"Adult" Books for Children?

I love reading to my sons. They are getting older and understand more so we've been able to expand our repetoire a bit. I would like to read some classics to them.. but need to find some that speak 'plain language' without losing the beauty. Does that make sense?

For example.. we read passages from Hesiod's Theogeny. My older son 'gets it' - but still gets frustrated with some of the languaging. My younger son needs constant annotation so the flow is lost. I think they'd both REALLY love the Odyssey.. it's such an adventure! But.. Homer might be overwhelming. I don't really want to get "Myths For Kiddies" because a lot of the richness is lost in the translation.

Are there any really GOOD plain language translations of Classic books?

Re: "Adult" Books for Children?

They may be hard to find- but there is an author named Olivia Coolidge who did some wonderful retellings of Greek myths. I have a collection of hers in my school and they were a little too tough for many of my 6th graders but if it was a one-on-one (or two) situation most of them would get it.

A reference that might be of interest to you is The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at home- it's for homeschoolers but if it's like the adult version that I have, there will be great reading lists and suggestions for addressing the reading. I don't plan to homeschool but I may get it for myself anyway.

Kids' nonfiction has come a long way too- check out Russell Freedman- he's written lots of books, many have won awards.

Re: "Adult" Books for Children?

This is a tween book, that our 2nd grade teacher read to us in class and it has stayed with me my entire life and may be my favorite book. Its called "So Far from the Bamboo Grove"

The summary from Amazon:

A true account that is filled with violence and death, yet one that is ultimately a story of family love and life. Eleven-year-old Yoko Kawashima had led a peaceful and secure life as the daughter of a Japanese government official stationed in North Korea near the end of World War II. Abruptly, all is changed as she, her older sister Ko, and their mother flee the vengeance-seeking North Korean Communists and eventually make their way to an unwelcoming and war-ravaged Japan. Yoko's story is spellbinding. She often escapes death by mere chance; her brother, Hideyo, separated from the family, has an equally harrowing escape. The longed-for arrival in Japan proves to be an almost greater trial, as their mother, defeated by the discovery that all their Japanese relatives are dead, dies. Together, Yoko and Ko create a home in which to await the return of Hideyo. Watkins writes clearly and movingly, with a straightforward style through which the story unfolds quickly. She skillfully alternates her account of the girls' journey with that of their brother, maintaining readers' interest in both. Watkins is able to describe scenes of death, rape, and other atrocities with a simple directness which has no trace of sensationalism yet in no way diminishes their horror. Readers will be riveted by the events of the escape and struggle for survival, and enriched and inspired by the personalities of the family. Especially well drawn is Yoko's gradual emergence from a frightened, whining child to a strong and courageous young girl.

Maybe not yet bc of its content, although not written in a explicit manner, but definitely for when they are a little older.

What about the full version of Alice in Wonderland?

Message edited 3/26/2010 10:38:28 PM.

Re: "Adult" Books for Children?

Classic Starts have age appropriate classics and are great. Robin Hood, Dr Jeckyl, 20,000 Leagues, White Fang...

link to Classic Starts

Also, the Hobbit would be a great book to read to them as the moie is also coming out.


I also cannot wait to read Haroun and the Sea of Stories, by Salamn Rushdie to my sons.

You can always read classic kids books: Narnia, Wizard of Oz, Charlotte's Web, Alice, Black Beauty...

Re: "Adult" Books for Children?

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King.
What about the illustrated man by Ray Bradbury?