Adventuring with Tom Sawyer
I’ve been reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer with the boys and we’ve been having a lot of fun with it. I highly recommend the unabridged Sterling illustrated edition pictured. They enjoy the rich watercolors by Robert Ingpen while I appreciate the quality feel of the book. Oh yeah…we’re enjoying the story, too. There are plenty of opportunities to go over what just happened in the story since Twain often implies rather than explains. I’m hoping it will help them be better readers, too.
I am also helping the oldest take notes on the book since he will attend a LitWits Workshop on the novel next month. The workshop aims to “immerses kids (ages 9-12) in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feel of a single pre-read book. We weave these sensory experiences into prop-based discussion and creative activities, including drama, art, writing, crafts, projects, and games.” (from their website) More on that experience after the workshop.
I haven’t started compiling resources for kids on this book but plan on doing that soon. If you have know of or have used anything in conjunction with the novel, please leave a comment—all leads and resources welcome!
Update: I should have mentioned in the original post that this is an unabridged edition, so you will run into the word ‘nigger’ in your reading. Plan your talks about it accordingly. For younger kids you may want to use an abridged version.
Brian Joseph
Like many I have read The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin, but have never read the Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I was always swayed by the latter reputation as not being on the level of the former.
That workshop sounds like a superb event for children! It is great that yours is participating.
Dwight
No, it's not at the same level but it's still a lot of fun. Both books have been favorites of mine for a long time. My father would quote from them occasionally (saying grace would sometimes be "let's tuck our heads and grumble a little over the victuals").
A homeschool friend did a workshop at LitWits on "Adam of the Road" and really enjoyed it. Plus I'm cooking up a short "Tom Sawyer" trip for the boys where they'll get to go on a steamboat and tour some caves.