I'm looking forward to reading many classic books with my children in the future. We have already read a few and loved them and the discussion that come from these books-- both good and bad. I recommend reading Steeped in Stories by Mitalia Perkins and The Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox Gurdon. Both are fantastic resources for why reading classic stories and addressing their flaws is important for us and our children.
I've found the easiest way to pave the road to reading classic books is enjoying modern retellings that spark curiosity and wonder for the originals.
Here are a few modern retellings and their classic counterparts.
The Penderwicks
This modern retelling of Little Women takes place in the summer. The Penderwick sisters spend their holiday on the grounds of the beautiful estate, Arundel. They spend the holiday exploring Arundel's sprawling gardens, digging through a treasure-filled attic, playing with tame rabbits, and eating the best gingerbread in Massachusetts, made with love by the darling cook. But the best discovery is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel's owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures.
Jeffery's mother, Mrs. Tifton, is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffrey is and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble-- or else. But the girls cannot resist saving Jeffery from his ill-awaited fate of abandoning his dreams and being shipped off to military school. Will they succeed? Will they stay out of trouble?
Wolf Hollow
This thought-provoking novel echoes To Kill a Mockingbird in many ways. In a small, quiet Pennsylvania town, Annabelle has lived a mostly quiet life. Until the day new student Betty Glengarry walks into her class. Betty is cruel and manipulative, and her bullying quickly escalates. Betty's evil mind decides Toby, a reclusive World War I veteran, would become her next target. While others see Toby's strangeness, Annabelle knows only kindness. And as tensions mount in their small community, Annabelle must find the courage to stand as a lone voice for justice.
The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
Chaya, a nobleman's rebellious daughter, plays Robin Hood for her impoverished community by stealing from the king. But this doesn't come without risks, and when Chaya steals the queen's jewels, a disastrous getaway jeopardizes her best friend's life and ends in a jailbreak and running away to the jungle on the king's elephant! Chaya leads her companions on a thrilling adventure. After leaving her village as a thief, can she return as a hero and the leader of a revolution?
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