Kevin's Watch

peter wrote:- and a good story remains a good story, pc or otherwise.

I don't remember being affected by any non-pc elements of her books, I don't even remember noticing them. I think a lot of them are probably fine and may be a good choice.

I guess a lot depends on her reading level...at that age I was reading things like The Hobbit, The Hardy Boys (which obviously makes me think of Nancy Drew) and Willard Price. And yes, Enid Blyton.

Brian Jacques Redwall books are great, but may be a little difficult. But if there was one thing that got me into reading, it was the fact that my parents read to me. A lot. And of course they read themselves, all of which made me want to do it too.

The Redwall books would be great to read to her, if she can't manage them herself yet.

--A

Brian Jacques Redwall books are great, but may be a little difficult. But if there was one thing that got me into reading, it was the fact that my parents read to me. A lot. And of course they read themselves, all of which made me want to do it too.

Oh sheesh the Redwall books. The feasts...

I might recommend the Prydain Chronicles for a 7 year old, but I'm not sure...if others have read, chime in.

Thanks Orlion - The latter quote I have encountered before (but had forgotten, such is the effect of age on memory ) but the former is new to me and crystalises what of course I must have seen from numerous readings, but had never so much as thought of in that explicit way before. (Incidentally, my love of TWITW started in my early twenties after I heard an Oxford don on the radio saying that to get a 'feel' of the 'Zeitgeist' of upper (middle) class Edwardian Britain you could do no better than to read this book. I did so and was hooked from then on)

By coincidence, if asked to name the saddest peice of prose I could think of, it would have to be the scene at the end of the final chapter of 'The House at Pooh Corner'. The chapter entitled 'In which Christopher Robin and Pooh come to an enchanted place and we leave them there' outlines the parting of Christopher Robin and Pooh (inevitable as all grow up and away from childish things) and his atempt to explain to Pooh that, although they will not see each other again, there will be a place where they will always be together. Gosh - I don't even need to read it to 'fill up'.