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Anthologies are collections of multiple stories linked through a common theme or author. Plentiful and good illustrations are very important.

The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories, written by Jane Yolen/Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illus. by Rebecca Guay, (Barefoot Books, 2004), 96p, Ages 8+.
The retelling of seven of history's greatest ballet stories are presented with a brief history of classical ballet. Featured are Coppelia, Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Shim Chung, The Sleeping Beauty, Daphnis and Chloe.

The Big Book of Little: A Classic Illustrated Edition, compiled by Cooper Edens, (Chronicle Books, 2006), 124p, Ages 5+.
This is a nice collection of fifty-nine classic poems, nursery rhymes, and excerpts from famous stories featuring antique illustrations from turn-of-the-century artists. Excerpts are from The Little Engine That Could, Teenie Weenie Town, Gulliver's Travels, Little Toot, The Brownie ABC, Peter Pan, Snow White, Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Little Prince, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Little House on the Prairie, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, With a Little Help from My Friends, Cinderella", and Thumbelina.

A Child's Garden of Verses, written by Robert Louis Stevenson, collected by Cooper Edens, (Chronicle Books, 1989), 128p, all ages.
First published in 1885, this collection contains all of the poems from the original edition. Stevenson's simple verses explore the wonder of imagination and inspire children to view the world differently. All children should hear these poems at least once in their lives.

A Collection of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, written by Rudyard Kipling, (Candlewick Press, 2004), 127p, Ages 6+.
Eight of Kipling's marvelous tales are brought together in this anthology, each story illustrated by a renowned artist. Featured is "How the Whale Got His Throat," "How the Camel Got His Hump," "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin," "How the Leopard Got His Spots," "The Elephant's Child," "The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo," "The Beginning of the Armadillos," and "The Cat That Walked by Himself."

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter, written & illus. by Beatrix Potter, (Frederick Warne & Co., 1989), 383p, Ages 3-8.
All twenty-four Peter rabbit tales are found in this one volume with original illustrations. Unabridged, the stories are arranged in the order as they were first published in England. Each story includes a brief note about its history. The first story, Tale of Peter Rabbit, published in 1902, is perhaps her most famous about a naughty, disobedient little rabbit and his encounter with Mr. McGregor's garden.

The Daddy Goose Treasury, written by Vivian French, illus. by Ross Collins/AnnaLaura Cantone/Joelle Dreidemy/Andrea Huseinovic, (The Chicken House, 2006), 96p, Ages 4-8.
The true stories behind many rhymes are told by Daddy Goose, a distant relative of Mother Goose. Twelve stories are preceded by the famous rhymes with which each is associated. Children will love to hear what possessed a cow to jump over a moon, and why the dish and the spoon decided to run away together. Then there's Little Miss Muffet, who hated curds and whey, and a lovely little spider, Speeder, who devises a plan to get rid of the food and make a friend in the process. Ten additional stories round out a great read-aloud.

Nursery Classics, retold & illus. by Paul Galdone, (Clarion Books,2001), 176p, Ages 4-8.
Included in this collection are four of Paul Galdone's most popular picture book versions of classic nursery tales - The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears, The Little Red Hen, and Cat Goes Fiddle-i-fee.

Over the Moon: A Collection of First Books, written by Margaret Wise Brown, illus. by Clement Hurd, (HarperCollins, 2006), 108p, Ages 3-6.
This beautiful anthology contains three of the most enduring and beloved children's books from Margaret Wise Brown. In "Goodnight Moon", a small rabbit settles down for the night, saying good night to animals and objects in his bedroom. "The Runaway Bunny" features a small bunny that plays hide-and-seek with his mother. Whether pretending to be a fish, a mountain climber, a sailboat, or a tightrope walker, his mother reassures him that she will always find him. In "My World", a rabbit family progresses through the day, from the viewpoint of a young bunny. The family eats breakfast, works in the garage, goes fishing, and dines on freshly caught fish.

Pinkerton & Friends: A Steven Kellogg Treasury, written & illus. by Steven Kellogg, (Dial Books, 2004) 336p, Ages 4-8.
Steven Kellogg has delighted children for years with his imagination and silliness. Many of his more famous books ("The Mysterious Tadpole" and "The Island of the Skog") as well as several little-knows books are included in this eleven-book anthology.

Princess Stories: A Classic Illustrated Edition, compiled by Cooper Edens, (Chronicle Books, 2004), 136p, Ages 7-11.
This anthology of classic princess stories portrays American and European illustrators from the 1880s to the 1920s. The stories presented are "Cinderella," (faithful to Perrault's telling of two balls) "The Frog Prince," "The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Pea," "Rapunzel," "Sleeping Beauty," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," and "Beauty and the Beast." A must for collectors.

Solomon and the Ant and Other Jewish Folktales, retold by Sheldon Oberman, commentary by Peninnah Schram, (Boyds Mills Press, 2006), 168p, Ages 8+.
In the Jewish storytelling tradition, the late Sheldon Oberman retells forty-three folktales, handed down from generation to generation. Arranged chronologically, the tales address human behavior, insights to life, humorous, and thought-provoking stories. They include religious, wisdom, riddles, and trickster tales, each with a commentary that examines the meaning of each tale and its place in history. Included are bibliographical references and glossary. A great addition for collectors and libraries.

Your Favorite Seuss, written/Illus by Dr. Seuss, (Random House, 2004), 368p, Ages 4-8
Thirteen of Dr. Seuss' stories are found in this fine anthology. Each story is prefaced by introductory essays from various authors and celebrities who admired him. There are also photographs, memorabilia, and sketches from his books.

Wiggle Waggle Fun: Stories and Rhymes for the Very Very Young, written by Margaret Mayo, (Alfred A. Knopf, 2002), 64p, Ages 2-6.
These fun-filled stories and rhymes about teddy bears, tractors, animals, playtime, bathtime, and bedtime will delight children.