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James Herriot's Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of All Creatures Great and Small
James Herriot's Treasury for Children collects all of the beloved veterinarian's delightful tales for young readers. From the springtime frolic of Oscar, Cat-About-Town to the yuletide warmth of The Christmas Day Kitten, these stories-radiantly illustrated by Peter Barrett and Ruth Brown-are perennial favorites, and this new complete edition will make a wonderful gift for all readers, great and small.
Audiobook
First published September 1, 1992
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5361 people want to read
About the author
James Herriot
268 books3,373 followersJames Herriot is the pen name of James Alfred Wight, OBE, FRCVS also known as Alf Wight, an English veterinary surgeon and writer. Wight is best known for his semi-autobiographical stories, often referred to collectively as All Creatures Great and Small, a title used in some editions and in film and television adaptations.
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. The original practice is now a museum, "The World of James Herriot".
Wight intended for years to write a book, but with most of his time consumed by veterinary practice and family, his writing ambition went nowhere. Challenged by his wife, in 1966 (at the age of 50), he began writing. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Owing in part to professional etiquette which at that time frowned on veterinary surgeons and other professionals from advertising their services, he took a pen name, choosing "James Herriot". If Only They Could Talk was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 by Michael Joseph Ltd, but sales were slow until Thomas McCormack, of St. Martin's Press in New York City, received a copy and arranged to have the first two books published as a single volume in the United States. The resulting book, titled All Creatures Great and Small, was an overnight success, spawning numerous sequels, movies, and a successful television adaptation.
In his books, Wight calls the town where he lives and works Darrowby, which he based largely on the towns of Thirsk and Sowerby. He also renamed Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair as Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, respectively. Wight's books are only partially autobiographical. Many of the stories are only loosely based on real events or people, and thus can be considered primarily fiction.
The Herriot books are often described as "animal stories" (Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories"), and given that they are about the life of a country veterinarian, animals certainly play a significant role in most of the stories. Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible role in many of Wight's tales: the overall theme of his stories is Yorkshire country life, with its people and their animals primary elements that provide its distinct character. Further, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals, and their close inter-relationship, which give his writing much of its savour. Wight was just as interested in their owners as he was in his patients, and his writing is, at root, an amiable but keen comment on the human condition. The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph. The animal characters also prevent Wight's stories from becoming twee or melodramatic — animals, unlike some humans, do not pretend to be ailing, nor have they imaginary complaints and needless fears. Their ill-health is real, not the result of flaws in their character which they avoid mending. In an age of social uncertainties, when there seem to be no remedies for anything, Wight's stories of resolute grappling with mysterious bacterial foes or severe injuries have an almost heroic quality, giving the reader a sense of assurance, even hope. Best of all, James Herriot has an abundant humour about himself and his difficulties. He never feels superior to any living thing, and is ever eager to learn — about animal doctoring, and about his fellow human creature.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesh...
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. The original practice is now a museum, "The World of James Herriot".
Wight intended for years to write a book, but with most of his time consumed by veterinary practice and family, his writing ambition went nowhere. Challenged by his wife, in 1966 (at the age of 50), he began writing. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Owing in part to professional etiquette which at that time frowned on veterinary surgeons and other professionals from advertising their services, he took a pen name, choosing "James Herriot". If Only They Could Talk was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 by Michael Joseph Ltd, but sales were slow until Thomas McCormack, of St. Martin's Press in New York City, received a copy and arranged to have the first two books published as a single volume in the United States. The resulting book, titled All Creatures Great and Small, was an overnight success, spawning numerous sequels, movies, and a successful television adaptation.
In his books, Wight calls the town where he lives and works Darrowby, which he based largely on the towns of Thirsk and Sowerby. He also renamed Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair as Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, respectively. Wight's books are only partially autobiographical. Many of the stories are only loosely based on real events or people, and thus can be considered primarily fiction.
