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Cozy Classics
Cozy Classics: Pride and Prejudice
Classics never go out of style—that’s what makes them classic. Cozy Classics is a new board book series that presents well-loved stories to children aged 0+. Every classic in the series will be condensed to 12 baby-friendly words, and each word will appear alongside a photograph of needle felted objects. Pride and Prejudice is a timeless romance about how a bad first impression can turn into love, and one of the world’s most beloved classics. Now this classic can be shared with your youngest children.
24 pages, Board Book
First published November 15, 2012
6 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Jack Wang
19 books43 followersWE TWO ALONE: STORIES
* Winner of the Danuta Gleed Literary Award from the Writers' Union of Canada for best debut collection in English
* Shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize
* CBC Books Best Canadian Fiction of 2020
* Quill and Quire 2020 Books of the Year
* 49th Shelf 2020 Fiction: Books of the Year
JACK WANG ’s fiction has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and longlisted for the Journey Prize. In 2014–15, he held the David T. K. Wong Creative Writing Fellowship at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and in 2020, he was awarded a residency at Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver. He holds a BSc from the University of Toronto, an MFA from the University of Arizona, and a PhD from Florida State University, and he is an associate professor in the Department of Writing at Ithaca College. Originally from Vancouver, he lives in Ithaca, New York, with his wife, novelist Angelina Mirabella, and their two daughters.
* Winner of the Danuta Gleed Literary Award from the Writers' Union of Canada for best debut collection in English
* Shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize
* CBC Books Best Canadian Fiction of 2020
* Quill and Quire 2020 Books of the Year
* 49th Shelf 2020 Fiction: Books of the Year
JACK WANG ’s fiction has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and longlisted for the Journey Prize. In 2014–15, he held the David T. K. Wong Creative Writing Fellowship at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and in 2020, he was awarded a residency at Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver. He holds a BSc from the University of Toronto, an MFA from the University of Arizona, and a PhD from Florida State University, and he is an associate professor in the Department of Writing at Ithaca College. Originally from Vancouver, he lives in Ithaca, New York, with his wife, novelist Angelina Mirabella, and their two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
January 7, 2013
Twins Jack and Holman Wang, from British Columbia, have hit upon a new and fun way to bring the classics to small children. I picked this up while at Chapters because of the cover - I didn't know whether to laugh or not, but the fact that it's pretty funny (the concept and execution) to adults probably helps make it fun to read over and over again, because believe me, the kids LOVE this book!
Each double-page spread features a photo illustration on one side - all made out of felt and model sets but photographed so that it looks life-sized - and a word on the opposite page. They have reduced the story of Pride and Prejudice to the following words: friends, sisters, dance, mean, sick, muddy, yes?, no!, write, read, walk, marry. Not a bad way of summing up the story, is it?
Rather than just intone a word per page, I turn it back into a story. I'll say the word, and then put it in a sentence using the characters' real names and make silly comments (it's really hard not to, it's just so funny!). For some reason, the kids really enjoy this book, and my boy in particular makes funny little grunting laughs at each page. They also like jumping in with the word they know is coming next - well, so far the only word in the book that they can say with confidence is the "No!" but they have a lot of fun saying it before I've even turned the page!
(As an aside, this caught my eye mostly because the felt figures reminded me of that hilarious yet disturbing knitting porn from, ah, France or somewhere, where the actors are wearing full-body knitted suits, it's really weird and bizarre and I rather wish my sister hadn't sent me the link! Which thankfully I've lost so I won't be sharing it! But it's not what you want to be thinking of when you read a children's book, is it.)
Other books in the series so far include Moby-Dick, Les Miserables and War and Peace.
Each double-page spread features a photo illustration on one side - all made out of felt and model sets but photographed so that it looks life-sized - and a word on the opposite page. They have reduced the story of Pride and Prejudice to the following words: friends, sisters, dance, mean, sick, muddy, yes?, no!, write, read, walk, marry. Not a bad way of summing up the story, is it?
Rather than just intone a word per page, I turn it back into a story. I'll say the word, and then put it in a sentence using the characters' real names and make silly comments (it's really hard not to, it's just so funny!). For some reason, the kids really enjoy this book, and my boy in particular makes funny little grunting laughs at each page. They also like jumping in with the word they know is coming next - well, so far the only word in the book that they can say with confidence is the "No!" but they have a lot of fun saying it before I've even turned the page!
