The Usborne First Story Book The traditional fairy stories have an enduring magic and never-ending fascination for generations of children. These stories, illustrated with a delightful freshness and with charming detail by Stephen Cartwright, have been especially chosen to appeal to the very young. The situations and repeated phrases soon become familiar, making joining in fun and adding to the pleasure of hearing the stories again and again. The text, while following the traditional versions of the tales, is simple and straightforward, and written for reading aloud.