The Herriot books are often described as "animal stories" (Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories"), and given that they are about the life of a country veterinarian, animals certainly play a significant role in most of the stories. Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible role in many of Wight's tales: the overall theme of his stories is Yorkshire country life, with its people and their animals primary elements that provide its distinct character. Further, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals, and their close inter-relationship, which give his writing much of its savour. Wight was just as interested in their owners as he was in his patients, and his writing is, at root, an amiable but keen comment on the human condition. The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph. The animal characters also prevent Wight's stories from becoming twee or melodramatic — animals, unlike some humans, do not pretend to be ailing, nor have they imaginary complaints and needless fears. Their ill-health is real, not the result of flaws in their character which they avoid mending. In an age of social uncertainties, when there seem to be no remedies for anything, Wight's stories of resolute grappling with mysterious bacterial foes or severe injuries have an almost heroic quality, giving the reader a sense of assurance, even hope. Best of all, James Herriot has an abundant humour about himself and his difficulties. He never feels superior to any living thing, and is ever eager to learn — about animal doctoring, and about his fellow human creature.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesh...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 645 reviews
December 10, 2016
I don't always read a Christmas story this time of year, but when I do, I like it to be gushingly heartwarming, perhaps naively innocent, and if you want to throw a moral in there for good measure, by all means!
Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of All Creatures Great and Small has all that and more to spare! How can it not? I mean, just look at that title!
Does this shout "Christmas" to you? Perhaps not, but at least one of the stories happens during Christmas and others have a winter-time setting. And besides, stories don't have to be about Christmas to feel like it.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to digress...
Is this real life?
I often find myself asking that whenever I read a James Herriot book.
James Alfred "Alf" Wight, aka James Herriot, wrote some lovely stories based upon his career as an animal vet in the Yorkshire Dales up there in northern England. Not all of his stories are true. Clearly in this collection of shorts at least one is a complete fabrication of his own design. However, it's also clear (to me anyhow) that most of what happens in these charming tales quite likely could have happened to a country vet and quite likely did happen to Herriot.
Why is this important? Search me, but I guess it maybe has something to do with my need to attach significance to the subjects, the animals. In all of his books there is life and death, and it's important to me that these things contain all the weight and importance they deserve.
Digression Over!
In summary, if you're looking for an uplifting read this holiday season, you can't go wrong with this one, or honestly any of Herriot's books! Don't let the "...for Children" part of the title throw you. This book is for young and old...hell, it's even for us grumpy middle-aged farts!
Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of All Creatures Great and Small has all that and more to spare! How can it not? I mean, just look at that title!
Does this shout "Christmas" to you? Perhaps not, but at least one of the stories happens during Christmas and others have a winter-time setting. And besides, stories don't have to be about Christmas to feel like it.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to digress...
Is this real life?
I often find myself asking that whenever I read a James Herriot book.
James Alfred "Alf" Wight, aka James Herriot, wrote some lovely stories based upon his career as an animal vet in the Yorkshire Dales up there in northern England. Not all of his stories are true. Clearly in this collection of shorts at least one is a complete fabrication of his own design. However, it's also clear (to me anyhow) that most of what happens in these charming tales quite likely could have happened to a country vet and quite likely did happen to Herriot.
Why is this important? Search me, but I guess it maybe has something to do with my need to attach significance to the subjects, the animals. In all of his books there is life and death, and it's important to me that these things contain all the weight and importance they deserve.
Digression Over!
In summary, if you're looking for an uplifting read this holiday season, you can't go wrong with this one, or honestly any of Herriot's books! Don't let the "...for Children" part of the title throw you. This book is for young and old...hell, it's even for us grumpy middle-aged farts!
October 3, 2025
If you haven’t read this book: buy it now and read it! ❤️
If you’ve read it but don’t own it: your home library has a very sad hole. Please fix that and read it again. ☺️
If you haven’t told a friend about it: you’ve done them a disservice. Repent and surprise them with a copy! 😜
This is one of the most delightful books for children. Right up there with Beatrix Potter’s works and Winnie the Pooh. It’s a great gift for baby showers and birthdays. Children love animals and the illustrations and stories are rapturous.
Absolutely recommend!
In honor of James Herriot’s birthday, I made this reel!
Ages: 4 - 8
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
If you’ve read it but don’t own it: your home library has a very sad hole. Please fix that and read it again. ☺️
If you haven’t told a friend about it: you’ve done them a disservice. Repent and surprise them with a copy! 😜
This is one of the most delightful books for children. Right up there with Beatrix Potter’s works and Winnie the Pooh. It’s a great gift for baby showers and birthdays. Children love animals and the illustrations and stories are rapturous.
