Product Description

Roberta, Peter and Phyllis live happily in London with their parents until one day their father suddenly goes away and they have to go and live in a small house in the country near a railway line. Where is their father? Why did he go and when is he coming back? Much loved by British children, this enchanting story written in 1906 has become a classic. Recommended for younger learners.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1493376 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-30
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .10 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 36 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-7-This dramatic adaptation of the 1906 classic by E. Nesbit is read by an ensemble cast of four actors. They read with conviction and help the story come alive. The story is told from the monster's point of view, a more immediate and engaging way than Nesbit's use of a narrator. It presents a loving family of three children who pull closer to their mother after their father mysteriously disappears one evening after dinner. The family is forced to move from their rather posh home in the city to a simple one in the country, and often have to "make due." The railway plays an important part in their lives. The adaptation includes all of the major events in the book, and there is a smooth transition from one adventure to another. Minor characters are foils against which the family reacts and there is no real character development, more just a series of incidents and coincidences building to the father's return. This is a comforting version for fans of Nesbit, and one that will attract new converts.
Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Washington, DC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
This two-hankie classic of British children's literature follows a mother, two daughters and a young son as they repair to a rural area near a railway station after a false accusation places the father in jail. Subdued sound effects, such as the chugging of a train as it roars by, are featured. As usual with Naxos, the tale is punctuated by bits of classical music, sometimes sad, sometimes sweepingly grand. Cast members are well chosen, particularly the young woman who portrays 12-year-old Roberta (Bobbie). A tear comes to the eye as the father is reunited with her. D.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Ingram
Children's writer Joan Lowery Nixon provides an introduction to the classic tale of Phyllis, Peter, and Roberta, three children who hang out near the railroad tracks, eagerly awaiting the return of their father. Reprint.