I was so busy yesterday that I forgot to blog about my favorite "Classic" children's book.
Okay... I cannot tell a lie. I forgot. It wasn't because I was "too" busy. I just plain forgot.
I was busy at work.... but when I went home, my grandson was there and we had a nice relaxing enjoyable few hours before he went back home. I made his favorite meal: chicken nuggets and fries. Yum.
(I'm his grandmother, so I don't have to do healthy food choices all the time do I? )
Anyway, after we ate dinner on the patio and he watered my plants and squirted the dog (he is 6) he got interested in an old Royal Typewriter of my dad's that I have.
So, while he was busy putting in paper and typing, I began to read to him.
(this isn't something new)
We were in the middle of "My Father's Dragon" by Ruth Stiles Gannett.
THERE YOU HAVE IT! My children's classic. It will be "My Father's Dragon"
At first, because my grandson was very interested in the typewriter, he said, "You don't have to read to me grandma."
But I said I wanted to, and I began where we had left off. I finished one chapter and thought we would be done, but he turned to me, by this time he had actually stopped typing, and said..."Gramma, you can read more if you want to."
Which tells me a few things:
It's a great Read-A-Loud. It really is. Camron, my grandson, is always drawn into it, as I knew he would be last night.
It's a Newberry Honor book, it's short enough for children with short attention spans. It keeps their attention.
(or maybe it's just my grand read-aloud voice. LOL ).
To give a quick review of the book, it was published in 1945, I believe, it is a quick imaginative story about Elmer Elevator, a boy who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby dragon. It is narrated by Elmer's son, many years later.
It is an adventure story in the most simple terms.
And who can resist a good adventure story?
Certainly not my 6 year old grandson!
It's also a fantasy, with each chapter, revealing personality traits of different characters, all who happen to be animals.
Elmer must use his wits and his "McGyver" type of resourcefulness to outwit the animals on the Island to get to the dragon.
I say it's a Classic!!
Anything that can get my grandson to stop fiddling and curl up next to me and tell me I can keep reading.... THAT is a classic.
so....that's my excuse for not particiapting yesterday.
sorry... but I was off finding a dragon......
PS yes, I would recommend it to anyone. It really is a great little book.
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3 comments:
Sounds like a great book. I'm adding it to the TBR list for my 5 year old son.
I've never heard of this book but it sounds fun. My 5 yr old son has really gotten into reading chapter books aloud recently. If I pause to long (like to tell 2 yo sister to move so I can read the page) he pokes me and tells me to read more. = ) I love it! I can't wait until he can read on his own!!
Thanks for your comment about the Boxcar Children. Yes, I'm afraid 1966 was before I was born (in 1974). I read the story from an anniversary edition which had a piece about the author. It said she wrote and edited the books several times specifically to be read by slow readers and what we call today English as a Second Language. I'm not sure that I agree with that philosophy. Anyway, I was just surprised that it was still recommended for middle readers today. It seems much to simplistic for them - though still a good book, like for my 5 yr old.
That's exciting that you are going to visit the museum. I'd love to hear about it if it works out for you!
Have you ever read Edith Nesbit's The Five Children and It? That's what a reviewed for Childrens Classics.
http://web.me.com/bluestocking_bb
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