Children's books

[ladyofastolat]

That book extract meme yesterday reminded me of an activity I do with children, designed to teach them about the alphabetical arrangement of fiction. I have six lovely big shields, each one marked up with a book title, and I ask the children who wants to hold them. Invariably all hands go up, so I tell them they have to win their shields. I then produce six books, each one wrapped up and disguised. I will read an extract, and the first child to identify the book will get to hold the relevant shield.

So, the big question is: are the people on my Friends list better at identifying books than a class of 8 year olds? All of these books have been successfully guessed with this just words. (Though the children do usually need a slighter longer extract before getting them.)

(All extracts done from memory, from many many repetitions.)

1. "Next moment, she found that what was rubbing against her face and hands was no longer soft fur, but something hard, and rough, and even prickly."

2. "And now the whole country, indeed, the whole world, seemed suddenly to be caught up in a mad chocolate-buying spree"

3. "The moment it was put down, it stopped squealing. Its eyes, bright intelligent eyes, met the farmer's. They regarded each other."

4. "Nervously, she stepped onto the windowsill and lowered herself onto the broomstick. She gave the command for it to fly..."

5. "One day when he was walking, he came to an open place in the middle of the forest, and in the middle of this place was a large oak-tree, and from the top of the tree, there came a loud buzzing noise."

6. "A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them. It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight."


No. 4 might be tricky, since I don't think it's a children's book that most adults have read, so I offer this as an alternative.

7. "When he came near his mother, he saw that she had in her hand a red envelope and a small piece of white paper, a telegram."

So, is anyone able to beat the 8 year olds?

Ooh! An air display is going on over our house. Must be something to do with Firework Night at the end of Cowes Week. We've not yet decided whether to do our usual stroll down the hill to watch the fireworks, followed by a fast charge back up the hill again, trying to beat the crowds. Hmph. It's only one plane this year, too. Last year we got the full set of Red Arrows.

Comments

[rustica.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing that the first one is The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. 2 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 7 - Swallows and Amazons?

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

Yes. The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory one is especially fun to read out. I (cruelly) ask the teacher to look out for which child puts their hand up first. Then I read the extract... and as soon as I read the word "chocolate" every single hand shoots up simultaneously. It's fun watching the teacher's face.

I was obsessed with Swallows and Amazons aged 8. Most of today's children haven't read it, so I wouldn't include it in the game played with children, but I'm glad you recognised it here.

[gramarye1971]

1) The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.

2) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

6) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling.

I'd also hazard a guess that #5 is Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne?

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

Correct on all four. Children very seldom get the Harry Potter from just this extract, though, and need the next line before they get it - so you've beaten the eight year olds ;-)

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; I know that one.
2. Charlie and the Chocolate factory; a guess.
3. The book that the film Babe was based on?
4. The book that the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks was based on?
5. Winnie the Pooh
6. Don't know.
7. No idea whatsoever.

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

1, 2 and 5: correct.

3 is "The Sheep Pig", yes. Children don't usually get it until I say "you might have seen the film even if you haven't read the book", whereupon they go, "oh yes!" and get it almost immediately. I only included it because the author - Dick King-Smith - illustrates the filing rules associated with hyphenated names.

Your guess for 4 is wrong - but I'd be very surprised if anyone gets 4. It's a book that's very popular with today's children, but not one I'd expect adults to know.

[rustica.livejournal.com]

4 is bugging me - I keep thinking that I should know it. I shall look forward to seeing who gets it right!

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

It's bugging me too.

My first guess was Terry Pratchett's A Hat Full of Sky, but for the statement: No. 4 might be tricky, since I don't think it's a children's book that most adults have read. Most adults, if they've enjoyed Terry's other books will read his childrens books, particularly the Discworld ones. So I'm a bit puzzled.

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

Would no. 4 be Worst Witch?

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

Yes! Huge amounts of glory go to you. *applauds*

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

I've never even heard of Worst Witch!

Well done to the_marquis, and just before his birthday too!

[evilmissbecky.livejournal.com]

1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

3. I have no idea. Charlotte's Web?

4. Bedknobs and Broomsticks? Do kids still read that?

5. Winnie the Pooh

6. I have no idea.

7. I have no idea.

Gosh. I feel dumb now. Hopefully I can take refuge in the thought that my poor score is due to geographical differences?

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

3 and 4 are British children's books that very likely weren't available in America when you were young. 3 was filmed as "Babe", though - which I really enjoyed watching, even as an adult.

6 is very definitely a book that you have read. Clue: A certain boy whose initials are H and P...?

7. is a 1930s English children's book, which I loved when I was 8. I don't know if it was ever published in America, though.

[tovaglia.livejournal.com]

I got 1-5 but not 6 or 7.

Can't remember the surname of the author of 5 though which is presumably the point of the exercise. But I remember her first name is Jill.

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

I don't make children tell me the authors' names, only the title, so you've still passed.

5 is Winnie the Pooh, but 4 is indeed written by a Jill. Jill Murphy.