The Wind in the Willows

My 6 year old is reading this book to us at night, he usually can make it through a chapter a day or sometimes half a chapter. So far he really enjoys it. We have to help him with some of the more unusual words (he got stuck on “thither” and “Frolicking” because he has never seen them before but was able to sound them out and then we explained what the words meant. ) He enjoys the story line so far and has been excited to catch up with the characters at night before bed. We explained “ass” is another word for donkey and it wasn’t an issue, he continues to enjoy reading the book. He’s a fairly advanced reader for his age so I’m not sure if most six year olds could read this book without help but would certainly enjoy parents reading along with them.

A remarkable, beautifully written classic story of friendship, feeling, and impulse control, with plentiful messing about in boats. The vocabulary isn't so much old-fashioned as advanced—Grahame writes with the complete certainty that his readers will figure it out as needed. I'm reading it to a six-year-old with an unusually large vocabulary and still have to stop to define a word once a page or so, and it's fine. There are plenty more words she likely doesn't completely grasp, but reading aloud allows the meaning to come through, and she's entirely able to keep up with the story. A few more readings and the context will make the meanings perfectly clear. Also, good grief, "silly ass" in a book published in 1908 isn't swearing. It was quite an innocuous expression at the time , which is something you can easily explain to a child instead of having an attack of the vapors. Honestly, I can't think of a book that's more fun to read aloud, in terms of language and character. It may be best for children who are adventurous readers and enjoy stories about the countryside.