The Usborne Reading Collection 40 Books Box Set for Confident Readers - Ages 5-7 - Paperback

Titles in This Set
Forgotten Fairy Tales: The Wise Princess
Forgotten Fairy Tales: Clever Molly
Forgotten Fairy Tales: The Nettle Princess
Forgotten Fairy Tales: The Daring Princess
Animal Legends
Stories of Dinosaurs
Stories of Dragons
Stories of Ghosts
Stories of Haunted Houses
Stories of Magical Animals
Stories of Mermaids
Stories of Monsters
Stories of Unicorns
Stories of Robots
The Billy Goats Gruff
The Burglar's Breakfast
The Dinosaurs Next Door
The Emperor's New Clothes
The Monster Gang
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
The Story of Chocolate
Story of Toilets, Telephones & Other Useful Inventions
Stories of Wizards
Stories of Dolls
The Minotaur
Alice in Wonderland
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Black Beauty
Hamlet
East of the Sun, West of the Moon
Romeo and Juliet
The Clumsy Crocodile
The Railway Children
The Snow Queen
The Wizard of Oz
The Firebird
Alice Through the Looking-Glass
The Canterville Ghost
Perseus and the Gorgon
Young Reading Stories of Thor

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Usborne
Age Range: Ages 5-7 (Grades K-2)

Overview
The Usborne Reading Collection brings together 40 paperback books designed to help children grow into confident readers. Blending classic tales, world mythology, and original Usborne stories, it covers fairy tales, dinosaurs, dragons, and ghosts, giving every child something to enjoy. The first 25 titles come from Usborne Young Reading Series One, written for children just starting to read independently, while the remaining 15 come from Series Two, offering longer retellings for building readers. Bright illustrations and clear text make each book approachable, whether read aloud together or tackled solo, forming a well-rounded paperback library for growing bookshelves.

About the Books
This 40-book paperback set is built around a simple idea: reading grows in stages, and children need varied material to move confidently through each one. The first 25 books, from Usborne Young Reading Series One, are written for children just beginning to read independently. Each contains short, lively stories with plenty of illustration support, covering dinosaurs, dragons, and robots alongside reimagined fairy tales like The Emperor's New Clothes and The Billy Goats Gruff, built to grow fluency without feeling like a chore. The remaining 15 books, from Usborne Young Reading Series Two, step up the challenge with longer chapters and richer vocabulary while staying fun and accessible. This half introduces enduring classics and world literature in approachable form, including Alice in Wonderland, Black Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, The Railway Children, and Shakespeare favorites such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. Myths from Greek and Norse tradition, including Perseus and the Gorgon and Stories of Thor, sit alongside gentle non-fiction like The Story of Chocolate. Together, the two series form a natural reading pathway from short, single-topic stories to longer narratives with developed plots. Themes of courage, kindness, and curiosity run throughout, giving parents and teachers plenty to discuss after each story. The set suits daily reading practice at home, a classroom library, or a shelf for a child ready to explore further. Every book is brand new, full color throughout, in a durable paperback built for repeat reading.

Key Benefits

• 40 paperback books in one collection, offering months of varied reading material
• Progresses naturally from Series One beginner stories to Series Two longer chapter books
• Introduces classics, myths, and Shakespeare in approachable, illustrated retellings
• Bright, full-color illustrations support comprehension and engagement on every page
• Great value way to build a home or classroom reading library in one purchase
• Makes a thoughtful gift for birthdays, holidays, or back-to-school reading goals

