Our Homeschool Diary: Stories They Don't Want to Read
We stopped Reading.
One day, in the middle of our book time, we stopped reading. The Little Man is still into his Magic Treehouse Series, but last week, I also borrowed Arabian Nights just so we have other stories to read.
I urge the kids to pick up and read a book during our quiet time although most of the time, we read aloud. One day, Little Man and I alternated reading aloud The Story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. I honestly thought that he would like it. I can still remember reading this story as a comic book when I was his age.
We did not even reach the climax of the story when the Little Man decided he did not want to read any more.
... but they quickly put him to death with their swords.
"Why?!" Little Man looked at me with disappointment. He handed the book to me so I continued reading.
... he was horrified to find his body cut in pieces, which were hung up just inside the door.
Little Man lost it. He walked out. LOL.
To Find Another Season
Now, I am confused. I personally thought it was a good story. But now I am having second thoughts. Perhaps we have to find another season when we are ready to read such theme.
My kids stopped reading fairy/folk tales a long time ago specifically when they came to understand that there are gory scenes in them. For example, they used to like reading The Three Little Pigs. We even role played this. Then they realized that the Big Bad Wolf suffered a violent death.
Let's Return the "Violent Book"
Today being Friday, is our Library Day. The Little Man did not fail to remind me that we should return the violent book.
He first went to the section where his favorite book series are. He is disappointed not to find the next book we need to read as he does not want to skip a story.
I guess, we stick to these wholesome themes. ❤️
How about you, do you read such tales with your kids?
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Shakespeare introduced the killings and betrayal theme to my daughter. But we only read E. Nesbitt's version. We are about to go full Shakespeare next year, I'm glad we had a soft introduction.
For these kinds of stories, I opted to start soft. I read aloud The Blue Fairy Book to my daughter. It does not hide the killing and death and all the gory details but it made the blow a bit softer for kids. Andrew Lang made it easy for kids to grasp more serious themes without hiding the true story of these fairy tales.
Ahh, nice suggestions, @romeskie! Thank you. 🥰We also have Shakespeare (E Nesbitt) but we've not been too serious about it. Guess I'll start from there.
Yeah, we just finished the entire book. 2 years namin binasa. May mga nagustuhan sya like MidSummer night's Dream tsaka Merchant of Venice, may mga ayaw nya like Romeo & Juliet tsaka Comedy of errors.
Yung Blue fairy book, may ibang colors pa yan depende sa mga readers kung anong gusto nilang basahin. Check mo sa gutenberg.org website, maraming free downloadables dun na ebook.
Laking bagay ng guttenberg.org noh. Dami na rin namin nakuhang references from there. Thanks! 🥰
My kids haven't minded violence. They love it in fiction and hate it in real life.
For those unable to separate feelings on fiction and nonfiction or who just find violence in all forms distasteful it would be quite uncomfortable so not that surprised poor little guy walked out if he doesn't like it XD
Did you find some books more to his liking? :)
This Little Man used to stiffen when he sees violence on movies. He used to say, it's like he could feel the pain. So I think that's why.
So far, he still would like to finish the Magic Treehouse series. Got lots of books to go. 😅
Poor little guy :< he will learn to filter that eventually though I don't think it will ever be a fun thing.
There are plenty of other books out there and some series are huge XD