Gaby Goldsack

"The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a wonderful book for kids to read if they are wanting to learn the importance of family and friendship. With the use of imagination, this books does a great job at showing how people can grow from friendships. For example, Mary being kind to Colin shows strength and kindness. He wants to become stronger and healthier for his father, and Mary helps him do so. I think the message of the book is to prove that family and friendships are show more everything, so it is important to cherish those relationships. As a kid, I have always loved this book, and understanding the deeper meaning of it makes me love it more, even as an adult. "The Secret Garden" starts out by showing how angry the uncle is, and in the end, he becomes happy knowing that his son is healed and his wife's memory lives on. There is no better way for kids to learn how important family is than through a book that displays two meanings. show less

The classic story of Little Red Riding Hood is about a little girl who is sent by her mother to deliver a basket of goodies to her grandmother. Along the way, a wolf spots her and tries to lure her into his trap, but she keeps on her way. The wolf plots on how he could trick her and so he rushes to her grandma's house where he then pretends to be her. Little Red is oblivious to the wolf's deceit and soon, she is needing rescue. In swoops the huntsman who rescues her from the wolf.

As a child show more and as an adult, I think I speak for a majority of us who were angry at Little Red for being so careless and naive. She was in danger the entire time and she was not aware of this. Had the huntsman not been there to help her, she would be doomed. Looking at this from a sensible mind can be frustrating, but to a little child such as herself, she was not too aware of the dangers and so she continued on without a worry in the world.

In a classroom, this book would be a very good example to teach children not to talk to strangers when they are wondering by themselves. It is a concern that should be addressed. This is also a very good book to teach the children to be aware of their surroundings and to be careful because at any moment, even a once friendly face can change. show less

I loved the illustrations in this version of the classic tale, Little Red Riding Hood. I think children would love the pictures and could follow the story pretty well just by listening and looking at the pictures. Children will learn through reading this book that they should not talk to strangers! The book exemplifies what can happen if you talk to strangers in the most subtle way possible. The real world is a scary place and this book shows you a lighter side to how scary it really can be. show more The story is scary but nothing a child cant handle. This book especially strays away from the violence and gore of the original story so children can appeal to it more. I would recommend to a family to read to their child. show less

I loved reading this cute version of “Little Red Riding Hood.” I loved the bright and simple pictures in this story because they were appealing to the eye, without being too detailed. I liked the shortened version of this story, because while it still included the major details, it mostly stuck to those! I’ve read lengthy versions of this story before, and I find this one to be one of my favorites because of the simple and almost “friendly” version of the story- as it is not too show more scary for the younger readers, but also hits all the main points, such as Little Red Riding Hood delivering cookies to her grandmothers house, and meeting the Big Bad Wolf along the way. The message of this story is not to talk to or trust strangers! The message is also another reason why I love this book; it tells an important moral through a fun and interesting story, while also being suspenseful! show less