felt like a lot was left out to ensure this was set up for juvenile literature and I really think that it could have kept some of the more exciting parts fluffed out rather than condensing it down to the bare bones. All in all, I liked the story and the overall plot. Again, a good many parts were too simple and to me seemed to run very quickly. I would show more recommend this AS a juvenile literature, but if you are reading this to kind of get an idea about what the story is about, what I was doing, then you are better off just reading the real book and not wasting your time with this. show less