| Author | |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 8:46pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Try as I might, I just cannot get my children to like "The Polar Express".
Maybe it's the dark illustrations (which are not my favorite, either), maybe it's the sort of menacing train on the cover... I just don't know. We tried again today, and they sat through it, though not with much enthusiasm.
Same with "The Five LIttle Peppers and How They Grew" and "Peter Pan".
I think we've tried three times to get through PP with no luck.
So that has got me curious: what classic books have been duds at your house? Are some just overrated- or is it truly a matter of personal preference?
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 9:15pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Melinda.....I believe I tried all three of these books at about the same "ages" as your kids are and all were flops and we discontinued. Waiting just 1 or 2 years will make a difference. We read all three this past year and everyone enjoyed them....my oldest daughter is about 1 year older than yours (born in '01)
Tried Wind in the Willows a couple times and no one takes to it.
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maddie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1804
|
| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 9:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I could not get through Polar Express either, everytime I try to watch the movie I fall asleep. Don't know what it is!
I have tried to read several classics to the children and didn't get anywhere. It wasn't until I started getting them on unabridged audio that they really started to enjoy them. I guess I'm not a very good reader!
Polar Express was a dud here as was Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott. They loved Little Women and Little Men, but they didn't care for Jo's Boys.
__________________
~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mimip
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2009
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1526
|
| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 10:44pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
SuzanneG wrote:
| Tried Wind in the Willows a couple times and no one takes to it. |
|
|
Including me!
We also tried Peter Pan last year and the kids could not get into it. I am going to try again this year.
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Paula in MN
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 25 2006
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4064
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 4:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mimip wrote:
SuzanneG wrote:
| Tried Wind in the Willows a couple times and no one takes to it. |
|
|
Including me!
|
|
|
Same here! I did find the movie (cartoon) version and the kids may be more receptive to the book now.
__________________
 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stacykay
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1858
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 7:06am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Same experience here for "Polar Express!" I am so glad you started this thread, because I was beginning to think there must be something wrong with us! 
And here's another, that seems to be so popular that they made a movie (haven't seen) of it- "Where the Wild Things Are." Not one of my boys liked the book!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Paula in MN
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 25 2006
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4064
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 7:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
stacykay wrote:
| And here's another, that seems to be so popular that they made a movie (haven't seen) of it- "Where the Wild Things Are." Not one of my boys liked the book! |
|
|
Oh, forgot about this one, but we are the reverse. Love the book, hate the movie ~ too scary!
__________________
Paula
A Catholic Harvest
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 7:32am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think that Wind in the Willows could definitely be a boy girl thing. I think it is more of a boy book. I have this whole theory about boy books, lol. I could not stand any version of Pinocchio...until I had boys. Wow, that Carlo Collodi sure understood boys 
Obviously, this theory isn't science. My boys like Where the Wild Things Are (which is another I couldn't stand at all), but it isn't a favorite.
My number one book that everyone seems to love and I can't stand is "Frederick" by Leo Lionni. I read it and was fuming. I mean, I love the arts and all (my degree is in music!), but being a poet is no excuse for being a freeloader and not helping your family store food for winter. You can have a poet's soul AND do manual labor. Blech. I'm probably reading way too much into a picture book, but it was NOT a message I wanted to encourage!
We listened to Five Little Peppers on cd, and while my boys liked it okay, I do think they will like it better in a couple of years. I, on the other hand, was listening to it all the time while cleaning. Just lovely!
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
StephanieA
Forum Pro
Joined: May 11 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 394
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 7:50am | IP Logged
|
|
|
After reading aloud "Peter Pan" twice....first to 3 boys, then to 4 girls, I think it appeals more to boys....BUT, I won't read it aloud again. It's just not that great of a book. In fact, I don't like the depiction of the father AT ALL and the fact that they couldn't decide whether they could afford 2 or 3 kids. I always skipped that part anyway. We like the Walt Disney movie better than the book.
I never could get into "Polar Express" either.
Blessings,
Stephanie
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 8:18am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Another vote for Where the Wild Things Are. I didn't even suggest seeing the movie!
