AMID the tropical trees of the Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory in Lincoln, little Evie Duke settles down with mum Anne to discover a host of fantastic fables.

From The Emperor's New Clothes to The Princess And The Pea and The Ugly Duckling, Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales have been captivating readers for generations.

And now you too can read the timeless tales – by picking up a copy of the latest in the Echo Children's Classics Collection for only £2.99 and the token printed in today's paper.

Four-year-old Evie, a pupil at Cherry Willingham School, said she was enjoying learning to read.

"I read to mummy," she said, "But only the stories that I like – like the Gruffalo."

Mum Anne said parents reading with their children could help to develop their literacy.

"We do like reading and enjoy books," she said. "Evie always has bedtime stories.

"Reading with Evie is good because we can sound out the words and she can learn – she can now pick up a book and pick out a few words. It's a good way to do it with phonics.

"We usually come to the Lawn in half-term as we like the shops and there's a play park nearby.

"And here in the conservatory, it's a lovely atmosphere. With the water and the fish, it's quite relaxing.

"So we spend quite a bit of time in here."

Marie Diamond, manager of Come To Life at the Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory, said they were already seeing such a relaxed atmosphere was proving popular with readers.

"The conservatory is really family friendly and attracts a wide range of ages who come to read," she said.

"We see everyone from big school groups who read about the rainforest, to university students who do reading for their course.

"On Sundays, we always put the papers out and we are hoping to create a library so children can sit and read."

Book 23 in the series, Bedknobs And Broomsticks, comes out on March 2. Gulliver's Travels is book 24 on March 9 and the last book, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, is out on March 16.

If you have missed any books in the Echo Children's Classic Collection – including the likes of Little Women and Black Beauty – or want to find your nearest stockist, call (01522) 803230.