Comment by dang

I also found it strangely written and hard to read (as an adult). At the very end, on p. 72, there is a sort of appendix for teachers which says:

  The total vocabulary of this book is 280 words, excluding proper names 
  and sound words. The 15 words in roman type should be familiar to 
  children reading on a third-grade level. The 20 words above third-grade 
  level are shown in italic type.

280 words seems rather few! That's probably why it reads like Gertrude Stein.