Curricula and Learning Links - Language Arts
Classic Literature for Children
Sally in IL suggested some titles to help introduce young people to the classics. As always, consider reading the original alongside the abridged version.
Audio books often make the classics more understandable for a first reading.
Beautiful Shakespeare Stories by Edith Nesbit -- to introduce Shakespeare's plays.
Shakespeare Stories by Charles and Mary Lamb. A little more advanced than Nesbitt. Written in more of a "flowery" style as fitting the early 19th century period in which it was written.
Shakespeare Stories by Leon Garfield. Two versions. This is the most "fleshed out" of the three. After reading Twelfth Night from Garfield, we're ready to try the original.
Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff. Adapted from The Iliad
The Wanderings of Odysseus by Rosemary Sutcliff. Adapted from The Odyssey
The above two books are beautifully illustrated picture books, well written and full of detail from the original story. Can easily be read to a child as young as seven.
The Children's Homer and The Golden Fleece, both by Padriac Colum. These are geared for older children, about 10 and up, but could easily be used with younger ones.
In Search of a Homeland, The Story of the Aeneid by Penelope Lively. Also a picture book, recently released by the publisher of Black Ships Before Troy and The Wanderings of Odysseus.
