My First Oxford Book of Stories is an ideal book for young readers who are just getting to grips with reading, gaining confidence and taking those first tentative steps towards reading alone, and can also be enjoyed as a book to share with an adult. Geraldine McCaughrean mixes classic stories such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Gingerbread Man with a thoroughly contemporary touch that manages to maintain the feel of the traditional, while Ruby Green's delightful illustrations capture the essence of the writing making this a perfect gift for any child. (Ages 5 and over). --Susan Harrison