Black Beauty

One of the greatest books ever narrated by a horse, with a fine message: be kind to animals, and they'll be kind to you

Michael Morpurgo, Guardian

One of the most enchanting and best-loved children's stories of all time

Mail on Sunday

This was the first book that reduced me to tears - I saw what it meant to campaign ardently and successfully for an important cause.

Esther Rantzen, Daily Mail

So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics!

National Association for the Teaching of English