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This week the children read two books that were a bit dark, although comical. Both books warranted discussions about behavior, bad attitudes, blessings, obedience, and worldliness.
Marcus and Gabriella both laughed out loud reading Sideways Stories from Wayside School (p. 118), Louis Sachar. The humor is a bit dark and there were a couple of chapters we had to talk about (chapter 20 in particular), but overall, this book is a fun, silly one to read.
Together this week, we read Matilda (240 pages), Roald Dahl. We listened to Ron Keith narrate this book as we read along. I am not sure if we would have enjoyed it as much if not for Keith's superb ability to capture the voices and attitudes of each character in the book, particularly the Trunchbull, the headmistress of Matilda's school who is simply awful! Again, we had to have several discussions about respect for authority, and also what a blessing it is to be raised by loving parents who fear God.
We also just completed Rosemary Sutcliff's Black Ships Before Troy, The Story of THE ILIAD (125 pages). I read this aloud while the kids followed along. It took us a while to finish this book, but it was worth it! Sutcliff has truly created an accessible version of this classic tale and the illustrations are beautiful and appropriate. I suspect Marcus may re-read this on his own in the near future. I would recommend reading this out loud the first time through.
Other books completed this week:
Marcus: The Secrets of Droon: Flight of the Genie (122 pages), The Isle of Mists (122 pages), Tony Abbott.
Lella: The Secrets of Droon: Dream Thief (122 pages), Search for the Dragon Ship (122 pages), Tony Abbott, Fantastic Mr. Fox (Movie Storybook), Roald Dahl, Foxes (44 pages), Emilie Lepthien, One Giant Leap, The Story of Neil Armstrong, Don Brown, King Midas and the Golden Touch (32 pages), Charlotte Craft.
Both: Bad Kittie Gets a Bath (125 pages, but really easy), Nick Bruel, Mr. Semolina-Semolinus, A Greek Folktale, Anthony Manna.
For Marcus and Gabriella
ReplyDeleteI came across your mother's report of the week's reading, with Google alerts.. I was delighted to see you enjoyed Rosemary Sutcliff's book Black Ships of Troy and it was worth sticking with! You will see why I am interested at www.rosemarysutcliff.wordpress.com
You also will see why you may be able to trust me when I tell you that Romie (for that is how I knew her - I grew up with her) was never herself all that keen on Roald Dall's books although I cannot remember really why. I wish (now I am over 50) I had listened to her more closely when I was young - but I spent more of my time pushing her into flower beds and bushes, as I failed to control her wheelchair.
All the best with your schooling at home (Roosemary could not read until she was about nine and didn't go to school for many years)
Anthony