Children’s books I hate:

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I hate anything by Dr. Seuss.

Even my five year old DS could recognize that Dr Seuss made words up because he was too lazy to find words that rhymed.

Also, the Lorax is just a stupid, annoying story.

Because they rhyme and the ability to recognize rhyming words is crucial for phonetic awareness, which in turn is crucial to learning to decode. If you are into that and don't want your kid to just memorize words (sight words).

[Anonymous]

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

? Because you hate the name Heather?

No. You know why it’s a bad book.

Grow up, PP. Stop being such a fool.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Haha, I like you, pp!

[Anonymous]

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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.

I had to wait until I saw Grease to learn that.

[Anonymous]

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 live both. To each their own.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I hate the Don't Let the Pigeon... and Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems.

I hated reading them to my kids. But they’re great once the kid starts reading on his/her own.

These books are funnier and more enjoyable than 99.99% of the rest of the children's books out there!

+1

Don’t get me started on knuffle bunny. Willems knows kids!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Anything by Richard Scarry and Sandra Boynton's Bardyard Dance. I don't find any of these easy to read (don't flow well).

Agreed. I love Richard Scarry's illustrations, but I usually don't read the whole text. I really like his nursery rhyme book though.

Cars and trucks and things that go is an exception, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Bedtime for Frances. Frances tries all sorts of stalling tactics until her parents basically say go to bed or we’ll smack you. Nice.

All the Curious George books. The Man in the Yellow Hat kidnaps George from the jungle. Then George creates all sorts of trouble and is given all the credit for fixing what he broke in the first place.

And really cannot stand Babar.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Junie B. Jones and Amelie Bedelia. Are we trying to mess our kids academically!? I find these atrocious to read, and just don't understand why they were written in the first place.

Fwiw, I was a huge fan of amelia bedelia in the 70s and I went to Yale. I also dislike June B, but Amelia B is just a literalist who has trouble with synonyms and homonyms. That’s funny for kids. Like Who’s On First. Not sophisticated comedy, but classic. When someone says draw the drapes...pick up a pencil!

For very young children, the older ABs are major vocabulary workouts. Lots of words and concepts to explain so they understand the humor. The books are still totally worth it - Amelia Bedelia is hilarious. As far as I know, I completely missed the series when I was a kid. Glad I've run into it now!

On the other hand, reading "Llama Llama" has given me trauma trauma, and I'd rather do the dishes than read Pinkilicious.

[Anonymous]

The whole series of Little Ms./ Mr. X books. Recently kid picked out the Mr. Tickle book and it was terrible. The whole series sends weird, outdated messages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Junie B. Jones and Amelie Bedelia. Are we trying to mess our kids academically!? I find these atrocious to read, and just don't understand why they were written in the first place.

Fwiw, I was a huge fan of amelia bedelia in the 70s and I went to Yale. I also dislike June B, but Amelia B is just a literalist who has trouble with synonyms and homonyms. That’s funny for kids. Like Who’s On First. Not sophisticated comedy, but classic. When someone says draw the drapes...pick up a pencil!

I use Amelia bedelia to teach precisely due to the above. Kids laugh, but they easily grasp the concepts, and the way it’s presented is memorable.

[Anonymous]

Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day. That kid is such a WHINER!! Shut up already about how bad your day is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loathed the Bearenstain Bears because I could just not wrap my head around the fact that the children are named "Brother" and "Sister."

Bubba and Sissy are common names in the south.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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...)

Is that Margaret Hodges' version, adapted from The Faerie Queene? I loved that, but definitely have to split it into two separate nights when it is read.

[Anonymous]

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

What obvious reasons? Please, enlighten us