What would you use to replace talking animals in books?

MommyInTraining · Post by **MommyInTraining** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:58 pm

Hello all,

If we were to use Little Hearts I would need to replace the read alouds because we don't use material that has talking animals in it. I asked Carrie and she gave me this advice:

We put into the program books that we felt did a good job of easing kiddos into chapter book listening. The goal was also to train children in beginning narrating skills and in answering leading questions about what was read. So, you would want to choose beginning chapter books with few if any pictures and short chapters (2-3 pages) to work on similar skills.

We also chose stories where children would get to the know the characters in the book throughout the year in order to begin to be able to make predictions based on what they knew about the characters. So, you would also want to use chapter books that allow children to get to know the characters well. You could pattern your questioning after what you see in the guide if you choose.

Based on those ideas, hopefully you'll be able to find read-alouds that suit your family values and still accomplish those goals.

So, based on that, could any of you please make some suggestions for a book series that might work for us? I was thinking the Boxcar Children series, but those are longer than 2-3 pages. I would greatly appreciate any other ideas you can throw my way!

Thanks a bunch!

hippiechyck · Post by **hippiechyck** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:17 pm

wow, that's a hard one! most books at that level involve talking animals...i'll have to think

Boxcar is good, and the chapters are a bit longer than a few pages, but my then 6 yr old sat through it fine...we'll be using them again as my 5.5 yr old doesn't really enjoy the Burgess books

crlacey · Post by **crlacey** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:24 pm

We have been reading the Cul-De-Sac Kids books. I found them at ChristianBook.com. They are about a group of kids that live on the same street. In each book there is some sort of problem or mystery and the kids work together with God to solve it.

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:57 pm

I am still thinking about this but in general you are really I think looking for a chapter book on the level they can understand but that can be broken down into little bites and narrated back. You also I am sure do not want to miss the character lesson part of what the books the program uses provides.

I am not finding things that are exactly like what is in HOD however here are some ideas. What about doing Story time with the Millers or some of the R&S books. Ones that work great for Narrating that I use with my children doing LHFHG are God's Marvelous Creation. This one is neat because it essentially makes them narrate by answering the questions so it could be of help in that area. Others that have less stories but we enjoy are Children of the Old Testament and Children of the New testament. Another possibility from them that I think actually might be perfect is the bound version of Wee Lambs for 2006. These are little stories some are shorter than others but they would be great for narrating and you would still get the character thing in there. None of these are exactly like The ones used but I think they would be good tools for narrating at that age. The Wee Lambs would be a good one for short little stories. The millers would be the only chapter book. I think School days with the millers might work too but I can't find my copy to check. The other Miller books I think would definitely be too old.

If you have the Rod and Staff catalog there are some other chapter books that might work as read alouds. Another thought might be breaking up some of the I can read books that are not animal related like Amelia Bedelia, that makes for interesting narration. None of these are perfect but honestly I have never read anything quite like what is used that does not have animals talking.

Ok I have one more thought what about using a couple of the d'Aularie books if those are agreeable to you they are engaging, you could break them up and narrate them as you go and they match the history. Your library might have them.

Sorry this is such a mish mash of ideas. I don't have anything that is exactly the same but maybe there is something here or maybe it will give somebody else an idea of something that might even be better.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:45 am

I second W2W's suggestion of Rod and Staff storybooks. We have quite a few of their books and they are all good. They don't quite have the literary quality of the Burgess or Potter books (I don't know exactly how to explain), but they're very good.

The Little House on the Prairie books are a good series and my kids absolutely love the Grandma's Attic series. The Grandma's Attic books would offer plenty of character study! Those books are very funny and even my ds liked them, not too girly!

You may not be able to find a "series", but may have to work with individual books. I think you could still use the storytime box ideas, just match the ideas to the book you are using.

I'm going to think on this one today, surely we can all think of some books ideas for ya!

blessedmomof4 · Post by **blessedmomof4** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:58 am

I also recommend the Millers books and Rod and Staff. I used to have some of their small storybooks when my kids were little, and Rod and Staff uses realistic stories.
There is a series called God is Good
http://www.lovetolearn.net/catalog/cate ... ail/12a/12
I'm not sure who publishes them, or if they are the right level for your child, but they look promising.
Here's the Miller's books:
http://www.lovetolearn.net/catalog/product/0544101

MommyInTraining · Post by **MommyInTraining** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:13 am

Thanks for your help on this. I would still love to hear more ideas if anyone has some!

