I'm reading this as an adult in 2023, so I understand this book really isn't meant for me. But I thought I would have enjoyed it a lot more - it's a children's classic, after all.

But the book started with descriptions of killing animals to eat, which is fine, but I know I'm a little squeamish. And I thought it was a weird way to open a book? 

I can appreciate how the writing was constructed for a child to enjoy. I think there was a nice voice to it. When the narrator changed pov to the children, there was a child-like voice to it, too. I also enjoyed the storytelling theme, especially when the father told stories to the children.

This was definitely a product of its time, showing how life was like in the early 1900s where children were beaten for behaving poorly and girls were to be pretty and skinny. 

While it didn't age well, I can see how some kids would enjoy this. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.