Mama2Three Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Would this book be ok for my sensitive 4 and 6 yos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karenciavo Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 It's hard to say, my 6 yo loved it when I read it to him, but he's not sensitive. It includes some disturbing elements, the way Miggery Sow is treated for one (her father sells her off, she's beaten - gets her ears boxed - by the man who buys her.) Can you check it out of the library and pre-read or go spend some time in a bookstore and glance through a copy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 This was scheduled as a read-aloud for us this year, but after reading a thread about it here and going elsewhere to read more reviews and skimming over a copy at the library, I chose to skip it. My six year old daughter sometimes cries over books, and Despereaux seemed, to me, like it was not a little kid story. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 My then-7 was ok with it, but I think it's best for 8 and up. It's one of those books with several layers of meaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiegirl Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 If your children are sensitive, I would say to wait until they are older. I read it to my children this year and we had no problems but my two younger ones are not sensitive. The first time I read it, I read it only to my oldest when she was 7 and she did cry at parts. It didn't stop her from enjoying the book and wanting to read it again, though. Whew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylark Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 My 7 yr old and 9 yr old girls listened to it and did fine with it. It's actually one of their favorites. But, if yours are sensitive, maybe you should wait just to be sure. It's a great story though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWOB Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I am currently reading this to me 8 and 5yo. Dd8 read this on her own about 6 months ago and loved it. Ds5 is enjoying it somewhat. My kids are not sensitive, though they did cry for the Charlotte's Web movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mapi Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 My sensitive 9 yo dd said this was the best book ever. She does enjoy crying though. Meaning loves drama and emotion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Three Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 Thanks, everyone. I should have previewed the book but jumped in so we could finish it during winter break... so we could see the movie (bag over my head). Sounds like I rushed in too quickly. I love the rich language, but there is some harshness even in the first few chapters -- and we haven't reached the part with rats yet. I think I'll try to find a new chapter book from the library and steer them to the new one. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I don't know about the book, but my ds (5) says, from watching the preview, that he's too scared to watch it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in CA Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 My son and I saw the previews for the movie the other day and both looked at one another with a...:001_huh:. It surely didn't look very similar to the book WE read and enjoyed. It looked quite 'Disneyfied.' :D We are looking forward to seeing it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cillakat Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Would this book be ok for my sensitive 4 and 6 yos? IMO, no. My scary-story-tolerating 9.5 yo loved it. My sensitive-to-scary-stories 7 yo HATED it. The 9 yo loves harry potter, percy jackson (lightning thief), chronicles of narnia etc. The 7 yo really really hates all of those things and can even find upset in Little House on the Prairie. I know plenty of people who's young kids like Tales of Despereaux but even I found it pretty upsetting (but I'm really sensitive and can't stand Chronicles of Narnia) K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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