#21-30 Robinson Curriculum Book List

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[Coze]

I’ve never heard of uncle Remus and I’m happy it was written otherwise I would never had heard of these stories. Now I have something to read for myself and my kids can read and get a taste of our historical “fairytale” stories.

[kristadavis]

I think I might switch some of the River Boys for more Tom Swift and add the real life science to it. My oldest wants to be a roboticist and is science obsessed. Thanks for the added history details.

[kristadavis]

I just wanted to thank you for this series.
I have way to many books (we live in a RV and have books crammed on every shelf and under the beds and in the closets). This is really helping me to focus on what I really desire for my boys and be willing to get rid of a lot of the fluff. I’m taking the RC list and switching or deleting certain things (I completely agree on Carroll and Alger after researching them based on your suggestion, it also explains why I always got creeped out and could never finish Carroll’s books when I attempted on multiple occasions). I will be substituting Tuttle Twins in those areas.

[tirzah-marielewis]

When I was younger my dad told me Brer Rabbit stories... but many of my friends have no idea about them. Some people discover them in their teens and 20s as they explore their heritage searching for an understanding of their history. It's a complex issue on the one hand yes it's a telling not by a person of the culture but on the other hand as my dad said, "the stories that survive are the ones that were written down." I think the author did his best to capture and honor the lessons, richness and heritage in these stories as they were spoken and as he heard them. It provides a history that could have been lost as oral tradition of storytelling waned so I am grateful for these stories (just as I am for my collection of African American sermons from the reconstruction period). I am more concerned with how these stories are handled now because I think we ignore the nuance sometimes for a quick deliberation along the lines of bad/good ignoring the learning that could happen within a conversation of how this work came about in a time when black authors did not have access to tell their stories to the wider world. Questions about how companies like Disney capitalized on the stories without honoring the characters, communities, or the author's intent have muddied the waters of original intent which is another reason why I am often more concerned with the works current treatment.

[tussah]

My grandmother (born 1909) wrote her master's thesis on Uncle Remus. She adored the stories. As a child, I read voraciously, but just couldn't get past the dialect in the Uncle Remus books. I couldn't understand what they were saying. I had no idea what "Brer" was, for example. At what age would you expecct a child that is not familiar with that dialect to be able/willing to read the stories? As an adult, I would feel very comfortable reading them to my child. I actually enjoy doing the various accents. I'm not sure that most children would be able to handle reading these stories independently. What is your experience with your children?

[resinandclayhandmade]

At first my son didn't like the rover boys, and even bobbsey twins, because of this (the dialect). He thought they were trying to insult black people/slaves. But, the funny thing is...we are from the Bahamas, and it is very similiar to how some of the older people speak! This is how (i assume) they really spoke then. Remember, English was new to them! Plus, other dialects of other nationalities are in the books as well. I also explain that this is how it was in that time, unfortunatly...it's a good way to bring up and discuss that as well. Now, my daughter is in Bobbsey Twins, and she just can't read the dialect Lol. She wants me to decode it! So Uncle Remus will most likely be an audiobook!

[aprilramirez]

This book list, do they need to go in order? We’re new to RC and I will have a 7th and 9th grader.

[BRL]

I have never heard of any of these books on the RC book list, but boy they sound great!!

[ourhouse]

I’m my experience kids receive them better as an audio book than trying to read it.

[bettytuohy]

What was book 30, I've watched the video twice and didn't hear it.

[pawpawno]

Are there good substitutes for the Tom Swift or Rover boy books?

[rachelperry]

Hi Karen, would you happen to have a list of great books to read for high school students?

[sarahmengers]

Hi Karen! Thank you so much for doing these videos for us! Quick question...what is the name of the app you use to keep track of your books? I remember you mentioning it before but I can’t find which video that was. Thanks so much for your time!

[rachelroelands]

My son wants to skip to Pinocchio. He is almost 7. Is this version too advanced for him? Or is it best to have him read RC in order. Currently at book 10

[rachelroelands]

Seems odd to me to keep switching series.

[streitrat]

That's very interesting; I had always been told that they were racist; but it sounds like the only thing was trying to copy a dialect! (*that* may have been a fault of Disney's characterization of Black ppl at the time!)