The Lemming Condition

I read this book when I was about 6-7 years old. They had it at my school's library, and it was one of the first books I read (on my own, outside of class). The main pieces of the book I remember were the lemmings' mass suicide, and the main character having the intelligence and foresight to not join in. It didn't disturb or frighten me at that age, it just left me feeling very perplexed at the idiocy of the lemmings. It didn't "corrupt" my young mind in anyway, and though I don't remember there being any swear words as another reviewer had mentioned if there were they never influenced me in any manner, in other words I was never one to swear in my childhood. However, it did have enough of an impact on me that I have never forgot it, and throughout my life I have come to understand the deeper meanings of what Alan Arkin was trying to get at (not to sound conceited) at a seemingly faster rate than some of my peers who had not been exposed to such literature at the age range that I had. It's been so long (well over a decade, not quite two) that I can't really comment on how well it was actually written or the depth of the characters and such, all I can comment on is that it can be a very influential book for children in the recommended age range (4-8). Influential in a positive way, of course. On a side-note, it did prompt me to learn more about lemmings... What was disturbing for me at that age: finding out what the company who made the majority of films I was watching had done to those poor lemmings.

The lemming condition is written like a Children's story but it is not. <br />the message in it is for more adults than Kids. <br />if read in schools I suggest above sixth grade, it is not descriptively Violent, it just is very unnatural for a book written like it to contain the things it does, most children will not expect such a ending do to it is a fairy tale sort of thing, and so get into the mind fix that the ending is happy, almost all the characters commit a unknowingly suicide, falling off the cliff one after another. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br />disturbed Teenager <br /> <br />P.s. Read it. It is good, just not for Kids. <br />

As an elementary school teacher, I have read this book aloud to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. It is an amazing springboard for discussion and can be tailored to any age group--adults included. Those who arrogantly posit how simplistic this book is, apparently have not dealt with children. I have been amazed with the many themes I have been able to use in the classroom--not just life lessons (not following the crowd, thinking for yourself, friendship, tolerance, etc.), but with teaching writing. <br /> <br />Caveat: Make sure the children know that scientifically, it is not true that lemmings run off cliffs. Focus on the fact that because the main character chose to think for himself, he saved himself from a lot of heartache and was able to continue to grow and learn.