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Puffin Hardback Children's Classics

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puffin classics set standingBeautiful Books Review:

The 24 books in this series (plus a few different boxed set collections) were published by Penguin between 2010 to 2021, with decorative whimsical series bindings created by Penguin designers including Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini and Matt Jones. The books in this series have been selected by Penguin’s editorial team to include classic children’s stories to inspire a lifelong love of reading – they focus particularly on English and American novels.

The series features the full unabridged texts of each book as originally published, textured ‘cloth’-like covers (indeed, the series was originally called the ‘clothbound classics’ before being replaced by a new clothbound classics series with true cloth covers), and glued bindings. It is also called the Penguin Classics Deluxe Collection when published as a boxed set. 

The hardest to find volume has long been Grimm’s Fairy Tales, so be prepared for a long wait to track it down, or a hit to your wallet if you are looking to complete the set! However, the most recent edition of Alice in Wonderland is also proving quite difficult to find for many, since it was only released in a boxed set and does not seem to have been made available individually.

Many of the books also include black and white illustrations from earlier editions, as well as thoughtful introductions from contemporary children’s authors. The cover designs are pretty (they include repeating motifs drawn from the story), and they present a lovely pastel rainbow set of spines on the shelf. The books are relatively sturdy, although the corners of the bindings are easily worn through careless handling or shelf wear.

puffin-hardback-classics-complete

Complete list of titles in the series

Boxed Set 2

Puffin Classics, May 30 2021

The set includes A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, Alice in Wonderland, Black Beauty, The Wizard of Oz and Anne of Green Gables.

*Uncommon, limited release.

❦ Buy from Amazon | eBay | AbeBooks


Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll, illus John Tenniel

Puffin Classics, May 30 2021

“Take a trip down the rabbit hole.”

*Uncommon. Not available for individual sale (only released in the 2021 boxed set)


Tarka the Otter – Henry Williamson, illus Annabel Large

Puffin Classics, 2 May 2019

“Tarka the otter lives in the Devonshire countryside.”

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Just So Stories – Rudyard Kipling, intro by Jonathan Stroud

Puffin Classics, May 24 2018

“Fantastical tales of whales and cats and kangaroos and crabs.”

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


The Railway Children – E. Nesbit, intro by Jacqueline Wilson

Puffin Classics, 3 May 2018

“When Father is taken away unexpectedly during the war, Roberta, Phyllis and Peter have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country.”

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens, intro by Garth Nix

Puffin Classics, 29 Jan 2018

“Young Oliver seeks his fortune on the streets of London.”

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson

Puffin Classics, 2 Jun 2017

Following the demise of bloodthirsty buccaneer Captain Flint, young Jim Hawkins finds himself with the key to a fortune.”

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Goodnight Mr Tom – Michelle Magorian

Puffin Classics, 15 May 2017

“When the Second World War breaks out, young Willie Beech is evacuated to the countryside under the care of kind old Tom Oakley.” 

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Little Women – Louisa May Alcott

Puffin Classics, 15 May 2017

“Even though money is short, times are tough, and their father is away at war, the March sisters’ infectious sense of fun sweeps everyone up in their adventures.”

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens, intro by Anthony Horowitz

Puffin Classics, 4 Aug 2016

One cold Christmas Eve, three ghosts take Ebenezer Scrooge on a scary journey to show him the error of his nasty ways.”

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


The Jungle Book – Rudyard Kipling, intro by Christopher Paolini

Puffin Classics, 4 Jun 2016

“Saved from the jaws of the evil tiger Shere Khan, young Mowgli is adopted by a wolf pack and taught the law of the jungle by lovable old Baloo the bear and Bhageera the panther.”

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Charlotte’s Web – E. B. White

Puffin Classics, 2 Jun 2016

“A spider called Charlotte saves a pig called Wilbur for a girl called Fern.”

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Matilda – Roald Dahl, illus Quentin Black

Puffin Classics, 7 Feb 2013

“Matilda is a brilliant and sensitive child, who decides to take revenge on her odious headmistress, Miss Trunchbull.”

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Tales of the Greek Heroes – Roger Lancelyn Green

Puffin Classics, 22 Aug 2012

“A collection of children’s retellings of the mysterious and exciting legends of the gods and heroes of Ancient Greece.”

*Uncommon.

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


The Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum | Intro by Cornelia Funke

Puffin Classics, 22 Aug 2012

“Dorothy must follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City and find the wonderfully mysterious Wizard of Oz in order to get home to Kansas with her dog Toto”.

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Black Beauty – Anna Sewell | Intro by Meg Rosoff

Puffin Classics, 22 Aug 2012

Black Beauty is a handsome, sweet-tempered colt whose strong spirit is tested when he goes from a life of comfort and kindness to one of hard labour and cruelty.”

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


A Little Princess – Frances Hodgson Burnett, intro by Adeline Yen Mah

Puffin Classics, 22 Aug 2012

“Alone in a new country, wealthy Sara Crewe tries to make friends at boarding school and settle in.”

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame

Puffin Classics, 29 Oct 2010

“Mole goes boating with Ratty, has a feast with Badger, and the experiences high jinx on the open road with reckless ruffian, Mr Toad of Toad Hall.”

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain | Intro by Darren Shan

Puffin Classics, 29 Oct 2010

“When Huck’s dad kidnaps him, he must escape down the Mississippi river with runaway slave, Jim.” 

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


The Call of the Wild – Jack London

Puffin Classics, 22 Aug 2012

“Buck is dragged away from his life in Santa Clara Valley to be a sledge dog in the harsh and freezing cold Yukon.” 

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


The Adventures of Robin Hood – Roger Lancelyn Green, illus Arthur Hall, intro by John Boyne

Puffin Classics, 29 Oct 2010

“Robin Hood, champion of the poor and oppressed, takes refuge in Sherwood Forest, and stands against the cruel power of Prince John and the brutal Sheriff of Nottingham with his band of merry men.”

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Anne of Green Gables – L. M. Montgomery

Puffin Classics, 29 Oct 2010

The Cuthberts are shocked when instead of the orphan boy they are expecting to help with the work at Green Gables, a skinny red-haired girl turns up instead.” 

❦ Buy from Amazon | Blackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett

Puffin Classics, 29 Oct 2010

“Orphaned Mary Lennox is sent from India to live in her uncle’s gloomy mansion on the wild English moors, where she finds a key to a secret garden.”

→ Read a review of the loveliest editions of The Secret Garden here

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Peter Pan – J. M. Barrie

Puffin Classics, 29 Oct 2010

“Peter Pan and Tinkerbell lead Wendy Darling and her brothers to Neverland – the island where the lost boys play and avoid Captain Hook”.

❦ Buy from AmazonBlackwells | Waterstones | AbeBooks


Grimm’s Fairy Tales – Wilhelm & Jakob Grimm, illus George Cruikshank

Puffin Classics, 29 Oct 2010

“A selection of enchanting folk and fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm.”

*Rare. OOP.

❦ Check availability on Amazon | AbeBooks | eBay


puffin classics collection box set
Boxed Set 1

Puffin Classics, 16 October 2014

The set includes A Little Princess, Anne of Green Gables, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Secret Garden, The Wind in the Willows, and Peter Pan.

Buy from Amazon | AbeBooks | eBay


Beautiful Books