Bambi, Felix Salten … Too harsh for 8 & 9 year olds?

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  • October 22, 2012 at 12:12 pm
    Melissa Henson
    Participant

    I’m looking for your opinions. I have started reading aloud Bambi by Felix Salten to my 8 and 9 year old daughters. We love it so far. I love the beautiful language and the Burgess-quality nature descriptions. But, I am finding myself nervous at every turn of the page, bracing myself for the “bad parts”. I haven’t actually read the book myself, but I know that hunters come and things can get pretty harsh … and I know his mother is going to die.

    For those of you who have read it, do you think it is too harsh for young children? Or did your children love it anyway and do okay with the harsh realities? What are your thoughts? Would you recommend it for now or shoudl I wait a bit? Or maybe I just need to read it myself to see and THEN make the decision?

    Would you tell your children up front that the mother is going to die to prepare them for that or just let them be shocked when it happens?

    Thanks so much for your honest opinions. I look forward to hearing them.

    Melissa

    October 22, 2012 at 12:22 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    Pre-reading is always best since you know your kids, but personally we enjoyed it when dd was 10 and ds was 7. Dd who was 4 was already asleep.

    Btw, I think you live(d) near me in Jacksonville. If so, our Learning with Charlotte book club meets tonight. If you’re interested. We’re reading vol. 6, p 1-45 (preface and ch 1-2) for tonight.

    October 22, 2012 at 1:27 pm
    houseofchaos
    Participant

    You know your children best, so definitely pre-read & judge for yourself.  We enjoyed it with children younger than yours.  I just read it and let them experience the story as it was.  Death is part of life, and my opinion is that it’s better to meet it in a book first than in real life, if possible. 

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