picture books?

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 727

Hi --

heidi tandy wrote:

> 2. The early Little House on the Prarie books
>       They take 3-4 stories from the earlier books (little house in
> the big woods, on the prairie, on the banks of plum creek) and put
> them into illustrated storybook form. I've bought them for my
> husband's cousin, when she was 4, and she really enjoyed the stories,
> but she's probably not going to be ready for one of the chapter book
> versions until she's a late 6 year old.
>

Heidi stole my thunder with that one.  The difference between the above
example & what might need to be done with HP though is thus: they took
chapter books intended for 6-10 yr olds (the 4 earlier Little House
books -- the latter ones are for a slightly older audience in general)
and made them appropriate to read to 2-5 yr old kids.  They're called
"My First Little House" books --mainly illustrations & very very simple
text that takes a single chapter out of the chapter book & greatly
simplifies it.  With HP, on the other hand, I think Neil was asking
whether it's possible to imagine that Scholastic could edit the last 3
(arguably 4) books of the series so that all the material is appropriate
for the 9-12 yr old set.  Right?

That seems more complicated than transforming certain scenes/chapters
into a storybook that could be used by even younger readers.  I don't
know if it will be possible to edit out the darker, more adult themes &
scenes without eviscerating the plot entirely.

That's why I think the HP books present such a unique situation.  It's
hard to think of another series where the books start out aimed at (or
at least appropriate for) a young audience, but get progressively less &
less appropriate for the same audience as it continues.

It also makes the NY Times position more & more & more ludicrous.  <g>

Penny



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