An Alphabet of Old Friends
Walter Crane's Alphabet of Old Friends is a collection of 26 charmingly illustrated stories, each one featuring a different animal character. The stories are written in a simple, easy-to-understand style, making them perfect for young readers. The stories are set in a variety of locations, from the countryside to the city, and feature a wide range of animals, from cats and dogs to birds and even a dragon. Each story is accompanied by a beautiful full-page illustration, making the book a delight to look at as well as to read. The stories are full of humor and adventure, and each one has a moral lesson to be learned. The characters are all lovable and the stories are sure to bring a smile to the reader's face. Walter Crane's Alphabet of Old Friends is a timeless classic that will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
By Walter Crane · First published 1874 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Folklore · 1,258 words
First lines
A A carrion crow sat on an oak, Watching a tailor shape his cloak. "Wife, bring me my old bent bow, That I may shoot yon carrion crow." The tailor he shot and missed his mark, And shot his own sow quite through the heart. "Wife, wife, bring brandy in a spoon, For our old sow is in a swoon."
B Ba, ba, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, marry, have I, Three bags full. One for my master, One for my dame, But none for the little boy That cries in the lane.
What this Textopian page supports
An Alphabet of Old Friends is listed on Textopian as a short story by Walter Crane, dated 1874 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Walter Crane
- Date: 1874 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Folklore, Poetry
- Length: 1,258 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Alphabet of Old Friends by Walter Crane
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Alphabet of Old Friends?
- How does this short story by Walter Crane fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Children's Literature — An Alphabet of Old Friends is a children's book written by Walter Crane, which features a collection of stories and illustrations about old friends.
- Fantasy — The book contains stories and illustrations about mythical creatures and characters, making it a work of fantasy.
- Folklore — The stories and illustrations in the book are based on traditional folklore, making it a work of folklore.
- Poetry — The book contains a collection of poems written by Walter Crane, making it a work of poetry.
Tags
Alphabet · Children's Picture Books · Children's poetry · Nursery rhymes · baby · bring · butter · called · carrion · cock · cradle · cross