Michael Morpurgo The Dancing Bear

[squashpie]

Hello, has anyone read this? We got it free with a kids' magazine and I was going to read it with DS but, if it's quite upsetting/ disturbing on some level, I think I won't choose it for book at bedtime!

any info would be great

mrsbadger2, thank you very much for replying. Think perhaps I'll leave it for a during the day weekend book. Don't want to wrap him in cottonwool but he has pretty vivid dreams as it is and is very resistant to sleep at the best of times and don't want to take any chances!!

Know what you mean about pants and aliens ...!

My DD10 has read all the MM books she really enjoyed them, she did say some of them were a little upsetting but it's only a story not real. She has now passed them onto DS8 and subsequently DS7 has just started reading them, they all get that it is a story but all have said how sad they are. Would leave a while if yours is emotional at nighttime

I haven't read that one but I have read a lot of MM's books. He's a very good author but he doesn't sugar coat things. He pitches his stories to the child's level but he doesn't shy away from the harsher things in life.

You're probably best off reading it yourself first (shouldn't take you long) and then making a decision depending on how old/sensitive your child is.

I have never read it, but this book really upset dd1, aged 7 at the time. The bear dies towards the end of the book and she was really distraught. I imagine like everything else, depends on your child. My dd2 probably wouldn't be bothered.

I read it a as a child never bothered me.

MM does seem to like sad stories - my son doesn't particularly like them, but they are v popular, so I think we are in a minority. Read it first - always a good plan.

Thanks for all your replies. I think I will read it first. I'll probably be gushing more than he does!