Favorite Canterbury Tales for younger children?

[Nestof3]

I'm looking for something for my boys -- 7 and 8.

 

I have a Chanticleer and the Fox already.

 

Anything else? On the clean side of things? LOL

[chai]

McCaughrean's Canterbury Tales is great. We used it as a read-aloud. It's been awhile since we read though, so I don't remember if I had to skip anything.

[nmoira]

Marcia Williams has a nice picture book adaptation. I plan on using McCaughrean as well.

[Stacia]

We tried the McCaughrean book when we did SOTW 2, but I really didn't like it. Many of the stories are/were over my kids' heads in terms of understanding what was really going on (adult themes, often husband/wife themes). One or two of ther stories were ok, but that's all, imo. I would recommend getting it from the library before deciding whether or not to buy it.

 

Basically, I came to the conclusion that for us, Canterbury Tales will be more appropriate when the kids are older. I just don't find a lot of the stories in it to be relevant for young children.

[Nestof3]

Thanks ladies. I considered the Marcia Williams book, but read this review:

 

BUT BE WARNED: Chaucer is known for bawdiness, and this book has not been cleaned-up and made as child-friendly as some might expect. There is A LOT of farting, naked bottoms, and bed-hopping. The farting isn't really a problem (the kids love it, as did Chaucer, obviously), but The Reeve's Tale is really not adaptable to children, and should probably have been left out. This aside, it's a terrific book.

 

Basically, I came to the conclusion that for us, Canterbury Tales will be more appropriate when the kids are older. I just don't find a lot of the stories in it to be relevant for young children.

 

I'm starting to agree with you here. I studied Chaucer's Cant. Tales for a semester in college, and I was wondering how one would adapt it for children.

[whitestavern]

We read this one (my children are 5 & 8). They loved it and I thought it was very "clean". It was written at a good level, definitely not easy, but my 5yo was able to get the gist of all of it.

 

The Canterbury tales. Selected and adapted by A. Kent Hieatt and Constance Hieatt. Illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren. With an introd. by Mark Van Doren.

[nmoira]

I'm starting to agree with you here. I studied Chaucer's Cant. Tales for a semester in college, and I was wondering how one would adapt it for children.

I don't have a problem with doing the Williams or McCaughrean adaptations, but of course understand why some might. However, I wouldn't want a completely cleaned up version because it wouldn't be true to the spirit of the tales. :)

[abreakfromlife]

so can an ignorant person ask a question? :001_unsure: What is so great about Chaucer :confused: Why would an adult want to read it, let alone kids?? I get the point of reading most great lit - but everything I've ever heard about Cant. Tales is the bawdiness......is there great stories and themes in between all of that? I guess I don't get the greatness of this particular piece of literature and am up in the air about covering it this next year. anyone care to enlighten me?? :bigear:

[Legomom]

We just finished McCaughrean's version and I questioned whether it was worth reading at this age. I skipped over some parts and one story. Even cleaned up there is so much emphasis on getting married and having another girlfriend or boyfriend, being in love, etc (as I describe it to my kids) and I wonder how this info affects the 7 yo mind. We just finished Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and there is a part where the king's wife is continually trying to seduce Gawain. I smooth it over but it does make me wonder if some of these classics are not appropriate for kids, even in the kids' versions.