Sweet William (short story collection) facts for kids

Sweet William is a fun collection of short stories from the famous Just William series. Written by Richmal Crompton, this book was first published in 1936. It features the adventures of William Brown, a mischievous but good-hearted schoolboy. The book has 10 exciting stories, all brought to life with drawings by Thomas Henry.

Discovering Sweet William

Sweet William is the eighteenth book in the popular Just William series. These books tell tales about William Brown and his friends, known as "The Outlaws." They are always getting into funny situations and causing a bit of trouble. The stories are set in a fictional English village.

Meet the Author and Illustrator

The author, Richmal Crompton, created the character of William Brown in 1922. She wrote 38 Just William books in total. Her stories are known for their humor and how well they capture what it's like to be a child. Thomas Henry was the artist who drew the pictures for most of the books. His drawings helped bring William's world to life for readers.

What's Inside: The Stories

Sweet William contains ten different short stories. Each one shows William's unique way of looking at the world and solving problems. He often tries to do good, but his plans usually go hilariously wrong!

William and the Wonderful Present

William's older brother, Robert, is worried about a necklace he bought. He thinks it looks "too common" for his girlfriend's birthday. William, of course, has his own ideas on how to fix this problem.

William and the Perfect Child

In this story, William somehow ends up with a horse. You can imagine the chaos that follows when William Brown, a horse, and "The Outlaws" are all together!

William Helps the Cause

A charming lady visits William's school, talking about a "good cause." William is so impressed that he decides to help in a very unusual way. He pretends to be kidnapped to get attention for her cause.

William and the Bugle

William "borrows" a bugle from his brother Robert. But his history teacher takes it away! William knows Robert will be very angry. So, William makes a clever plan to get the bugle back before Robert finds out.

William and the Policeman's Helmet

William is super excited to go to a party. The best part? The party host has a "real policeman's helmet"! William borrows the helmet and ends up helping to stop a theft in a surprising turn of events.

William the Reformer

William learns about famous reformers like Pitt and Wilberforce, who changed society for the better. This inspires William to become a reformer himself. His big ideas include "Free Sweet Shops" and "Christmas Every Week"!

St. Mars' Day

"The Outlaws" are tired of celebrating St. Valentine's Day every year. They decide it's time for a new holiday. They invent "St. Mars' Day," which promises to be much more exciting and adventurous.

Uncle Charlie and the Outlaws

Hubert's uncle, Charlie, acts very childish and makes life difficult for "The Outlaws." William, being William, comes up with a brilliant plan to get even with Uncle Charlie and teach him a lesson.

Pensions for Boys

William believes that young people should get pensions, just like older people. He thinks boys deserve money for all their hard work and adventures. This story explores his funny arguments for this idea.

A Spot of Heroism

On the way to the seaside, something unexpected happens. William accidentally becomes a hero! But being a hero isn't always easy, and his heroic moment doesn't last for very long.

William's World: Where Do the Stories Happen?

The story 'Pensions for Boys' gives a hint about where William lives. It suggests his fictional village is about 50 miles away from London. This helps readers imagine the setting for all of William's adventures.