Classic Books for Kids
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Anonymous
Sorry to burst another bubble. Around the World in 80 Days is pretty problematic. An adult could read it and see the issues, but I wouldn’t want a kid to read it without guidance. |
Anonymous
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OP, a lot of us are older and haven’t read these books in a while, so are looking back with rose-colored glasses.
Far more reliable: librarians and indie book sellers. Librarians specialize, so the person in the children’s room will know so much more about great books for this little bookworm you have on your hands! |
Anonymous
| Perhaps we can save some time by stipulating that most classics are liable to be problematic for today’s values. They were written in a different time, in cultures that sometimes had different values and perspectives. Certainly OP should take that into consideration when selecting books, but it can hardly be a surprise. Presumably OP has a strategy in mind for dealing with content that is objectionable to readers today. |
Anonymous
Would you and the misogyny PP rather put your children into bubbles than confront hard topics and help them learn our history? It's a version of snowplowing. If children's literature is not an appropriate medium for parents to help kids work through these questions, what is? |
Anonymous
Except these stories aren't about "hard topics". they just involve casual racism, like calling Chinese people "ch!nks" and regulating women to the kitchen and childcare while the men go out and get jobs. Examining the cultural lens that they were written through is hardly the same thing as censorship. I don't think Boxcar Children should be banned. I don't think any book should be banned. But I DO think there is a plethora of excellent writing out that that blows Boxcar Children out of the water. We read it because it was put in front of us. Some people still enjoy it. My DD liked it! But I did have to pause and take issue with how the girls were in charge of home and kitchen while the boys built things etc. I talked about how times were different then, and how she could do anything Henry would do. We also talked about what I liked about the book. The children are all kind to each other, and look out for the needs of the group at every opportunity. I still think there is some wonderful children's literature out there that is NOT Boxcar Children. |
Anonymous
| Interesting that I haven't seen Sherlock Holmes books mentioned yet. I want going to mention them but I know there is a lot of drug usage in the books. Yay or nay for kids? |
Anonymous
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Many of these books are reflections of events and opinions that existed at the time they were written. By being aware of and knowledgeable about the past, we can better appreciate changes that happen over time and have a basis for hope of more changes in the future. It is good for our kids to be aware of history and it’s effects on the present and future.
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Anonymous
We have those conversations all the time here. The Little House books, though a childhood favorite of mine, landed with a thud. |
Anonymous
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Sideways Stories from Wayside School
The Chocolate Touch The Chocolate Fever Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Bunnicula Pippi Longstocking |
Anonymous
I think there is a lot of great children’s literature that is especially wonderful when read at a young age. While kids might be able to read books intended for adults, they may not appreciate them as much as they would if they wait until they’re older. Moreover, depending on how sensitive a particular child is, murder might be traumatic. At six, let her start with mysteries for kids (Boxcar Children or otherwise) and save Sherlock, Poirot, etc., for when she’s outgrown children’s lit. |
Anonymous
To be clear, the casual racism *is* the hard topic. I don't have a strong opinion on Boxcar Children. My issue is with the PPs who are discouraging books rather than encouraging the examination of the cultural lens. You said it yourself: "I did have to pause and take issue with how..." and, "times were different then..." My point is that some parents are so busy that they would rather curate their kids' reading list so they didn't have to bother with these conversations. I have seen this hands off approach play out on all different topics all the way to the teen years. It's not good for our kids or for society at large. |
Anonymous
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The PPs posting a heads up didn’t say you were bad for reading those books. They didn’t tell you to ban them. They just shared that they don’t hold up.
The suggestion about asking a librarian is a good one. They’re going to have better ideas than us old farts. |
Anonymous
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The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall felt like a classic kids book- in that everyone is nice, there is no trauma, danger, etc. The kids go on sweet adventures and generally have fun. It was written in the past 20 years, so nothing really cringeworthy.
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Anonymous
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I'd love to hear about why you'd like to explore the classics with your child. Is it because you'd like to revisit books you loved as a child? Is it because you think they have higher literary value than books produced today? and ... I guess I'd also ask, how often do you reach for a classic when you're having your own (adult) reading time?
I do think there's a time and a place for classics. I also think that there is an absolute goldmine of modern, beautifully written books that can suit almost any taste, minus the insidious racism and misogyny of books from the past. If you'd like more modern recommendations, it would help to know what your motivation/interests are. |
Anonymous
| I read the Hobbit and Treasure Island recently and I would not personally recommend to a 6 year old. |