Thanks!

Tansy · Post by **Tansy** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:15 am

I have one question?

[pokes fun] are you going to let your kids read about Balaam and the donkey

The bible has talking animals in it [/pokes fun]

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:26 am

I was just thinking about this trying to find some more good books. I am not sure this would work either but I will just put it out there.

What about some of the Pearables Kingdom stories. You can see samples online. I am sure you could call and ask if any of them use talking animals. I have not found any that did yet. But they do use things like Kings, queens type things. There is a little element of fantasy to them if you read the sample you will see what I mean they do not get any more than the sample has in it. http://www.pearables.com/vol1-3.htm

My children love these and I was just thinking that these do provide the character element to it and the fun element as well. I am not sure if they will work for you but I am thinking it could be a good shot if content is agreeable to you. You can call them too. They are very helpful!

Hope that one might help.

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:51 pm

What ages for Little Hearts? Would it be the four and six year old?

Rod and Staff's Caterpillar Green and Wildlife on the Farm all contain short chapters/sections that you could use for beginning narration.
There is also the Sweet Singer and several others.

One of nice things about the Thornton Burgess books is their price!!!

I am not sure of books that work on the "prediction" part that was mentioned- but there are many books that can be used to help a child develop the ability to listen to longer read alouds and begin telling back what they have read.

I think Water2Wine gave the most comprehensive suggestions!

Does your family read aloud a lot?

A lot of God-honoring quality literature can be found through Nature's Workshop Plus.
http://www.workshopplus.com/?Home.htm&1

At one point- they did have Charlotte's Web (talking animals)... but in general you should be able to find some very satisfactory options.

HTH,
Rebecca

Dorla · Post by **Dorla** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:04 pm

Terri, it is nearly impossible to find anything to replace the Burgess books. Have you read them? They are written in a way that you forget they are actually talking, because everything has to do with their actual behavior. It has helped me understand animals so much better!
Talking animals were an issue for me for about a week. And then I realized that the animals in the Burgess books are in no way trying to be human, Burgess just explains to us in human language what these animals do.
HOWEVER - there are 3 books that we own that might be worth looking into. They are about animals and they are narrated by the author. BUT they do have beautiful pictures and you would have to decide where to cut off the story each day. Forest Friends by Harry Baerg http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/Deta ... 082800899X
Good luck!
Dorla

MommyInTraining · Post by **MommyInTraining** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:30 am

Tansy wrote:I have one question? [pokes fun] are you going to let your kids read about Balaam and the donkey The bible has talking animals in it [/pokes fun]

Hi Tansy,

Yes, we definitely read the Scriptures to our children. However, in Numbers 22:28 it speaks about God opening the mouth of the donkey.

And, as for the talking serpent, well, we know who was behind that!

I could speak more on why we don't favor talking animals in stories, but I don't think this is the forum to discuss it on.

I would be happy to talk with you more about it though if you want to talk privately through email.

MommyInTraining · Post by **MommyInTraining** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:46 am

Dorla wrote: Have you read them? They are written in a way that you forget they are actually talking, because everything has to do with their actual behavior. I realized that the animals in the Burgess books are in no way trying to be human, Burgess just explains to us in human language what these animals do.

Dorla, I haven't read them. Perhaps I could look into them further. That is one of the major drawbacks for me and talking animals--giving them human characteristics and mental abilities.

Thank you (and everyone else

) for the info!

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:52 am

Terri,

When you find what works for you with the program please let us know. It's going to be helpful to others that have the same conviction. I think you are a great mom for working so hard to find what God has spoken to you about teaching your children.

MommyInTraining · Post by **MommyInTraining** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:53 am

Well,

I took the plunge and ordered Little Hearts! So, now I need to make a decision about this issue. I still haven't decided what to replace these with, so if anyone has anymore suggestions I would be glad to hear them!

Thanks so much!