Reading levels are so varied at 6. Some are reading Harry Potter and some can barely sound out cvc words.
Does your school do the scholastic book order? They have super cheap books that you can get a variety.
Or if you wanted to switch from the book idea - my friend got gift cards for the exact amount of a kids cone at a local ice cream shop. So if the cone was $2.12 with tax that's what was on the card. I'm sure it took some work on her part, but it was the best favor we've run across yet!
This is a really good idea! I'm going to try to remember this for next year.
Post by rupertpenny on Feb 13, 2019 10:02:19 GMT -5
I would be excited for a RD book favor as a parent...but I haven’t read any of these books in years. I should read Matilda to B though, we’re reading The Sorcerer’s Stone now.
Witches was on TV the other day and B wasn’t that freaked out by it so I think she could handle the book too. She’s 5.5.
Post by expectantsteelerfan on Feb 13, 2019 11:02:11 GMT -5
I think you are overthinking it. It's a party favor. Give what you want. If they don't like it, they can dispose of it as they see fit.
Kids are going to be all over the place. If you are still interested in gathering info., my ds (who is 9) liked a few RD books, but started and put down/never went back to several (including BFG, Twits, and others). My 7 year old dd, who is a big reader, hasn't gravitated towards them other than when we read James and the Giant Peach together 2 summers ago. I wouldn't be offended in getting any book as a favor.
Also just wanted to add, my ds has read and reread the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and dd just started reading it a few days ago and is on book 3. She is really enjoying them. I don't limit at all what she wants to read. She wanted to read Harry Potter, read and enjoyed book 1, but said book 2 was taking too long for her to read so she gave up on it for now.
abs what didn’t you like about the Ramona books? We have the box set, but DD is only 4 so is just starting to show interest in chapter books. II haven’t read them since I was in elementary school, but remember loving them. Do I need to hide them?
abs what didn’t you like about the Ramona books? We have the box set, but DD is only 4 so is just starting to show interest in chapter books. II haven’t read them since I was in elementary school, but remember loving them. Do I need to hide them?
They are just very old fashioned and sexist. I remember reading them with my mom as a kid and re-read the series several times in elementary school. I loved them then but they don’t hold up to my memories. Doesn’t make them bad books just not what I want to read my kid.
abs what didn’t you like about the Ramona books? We have the box set, but DD is only 4 so is just starting to show interest in chapter books. II haven’t read them since I was in elementary school, but remember loving them. Do I need to hide them?
We love the Ramona books here, but they are very dated in terms of sexual politics. It's a big deal when Ramona's mother goes back to work. I don't remember them being very diverse, but probably par for the course for books set in Portland in the 1950's and 60's.
They are very wholesome though and my daughter loved them.
Post by icedcoffee on Feb 13, 2019 12:39:22 GMT -5
I wouldn't have an issue with my kid receiving the Roald Dahl book. If I felt he wasn't old enough yet, I'd set it aside for another day just like I did with the play doh party favor he received as an infant or the long-ish Curious George book he got at 1.
I am conflicted hearing he's not a nice person though.
Dahl was a very vocal Anti-Semite. I know his books are well-loved but, if I am being honest, I don't think this is a good choice when there are a lot of other great books and authors you could select instead.
I've given books as party favors before and people loved it. So much so that parents have asked me where to get cheap paperbacks and books have now become the go to party favor in my circle! That said, I'd choose something other than Ronald Dahl because the content in those could be a little scary for some more sensitive six year old. When I need to buy a bunch of books in bulk, I check scholastic and book Depot. I also often get high interest nonfiction about animals or weird stuff (world records type books) when I'm not sure of reading level or taste because I feel like those are pretty flexible.
This actually highlights a question I've had about the push for reading "banned books". So many of the classics that we've read together lately have had racist dialogue. Some text has been rewritten and censored, yet much of it has not. Last month I read Tom Sawyer to DS and I had so much explaining to do. It actually triggered me to buy a few "Who Was" books to further the discussion on civil rights history. We rotate who selects our "read together" books. My next pick is "Who Was Frederick Douglass", because I'm still stewing over Tom Sawyer.
We finished "The Twits" by RD today, and I found myself both censoring AND pausing to communicate with DS about why XYZ is wrong, degrading, etc. Another of his books - Matilda, maybe, had me doing the same.
I think I'm in the camp of using classics to teach. You can't learn from avoidance.
I'm wading through responses now... Since you mentioned the Who Was series...Who Was Harriet Tubman was just pulled by the publisher for what amounts to really questionable content. Basically there are two pages in which slavery is depicted as not all that bad - the slave children are described as happy, Harriet loved her life, etc - I'm paraphrasing but that's the gist of it.
What about Elephant & Piggie books? M is in 1st grade and loves anything by Mo Willems. If your school participates in Scholastic Book Clubs you can get some good deals on their book packs, it ends up being $2-$4 per book depending on which pack you select.
I think the Smithsonian set is a good choice too.
He's never liked these. He's just not a fan of traditional picture books. Much more into chapter books with more complex stories.
He's never liked these. He's just not a fan of traditional picture books. Much more into chapter books with more complex stories.
...
I know he's not the only one that rolled his own eyes at books like "Hop on Pop" and "Elephant & Piggie". He also doesn't like the repetitiveness of easy readers. Not sure why you're rolling your eyes at me. His interested in books took off when we started reading chapter books / graphic novels to him. It's not much different than an adult who prefers movies to TV shows.
I know he's not the only one that rolled his own eyes at books like "Hop on Pop" and "Elephant & Piggie". He also doesn't like the repetitiveness of easy readers. Not sure why you're rolling your eyes at me. His interested in books took off when we started reading chapter books / graphic novels to him. It's not much different than an adult who prefers movies to TV shows.
I know he's not the only one that rolled his own eyes at books like "Hop on Pop" and "Elephant & Piggie". He also doesn't like the repetitiveness of easy readers. Not sure why you're rolling your eyes at me. His interested in books took off when we started reading chapter books / graphic novels to him. It's not much different than an adult who prefers movies to TV shows.
Bc you clearly don’t realize how insufferable you sound. It’s like saying “well my kid only eats truffles bc he has a sophisticated palate” when a mom suggests mac & cheese.
Dahl was a very vocal Anti-Semite. I know his books are well-loved but, if I am being honest, I don't think this is a good choice when there are a lot of other great books and authors you could select instead.
This is where I'm at. Plus, while your son may enjoy the books, there's no guarantee that the party guests would. If you want to do books, I'd go for a few different books that are different reading levels and let the kids pick from there.
In general, I'm Team "Screw the Party Favors" though...we haven't bothered with them.
As the parent of a child who gets a lot of medical treatment, that is a GREAT donation idea and those families are going to be so thankful to receive the books!!!