Mom0012 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 We're using SL G this year and The Trojan War by Olivia Coolidge is scheduled for our read-aloud. I am thinking of replacing it with The Children's Homer. Is anyone familiar with both books? Thanks! Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I'm familiar with Children's Homer, but not The Trojan War. I personally would replace both with Rosemary Sutcliff's Black Ships Before Troy and The Wanderings of Odysseus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 I'm familiar with Children's Homer, but not The Trojan War. I personally would replace both with Rosemary Sutcliff's Black Ships Before Troy and The Wanderings of Odysseus. I have Black Ships Before Troy out from the library and was considering that as well. I love that book. This is for my 5th and 7th grader, though. I want to beef up a few of the book selections. Would you still recommend Sutcliff's books over the others? Thanks! Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 ooh, for older ones? I'm not sure. I used to read Sutcliff's books to my 3rd graders when I taught and I adore them! They didn't like Children's Homer, but it was over their heads for the most part. It's probably a good fit for yours, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Okay, I just checked my copy of TWTM and both of the books I mentioned plus the Sutcliff book are recommended. They are all on the 5th grade reading list because that's when TWTM recommends doing Ancients, but the Sutcliff book has a 1300 lexile level (well above 5th grade) even though it would seem to be the easiest book since it is more of a picture book (sort of). I can't find lexile levels on either of the other two books. Anyone else familiar with these books? I found a thread on the SL boards where a lot of long time SL users said The Trojan War was the first book they ever dropped from a core because they just couldn't get through it. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynful Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 For what it's worth, we'll be trying The Children's Homer. Both of mine disliked the Sutcliff books alot (at least I'm hoping it was the style of the writing and not the story). :) My oldest should be doing more of a translation but with his delays and dyslexia, I'm good with this. I've heard Colum is very accessible. Someone else recommended Robert Lancelyn Green's versions to me as well. From the samples I read, I really liked them and my daughter may like them better too. She dislikes anything "old". Good luck, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 We've just started with The Children's Homer (which I found at Frenchy's, the amazing used stuff store here). Dd7 is enjoying it and I am finding a lot of good material to use for copywork and dictation. I've never seen the other book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer WI Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I'm having my 7th grader read the Sutcliff books and my 5th grader reading The Children's Homer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 I'm having my 7th grader read the Sutcliff books and my 5th grader reading The Children's Homer. Just curious how you made that decision. Thanks! Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NittanyJen Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I am not familiar with the other, but we used Children's Homer as a read-aloud when they were 7 and 9. Two years later, they still talk about their favorite parts, and picked up on the extended Odyssey metaphor (and specific references) in the new Ice Age movie in theaters. DS the elder read Black Ships the following year and wasn't as excited by it; he felt it left too much out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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