The Story of Ferdinand
Recommended. Age: 6+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Ferdinand is a big, gentle bull who likes to sit under a cork tree and smell flowers. A bee stings him, he jumps around, and men think he is fierce, so they take him to a bullfight in Madrid. In the ring he just sits down and smells the flowers, so they send him home. It is a quiet lesson in meekness: Ferdinand stays himself, does no harm and goes home content. Nothing in it needs correcting. Age 6+, set by Lumen's read-alone age; Common Sense says 3+ and Penguin says 3 to 5, so read it aloud from 3.
For parents
Age 6+, set by Lumen's read-alone age; Common Sense Media says 3+ and Penguin says 3 to 5. Read it aloud from 3. The bullfighters carry spears and a sword, but no one is hurt. Ask why Ferdinand did not fight, and when it is good to walk away. Ferdinand is gentle, not lazy: he knows what he loves.