Category: 12 Months of Literary Activities

You knew I was saving the best for last.  But you can’t blame me.  It’s not my fault Dickens did his first U.S. public reading in December and gave me an excuse to highlight one of his many brilliant books.

That’s totally on him.

Oliver Twist wasn’t the first Dickens the boys and I read together, but it was one of the most enjoyable.  Maybe because it was about a young boy and they could relate to it.  Maybe because it showcases such a clear delineation between good and bad and proves that those labels have nothing to do with class.

Maybe because we did so many fun activities while we read.
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Pirates.  Ships.  Treasure.  Mutiny. Danger.

Treasure Island has all the things to inspire a kid’s imagination.  The story of Jim Hawkins and his quest for treasure has enchanted children for almost 150 years.  I know my boys absolutely adored the story, even during the cringe-worthy scarier parts.

Stevenson’s adventure is a perfect introduction to classic literature for younger kids and is still action-packed enough to engage older kids.  And you know me, if it offers ways to teach other subjects, I’m All In.

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Peter Pan.  Little boys who never grow up.  Fairies. Pirates. Magic.

There is nothing in Peter Pan not to love.  I mean, it’s not cool that pretty much all the grownups are pirates, but I can rest easy knowing that I only grew up as much as I had to, and I’m definitely not a pirate.

This story is timeless because it sparks the imaginations of young and old alike.  It’s full of wonder and fun.  And awesome things to learn about.
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Lord of the Flies.   Just wow.  Such a deep look at human nature.

Yeah, most people save it for high school at the earliest.  And it’s totally okay if you do that for your kids.  It’s a little scary to contemplate what goes on with a bunch of 6-12 year old boys when they’re left to their own devices.  It makes us think about our own base instincts and what might happen to us if we were in the same situation.

So maybe it should wait till middle school.  But you know me.  I don’t believe in reading levels.  If you think your kids are old enough for the themes and some of the plot line, then read it with them.  It provides such fantastic opportunities to discuss behavior and how we should treat other people.
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