Stories for Children

Gr 3 Up—Three stories penned by Oscar Wilde are included in this book, along with the original illustrations by Charles Robinson. The first tale, "The Happy Prince," is the story of a bejeweled statue and a swallow, who use the statue's ornamentation to improve the lives of people around the city, at their own expense. "The Nightingale and the Rose" tells the tragic tale of a bird who sacrifices her life for true love. "The Selfish Giant" is about a giant who learns the value of opening his garden and his heart to children. The stories show hints of Wilde's signature wit, but their overall tone is very dark, with each tale culminating in a death. The emotional messages in each tale are valuable, like self-sacrifice and empathy, but the plots are not straightforward enough for young readers to easily grasp these lessons. Robinson's turn-of-the-century illustrations beautifully decorate each page, but like the entries, have low kid appeal. These "stories for children" may find more of an audience with adult readers.—Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT