| Author | |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: Dec 13 2006 at 8:24am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Can you believe we haven't read this book yet. 
But I found a copy at Bks-a-Million this month for $3.00 and snatched it up . I told my reader-daugther we would read it together but after reading a child's version of "A Christmas Carol", a dePaola book, and two *jewel* sticker books I got up to fix us all a snack.
She started reading it without me and didn't stop until Ch.3 (only because we had her Christmas dance party to go to).  She was giggling and sat at our make-shift island in the kitchen to read most of it to me. 
My question about this book is...I knew there were some undisciplined children portrayed in it and they got into a lot of mischief. It still seems to be a popular book with homeschoolers. Perhaps the characters are so bad the child-reader sees how amoral they are and learns a lesson. Whatever the reason, I"m alittle surprised hsers have embraced this book so willingly. Look how fast I picked it up just becuase I've seen it mentioned so often. Now it's impossible to get this book out of my dd's hands.
Has anyone else questioned this? Is it as harmless as Ramona's escapades? Remember, I haven't read the book (only the funniest parts of the first couple of chapters) so please advise.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ladybugs
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3732
|
| Posted: Dec 13 2006 at 8:57am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We loved this book and read it either last year or the year before - I can't remember (see Elizabeth's St. Anthony thread).
Anyway, the characters in question have MANY redeeming qualities and that is why we liked the book so much.
__________________
Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
marihalojen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 12 2006
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1883
|
| Posted: Dec 13 2006 at 9:32am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have read this book every year at Christmas since I was in 3rd Grade and every year I laugh out loud through the whole book and sob my eyes out in the last chapter. It is so beautiful.
__________________
~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MichelleW
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 01 2005
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 947
|
| Posted: Dec 13 2006 at 1:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
This has been our silent reading book for my two youngers this year. Every day at lunch they shake their heads at how awful those Herdman's are. My middle child could stand it no longer and last week finished the book. He couldn't talk about it for a couple of days.
I read this book years ago, and my recollection is that the Herdman's are caricatures of us as sinful man, and they make the Nativity story very real as they apply it to themselves at the end.
I held off introducing it, not because I thought it "bad" modeling for my kids, but because I didn't want to waste the humor on them while they were too young to really "get it." They seem to be the perfect age this year. They are LOVING it (and I think really "getting" it).
__________________
Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momwats8
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 20 2006
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1084
|
| Posted: Dec 13 2006 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
What a trasure this book is. When I was in grade school we put it on as a play. It always had me laughing.
__________________
Mary- Wife to Mike and Mother to Austin(92), Mikey(95), R.J.(97), Benedict(98), Kolbe(00), Ignatius(02), Christian(03), Margaret(05),&4 angels in heaven
http://www.momwats8.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
AnaB
Forum Pro
Joined: April 12 2005
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281
|
| Posted: Dec 14 2006 at 11:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've only read parts of it, but it's the end that redeems the story. So, keep reading. I do remember being a little shocked at the behavior of some of the children (including the smoking in the bathroom, if I recall correctly).
Each of these Herdman children is deeply affected by the Nativity as we all should be with the reality of the Gospel. My children were in tears giggling and then spellbound during the Nativity scene. In the end, you'll love it.
__________________
His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Leonie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2831
|
| Posted: Dec 15 2006 at 6:37am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We love this book - very funny and the ending is very toouching.
__________________
Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Meredith
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2355
|
| Posted: Dec 15 2006 at 11:48am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We're reading this one for the first time too, starting it tonight, we can't wait!
__________________
Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
julia s.
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 27 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 394
|
| Posted: Dec 15 2006 at 10:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Cay,
I agree with your reservations. My kids and I finished this book (we listened to it on CD) for the first time this year. And although I think the end of the story justifies the (really horrible) things the Herdman children do in the beginning it was a system shocker for me, a fairly conservative mom. I, like you, went soley on the recomendations of other hsing moms that I trusted and was a little unprepared for arson and smoking of cigars. But the redeaming aspect is it is really seeing the nativity story through fresh eyes -- not to mention King Herod!
I'm not sure, however, that my kids got much out of it. Especially my almost 6 year old. I think a lot of it went over his head (he still working out the specifics of the nativity story himself) and he's a pretty good listener. I think in some ways it is for older children who can appreciate all the subtle humor and the predicament of the adults in the book. My kids got the funny parts, but I don't think they understood the revelation at the end of the story. My nine year old is sensitive, but sometimes needs bricks to drop on his head to pick up on the connections. But we'll listen again in a couple of years and I think it will be more special then.
HTH.
__________________
julia
married to love of her life
with ds12 ds8 ds3 and ds1
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mary
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 691
|
| Posted: Dec 17 2006 at 4:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
cay, have you seen the movie? i have never read the book, but my kids watch this every year just before they take part in our hsing group's nativity play.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Karen E.
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 27 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1161
|
| Posted: Dec 18 2006 at 4:16pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
marihalojen wrote:
| every year I laugh out loud through the whole book and sob my eyes out in the last chapter. It is so beautiful. |
|
|
Me, too. 
Really young children wouldn't get quite a bit of the humor. I think pre-reads are always a good idea, esp. when there are doubts about what's appropriate. There are a few situations and words you might want to be careful about.
But, all that said, this is a beautiful story about children who are completely unchurched, who end up being touched by Christ ... and as someone who was unchurched as a child, the story has always touched me down to my core. I wasn't a cigar-smoking arsonist but there's still a big part of me that relates so intimately to little Imogene Herdman ... when she can't stop the tears at the end, well, neither can I. Her realization is just too much for her, and I know the feeling.
I think you'll love the book, Cay.
__________________
God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bridget
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2198
|
| Posted: Dec 18 2006 at 4:30pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
And, ya know, it's just real life. Every family event, every sacred thing, every holiday is 'tainted' a little by people who don't know how to behave. We just have to love them and do our best with them anyways.
__________________
God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: Dec 18 2006 at 4:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
mary wrote:
| cay, have you seen the movie? |
|
|
There's a movie???
I didn't know. Thanks for cluing me in, Mary.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