Absolutely recommend!
In honor of James Herriot’s birthday, I made this reel!
Ages: 4 - 8
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
August 30, 2019
Eight delightful animal stories for all ages. There are cats and dogs, of course, but also a cow who finds its way home, an elderly horse, and an adventurous lamb who discovers that there's no place like home. I loved listening to the narration by Jim Dale, best known for his reading of the Harry Potter books.
December 9, 2017
I was looking for a relaxing feel good book and came across this collection of animal stories for children by James Herriot. The book is good for all ages as the language is not written down for children. There is also a story of the “Christmas Day Kitten”. Most appropriate for my December reading/listening.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is one and a half hours. Was so great to listen to Jim Dale narrate the book. Dale is the “Voice of Harry Potter” as he narrated all of that series. Dale won two Grammy awards, seven Grammy nominations and ten Audie Awards. He is an English actor, singer and audiobook narrator. He also won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1980. Dale was recently inducted into the 2017 Audible Narrator Hall of Fame .
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is one and a half hours. Was so great to listen to Jim Dale narrate the book. Dale is the “Voice of Harry Potter” as he narrated all of that series. Dale won two Grammy awards, seven Grammy nominations and ten Audie Awards. He is an English actor, singer and audiobook narrator. He also won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1980. Dale was recently inducted into the 2017 Audible Narrator Hall of Fame .
December 24, 2025
Such heartwarming tales and delightful illustrations, perfect for the whole family ❤️
May 2, 2016
This has been one of my favorite children's books ever. I read it to my children (now teenagers) countless times. The illustrations are gorgeous and the stories are an absolute delight.
June 8, 2011
We are homeschoolers that use many ideas from the Charlotte Mason style of teaching. This book was my daughter's assigned reading for literature during 2nd grade. She is a bit behind in her reading skills, so this would probably be more 1st grade reading level for most Charlotte Mason homeschoolers. She would read for 15 minutes each day and then narrate orally to me what she had read about. It took her about three weeks to complete this book.
I liked this book because it was the first I've found that I could get my daughter to read each day without a battle. She is an animal lover and enjoyed all the cute animal stories in this collection. The writing is simple and easy for a beginning reader, without being boring. There are also lots of colorful illustrations to assist the child with envisioning what they are reading. There is also nothing of questionable morality in this book that would make a parent nervous about their child reading it (always an important point for me).
Over all, a good book that I will probably use again for my younger children.
I liked this book because it was the first I've found that I could get my daughter to read each day without a battle. She is an animal lover and enjoyed all the cute animal stories in this collection. The writing is simple and easy for a beginning reader, without being boring. There are also lots of colorful illustrations to assist the child with envisioning what they are reading. There is also nothing of questionable morality in this book that would make a parent nervous about their child reading it (always an important point for me).
Over all, a good book that I will probably use again for my younger children.
January 6, 2020
Absolutely wonderful! Heartwarming, old fashioned stories with lovely illustrations. My boys loved them as much as I did.
October 25, 2021
These are the sweetest stories about an English vet traipsing across the countryside, taking care of animals and meeting the most charming creatures. My kids love the stories as well, and I can't wait to read more of this author.
March 30, 2021
A really lovely collection of James Herriot's stories adapted for children, without losing any of his signature personality. The illustrations are everything, combining charm with unstinting accuracy in portraying the landscape and animals. Kittens, a lamb, and puppies abound, in addition to working farm animals.
This treasury collects eight children's books by Herriot, and the quality of this publication does justice to its insides. Really a special treat for animal-loving kiddos. I'm sure this would be a fantastic read-aloud, as some of the language is a bit above young readers ("porcine," for example), but who didn't first learn "soporific" from The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies? Yet, the text is nice and big in a clear font, so it would work well for beginning, independent readers. A wonderful way to introduce Herriot to littles.
This treasury collects eight children's books by Herriot, and the quality of this publication does justice to its insides. Really a special treat for animal-loving kiddos. I'm sure this would be a fantastic read-aloud, as some of the language is a bit above young readers ("porcine," for example), but who didn't first learn "soporific" from The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies? Yet, the text is nice and big in a clear font, so it would work well for beginning, independent readers. A wonderful way to introduce Herriot to littles.