(As an aside, this caught my eye mostly because the felt figures reminded me of that hilarious yet disturbing knitting porn from, ah, France or somewhere, where the actors are wearing full-body knitted suits, it's really weird and bizarre and I rather wish my sister hadn't sent me the link! Which thankfully I've lost so I won't be sharing it! But it's not what you want to be thinking of when you read a children's book, is it.)
Other books in the series so far include Moby-Dick, Les Miserables and War and Peace.
November 15, 2012
The nuances of Pride and Prejudice suffer from this brief summation of the novel. The illustrations are bright, charming and well intentioned but I fear that they do not help explain the plot. It seems like two homosexual males are forced by societal pressures to find wives to marry. The brown haired sister is abused by one of them and rightfully refuses his offer at marriage. Her sister sadly just get sick and apparently recovers in time to get caught up in the farce. The book seems to be dominated by a male point of view and seems obsessed with the idea that ones ultimate goal is marriage. Even if one cannot accomplish this with someone you actually love.
December 15, 2012
Reader, I bought it. Okay, I've gotten a reminder that Austen doesn't call her readers Reader. Now I don't have anything to say about this book, except that Heathcliff's frown on a felted figurine is quite affective. Just kidding. I know it's not Heathcliff; it's Darcy.
December 13, 2025
Yes? No! Write. Read. Walk. 🤣🤣🤣
June 6, 2023
Mommy is obsessed with this book and keeps reading it to me!
June 7, 2016
So, so cute! I love this beautiful board book. 12 words, 12 beautiful illustrations. My daughter hasn't quite reached the point of just looking at the book, she mostly chews on it (she is 7 months old;), but I know she will love the illustrations when she is older! And I'm excited that she owns her first Jane Austen book!
December 20, 2025
A few choice words :)
November 8, 2012
The misadventures and ultimate romance between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are delightfully presented in twelve words and twelve accompanying illustrations. This book is perfect for young children who have curious minds and who enjoy long or intricate stories. What better way to introduce them to beloved characters than through key words symbolic of key plot moments? Children can learn the story of Austen’s masterpiece through this charming, well-illustrated book, which will serve as a stepping stone for their eventual reading of the classic novel. An accompanying set with more words would be an excellent follow-up!
June 7, 2013
Awesome idea, and a must-have for Austen-fans, I think. :D I guess you could read it with your toddler, too, giving you the opportunity to tell them the story while looking at the adorable pictures, but it wouldn't make sense if you don't know the story really well. For me, it's the brilliance of the idea: twelve moments from the story, summarised in one word each and illustrated with needle-felted dolls, shot in wonderful photos - and there you are, the whole of Pride and Prejudice lovingly told in a dozen words and images.
February 25, 2014
A beautifully made book, the only page that was missing was "SURPRISE" (Elizabeth seeing Mr. Darcy come out of the water). If you collect Pride & Prejudice this is a must for your collection! If you have babies, this is a must for your library.
September 23, 2014
It is twelve words long. "Muddy" is my favorite.
July 30, 2018
I love these books. Even though they're for babies, I can appreciate them for an adult. The characters are made completely out of felt and put into situations to fit with the book. It's simple but pretty.
July 23, 2018
When you want to say you read a classic in one night. Hilarious but it does get the gist of the story.
May 23, 2019
Summed up nicely.
June 2, 2018
Such a cutie 💖😍
November 18, 2017
my two year old boy is obsessed with this book. it's so fun to hear him tell me about Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley. who know a two year old could learn the plot of Pride and Predjudice? five stars for sure
February 8, 2014
Jane Austen’s tale of love, friendship, and family is now within the grasp of the youngest members of society. Pride and Prejudice is told as never before through needle-felted characters and twelve easy words that will capture its audience’s interest. This book is perfect to take hold of yet another generation of possible Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth fans.
Jack and Holman Wang’s interpretation of this timeless classic is fodder for the imagination as the lack of sentences and word-covered pages allows one to tell the story with his/her own words. This book holds a lot of potential because not only can the child start out by hearing it told, but eventually can also develop his/her own storytelling skills.
Pride and Prejudice captivated me the first time I read it and has been my favorite novel ever since, so when I came across this board book, I just had to review it. I’m so glad I did. I may be way out of its intended age-range (0-3 year olds), but that didn’t keep me from thoroughly enjoying it and becoming engrossed with the images and its ageless plot. Reading it felt like discovering Pride and Prejudice all over again. This is a must have for future fiction addicts (and the adults who will undoubtedly glance over their shoulders).
Review copy provided by publisher. Thanks!
