Childrens' Version of Classic Literature

[Canada_Mom]

I was wondering if there is a good series for children to read the classics - my oldest is 6. I would like to start having a collection for her to read like Treasure Island, Little Women etc. but want to get a good version as opposed to a lot of the "junky" abridged versions that are floating around out there. Is there a particular series that has redone the classics for children? Is the "Great Illustrated Classics" series any good?

Any recommendations would be really appreciated. She's currently reading at a grade 3 level.

I changed this post b/c I realized I asked the wrong question. Jenny is right- I will read the originals to her but I would like her to have some that she can flip through and read on her own.

[Jenny in Florida]

At that age, as long as you are reading aloud and can answer any questions that might come up, I would think you should just do the real thing.

--Jenny

[magpiegirl]

I tend to agree abour reading the "real thing". I have a copy of an annotated "Treasure Island" that has facts about it as you go along and extra pictures, but the story is not abridged. I haven't read it yet to my DS6.5, but it's on our list. If you find things to supplement their background knowledge, I think that kids are capapble of understanding a lot more than you think. I'm reading "Tom Sawyer" with my DS6.5 right now and it does have a lot of unfamiliar vocabulary in it from the period in which it was written. To help in understanding, he watched the "Wishbone" episode about it (I LOVE that show - it gives kids a great intro to character names and the general plot, plus it was what got my son to want me to read that book to him in the first place!) and we've also been acting it out as we go along. He is Tom Sawyer, of course, and I'm the poor sucker who comes along and paints the fence for him, lol!

By far, the most difficult book we have read together so far as far as vocabulary is concerned was "Peter Pan". You would not believe the SAT words in that book! I read it when my son had just turned 6 and since he was already familiar with the general story and we stopped a lot to discuss the "pictures in our minds" he understood it fine!

Melisa

[Linda...inOwasso]

I have been reading the Wishbone Classics series with my dd7 as well and though it is certainly NOT equivalent to the originals it has introduced her to the names of characters, spellings and such so that hopefully she will be more familiar and less apprehensive when we read the "real thing."

[Chris in VA]

Dd7 read A Little Princess (Burnett), Secret Garden, and Heidi by herself in the original. I think your dd could probably handle those, maybe slowly and with help.

Ds18 read The Great Illustrated Classics in Montessori school in 3rd grade (I think he read about 15 of them!). The books are ok, but really, you want the rich language and detailed descriptions. I would say maybe let her read a few of those, but keep reading the originals.

Even tho dd can read well now, I am delaying some of the classics. I flipped thru Peter Pan, and it's hard! I'm saving Treasure Island, Tom Sawyer, Little Women, and several others for when she can more easily read them and follow the plot. I may read them to her around 4th grade and use them for curricula around 6th or even 7th grade (if we homeschool, we will most likely stay in the 4 year rotation with lit, too).

I second the Wishbone books--they are cute and nonthreatening. See the series, too.

[periwinklemommy]

I have a set of the Great Illustrated Classics that I was given when I was 5 and I loved them. My ds6 is not interested in them yet - his friend got him hooked on Magic Tree House, so I'm hoping once he's read all of those I can steer him to the classics. I just remember thinking how great it was that I could have and read these "great books" on my own. Plus, when I read the real Classics, I was familiar with the story line so I think that helped.

Lisa