Lack of knowledge about classic books is ''depriving kids of great stories''
06/04/2010
Lizzie Enfield of the Daily Telegraph hopes that somehow, somewhere, children are reading a classic for their book at bedtime, as she has had little luck with her own kids despite her best intentions.
The columnist explained that when she was young, she had unusual dreams and nightmares, which were completely different from the norm.
"No, not getting off to sleep because I was afraid of ghosts or monsters," Ms Enfield said, "but because I feared mad women in the attic and convicts" - referencing Great Expectations, Jane Eyre and The Adventures of Gerard - books her father wanted to read to her so they could both enjoy them.
She argued that they gave her a lot of pleasure and should be considered despite the current seeming obsession with staple children''s authors such as J K Rowling, Louise Rennison and Stephenie Meyer.
Ms Enfield added that a recent survey by supermarket Asda highlighted the lack of knowledge of classics, as one in six primary school pupils thought Fagin was a footballer and believed Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea to be Simon Cowell''s autobiography.
In terms of classic books for kids to read with their parents in bed, the Sheffield Star recently recommended kids take up Alice in Wonderland, noting that while the film is "glorious", it is "just as thrilling on the printed page".
Posted by Jo Morgan
