Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: abridged classics, adapted classics, Junior Classics for Young Readers

This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 4 months ago by Harterhouse.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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August 1, 2014 at 8:39 pm
artcmomto3
Participant
Can anyone tell me if these are twaddle or watered down a great deal? For their prize at the library for summer reading they were allowed to choose a book from several choices. About three books were from this collection, and my daughter chose “Little Women”. It appeared these were some of the best choices of the options we had. Nothing else looked appealing to her either, so I steered her toward this book.
I am sure the original would be too difficult for her to read, and this particular books looks like it is probably on her reading level. However, I am not sure if the integrity of the book is preserved. I was thinking it might be okay for her to read in her spare time if she wishes, but we can read the original at a later time together or she can read it on her own when she has the ability to do so.

August 3, 2014 at 1:27 pm
artcmomto3
Participant
Bumping for thoughts
August 3, 2014 at 1:54 pm
Wings2fly
Participant
We had a large collection I got from a thrift store. I did not mind my children reading them in their free time. They each read one and did not want to read anymore of them, so I have them boxed up ready to sell so I can use the shelf space for something better. They did decide to keep a few though, like Sherlock Holmes and Pollyanna. I am not sure why those interested them, but they were okay with the rest going. Here is an older thread discussing a similar adapted book:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/great-illustrated-classics
August 4, 2014 at 2:03 pm
artcmomto3
Participant
Thank you so much! It appears that other people have differing opinions over this very thing. I will just treat it like American Girl books. She can read it for leisure if she chooses, but I’m not going to make a big deal about it either way.
August 4, 2014 at 2:13 pm
Wings2fly
Participant
Yes, differing opinions on AG as well, but I let my kids read them in free time. And I tell them to read a variety – to at least read one other type of book before reading another one. I grew up reading only Nancy Drew in my free time. Looking back now, I wished I had read more of a variety.
August 4, 2014 at 3:50 pm
greenebalts
Participant
artcmomto3….Charlotte refers to children’s editions of books in Vol. 3 School Education, around page 122, of her writings. I recently posted some thoughts regarding “living books”, based on quotes found in Charlotte’s writings just in case you’re interested….

http://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com/2014/07/books-must-be-living-charlotte-mason.html

Blessings,
Melissa
August 5, 2014 at 3:18 am
artcmomto3
Participant
Thank you, Melissa, for sharing this post with me. It is good to read exactly what Charlotte Mason said herself. It sounds like these books may, after all, be twaddle, rather than retaining the integrity of the classic. However, I will say that one of Harriet Taylor Treadwell’s readers condensed some of Black Beauty. Much of the original was included, but some parts were omitted or slightly changed due to very difficult vocabulary. The integrity of the original was still intact. If, unlike the Black Beauty excerpt, these other books are watered down, I may just put this copy aside to sell or give away.
January 18, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Kim
Participant
My question is. What grade level/ age are these books created for?
January 22, 2019 at 6:38 pm
Harterhouse
Participant
My third beginning reading child devoured these. A few years later, he now reads any historical book he can find and is starting some of the originals. I certainly don’t think it hurts or causes harm.