I am trying to decide if my children – 13 and 12 – should listen to both of these or just skip An Island Story and go to A Child’s History…? It’s supposedly written at a more advanced level, but if AIS is too good to be missed, I need to know.
Thanks all. I still don’ tknow if AIS is too juvenile, though. We’ll have a copy of it before the month is out via YC on kindle.
Suzukimom…A Child’s History of England was written by Charles Dickens. I have a copy I found at an antique store, but it’s also avaiable on audio at Librivox.
I picked up CHOE this weekend. It’s a lovely hardback that Jan Bloom happily insisted I add to our library collection. A paperback copy of AIS sat next to it on the shelf. I didn’t look at it closely enough due to time constraints, but mostly be side I tend to avoid purchasing pb copies.
I looked through CHOE and know we’ll use it. I think it mainly depends on the level of books your children have listened to/read on their own. Dickens’ book is certainly not juvenile, but it’s not so demanding that it should be avoided.
Personally I don’t think Dicken’s History of England is more advance than Marshall’s history. But I could certainly be missing why one might think Dicken’s book is more advance.
The following are selections,from each of the books, that talk about Edmund Ironsides and King Canute. Hopefully by comparing the two books you will be able to come to a decision.
FWIW, HUFI suggests CHOE for year 7 light and as an option for the full version of year 7.
“The Birth of Britain by Winston Churchill (I read the first two chapters then turn it over to my students. They write a 1/2 to 1 pg written narration once a week. If your students are not familiar with British History, then they shouldn’t use this book. I recommend Charles Dicken’s Child’s History of England. An Island Story can be used but it is a bit childish.”
I use SCM modules in totality. They form my framework. When I want to add something, I choose from HUFI. For example, my 12 yo dd is doing SCM module 1 for 7th. I chose 2 additional books about ancient Egypt from HUFI to include for her.
I also love lindafay’s suggestions for personal development, world view, apologetics.
“…….An Island Story can be used but it is a bit childish.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOL! Well, I guess I must like “childish” then.
I was very pleased when our librarian told the middle school students to never be ashamed to use books out of the juvenile section. He went on to explain that even adults use them because they are not written over the heads of average people, and much can be benefited from reading them. They are certainly more informative than the average text. Of couse he was not suggesting the usage of dumbed down books either. 🙂