So anyway. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. Hard to believe one can reach my age without having read this, huh? But true nonetheless. And what did I think? Well, I hate admitting, but I didn't fall madly in love with this story. I read this aloud to the kiddos, and that may have been part of the problem. Now that sounds simply awful, doesn't it? It's not that I don't enjoy reading aloud to them, I swear...I, of course, love our reading time. But this book simply wasn't an easy book to read aloud. I had a hard time with the flow. Which I'm sure wouldn't have been a problem if I'd been reading it silently to myself. On top of that, there were a lot of "big words" for the little guys. Some pages, they would interrupt as many as three or four times to ask what a word meant. I'm glad they want to learn some new vocabulary, of course, but whew...can that make for some loooong reading sessions just trying to get through a chapter or two.
This book also led to some interesting discussions. Particularly because of the less than flattering, stereotypical images of "redskins". I hate reading things like this in books and I hate even more having the kids exposed to them. But it's so much better encountering them together so we have a chance to talk about them. You know, those real life teaching moments.
I, of course, am a grown-up. And as everyone who knows anything about Peter Pan, that is not a good thing. So, my opinion of this book isn't the opinion that really matters, is it? From the mouths of the youngsters when asked what they thought:
Annie: I really loved it!
Gray: It was okay. Sometimes it was hard to understand.
Annie: I didn't think it was hard. I just thought it was a great story.
Max: I thought it was good. I'd give it a five if we were rating it. (We use a 5 point rating system with picture books.)
Gray: No, not a five, but it was pretty good.
So there you have it...the munchkins seem to think it was quite a worthwhile read.
*****
If you have also reviewed this book, please leave me a link in the comments and I'll add it here. Thanks.
*****
Read for:
Celebrate the Author Challenge.
Initials Reading Challenge.
A-Z Reading Challenge.
Decades Challenge '08.
Read-aloud.
10 comments:
I've never read this one! But I really liked the movie Finding Neverland. :)
And good luck with the garage sale: they are exhausting.
I've never read this too!
It's always interesting to hear the children's opinions, isn't it? Hope everyone at home have a great weekend! :)
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I have also never read the book. I have enjoyed the movies based on it though. :)
I had a yard sale several years ago and it was EXHAUSTING! Good luck today.
take care,
Dawn
Now THAT's a review I really enjoyed reading! lol!
Hope you are making lots of money from your yard sale!
I love how you included your children's opinions. And I agree with Eva, Finding Neverland was such a great movie. Have you seen that one?
I can definitely see how constantly having to explain the vocabulary would make the reading experience less enjoyable for you.
I hope the garage sale goes well today!
I didn't read this one until I was an adult...though I did grow up (fifth grade on up) watching the Mary Martin musical Peter Pan. (I've never seen Disney). I loved it, but I think it was because I loved the musical so very much. And I wasn't reading it aloud, or reading it to kids, or trying to figure out how to explain how racist it was and how people and books used to be that way. So I can understand all your points :)
I recently finished this book, but haven't yet reviewed it. I'll try to remember to link to your post when I do so. I wasn't crazy about it, either, though I'm glad I read it.
I have never read this one either. Truthfully, I think it would probably spoil the magic of my memories with Peter Pan. That's a shame too.
Did you ever see the movie Finding Neverland with Johnny Depp? What a fantastic film!
Well, hubby read this one a few months ago and periodically stopped to ask me what words meant. :) Glad the kiddos liked it. I really need to revisit this one soon.
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