What age to read Gulliver's Travels?

[marialuisa]

DD(6) has expressed an interest in reading Gulliver's Travels. She is an able reader (happily working her way through other Puffin Classics e.g. The Secret Garden) but she's a bit drippy (found parts of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Di Camillo really upsetting) so I'm concerned about the content, especially as I have never read the book myself.

Is the book as bloodthirsty as I think or have I got the wrong end of the stick? I haven't found an unabridged copy locally so can't nose through it before buying.

Thanks.

It is as bit political for a 6yr old but think they could possibly enjoy it superficially although think I'd leave it until about 10 at least. Chosoe one hwich has been reworked for younger readers as I found it hard going at 12 (not sure I ever finished it !)

6? Are you sure you don't mean 16?

No, she's definitely 6! As I said, I have never read the book so have no idea what it's like. I don't have a problem with her reading books superficially, I loved the Narnia series at around that age and the Christian thing completely bypassed me but I still got a lot from the books.

If it's hard going I'll steer her back towards Frances Hodgson Burnett!

its not really a childrens book, more social commentary. not that gory though. id save it till a bit older though as she might be put off revisiting it as on a superficial level its a bit boring. great book though. more a teenage+ read. i studied it at uni.

One of the marvels of Gullivers's Travels is that it can be read and enjoyed by vastly different audiences. A Puffin Classic version would be fine for a 6 year old. There is nothing bloodthirsty - just small people and large people and a few others...

It is also very political - but only for grown-ups who notice it.

It's one of the best books written and would be on my desert island selection. Why not read the full version and get the children's version for your daughter? You could have some wonderful conversations, but I do agree it's a hugely political and social satire with some extremely sophisticated concepts involved. Happy reading....

The trouble is, if she reads all these books now, what's she going to read when she's 11?

There's a wonderful version adapted for kids by Martin Jenkins, with very funny illustrations by Chris Riddell. My 6 year old loves having it read to her, but even adapted it is a harder read than the Secret Garden.

I wouldn't say that she enjoys it superficially, as LIZS suggested, so much as that it is giving her first glimpses of complex political ideas that she will only fully understand later, but that I am happy to try and discuss in terms she can understand now. That's got to be a good thing, IMO.

Not at all bloodthirsty though!

The story not so much of a problem - but I wouldn't think a 6yo, even one as advanced as yours ML, would be able to handle the language - it's real 18thc. belle-lettristic writing, so quite hard going even for a teenager. You could read it to her, perhaps - skipping over/summarising the dense bits?

Usborne has done a series of "introductions to the classics" (which I feel a bit ambivalent about ... just because I think it may spoil reading the original once she is old enough - but that's a purist view) which are shortened simplified "gists-of" versions.

Amazon link to the series - I've checked & Gulliver is included. We've had a few of these from school (Oliver Twist, etc.) and they are, of their kind, pretty good [she grudges].