After not hearing of Ann Patchett before, and then three times in one week hearing her name, and watching her on The Colbert Report; I decided to dig a little further. First, I will be getting some grown-up Ann Patchett books out of the library on our library visit tomorrow. Second, I love what she has to say, and what she is doing in her new bookstore, Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN (http://www.parnassusbooks.net). Third, I am going to read as many of the books she recommends on her blog as possible. (http://www.parnassusbooks.net/blog) – ahh, to dream!
I read her blog and realized that, I, too, am one of the many who has never read The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. It is one of my husband’s favorite movies, and I think my kids know the movie by heart. So, I thought, I would try it as a read aloud with my son. I was sure we had a copy among the many books we have been unpacking these past few months. But, no. However, we do have a copy of Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling; How the Camel Got His Hump, How the Tiger Got His Stripes. They reminded me of the Anansi stories I used to read to my class. I love stories like this. My son enjoyed parts of the stories, and there were a few illustrations. I think he was most pleased with the endings; it really brought the story all together for him. I would read the stories yourself before reading them aloud. You can determine what can be edited when reading them to your children. There is nothing bad, just written in such a way that the younger kids might get bored.
I do plan on getting The Jungle Book, and trying it myself. Perhaps we will read it as a family read aloud!!
Happy Reading!