My dd shares my dislike of animal books, particularly ones in which the dog dies. I promised her she'd never have to read Where the Red Fern Grows or Old Yeller.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 10:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'd been thinking of starting a thread like this but I was too nervous to admit that I or my kids didn't like books that were really popular here. But I think our list is pretty much the same as here . . .
I don't like Polar Express or Wind in the Willows and I also don't like Little Women. Is that awful? I tried to read it as a kid a few times and tried again as an adult. I do like the movie--is that even worse? 
My kids couldn't get into Peter Pan. I think we've tried it twice. It could be that they finished it this last time--dh does a lot of the chapter book reading at bedtime--but I think they set it aside.
We do love Where the Wild Things Are. But, Lindsay, I totally share your strong dislike for Leo Lionni--esp. Frederick. We owned it for awhile and purged it.
Here's a new one: none of us like the Elsa Beskow books. Maybe that's a girl thing and my dd will get into them before long?
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I really dislike Polar Express - book and movie. My kids were in school when it came out and everyone made such a fuss of it that we bought them. The movie scares me and scares a couple of my kids 
__________________
Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
DivineMercy
Forum Pro
Joined: June 14 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 146
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 4:33pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My husband gets motion sickness through much of the Polar Express movie. I told him it reminded me of one of those moving theater type of movies where you expect you chair to move with every turn and drop...but my boys LOVE it! We are reading the book for the first time tonight as our read aloud so we will see if we like it.
Michelle
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LucyP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 791
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 4:54pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary Poppins. I bought all 3 in vintage hardback and as we started to read them, my 6yo said "but she's so horrid to the children" and in the end we abandoned them.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
It's interesting....I'm trying to think back....some of these we had a hard time with ME READING ALOUD....but once I got an audio version, it was FINE! Mary Poppins was DEF. one of them. And, now that I think about it....I'm pretty sure Peter Pan was FINALLY ENJOYED when I got an audio of it.
We listened to Five Little Peppers on audio CD, (I never tried to read it aloud) only because I/we like to hear a "professional" read a book when there are lots of kids in a book...the difference in the voices is more easily recognized and more fun for everyone.
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: Dec 23 2009 at 5:21pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm not a fan of Roald Dahl. His books/the movies are interesting, but I don't *like* them.
Wondered about Wild Things and what was so great about it... and THEN I had boys. And suddenly it made soooo much sense and I loved it.
Not a big fan of Willows the book, but I thought the movie was quaint and gives me a cozy fuzzy feeling. 
Loved Polar Express the book, hated the movie. UGH.
And always liked the short versions of Peter Pan I read (and the movies we watched) through the years -- and *then* I finally read the unabridged book to the kids a few years ago and BLECH.
I go through periods of liking and not liking Elsa Beskow.
I *love* Mary Poppins -- more and more through the years.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chris V
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2009
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1598
|
| Posted: Dec 24 2009 at 9:48am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm feeling encouraged knowing that all of you have one issue or another with classics, unclassics, and everything in between.
It's almost become comical, within our family, that my kiddos don't like to try anything new or unfamiliar...so that naturally begs the question "well then, how DO you get something to become familiar in the first place if your kids refuse to listen, enjoy, and get acquainted?". My solution (through trial and much, much error), has been to read the book(s) aloud, to myself, in the kitchen, on the sofa, as I puttering about doing chores, (yes, even in the bathroom), and always within ear-shot of kids running amok. Before I know it, they are asking questions, wanting to peek into the book with me, following me about the house (with book in hand), to listen, until eventually I sit, and they sit with me.
...Then we read it over, over, over and over again, until it is a favorite
Of course, there are those that they just don't care about at all (like my beloved Beatrix Potter books!) ~ but, at least I tried!
__________________
Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Dec 26 2009 at 1:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My two boys, 12 and 7 loved Wind in the Willows.....as did I. One of things that made it more enjoyable....was to know that CS Lewis enjoyed the same author.  It made the ride at Disneyland make more sense to them, too.
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Dec 26 2009 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
LOL Chari - I use the phrase "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" fairly often (I live on the Other Coast, but grew up an hour from Disneyland) when I'm describing a particularly hair-raising drive/flight/transportation experience. It's easy to pick out which listeners have heard of Mr. Toad and which have not...
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Dec 26 2009 at 4:46pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Classic UNfavorites
