Friendly Fairies

Johnny Gruelle (John Barton Gruelle)Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 89K words
Chapters: 9

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Friendly Fairies by Johnny GruelleAuthor: Gruelle, Johnny, 1880-1938,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Feb 1, 2004

Editor's review

This is a fairy-tale collection by Johnny Gruelle, released free by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook and classified as children's literature. Gruelle was known for children's books, and this volume continues his line of fantasy stories for young readers, centered on fairies and fairy-tale characters, with simple language and brisk plots suited to family reading or for children beginning English to browse alone. Its value lies in offering a free classic children's literature text, with illustrations matched to the stories, that can spark children's interest in the world of fantasy and give parents low-cost access to early English fairy tales. It suits bedtime stories, family reading and early English learning support. Note that this is an English original public-domain book, not bilingual or annotated; Chinese readers with weak English will need help, and the pacing and vocabulary of early fairy tales differ from modern children's books, so parents may wish to browse first and decide whether it suits their child's age and receptiveness.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Parents seeking free English fairy-tale reading for family reading
Young learners beginning English who can read simple English stories
Enthusiasts or researchers collecting public-domain children's literature and illustrations

Not a good fit for

Readers who expect a Chinese translation and prefer not to read English
Older children seeking complex plots and long narratives
Parents wanting modern graded-reading guidance for children's books

Reading tips

Parents read through first and pick short, simple pieces for bedtime stories
During family reading, look at the pictures to guess the plot first, then read the English text to lower the barrier
Let the child retell the story in their favorite character's voice to practice simple English
English learners can treat each story as short reading material, look up new words, then read it aloud

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What age is this book suitable for?

As an English original fairy-tale collection, it better suits young children who have begun English and can listen to or read simple stories, along with parents willing to read along. The exact age varies with the child's English level; parents should browse the length and vocabulary of the pieces first, then judge whether it matches the child's receptiveness.

Are there illustrations in the book?

As a public-domain children's literature title, it usually includes illustrations matched to the stories, a common presentation for early children's books of this kind. Layout and image clarity may differ between electronic editions; check the edition's description or preview pages before reading.

Can I read this book if my English is poor?

You can read it with assistance. The story language is relatively simple; parents can look up new words first and then tell the stories to their children, or read with a dictionary at hand. If you prefer not to engage with English originals at all, this book is not suitable—look for a Chinese-translated fairy-tale collection instead.

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About the author

Johnny Gruelle (John Barton Gruelle) Author · American · 1880–1938

Johnny Gruelle (born John Barton Gruelle, 1880–1938) was an American cartoonist, illustrator and children's author, born in Arcola, Illinois. He drew political cartoons for several newspapers before turning to children's picture books. In 1915 he designed the Raggedy Ann doll and obtained a patent for it; in 1918 he published Raggedy Ann Stories, after which he brought out a new series title almost every year, including Raggedy Andy Stories and Friendly Fairies. His books are notable for the close integration of pictures and text, and his friendly, lively doll characters have had a wide influence on American children's literature and illustration. Public information on his early education and artistic training is limited.