From the Book Shelf

Here's a summer salute to another childhood favourite. Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons ( and all the books that came after), the summer adventures of 6 plucky young English sailors; the Swallows-siblings John, Susan, Titty and Roger and the Amazons- their friends Nancy and Peggy. They sail, they camp out on their own island, they find buried treasure and elude pirates. In short, they do everything we wished we could do. Even though these beloved books are now 80 years old, the spirit of fun and adventure holds true. The fact that most libraries still have copies is evidence of their staying power and sheer magic.