HeidiKC Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I tried reading The Hobbit aloud last year to ds12 and we were both bored to tears. I decided it must be a good book, but we didn't get to it every night and it wasn't a page turner and just didn't work for us as a read-aloud. Now that the movie is coming out, I'm having him read it on his own (aren't I mean?!). I'd love my younger boys (ages 8 and 6) to hear the story, but obviously I'm not excited about trying to read it again. So I thought maybe the audiobook. Then I began to wonder if it might be too old for them, scary, etc.? They don't mind a little violence or a little bad guy stuff, but are scared of creepy stuff. I'm wondering if there are some creepy, gonna-get-you scenes in the book? I remember we read the part about the giant (or trolls?) dancing around the fire and it seemed like they were going to eat the Hobbit-guy or something. At least reading it aloud, it didn't feel at all scary and I don't THINK that would bother them. But it's more the slow, sinister kind of thing that scares them. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 My family loves it as a read aloud. :) It has a slower pace in the beginning. The trolls are the start of some intense situations. They meet orcs, Gollum, a shapeshifter (good, but not particularly safe), giant spiders, a dragon, and probably some others that I'm forgetting at the moment. The scariest parts (IMO) are with Gollum, the spiders, and the dragon. I've read it to 5yos and it's been fine, but my kids aren't sensitive. The kids are begging me to read the LOTR trilogy now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I think it depends on your child. There are scary parts in it. I love LOTR, but had a hard time getting through the Hobbit. Dh read The Hobbit to the boys when they were 6ish. I read LOTR to each of them when they turned 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiKC Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Hmmm....I think I should probably wait, mainly because they listen to audiobooks at bedtime, in the dark. Maybe Gollum and those guys are not the images I want in their minds as they are trying to get to sleep! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLDoll Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I read it to my 6 and 7 year old kids last summer and we're slowly working our way through LOTR now, but school reading and activities have slowed our pace greatly. My 4 year old listens in occasionally. Enough to know who the main characters are and a few major plot points so he can participate in the re-enactments. :001_smile: Go for it! I'll probably have my kids re-read it themselves next fall in anticipation of the movie, or at least listen to the audibook. They'll be 7 and 8 and I think will enjoy it again. And nothing spurs them to read a book like knowing they get to see a movie at the end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnylady303 Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 My 6YO loves loves loves the Hobbit. It is her favorite book. She's pretty intrepid though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissad2 Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Is it bad that I hated The Hobbit? We read it in the 7th grade and I just couldn't hardly get through it! Do I have to read it to my kids?!?:leaving: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friederike in Persia Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 A few years back my dh was reading it to our dds and ds, who was then six, got too scared. This spring dh read it do ds, who's now 9 and he loves it and keeps begging for The Lord of the Rings. That one took dh a whole year to read to the girls, it'll be another loooong year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 The giant spiders in the forest would have done me in at age 6. They were hard enough at age 40 (shudders). If they want to know the story, isn't there a cartoon? I don't know how they handle the scary parts though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 I think it depends on the child. I've been reading The Hobbit to my dc, and we all love it. They had no problem with the spiders. They already know a lot of the action parts from LOTR, though, so that might have helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 I think it depends on the child. I've been reading The Hobbit to my dc, and we all love it. They had no problem with the spiders. They already know a lot of the action parts from LOTR, though, so that might have helped. :iagree: My son is pretty sensitive and he was able to handle the Hobbit as a read aloud, although we read it at 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoorsy Type Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 I have been reading it to my three children who are 4,8, and 9. None of them have had any problems, although my 4yo is not as interested in the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma2Luke Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Definitely depends on the sensitivity of the child. We are 3/4 of the way through (as my 5yo put it - we're FINALLY at the dragon part!)...and my 5yo is LOVING it (as am I).... he's not overly sensitive though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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