Jack and Holman Wang’s interpretation of this timeless classic is fodder for the imagination as the lack of sentences and word-covered pages allows one to tell the story with his/her own words. This book holds a lot of potential because not only can the child start out by hearing it told, but eventually can also develop his/her own storytelling skills.
Pride and Prejudice captivated me the first time I read it and has been my favorite novel ever since, so when I came across this board book, I just had to review it. I’m so glad I did. I may be way out of its intended age-range (0-3 year olds), but that didn’t keep me from thoroughly enjoying it and becoming engrossed with the images and its ageless plot. Reading it felt like discovering Pride and Prejudice all over again. This is a must have for future fiction addicts (and the adults who will undoubtedly glance over their shoulders).
Review copy provided by publisher. Thanks!
November 9, 2012
E' possibile raccontare un grande, grandissimo classico in dodici parole e scene chiave?
Fino a ieri avrei detto di no, poi grazie a Netgalley mi son capitati sul monitor i primi volumetti di questa serie, ed è stato prima stupore, poi delizia, poi sincero amore.
Friends. Sisters. Dance. Mean. Sick. Muddy. Yes?. No!. Write. Read. Walk. Marry.
Mi direte: solo chi conosce bene il romanzo può ricostruire la storia grazie a queste briciole di pane - ed è vero; ma la vera meraviglia è il percorso tracciato attraverso un classico che si ama, per raccontarlo a un bambino che amiamo, grazie anche a adorabili illustrazioni realizzate con bambole di feltro. E la piccola Elizabeth infangata è PERFETTA!
Assolutamente imperdibile; e speriamo che qualche editore italiano sia così illuminato da riprendere l'iniziativa.
Fino a ieri avrei detto di no, poi grazie a Netgalley mi son capitati sul monitor i primi volumetti di questa serie, ed è stato prima stupore, poi delizia, poi sincero amore.
Friends. Sisters. Dance. Mean. Sick. Muddy. Yes?. No!. Write. Read. Walk. Marry.
Mi direte: solo chi conosce bene il romanzo può ricostruire la storia grazie a queste briciole di pane - ed è vero; ma la vera meraviglia è il percorso tracciato attraverso un classico che si ama, per raccontarlo a un bambino che amiamo, grazie anche a adorabili illustrazioni realizzate con bambole di feltro. E la piccola Elizabeth infangata è PERFETTA!
Assolutamente imperdibile; e speriamo che qualche editore italiano sia così illuminato da riprendere l'iniziativa.
February 3, 2013
Let me follow in the footsteps of this book and limit my review to only 12 words.
My cozy classic review:
Bizarre. Felted. Funny. Amusing. Short. Strange. Limited. Abridged. Missing. Weird. Simplistic. Stilted.
Obviously I haven't completely sorted out my thoughts for this book. On one hand, I love the idea of a Pride and Prejudice board book, on the other hand, I don't think a board book can do the Jane Austen story justice. I did think the felted illustrations were pretty amazing though. It was strange: I liked it, but I didn't like it. I probably wouldn't read it again, but I might buy it as a gag gift for pregnant literary friends.
*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
My cozy classic review:
Bizarre. Felted. Funny. Amusing. Short. Strange. Limited. Abridged. Missing. Weird. Simplistic. Stilted.
Obviously I haven't completely sorted out my thoughts for this book. On one hand, I love the idea of a Pride and Prejudice board book, on the other hand, I don't think a board book can do the Jane Austen story justice. I did think the felted illustrations were pretty amazing though. It was strange: I liked it, but I didn't like it. I probably wouldn't read it again, but I might buy it as a gag gift for pregnant literary friends.
*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
January 27, 2013
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is one of my favorite novels EVER, so I definitely need to own COZY CLASSICS: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE!!! Told through twelve child friendly words and twelve beautiful illustrations, the book conveys the essence of the story in such a manner that is very conducive to early readers of board books.
I definitely would love to own all of the Cozy Classics, and I've been totally inspired to reread Pride and Prejudice again, after seeing these adorable little felt dolls acting it out through terms like "write" "read" and "marry". This is a MUST HAVE for all bookaholic parents for their littlest readers, for sure.
I definitely would love to own all of the Cozy Classics, and I've been totally inspired to reread Pride and Prejudice again, after seeing these adorable little felt dolls acting it out through terms like "write" "read" and "marry". This is a MUST HAVE for all bookaholic parents for their littlest readers, for sure.
