Children’s books I hate:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Heather Has Two Mommies” for obvious reasons.

? Because you hate the name Heather?

No. You know why it’s a bad book.

You like the word mama better than mommy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the old "Little Golden" books, but particularly Tootle. It is about a train who is different and won't stay on the tracks or do what trains are supposed to do. So the townspeople get together and basically crush his spirit so he will be a "good engine." Hate it so much. Terrible message about how being different is bad and conformity is good.

Yes, this is the same reason I dislike Rainbow Fish. Why would we want our kids to learn that it is bad to be different and better for everyone to be exactly the same?

Rainbow fish is about socialism

You don’t know much about socialism, do you? It’s not about socialism at all. It’s about bending and giving to fit social norms.

I haaaaate this book. You’re beautiful, you should feel bad about this and give away pieces of yourself? I just hate it. I hid it from my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate anything by Dr. Seuss.

When I realized how much of it was political satire, it actually became more interesting to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good Night Moon. Who the hell is the old lady whispering “hush” and why is she there?

The Giving Tree. That tree has zero self-esteem and that boy is a total user. What’s the positive message there?

Anyone else?

I refuse to read The Giving Tree to my daughters. Terrible book!

We’ve got two copies of The Giving Tree from DH”s family in the basement. That is where they will stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Heather Has Two Mommies” for obvious reasons.

? Because you hate the name Heather?

No. You know why it’s a bad book.

You like the word mama better than mommy?

No.

[Anonymous]

The Little Critter books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pout, Pout Fish. Sexual assault cures depression!

I LOVE Pout, Pout Fish! It’s not assault - it’s a kiss! Plus it has the best rhymes.

If you were swimming laps and some dude swam up and kissed you, you'd definitely think it was assault!

Mine is Berenstain bears--they are so long!

I was looking to see if anyone had Berenstain Bears. I couldn’t stand them as a child and never read them to my child. However, I admittedly can’t remember why I dislike them so much.

I will remind you - in the longer stories, the rhymes are a stretch and they make fun of fathers in every book which I find demeaning.

Yeah, Papa bear works and has a SAHM wife and therefore is clueless about the kids and incompetent at raising them or doing anything around the house.

It was written a long time ago and that's how dads were more or less. Where has everyone's sense of humor gone? It is a story about bears doing silly things. I'm sure you were read these books and it was fine.

Relax everyone!

My dad was not incompetent. He was a great father, and a skilled carpenter and painter so (for example) he personally made all our furniture. Also a great cook.

So do you usually respond to stories? It cant be real because it doesnt fit your narrative or experience? My dad couldnt boil an egg and when he watched us he considered it babysitting.

BBC dad at least cares about his kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just leaving this here.

https://the-toast.net/2013/11/13/gifts-giving-tree/

Definitely don’t click on the rest of the series, either.

UUUUAGGGAGGGGAAHhhhhhhhh

Ah! Ah! Ah!

I know. I suffered from infertility, and I’m still haunted by this writer’s take on “Are You My Mommy?” Seriously, haunted. Definite trigger warning if you’ve ever been infertile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good Night Moon. Who the hell is the old lady whispering “hush” and why is she there?

The Giving Tree. That tree has zero self-esteem and that boy is a total user. What’s the positive message there?

Anyone else?

1000%

The giving tree is a metaphor for parents and children. For a long time kids are "users" I also think it is about Jesus giving his life for our sins.

Feel sorry for your kids. These books were written for kids, not adults. Yhere is a reason why they are popular with children.

Total nonsense. You’re an idiot.

I"m the pp. thanks for your very intelligent and thoughtful response! For those people who are interested here is a wiki article. there are many interpretations of the Giving Tree

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giving_Tree#:~:text=This%20book%20has%20been%20described,the%20boy%20and%20the%20tree

[Anonymous]

Great thread!

Nancy Tillman books (the night you were born, etc). Just pure syrup.

St George and the Dragon (if you think BBears is long...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good Night Moon. Who the hell is the old lady whispering “hush” and why is she there?

The Giving Tree. That tree has zero self-esteem and that boy is a total user. What’s the positive message there?

Anyone else?

I refuse to read The Giving Tree to my daughters. Terrible book!

We’ve got two copies of The Giving Tree from DH”s family in the basement. That is where they will stay.

I don't really love the book either, but I think that leaving the family in the basement is a harsh punishment for giving you books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pout, Pout Fish. Sexual assault cures depression!

I LOVE Pout, Pout Fish! It’s not assault - it’s a kiss! Plus it has the best rhymes.

If you were swimming laps and some dude swam up and kissed you, you'd definitely think it was assault!

Mine is Berenstain bears--they are so long!

So very long!

Most berenstein bear books are early readers— first graders usually love reading them to themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pout, Pout Fish. Sexual assault cures depression!

I LOVE Pout, Pout Fish! It’s not assault - it’s a kiss! Plus it has the best rhymes.

If you were swimming laps and some dude swam up and kissed you, you'd definitely think it was assault!

Mine is Berenstain bears--they are so long!

So very long!

Most berenstein bear books are early readers— first graders usually love reading them to themselves.

The traditional Berenstain Bears books (ie The Berenstain Bears Go to the Dentist or The Trouble with Manners) are not considered early readers.

[Anonymous]

The later berenstain books were especially awful, you could tell they or their ghostwriters were phoning it in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the old "Little Golden" books, but particularly Tootle. It is about a train who is different and won't stay on the tracks or do what trains are supposed to do. So the townspeople get together and basically crush his spirit so he will be a "good engine." Hate it so much. Terrible message about how being different is bad and conformity is good.

Yes, this is the same reason I dislike Rainbow Fish. Why would we want our kids to learn that it is bad to be different and better for everyone to be exactly the same?

Rainbow fish is about socialism

You don’t know much about socialism, do you? It’s not about socialism at all. It’s about bending and giving to fit social norms.

It’s about a youngster giving up what makes him/her special to fit in with the crowd. Generally, we try to teach kids not to give in to peer pressure, but this book seems to say that it is better to do what your friends are doing rather than stand up for yourself. Not a lesson I want my kids to learn.