Book-by-Book Guide
Forgotten Fairy Tales: The Wise Princess — A gentle retelling in which a thoughtful princess uses patience and good sense to solve a tricky royal problem.
Forgotten Fairy Tales: Clever Molly — Molly relies on quick thinking and kindness to outwit trouble in this lesser-known fairy tale revival.
Forgotten Fairy Tales: The Nettle Princess — A princess faces an uncomfortable enchantment and learns that resilience can turn hardship into strength.
Forgotten Fairy Tales: The Daring Princess — An adventurous heroine steps forward to face a challenge that braver-looking characters shy away from.
Animal Legends — A collection of short animal myths from around the world, perfect for curious young naturalists.
Stories of Dinosaurs — Several bite-sized dinosaur tales blend prehistoric facts with playful storytelling for early chapter readers.
Stories of Dragons — Fire-breathing dragons take center stage in a set of short, imaginative fantasy stories.
Stories of Ghosts — A spooky-but-gentle set of short ghost stories designed to thrill without overwhelming young readers.
Stories of Haunted Houses — Creaky floorboards and mysterious shadows fill these short tales set in eerie old houses.
Stories of Magical Animals — Talking creatures and enchanted pets star in this whimsical set of animal fantasy stories.
Stories of Mermaids — Underwater kingdoms and curious mermaids swim through this collection of short ocean fantasy tales.
Stories of Monsters — Friendly and funny monsters headline this lighthearted set of short stories for early readers.
Stories of Unicorns — Magical unicorns and sparkling adventures fill this gentle fantasy collection for young dreamers.
Stories of Robots — Short science-fiction stories follow helpful and mischievous robots in everyday and futuristic settings.
The Billy Goats Gruff — A classic retelling of the three goats who must outsmart a troll guarding their bridge.
The Burglar's Breakfast — A comic tale about a bumbling burglar whose plans are foiled by an unexpected breakfast mishap.
The Dinosaurs Next Door — A funny story imagining what might happen if a family of dinosaurs moved in next door.
The Emperor's New Clothes — The beloved Hans Christian Andersen tale of vanity and honesty gets a lively Usborne retelling.
The Monster Gang — A cheerful gang of friendly monsters gets into good-natured trouble in this short story.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice — A classic tale of magic gone wrong when an eager apprentice oversteps his training.
The Story of Chocolate — A factual, kid-friendly look at how chocolate is made, from cacao bean to candy bar.
Story of Toilets, Telephones & Other Useful Inventions — A fun, fact-filled look at the surprising history behind everyday household inventions.
Stories of Wizards — Spellbinding short tales follow wizards young and old as they master tricky magic.
Stories of Dolls — A gentle set of stories brings dolls and toys to life in cozy, imaginative adventures.
The Minotaur — The Greek myth of Theseus and the fearsome bull-headed Minotaur is retold for young readers.
Alice in Wonderland — Lewis Carroll's classic tale of Alice's tumble down the rabbit hole into a nonsensical world.
A Midsummer Night's Dream — Shakespeare's enchanted forest comedy of mixed-up lovers and mischievous fairies, retold for young readers.
Black Beauty — Anna Sewell's classic story of a loyal horse's life is retold with warmth for early readers.
Hamlet — Shakespeare's tragedy of the Danish prince is adapted into an accessible story for young readers.
East of the Sun, West of the Moon — A Norwegian fairy tale of a brave girl's long journey to break an enchantment.
Romeo and Juliet — Shakespeare's timeless tale of two star-crossed young lovers is retold for confident young readers.
The Clumsy Crocodile — A good-humored story about an accident-prone crocodile who learns to embrace his clumsiness.
The Railway Children — E. Nesbit's classic story of three siblings who move to the countryside and find adventure by the railway.
The Snow Queen — Hans Christian Andersen's icy fairy tale of Gerda's quest to rescue her friend Kay.
The Wizard of Oz — L. Frank Baum's beloved story of Dorothy's journey down the Yellow Brick Road is retold for young readers.
The Firebird — A Russian folk tale of a glowing magical bird and the brave hero who seeks it out.
Alice Through the Looking-Glass — Alice steps through a mirror into another topsy-turvy world in this classic Lewis Carroll sequel.
The Canterville Ghost — Oscar Wilde's witty ghost story pits a proud spirit against an unbothered modern family.
Perseus and the Gorgon — The Greek myth of Perseus and his daring quest to defeat the snake-haired Medusa.
Young Reading Stories of Thor — Norse mythology comes to life with short tales of the thunder god Thor's legendary feats.

About the Authors
This collection brings together stories from a range of Usborne writers and retellers who specialize in adapting classic literature, mythology, and original fiction for young readers. Titles are published under the Usborne imprint, one of the world's leading independent children's publishers, known for pairing engaging, level-appropriate text with vibrant illustration. Individual books in the set are credited to various Usborne authors and illustrators who each focus on a specific story or retelling, ensuring that both the beginner-level Series One titles and the more advanced Series Two titles are written with age-appropriate vocabulary, pacing, and humor throughout.

Why You'll Love This Collection
With 40 books spanning fairy tales, myths, and classics, this collection keeps young readers engaged for months, not days. It's an easy way to build a home reading library, a thoughtful birthday or holiday gift, and a reliable resource for summer reading or a classroom library shelf.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.