November 15, 2022
The Cozy Classics series adapts longform literature into board books via needle-felted illustrations. The detail and expression captured in this medium goes farther than I thought it could. The Wangs chose to adapt the story using only one word per page, inviting readers to draw more conclusions from their staged photos. It's a clever idea. I'm not sure it would hold up to the repeated readings that young readers often request, but I enjoyed it for what it is.
January 16, 2013
New outlook for classic stories.
This is the kind of book that only encourages imagination. The book has only 12 words, that you or your kid can use as a base point for retelling the tale yourself. Original plush illustrations transform the story into a kind of movie. I love when the books for kids are made in such a unique way. They let you be creative.
This is the kind of book that only encourages imagination. The book has only 12 words, that you or your kid can use as a base point for retelling the tale yourself. Original plush illustrations transform the story into a kind of movie. I love when the books for kids are made in such a unique way. They let you be creative.
October 9, 2014
Absolutely adorable! Slightly annoyed that the adorable felted Mr. Darcy was modeled after Matthew McFadyen and not the awesome Colin Firth, but not enough to deter the enjoyment that there is a P&P board book! In the public library for all the little future Janeites!!How wonderful!
May 15, 2016
I think the best part of this book is that if you know the story, you can totally follow it, even though it's only 1 word per page.
February 16, 2018
I’m giving this 4 stars simply because of the absolutely adorable felt illustrations. And because I love Pride and Prejudice and all things Jane Austen. I appreciate the efforts to create a book which introduces children to my favorite book, but I fear the single words are far too ambiguous and would confuse children. Perhaps this is perfect for the Austen mega-fan parent reading to an infant, to give said parent something to geek over while reading to a child who cannot fully comprehend a story anyway and would simply enjoy the illustrations and bonding from storytime. But for toddlers, I feel parents would need to explain more of the story after reading the single word on each left-hand page. (For example, explaining how Elizabeth goes from rejecting Mr. Darcy’s proposal to suddenly marrying him by the end of the book.)
May 21, 2018
This book is a cute way to introduce babies and toddlers to one of the greatest classics ever - "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen. In fact, it is such a clever idea, I am willing to overlook the fact that it was clearly influenced by the 2005 Hollywood version of "Pride and Prejudice."
The pages are filled with illustrations that closely resemble the actors from the aforementioned movie version of P&P. Additionally, each page contains a single word meant to sum up the piece of the novel that goes with the accompanying picture. Though I would have selected different words and potentially made the book a few pages longer, I still found it charming.
Buy a copy for your favorite wee one and get him or her started on reading the classics.
I would have rated this book 3 1/2 stars if Goodreads permitted it.
The pages are filled with illustrations that closely resemble the actors from the aforementioned movie version of P&P. Additionally, each page contains a single word meant to sum up the piece of the novel that goes with the accompanying picture. Though I would have selected different words and potentially made the book a few pages longer, I still found it charming.
Buy a copy for your favorite wee one and get him or her started on reading the classics.
I would have rated this book 3 1/2 stars if Goodreads permitted it.
January 1, 2024
*The last few months of the year I've been "superhero'ed" out, so I know I won't make my usual 200-book goal unless I get creative. And by that, I mean children's books. I'm a librarian, so it's good for me to have some kids' books in my repertoire, too, right? (Okay, I might be slightly cheating, but... some of the kids' books I've read, I've really enjoyed, so I'm actually glad for a reason to cheat, lol).*
A nice little board book, but I found the felt figures a little creepy, lol.
A nice little board book, but I found the felt figures a little creepy, lol.
December 23, 2016
Intended to bring the classics to children, this is a board book with 12 words. Knowing the story, I can follow along but I disagree with the idea of it bringing the classics to kids. But, I've never liked the dumbing down of stories to appeal to lower reading levels.
I did enjoy the Darcy page with the word mean. Well, played!
I did enjoy the Darcy page with the word mean. Well, played!
June 7, 2019
They were serious about a "12-word book." Each page was one word, which you would imagine would be difficult for these classics. The illustrations (photographs with cute, felt characters) spoke volumes. I'm very impressed with this boardbook. Not sure how well people entirely unfamiliar with the plot would be able to follow, but an easy way to familiarize yourself with the story. :)
August 30, 2020
Cozy Classics takes adult classics and abridges them into word primers. Each of the 12 single words is paired with a full-color photo of charming felt figures and details depicting a scene from the book.
friends - sisters - dance - mean - sick - muddy - yes - no - write - read - walk - marry
Perfect for introducing words, books and beloved classics to very young children.
friends - sisters - dance - mean - sick - muddy - yes - no - write - read - walk - marry
Perfect for introducing words, books and beloved classics to very young children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews