From: Susan Daugherty <kdaugherty>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 08:44:09 -0500

I read Alice when I was about 10 and never reread it until my daughter was 5, and I decided to read it with her. After about one chapter I realized and so did she that this was not something for a child this young. She was mystified. So we put it away and forgot about it. She rediscovered it in sixth grade and absolutely loved it. She thought it was the funniest book ever. She read the Father William bit out loud to me, and we refer to it every now and then. (My latest birthday card started out, "You are old Mother William...") I still haven't reread it, but I do have a vague feeling of unease when I think of the story. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to see the new editions, and I have avoided buying them for a K-2 school because I think it is a book for older children, based on Charlotte's delight at age 12. I'm sure a good teacher and literate children could deal with it at 4th or 5th grade too, but probably not much before that (and really appreciate it). Come to think of it, we have the Tenniel version, and it sits on the shelf. These discussions usually make me read or reread something, and I will probably have to do that now with Alice.

Susan Daugherty


At 06:25 PM 10/17/00 +0100, you wrote: header...
Received on Wed 18 Oct 2000 08:44:09 AM CDT