Bigger extensions as read-aloud for younger kids?

[my2guys]

I'm just wondering if there are any of you that have used Bigger's Extension package as an extra history read-aloud for your younger kids. I would plan on doing just the history stories - i.e. - Pedro's Journal, Ben and Me, etc. - won't use the science or A Child's story of America (although they look great too!). My ds really loves for me to read to him, and I just thought adding the stories in as read-alouds would help the history we're studing "come alive" for him. So just wondering if anyone has done this and how it worked out for you. How much time did it add to your day? And also, are there any books that would be "too mature" for a boy of 8, content-wise? I know some of the extensions in the later guides deal with more difficult material geared for the older kids, so I'm just looking for a heads-up on anything I should be aware of. Thanks so much!

[mamanlait]

Sharon,
We read most of the Bigger Extension books with my 8 y.o. dd during that year and loved them! She did read some on her own and I read some to her (Almost Home we read as a Read Aloud, for example). Even if you are reading a bit "above" them, I think it is good for comprehension and I never had any issues with content being too mature. I think if you can fit the extra reading time into your day, you'll really enjoy them and it does bring another layer of understanding to your American History study!
Amy

[pjdobro]

We ended up reading some of the extension books as our storytime books. From that list, we read Ben and Me, Guns for General Washington, and By the Great Horn Spoon. They were all great as read alouds and appropriate for my 8 year olds. My dd and I both read Tolliver's Secret as part of DITHR. It was another great book! As far as time, I think it would be about 15 minutes each day certainly no more than 25 minutes. I'm sure the rest of the books are great too, but those are the only ones that we read.

[twoxcell]

My ds is going to be doing Bigger Hearts soon, and we won't be using the extensions for him to read. We will be using many of them though; Ben and Me, By the Great Horn Spoon, and Esperanza Rising for storytime. All three of those are recommendations for storytime in the back of the Bigger Guide. He will also be reading Toliver's secret when we get to it in DITHR. I also own A Child's Story of America, and my Dh will be reading this some with ds in the evenings. Pedro's Journal I want to save for Preparing.