Robert Swindells knows how to make readers horripilate

Short, finely-paced chapters, action without melodrama, chill with garish theatricality . . .

A fascinating tale and genuinely frightening in places. Timing is the essence of a thriller and the brief chapters push the story forward relentlessly

Simply told but missing no opportunity to turn the screw of suspense

"What is the use of a book" thought Alice "without pictures or conversation?" If you feel the same way, then you'll love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It is full of good conversations. Alice talks to a pipe-smoking caterpillar and a mad hatter

So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics!

Many years down the line, memories of those happy shared times in which lessons are disguised as pure enjoyment for both reader and listener will be recalled as golden days.