Tom is a young chimney sweep who runs away and dives into the river is turned into a water baby by fairies. Tom is taught by the fairies and others about truth, justice, courage, mercy and many other valuable lessons.

This is a classic fable written in Victorian times and was an immediate hit then. I happened on this book in Netgalley and thought I would try it. It is a moral allegory. It was written for children, though I think I can see why it is not well known today. It's story that goes a bit overboard? There are color plates (which are gorgeous) and numerous line drawings are included. I did enjoy it as a fantasy.

After having slogged through The Water Babies once again I have come to the conclusion that that had it not been for the glorious illustrations of Jessie Wilcox Smith I might never return to this moralistic fairy tale. What I once found clever in my youth I now find repellent.

Thank you Net Galley and Dover Publications for a free copy.

Originally written in 1862-1863 by Charles Kingsley, this surreal tale is part fantasy, part morality play, part fairy-tale (literally), mixed with a significant dose of current (for the time) commentary on scientific theory, expansionism, colonialism, society and racism directly aimed at the adults presumably reading this to their children.

One thing I adore about Dover publications and always will, is that they have a really eclectic catalog with an unerring eye for plucking out books which have languished unappreciated for ages, and re-listing them for a wider audience. Their stewardship of the weird, the obsolete, the books which are so niche that it's amazing they got published in the first place, and other fun weirdness, deserves our awe and appreciation.

I remember The Water Babies from my childhood where it alternately charmed me and scared the pants off me. I hadn't read the book since my childhood rememberings and was apprehensive how racist and dated the book would turn out to be. Fair warning, it IS a product of its time. It IS quite dated with brutal references to Jews, Catholics, blacks, Irish people amongst many others. On the other hand, reading the wickedly sarcastic references to smug middle class Victorian English mores and beliefs brought me a new appreciation of Kingsley's work.

This edition includes the weird and beautiful color plates and margin illustrations from the circa 1916 edition by Jessie Willcox Smith. They really add a lot to this edition and also serve as a subtle reminder that this book is more than 100 years old and shouldn't be judged too harshly directly by today's standards.

Just as an aside, the illustration below (by Willcox Smith) of one of the characters, Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid, scared the bejeebers out of me as a little kid. A revisit to this book still gave me a frisson of fear, but now tempered by an adult's realization that she looks more like Geddy Lee in glasses :)

Twins separated by 100 year time-slip? I think so!

Five stars for still being around in a culture which counts time in milliseconds, and because Dover publications kicks butt.

Why is this a classic again? Overwritten, dull story, barely anything happens, weird imagery, and so, so boring - awful, wouldn't recommend it to anyone, let alone kids!

Beautiful ! I remember reading and loving the Water Babies children's book as a kid.