June 15, 2023
Delightful in every way! 🐶🐱🐷🐴🐑🐮
January 12, 2015
Such a charming way to introduce kids to the wonderful stories of James Herriot. These are some selected tales suitable for children, beautifully presented with full color illustrations. I liked that they weren't just stories about household pets, but also about farm animals. I do wish that there had been a Tricky Woo story, though, since those are my kids' favorites from the adult books.
June 30, 2025
This book!! It's the gold standard for read alouds. Since 1994 we have been reading this with kids. My youngest grandchild and I just finished it. It perfectly met his need for story, plus beautiful illustrations. Each page we'd note something wonderful.
If you can't tell...I love this book!
If you can't tell...I love this book!
April 24, 2019
I'm on my third read through these stories as an adult, and they just become dearer to me every time! Sweet, tender stories of the animals of the farms in the Yorkshire dales and the vet who loved to learn of their personalities and eccentricities.
January 4, 2023
This is simply delightful- a MUST for everyone to read aloud with children!
This was apart of Josiah & Timothy's 2022-2023 educational year. Part of my 5x5 Schole Sisters challenge ("books we own") and Literary Life podcast 2023 challenge ("well-loved children's book)
This was apart of Josiah & Timothy's 2022-2023 educational year. Part of my 5x5 Schole Sisters challenge ("books we own") and Literary Life podcast 2023 challenge ("well-loved children's book)
September 13, 2021
We did this as a read-aloud during breakfast and my kiddos loved it. The stories were so cute and heartwarming. The illustrations were gorgeous.
January 6, 2022
Adorable animal stories that are perfect for any age!
November 12, 2015
The best. This is what children's classics are all about! And I am fully aware that the are extracts from his adult series. The illustration with the story telling is top notch. True art. The narration with Jim Dale is unbeatable. Pure magic.
March 6, 2022
The illustrations are lovely! 😍 I do, however, wish the writing wasn’t so condensed and simplified, even though it is for children. These stories are taken from James Herriot’s books, and much of his nuanced way of writing is lost in these shortened accounts, sadly.
September 29, 2019
Delightful animal stories my daughter loved them all-especially the kitty stories. We will definitely be readying again!
December 17, 2020
James Herriot is unparalleled when it comes to stories of domesticated animals -- whether dogs and cats in homes or various farm animals -- and his keen observations and clear love and respect for animals.
While these stories are fictional, all of them feel to me as if they easily could be true, and no doubt he drew heavily on his veterinary experiences in describing these unique animals and their amusing and tender escapades.
Herriot manages to capture the human-animal bond, even with farm animals, evoking compassion, joy, and sometimes sadness, without sentimentalizing or emotionally manipulating the reader.
I grew up reading "Oscar, Cat-about-Town" and "The Christmas Day Kitten," both of which are included here, and was also introduced to some new favorites, such as "Blossom Comes Home" and "Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb." The illustrations perfectly capture the animals, people, and the views of the beautiful British countryside.
Because Herriot is British and uses some words that might be unfamiliar to American children (or perhaps it's a generational thing as well), and at times can be a bit wordy, some of these stories will probably lose the interest of preschoolers. But it's worth hanging on and trying them again later, because the best animal stories are really for all ages and have no need to be written off as "for little kids."
While these stories are fictional, all of them feel to me as if they easily could be true, and no doubt he drew heavily on his veterinary experiences in describing these unique animals and their amusing and tender escapades.
Herriot manages to capture the human-animal bond, even with farm animals, evoking compassion, joy, and sometimes sadness, without sentimentalizing or emotionally manipulating the reader.
I grew up reading "Oscar, Cat-about-Town" and "The Christmas Day Kitten," both of which are included here, and was also introduced to some new favorites, such as "Blossom Comes Home" and "Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb." The illustrations perfectly capture the animals, people, and the views of the beautiful British countryside.
Because Herriot is British and uses some words that might be unfamiliar to American children (or perhaps it's a generational thing as well), and at times can be a bit wordy, some of these stories will probably lose the interest of preschoolers. But it's worth hanging on and trying them again later, because the best animal stories are really for all ages and have no need to be written off as "for little kids."
