Reading Anne of Green Gables

"You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair," said Anne reproachfully. "People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is." -- Anne of Green Gables

I must tell you about these Classical Books that I picked up. Several months ago, I went into Books A Million and found many "young reader" books on the clearance rack for $1.00. I picked them up for the Little Ones to read when they are between 3rd and 5th grade. I typically don't buy things so well in advance but I thought they would be really good "Read Alouds" in a couple years and I thought the price for abridged version books that were Classical was excellent. So, imagine my surprise when I got them home and the Little Lady (age 5) pulled one off the shelf and started reading it. I noticed immediately that she wasn't having problems with any of the words and she was comprehending what she was reading. However, what was giving her problems was the length of the book. She would read about 5 or so pages and she would get tired of reading it. She wasn't understanding that she could read a chapter put it down and come back to it. Nor had we discussed that ALL 180 pages of the book weren't expected to be read in one sitting! At the last minute, I decided to put the book on her 1st Grade "Read Aloud" for Homeschool as an optional thing we could do if I saw that she would enjoy doing something way more advanced than what I had planned for her as a 5 year old. I also thought, we could go slow through a book or two if time permitted this year.

All of you know that we homeschool year around due to the fact that year-around-school fits better into Beloved's work schedule. We had homeschooled all the way through June and July, so I wanted to take a few weeks off while our house is being torn apart for a move. This would allow me to not worry about homeschool items around the house that would get packed for the storage building instead of the house! So, I had no intention of picking up any books up until the other side of the move! However, the Little Lady asked if we could read one of the Classics. She wants me to finish "Black Beauty" but it is so sad that I told her that we would have to start that book when things are not so crazy. I did tell her that I wouldn't mind reading "Anne of Green Gables" if she wanted me too. So, we picked it up, with all intentions of reading a few chapters last night!

By the first two chapters, the Little Lady was hooked on "Anne Shirley". She thought that it was so funny that Anne talked a lot. I asked her who Anne reminded her off and the Little Lady laughed and said, "ME." Then I asked her, "Who does Matthew remind you of?" She said, "Daddy" (She also named her brothers.-- Can you tell who takes up the air time in this family? Well, at least for a season...)

Every few chapters, I would ask the Little Lady if we could take a break and she wanted me to keep going so with an hour or so before Beloved got home for dinner, and the boys playing at our feet with trucks, we continued on through the book. When we got to the part where Gilbert pulled Anne's hair and called her "Carrots". The Little Lady wanted to know why such a mean boy would do such a thing. She said, "I don't think I want anyone to call me Carrots!" It was at this time that we took a good break from reading and discussed Gilbert's boy teasing and why boys do such a thing and we discussed Anne's temper. By this point, Beloved was home and we ate dinner but the Little Lady was still being effected by the book. She kept pulling her hair and saying, "Carrots!" She would go off giggling.

Beloved took the boys outside while he was doing some things on our boat. And, once again, the Little Lady convinced me to read just a little bit more of the book! (giggle) So, we went upstairs on the bed and cuddled. She would read some and then I would read some. She loved the tea party scene and spent some time telling me that she wanted to have a tea party when we get to the new house. (So, it is on the list to do!)

When Anne dyed her hair green. The Little Lady was all questions. At this point she was reading and I noticed that when she really wanted to know what was happening next she wanted to rush through the story to get to the juicy details. It would be at this time that she would ask me to take over reading! So, I took over reading but stopped every now and then as the Little Lady either asked questions or interjected a statement. During the dying the hair part of the story, the Little Lady said, "Oh NO! Gilbert is going to call her an Olive now!" I just couldn't help but crack up. Where do Children get some of their statements?

Just before we began to read chapter 17, (Yes, Chapter 17, she wanted to keep reading and I didn't mind resting due to the pregnancy.) The little Lady read the title, "A Daring Rescue by the Wrong Hero". She said, "Oh I bet it will be Gilbert!" I couldn't believe that she had already deducted who would rescue Anne even though we had yet to read the chapter. Anne at this point hadn't even gotten into the boat. The Little Lady then turned to me and said, "Anne gets into all sorts of trouble doesn't she? I wonder what she is going to do now?"

So, there you have it! By bed time, the book was completed! Yes, the whole 188 pages of the book was read in one evening! Apparently, the Little Lady will be like me when it comes to reading! It is absolutely NOT acceptable to leave your character hanging! You must get to a good stopping point. And with Anne, there just wasn't a good stopping point! (giggle)

As you can see the pictures of the book were simple pencil drawings. They were lovely and scattered through out the book! We have our favorite! The book is an abridged version, that I have no idea what reading level the book is written on. But, you can tell that it wasn't some picture book, it was a full story and covered all the major points of the "unabridged" version. By the end of the book, the Little Lady was fascinated with "Ann with an e, the girl with the red hair!" Guess, I will have to break out the DVD of "Anne of Green Gables".

She enjoyed her "Read Aloud Time". She informed Beloved that "We are going to read Heidi next." (I thought to myself, "Oh Really?") I guess, it is official, we are embarking on reading those Classical books that I had sat aside for a much older age!

This morning, she has picked up the book and sat quietly in different areas of the house reading some of her favorite passages! This morning she read snippets of Anne being called Carrots!