The Secret Garden: A Robert Ingpen Illustrated Classic

The rating is for the edition, not the story (wonderful book). I was looking for an attractive edition for my daughter but this is an odd and unappealing format - large pages, tiny marginals and no page breaks between chapters, just a line. Poor quality, cheap-looking cover too. Looks like an amateur publishing job - terrible. Asked for refund.

A warning for those in hopes of obtaining this particular 1956 edition by The Reprint Society London with its dust cover illustrated by Ernest H Shepard. I read this book during the 1950's as a child & wanted to replace my very scruffy copy with this copy as shown with its dust jacket. Sadly the image of this book may not be delivered by one of the sellers despite being specified as this 1956 copy. I was sent another format 1986 Octopus books ltd which I had not wanted. (I've been extremely fortunate to recently secure an exact copy with its dust jacket from an antiquarian bookseller for a price far more that this one advertise!)However despite my original disappointment I would urge you to obtain a copy that appeals to you for there are some editions with very nice illustrations too for this classic story is a wonderful read of a nostalgic world that has long disappeared. With the strong elements of children bonding with each other through animals & nature, the transformation of a hidden garden & the endearing company of the robin Frances Hodgson Burnett's story will appeal to any generation.

Reading this aloud to my ten year old daughter was a real treat. It truly is a timeless classic, perhaps Burnett's finest work. Emotions such as grief are delicately wrought while the horror of being a poverty stricken orphan in the 19th century is well brought out, with this section of the book lasting a lot longer than I expected it would. Despite concerted efforts to humiliate and break the spirit of our heroine, she retains her sense of self worth and so who could resist the ending she undoubtedly deserves. My little girl had no idea about the story and so met each unfolding episode with shock, tears, wonder and delight: finally declaring (and she's a tough one to please!), that it was the best story she'd ever read or heard. I didn't read it myself as a child, but as an adult I was surprised at how well the author controlled the potential for over-sentimentality: Sara remains believable and likeable throughout. As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I loved this book as a child and my eight year old niece is now enjoying it. As many reviewers have said, it's a timeless classic. However, my review is for this edition, which isn't very nice, rather than the story which is great. The cover is quite unpleasant and my two nieces have discussed who the picture could be as it doesn't match the description of the heroine! The writing is tiny which is quite off putting and overall the quality is not that great. After only 18 pages the book is already looking quite worn. Somehow I just feel that this story deserves a beautiful edition and I think there are better ones available although a little more expensive.

I'm glad I bought this one for my young children rather than read them the original unabridged version. The original is very dense and I think my kids would have lost the plot a little if they read that. Only gripe with this is I spotted a typo or two. But I am so pleased with the way the Classic Starts series presents timeless classics to younger children, I have bought another when we finished this, and intend to buy quite a number of these to make up a collection that my kids can read by themselves. I would say these books are suitable for the average 7 to 9 year old but can also suit a more advanced 5 year old or an 11 year old who may not be a very confident reader. My kids love these so much. I'm enjoying reading many of these classics for the first time with my kids too, as when I was younger, I often avoided classics as I found the language in them too archaic and hence boring. These Classic Starts books however bring the story to life without omitting any important details and retaining as much of the original spirit of the language in the unabridged versions as possible without overwhelming younger readers.

I have read this book repeatedly over many years, from my childhood and now in my fifties! It is a timeless piece and always always makes me feel warm and renewed when I read it. Francis Hodgson Burnett is my favourite children’s author.... from the Secret Garden to The Little Prince to this children’s novel.....read it to your children and then re read it yourself, you will so glad you did. A Timeless and rare jewel.

The illustrations in this Kindle in Motion are beautiful. There are a few full page, but most are smaller - pictures of flowers that are in the Secret Garden and so on. I also love the way the illustrations in the corners of every page change as you go through the book, from bare branches through to flowers. The book itself I have loved since I was a child, but it's a pity this version has American spelling.

This particular edition of The Secret Garden was published in 1983. The cover has a wipe clean canvas texture. The pages, although smooth, are a tad thin so there is some see through of text. I like the illustrations by Stephen Lavin. They are only pen and ink line sketches but they are evocative and skilful. It's a shame they only occur at the head of each chapter and some are repeated.There is an introduction by Susan Hill in which she quotes another writer who refers to The Secret Garden as being 'the most satisfying children's book I know' She agrees and so do I. And it is more than a children's book. I was given a copy of the 1958 Puffin edition in 1963 when the first BBC adaptation of the story was being broadcast. I was captivated by the story then and I am reading it again now, in my middle sixties and I still find it compelling.