January 31, 2021
Wonderful collection of eight picture books by James Herriot, all based on stories from his many memoirs of life as a country veterinarian in Yorkshire. I had run across two of these—The Market Square Dog and Moses the Kitten—as standalone books in a used book store and have read them to my kids many times, so this collection was a delight.
Herriot’s stories are gently told and beautifully illustrated, with an affection and care for both the animals and people in them, but in ways appropriate to both. There’s none of the modern animal-worshipers’ sentimentality here; animals are categorically different from people and that, rather than perceived or projected similarities, and our reach across those differences to relate to them as masters to pets, workers, and companions is what makes them special. “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast,” Proverbs tells us. Herriot’s stories are elaborations on this theme.
The result is a set of genuinely heartwarming stories—and heartwarming is word I don’t often use.
Highly recommended.
Herriot’s stories are gently told and beautifully illustrated, with an affection and care for both the animals and people in them, but in ways appropriate to both. There’s none of the modern animal-worshipers’ sentimentality here; animals are categorically different from people and that, rather than perceived or projected similarities, and our reach across those differences to relate to them as masters to pets, workers, and companions is what makes them special. “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast,” Proverbs tells us. Herriot’s stories are elaborations on this theme.
The result is a set of genuinely heartwarming stories—and heartwarming is word I don’t often use.
Highly recommended.
April 16, 2013
I read this aloud to my kids (5 and 3) over the course of several days, and we all enjoyed it. The book contains true stories told by a veterinarian from about eighty (?) years ago or so. I was actually surprised that my kids liked it because the stories are very simple with not a lot of action. For example, one story is just about a dog who never barks; then once he sees his companion from his puppy days, he lets out a bark of joy; and then he doesn't bark ever again.
What I really liked about this book is that even though the stories are for young children, the language (both the vocabulary and sentence structure) is more complex than you usually find in children's literature. Words like "unhurried" instead of "slowly," or "mottled," etc. I really appreciated that my children could have opportunities to ask what words mean and absorb the meaning from the story. The illustrations are well done also and gave my younger child something to look at while we read.
What I really liked about this book is that even though the stories are for young children, the language (both the vocabulary and sentence structure) is more complex than you usually find in children's literature. Words like "unhurried" instead of "slowly," or "mottled," etc. I really appreciated that my children could have opportunities to ask what words mean and absorb the meaning from the story. The illustrations are well done also and gave my younger child something to look at while we read.
August 9, 2020
Beautifully illustrated animal stories. Excellent introduction for children and adults to the Yorkshire veterinary tales of James Herriot (pen name of Alf Wright). These stories are extracted, like a single thread teased from a complex tapestry, for the greater corpus of Herriot’s work. The style and format are suitable for young readers.
The illustrations of Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett are worth the price in themselves. (I’ve been there; they’re worth the trip.) Beautiful and evocative of the Yorkshire Dales. Almost as good as being there. In their way, superior to the 1978-1990 BBC series.
Good for young readers; good for art lovers; good for lovers of the Yorkshire Dales. Fun for all.
The illustrations of Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett are worth the price in themselves. (I’ve been there; they’re worth the trip.) Beautiful and evocative of the Yorkshire Dales. Almost as good as being there. In their way, superior to the 1978-1990 BBC series.
Good for young readers; good for art lovers; good for lovers of the Yorkshire Dales. Fun for all.
March 8, 2019
This collection of stories is truly delightful. The illustrations are beautifully done and depict the English countryside, where most of the stories take place, wonderfully. This is a book that I will keep on my bookshelf for a very long time!!
October 16, 2020
Gentle and engaging stories, perfect for reading aloud. This edition has lavish and intricate illustrations.
December 5, 2022
These little farm stories were so adorable!
January 28, 2025
Always a delight!
May 16, 2023
The sweetest animal stories from a beloved vet.
August 20, 2024
We so love this book. Re-read read aloud!!! "Only One Woof" and "Moses" are our top favorites 🐾
The only story that loses us a bit is the last one, just because Herriot isn't in it, oddly.
The only story that loses us a bit is the last one, just because Herriot isn't in it, oddly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 645 reviews