Water Babies

In this Victorian fantasy, plunging into a land beneath the water, a young chimney-sweep discovers a wonderful and mystical world of water-babies.

Children's Literature

It's the straight story, which has been around for over one hundred and thirty-five years. In this edition, beautiful color plates and dozens of two-color illustrations enhance the story. Tom flees his hard life and mean master and he finds himself in a world under water where life is much nicer. Kingsley was concerned about the treatment of children and his story was part of his effort to stimulate social reforms. That doesn't take away from the charm of the tale. This version is perfect for gift giving and a great book for reading aloud. Peter Glassman provides an Afterword.

Charles Kingsley (1819—1875) was an Anglican minister, the Regius Professor of History at Cambridge, and the author of numerous novels, including Westward Ho! He also wrote poetry, sermons, and magazine articles. Richard D. Beards is an associate professor of English at Temple University.