Will retold/simplified story ruin enjoyment of full book when older?

[HereIAmBrainTheSizeOfAPlanet]

I was looking at getting a version of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" that's described as a retelling for younger readers.
Do you think reading a simplified story ruins the reading experience of the full book when they are older?
Should I just hold off for a few years and then give them the original book?

I would hold off. It isn't as if there aren't loads of books for younger readers.

I don't think it does. Looking back to when I was a child, I read lots of the Ladybird abridged versions of classics and, if anything, it made me more eager to read the real thing when I was able to.

I use abridged versions when the story is really quite old with language to match. I also use audio books and graphic novels for this. It means children know the story when trying to read the original text.

We are currently reading Robin Hood by Lancelyn-Green after preparing for it with the Ladybird abridged version, the Usborne graphic novel and Morpurgo's audiobook.

Depending on how old your child is though, the lion, the witch and the wardrobe is a brilliant book to read aloud, I've read it to children from five upwards who have enjoyed listening to it - maybe they don't understand the whole story at first but as they re-read themselves as they get older they get more from it each time. So I probably wouldn't bother with a simpler version of that story.

With this one, I’d hold off. And read it to them when they’re old enough to enjoy it. The language is a little old fashioned compared to other books they might be reading (obv depends what they read) but very easy to understand and beautifully written. And I remember being so shocked by the aslan-isn’t-dead plot twist when I was little, I wouldn’t want to spoil that for them (I didn’t at any point pick up on Christian allegories!!)

I think it’s a little different with things like Robin Hood or King Arthur stories or even something like Dracula etc, as they’re retold so often, it’s not like your child is going to pick up a copy of Le Morte D’Arthur. But a book that’s so accessible to children already - I would stick to the original.

I read a lot of the Ladybird shortened classics, and as others have said only made me more keen to read the real ones when I was old enough.

Although I'm still capable of buying a second book because the first is abridged for the extra chapter.

I think I will wait until DC is older and read the unabridged version to them then.

I have just finished reading this to my 8 year old.

Honestly, it might not be as good as you remember it. I don't think reading simplified versions of books spoil the longer ones later though.