And then I checked Project Gutenberg. A HUGE number of Mack Reynolds' books and stories are in the public domain! I should note that some of them include a bit of softcore pornography, although I haven't checked the specific books on PG.

"Black Man's Burden" was particularly notable, as I recall - not as porn (don't remember if it had any), but in it's approach to race. Anyone familiar with the famous poem by Rudyard Kipling will, of course, recognize the source of the title.

Here's a link to all 33 of his works on Project Gutenberg:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Mack+Reynolds

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@wat Old children's books are one of my specialties!

Here's the link to Hugh Lofting's books on Project Gutenberg. They're available in all the major formats, WITH his original illustrations (which I highly recommend). Later books aren't in the public domain yet, but they're well worth searching out. We particularly loved "Doctor Dolittle In the Moon" and "Doctor Dolittle's Return".

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/269

I don't know if I should recommend any more, but I can't help myself. This is a topic I really love; I've done lots of panels on children's books, and have read aloud to groups of children at libraries and conventions. So:

One book I *highly* recommend for children is "Mister Penny" (1935) by Marie Hall Ets. Not only is it a great story of an old man and his family of animals (wonderfully illustrated by the author), but it's a real joy to read aloud. The animal voices are perfect. The book has been out of print for decades, but you can find copies for sale online. There are also two sequels; they're not quite as good, but still very enjoyable.

"D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths" (1967) is a true classic. It's a great introduction to Greek mythology for children, beautifully illustrated by the authors. My father used to read it to me when I was a toddler, and I read it to my own son in turn.

The wonderful _Tim_ books written and beautifully illustrated by Edward Ardizonne are perfect for younger children. The series begins with "Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain" (1936). Tim's adventures at sea are sure to make a lasting impression.

"The Cat Who Tasted Cinnamon Toast" (1968) by Ann Spencer is a treasure. It's about a wealthy New York spinster whose cat develops a taste for haute cuisine. Inspired by Julia Child's show, she attempts _truites amandine_. It's wonderfully funny and beautifully illustrated, including an illustration of Julia on TV. It's long out of print, but you can find used copies online at a reasonable price. Or your library might be able to get it through inter-library loan.

Esther Averill wrote thirteen books (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Averill) about Jenny Linsky, a shy little black cat in Greenwich Village who learns to be brave and make friends. The series begins with "The Cat Club" (1944), in which Jenny gains her iconic red scarf and silver skates. It’s a lovely series, illustrated by the author. Jenny and the Cat Club (1973) is a new collection of some stories from the series, but it's definitely worth getting all thirteen books if you can!

I'll stop there. But I have a file with nearly a thousand books I've previously recommended, many of them for children and young adults. If you ever need more recommendations, I'd be glad to give you access to it!

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