Burgess "Adventure" books -negative reviews??

[scrapper4life]

So I was ready to get a boxed set of these books to use as read alouds for my K5 son....then I started finding several negative reviews on amazon. So I thought I'd check with the hive :)

 

Anyone feel that these books model bad behavior/habits? If so, is this left unchecked/"no lesson learned " I read a couple in my own childhood and don't recall anything of the sort. Just wondering because I was really surprised to read negative reviews.

[sbgrace]

The animal stories? My boys loved those books when they were younger.

I don't recall bad lessons. The animals sometimes do bad things, but there are consequences. You know the fox, or whatever, isn't being kind.

 

I guess it's been a long while, and maybe I've forgotten something. But I'm pretty sensitive--I didn't like Brer Rabbit for example--and don't remember feeling hesitant to keep reading these.

 

We bought and read all of them. I still have them, because they were such nice memories for me.

Edited April 23, 2016 by sbgrace

[Julie Smith]

So I was ready to get a boxed set of these books to use as read alouds for my K5 son....then I started finding several negative reviews on amazon. So I thought I'd check with the hive :)

 

Anyone feel that these books model bad behavior/habits? If so, is this left unchecked/"no lesson learned " I read a couple in my own childhood and don't recall anything of the sort. Just wondering because I was really surprised to read negative reviews.

 

We loved these books so much that we have them all, and I mean all.

 

I highly recommend you give them a try. If you are unsure you can get them free online since they are so old. 

 

There were a favorite series for such a long time. So many good memories. 

[SilverMoon]

Ooookay then. My second grader has been reading them herself this year. I can't remember anything alarming in the slightest from when my teens read them with me as littles, so I have just handed them over to DD/2nd. Her favorite was Paddy the Beaver, and even brought up his strong work ethic during working on a tough school lesson.

 

The character behavior in the book mimics the behavior the real animal would have, and if they didn't learn a lesson, that's the lesson. They're loaded with nature study.

[Hobbes]

I loved these as a kid and kept the ones I had (not a complete set). My 2nd grader is deep into them right now and loving it. We're reading the Bird Book together in Morning Time as well. I can't imagine what negative messages a child would get from those books!

[scrapper4life]

Sounds like you all are surprised by the negative reviews, too.

 

 

We'll give them a try. Thanks :).

Edited April 23, 2016 by scrapper4life

[kristin0713]

We loved them. We always talked about the choices that the characters made.

[Heathermomster]

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Burgess%2C%20Thornton%20W.%20(Thornton%20Waldo)%2C%201874-1965

[Kathleen.]

We love these books 😊

[Cosmos]

You mean this box set?

 

http://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Thornton-Burgess-Animal-Stories/dp/0486276341/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

There is a single 2-star review that has issues with the "morality" of the books. The 3-star reviews are about font size and similar issues. Then there are four 4-star reviews and 50 5-star reviews praising the books highly. I think you have your answer.

[SilverMoon]

If you have a Kindle or a free Kindle app on any of your devices you can get most of the Thornton Burgess books for free in Kindle format.

[PagesandFields]

These books are literally wrapped up for my kids best friend's birthday present tomorrow.... They are just enough precoscious for a kid to relate to... They meet them where they are at... But very sweet and entertaining... We have read them 3 times...

[calihil]

I find them incredibly boring but I don't remember anything about bad behavior or anything.

[craftyerin]

I gave the above linked boxed set to Ker his kindergarten year. He devoured them! Super cute reads.