Classic Nature

Experiencing a story read out loud is one of the oldest forms of entertainment there is. Fireside Reading is a way to slow down, reconnect with the timeless wisdom of great books and rediscover the simple pleasure of being read to. Join Gildart Jackson in front of a cozy fire as he reads Black Beauty by Anna Sewell to you and your family from beginning to end.

Written nearly a century and a half ago, this book was the first major animal story in children’s literature, although the author had intended it for adults. Anna Sewell had been crippled at a young age, but could still drive a horse-drawn carriage. She often drove her father to the station to go to work and later picked him up to bring him home. During those times, she saw there was often inhumane treatment of horses and was inspired to write about it in order to, as she said, “To induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses.”

Presented here are three of the most popular children's books of all time: A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, Ruth Stiles Gannett's My Father's Dragon, and Hugh Lofting's The Story of Doctor Dolittle.

A Beatrix Potter Collection, narrated by Trisha Rose, contains 23 stories. Although Beatrix Potter (1866 - 1943) had a wide variety of interests, she is best known today for her children's stories, featuring casts of animals to be found in the English countryside.

A spirited thoroughbred horse tells of his experiences with a series of different masters. Through the eyes of this beautiful animal we see the best and the worst of the human condition.

Black Beauty, The Autobiography of a Horse, was written in 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. The book became an immediate bestseller and is one of the best-selling books of all time. In addition to being a wonderful story for both children and adults, it teaches both animal welfare, and how to treat people and animals with kindness, sympathy and respect.

Schon im französischen Exil, besuchte der Wahl-Pariser Tucholsky die Pyrenäen. Natürlich konnte daraus nicht ein reiner Reisebericht entstehen; Politik, Religion, der Mensch, die Liebe, kurz: einfach alles musste mit hinein. Und das ist es denn auch: Ein Hörbuch über die Pyrenäen - und alles andere.

From Jack London comes another tale of the wild. In this story the wild half-wolf White Fang survives a harsh living in America's frozen northland. First in the wild, then as a dog of the Indian peoples, then as a fighting dog, before at last finding a good home in the south.

This is a collection of heartwarming short stories about a courageous border collie that lived in what was called The Place on Sunnybank Farm near Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Lad was a real-life dog, but author Terhune took liberties to tell fictional tales about his favorite pet.

Sick and tired of feeling shackled to the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob is longing for a change. Deciding to throw in the spatula and live among the jellyfish, SpongeBob embarks on a new life of freedom - but will it be worth it? Join SpongeBob as he sets out for the open sea.

Unter dem Sichtschutz von Farnblättern im Dickicht des Waldes wird der kleine Hase "Hops" geboren. Als junger Hase muss er schon frühzeitig lernen, dass im Wald und auf dem Feld viele Gefahren auf ihn lauern. Zusammen mit seiner Freundin "Plana" gelingt es ihm zahlreiche Abenteuer und Gefahrensituationen zu bestehen. Vor allem aber müssen sie lernen, ständig auf der Hut zu sein, denn in ihrer Umgebung treffen sie nicht immer nur auf harmlose Spielkameraden. Die größte Gefahr aber geht von ihrem ärgster Feind aus: "Er", der Zweibeiner, der immer wieder nach dem Leben der Waldbewohner trachtet.

"Le avventure di Pinocchio" o, meglio, le sue marachelle, hanno fatto e continuano a far sognare milioni di bambini, piccoli e grandi. Il grande classico della letteratura italiana rivive in questo pregevole audiolibro che si è meritato il patrocinio della Fondazione Nazionale Carlo Collodi.

Rediscover the adventures of a very unique little horse in this wonderful audio edition of the classic children's tale. Dashing, proud and brave, Uncle Peder had never made so fine a horse before. The little wooden horse loves Uncle Peder like a father and hopes never to leave him. When the toymaker falls upon hard times, the little wooden horse must go out into the world to seek his fortune.

From master storyteller Michael Morpurgo comes a surprising, charming and uplifting twist on The Wizard of Oz, told by a very special and unforgettable character: Dorothy's pet dog, Toto.

Ben and his trained dog, Sancho, run away from the circus and soon find a warm welcome in a kind community where spirited games are played. Theatricals and imaginative pageantry are all part of the fun.

Things have been difficult for Harry since his mother remarried. With a new baby at home, and only trouble at school, life is unbearable. Ocky the chimp, escaped from the circus, offers Harry a chance for a new life. Things have been difficult for Harry since his mother remarried. With a new baby at home, and only trouble at school, life is unbearable. Ocky the chimp, escaped from the circus, offers Harry a chance for a new life. With his friend, Harry runs away from all the people who seem so hard on him.

From its first publication in 1877, Black Beauty has been one of the best-loved animal stories ever written. The dramatic and heartwarming tale is told by the magnificent black horse himself, from his idyllic days on a country squire’s estate to his harsh fate as a London cab horse and his merciful rescue by two kindly old ladies. Filled with vivid anecdotes about animal intelligence, the novel derives a special magic from the love of all creatures, great and small, apparent on every page.

La escritora inglesa Anna Sewell nos ha dejado en este libro uno de los relatos más emocionantes de la literatura juvenil. Narrado en primera persona por el propio caballo, cuenta la historia de Azabache, nacido en una finca de Inglaterra, en el último cuarto del siglo pasado.

Baree was the son of a grey wolf and a black dog, born in the vast Canadian wilderness. He learns about nature and his fellow animals by trial and error; fighting with owls and playing with beavers. Being alone in the wild, he desperately seeks to join a pack of wolves, but they see him as a dog, and he is driven away.

"Desert solitaire" è diventato un libro di culto sin dalla sua pubblicazione, nel 1968. Un racconto provocatorio e mistico, arrabbiato e appassionato, in cui Edward Abbey ci restituisce la sua esperienza di ranger nell'Arches National Monument, nel Sudest dello Utah, catturandone l'essenza e trasmettendoci il desiderio di vivere nella natura e conoscerla nella sua forma più pura: silenzio, lotta, bellezza abbagliante.