Tohru Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 I've not read it, but it's on the schedule in our curriculum. Would you recommend this title as a read aloud for an extremely sensitive child? I'm wondering if I should substitute with something else because I've heard mixed reviews. TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexi Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 The father swan gets shot but is ok in the end. He steals a trumpet for his son and crashes through a glass window of a music store. My kids are fairly sensitive and they were ok with the story. It does talk about the father being shot and seeing his own blood. But it wasn't too much. The book is very wordy because the father swan gives lots of long-winded speeches so sometimes it was hard for my kids to pay attention. And it was a little tiresome to read it aloud. What age is your child (I'm on my phone and can't see if you have a signature)? I think my child was 7 when I read it aloud. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Lexi summarized the potential issues well. We read this when DD was an older 4yo or young 5yo and she didn't have any problems with it; she's more sensitive than average. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 My oldest is very sensitive and loved it. She read it herself though, so I can't comment on the read-aloud side of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El... Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Yes. It's a lovely book. Even the scary-ish parts are sweet, because the father swan delivers these long orations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 (edited) We really enjoyed that one here. I am the sensitive one, and I don't recall being super upset when I read it. Now Charlotte's Web. Forget it. Edited November 26, 2016 by SparklyUnicorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 I loved it, but I wouldn't read it aloud, myself. We listened to the audiobook and it was done much better than I could perform it. It's sweet and not scary. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 (edited) I read it aloud to my two youngest boys a couple of years ago without having ever read it before myself. Youngest is sensitive but not as much as dd#2 at the same age. No issues. I think dd#2 (immensely sensitive) would have been ok with it by 6 or 7. Edited November 27, 2016 by RootAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share Posted November 26, 2016 (edited) Thanks! If I know something unpleasant is about to happen, I let her know ahead of time, she usually asks me to skip those parts or I'll summarize it. 7yo - incredibly sensitive. Edited November 26, 2016 by Tohru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SporkUK Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 I used the audio book version for my kids last year, including my very sensitive then-6 year old without much issue but every sensitive kid is different. Actually, Trumpet of the Swan is one of the few I really recommend as an audio book because of the version, I believe its read by the author and actually has a trumpet played when it says so which really made the story come to life for my kids. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexi Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 I used the audio book version for my kids last year, including my very sensitive then-6 year old without much issue but every sensitive kid is different. Actually, Trumpet of the Swan is one of the few I really recommend as an audio book because of the version, I believe its read by the author and actually has a trumpet played when it says so which really made the story come to life for my kids. That sounds wonderful. Maybe I'll get the audiobook so I don't have to read this one aloud again. I found the father swan's speeches so tiresome to read aloud. He started to really annoy me! But I do like this book better than Stuart Little. That book seems so disorganized to me. My kids like this book better as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wathe Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 Both my kids were fine with The Trumpet of The Swan, and have chosen to re-listen to audiobook version several times. The like the one posted at Kayray (a recording of her reading it to her own kids) Charlotte's Web was upsetting for both, and the more sensitive of the two was also upset by Stuart Little - too intense, and worried ( for weeks and weeks!) about how thing turned out for Margalo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Loved this book and I had a pretty sensitive child. We loved the story and the characters and remember it very fondly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 This is the best EB White book IMO. Charlotte's Web is ok, and Stuart Little just left me *huh?* at the end. I think it's pretty safe for an emotional child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted November 30, 2016 Author Share Posted November 30, 2016 I just pre-read the first chapter and there is a huge character issue for us regarding the boy intentionally not telling his father about finding the swans, pretty much lying about finding them - he says he found nothing because he wanted to hide it from his dad. Does the character issue resolve itself later in the story? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 It's a short book, Tohru - why don't you finish it so you can judge for yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 My kids were fine with it, and they tend to be sensitive. I thought it was annoying and made my husband read it to them so I didn't have to though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 I just pre-read the first chapter and there is a huge character issue for us regarding the boy intentionally not telling his father about finding the swans, pretty much lying about finding them - he says he found nothing because he wanted to hide it from his dad. Does the character issue resolve itself later in the story? The father does eventually find out about the swans. I don't think the boy ever admitted being dishonest, he does do other things that show good character. I talked to my kids about lying by omission at that part of the book. Later on when the father swan steals the trumpet, that wrong us addressed and corrected. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted November 30, 2016 Author Share Posted November 30, 2016 It's a short book, Tohru - why don't you finish it so you can judge for yourself? :lol: If only you could see my stacks of books I need to read or am in the middle of. Multiply that to several children... ;) I only come on here for about an hour every few days, to decompress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 I briefly pre read this book and then bought the audiobook 😂 This was one I did not want to read aloud. I thought it was boring but my kids liked it a lot and still talk about parts of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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