Reading Rumpus: Classic

Showing posts with label Classic. Show all posts

Edgar and the Treehouse of Usher by Jennifer Adams

(Thank you to @ericsmithrocks & @GibbsSmithBooks) for my first BabyLit copy!

My two cents: I had heard of the BabyLit series, but had not held one in my hands. They sure sounded great, but I am a middle school reading specialist so they were honestly kind of low on the TBR stack. When I got an email to take a look at Edgar and the Tree House of Usher, I thought that I would probably like it. I mean, any bibliophile has to at least like the idea of putting classical readings in children's hands as young as possible, right? And who doesn't love Poe? I mean, c'mon now!

So... if I said that I liked it, no one would really be surprised.

BUT... if you look over at my "highest recommendation" tag, you will see that I am very sparing with that tag. Most of the books in that category have won big prizes or accolades. I stake my reading reputation on that tag.

Choose Your Path Books continue the fun for a new generation of adventurers

Remember the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series of books from the 80's? My kids loved those things and when I started teaching in the 90's, they were still going strong with my students. You have to figure that those original readers of the genre are now the parents of this generation, eager to expose their kids to the fun!

Smartly, Lake 7 Creative Publishing has launched the "Can You Survive?" series in the same vein. This time, kids choose their way through classic tales of Hercules, Perseus, Treasure Island, King Soloman, and Robin Hood. Dubbed "Choose Your Path" books, these titles will excite a new generation of adventure-seeking readers.

Elementary age students are going to devour these. Recommended for both library and classroom purchase.

Genre: Adventure
Age: 3rd - 6th grade
Thank You: Media Masters Publicity & Lake 7 Creative Publishing for my review copies
Currently for sale: Here

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Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi - Book Review

I love fairy tales, collect them in fact, but Pinocchio had never piqued my interest. When Library Thing offered a new translation with a forward by Umberto Eco, I bit. Wasn’t it time I read this classic?

Pinocchio begins his journey as chunk of wood with a psyche. He progresses through the stages of development most soul-filled beings progress and encounters the same obstacles. Though its been analyzed by varying angles, I felt Pinocchio was, as Eco also saw, a bildungsroman, following Pinocchio's growth from his infantile form (wood) to his matured state (boy).

The story itself is a glimpse at the ferocious world of childhood where everything is tempting and dangerous. It uses elements of fantasy in an allegorical manner, jumping from extremes of preachiness to ridiculousness. It warns against our darkest nature and praises kind spirit.

Reading Pinocchio wasn’t shocking or new, I’ve read my share of violent children’s tales and was certainly familiar with the plot, but it was less than I imagined it to be considering its literary standing. I pulled another translation from the shelf to compare and I found little difference in the erratic and overly incompatible story. Others have said this might be a result of its originally having been a serialized tale; I felt it was simply a poorly written jumble.

I’m glad that I can add Pinocchio to my have-read list, but I don’t think it’s a fairy tale I’ll be returning to again and again.

3 stars only in deference to its status as a classic.

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Genre: Fairy Tale Classic, Read Aloud. Pages: 208.

Themes: Coming of Age, Overcoming Adversity, Love

Thank you to Library Thing. Publisher: NRYB Classics. Date: November 2008. ISBN-10: 1590172892 / ISBN-13: 978-1590172896

Buy Pinocchio Here

Carlo Collodi is the pen name for Italian children's writer Carlo Lorenzini. There is a park, Pinocchio Park, located in Italy dedicated to puppetry and children's literature. You can read more about Carlo on his National Foundation website.

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