Children’s books I hate:

[Anonymous]

Pinkalicious, she’s freaking awful and lazy and selfish. Plus the term “pinkalicious” makes my skin crawl. On the other hand, Fancy Nancy is kind, likes school, hard working, learns from her mistakes AND is proudly a girly girl. Love you, Fancy Nancy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pinkalicious, she’s freaking awful and lazy and selfish. Plus the term “pinkalicious” makes my skin crawl. On the other hand, Fancy Nancy is kind, likes school, hard working, learns from her mistakes AND is proudly a girly girl. Love you, Fancy Nancy!

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love this thread. I'm a children's librarian, and this discussion pops up periodically in a variety of professional settings. Love You Forever, Giving Tree, and Rainbow Fish are definitely the top three.

Then why are they still at the library?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure this is not a popular option, but I cannot stand “Where the Wild Things Are.”

I initially hated it, but after the 183673th time reading it, I kind of started liking it.

I just love the poetry of the book. He sailed back in and out of weeks and through a day.

That book is the best of the best. The words and pictures are just perfect.

Agreed! One of my favorites as a child, and one of our favorites now. I also love the Night Kitchen.



Hate many of the ones already mentioned: giving tree, give a mouse a cookie, I’ll love you for ever, etc. Also hate Fancy Nancy and Owl Moon. Owl Moon is just so damned long and boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this thread. I'm a children's librarian, and this discussion pops up periodically in a variety of professional settings. Love You Forever, Giving Tree, and Rainbow Fish are definitely the top three.

Then why are they still at the library?

What are you a fascist or communist? In America we have books that you might not like because gasp! Some people like them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

What obvious reasons? Please, enlighten us

I think you know.

Pp is homophobic

[Anonymous]

There's a lot of writing about Babar and the all the ways it normalizes colonialism. My kids loved it but I doubt I would ever read it my grandchildren.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love you forever. Starting getting weird when kid was a teen and was downright stalkery by the end.

Same! I hate that book!

I found it odd too. It is originally a song for his stillborn children.

Seems authors put sugar on the title to get you in. It is quite a crappy way from authors (and librarians) to sell material and disturb children’s minds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure this is not a popular option, but I cannot stand “Where the Wild Things Are.”

I initially hated it, but after the 183673th time reading it, I kind of started liking it.

I just love the poetry of the book. He sailed back in and out of weeks and through a day.

DP. The prose is beautiful.

I initially hated the book too. My first DC wasn't into it and I couldn't relate.

I developed an appreciation for the book when my second, "wild child," came along. It so captures him and his feelings of rage, calming, and return to normalcy. Light bulb!

I love the prose as well. So much conveyed in "And it was still hot." In the right frame of mind, it can bring tears to my eyes.

[Anonymous]

Goodnight Moon got on my nerves and that was 15 years ago.
I didn’t love those Silverstein books much either. Just didn’t seem funny? Or something.

[Anonymous]

Amelia Bedelia funny to kids. They live being superior to her and all the expressions we use all the time that don’t make sense. Like back up.

[Anonymous]

What’s the alphabet one where the climb the coconut tree? Chicka chicka Boom Boom? (Or something like that)? I loathed that book to the Point I used to hide it so DD wouldn’t want to read it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pinkalicious, she’s freaking awful and lazy and selfish. Plus the term “pinkalicious” makes my skin crawl. On the other hand, Fancy Nancy is kind, likes school, hard working, learns from her mistakes AND is proudly a girly girl. Love you, Fancy Nancy!

Huh?

Read some Fancy Nancy and you'll understand. She is a great role model for kids that like fancy/girly things. She shows that you can be a substantive, smart, and true to yourself. She makes mistakes, but models good behavior (apologizing when wrong, being kind to siblings, working hard in school, etc.). She likes "fancy" words that have expanded my kid's vocabulary substantially (i.e., crestfallen instead of sad and disappointed). If you have a kindergarten + aged girl, you know that SO much media is either or - you're either a pretty princess type (Disney, ahem Pinkalicious) or a Role Model Girl who is brave and strong and smart (Paper bag Princess which I LOVE, don't get me wrong!), but is almost never "girly" (Princess in Black is a notable exception to that). I don't love love my girl's super girly phase, but I really don't want her getting the message that you can either be girly or smart and brave, but not both.

https://www.shopdignify.com/blogs/shopgoodblog/36120705-role-model-extraordinaire-fancy-nancy-my-unexpected-fave

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s the alphabet one where the climb the coconut tree? Chicka chicka Boom Boom? (Or something like that)? I loathed that book to the Point I used to hide it so DD wouldn’t want to read it.

Well l loved that book. We used to sing it together and my kids loved fi di g their letter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pinkalicious, she’s freaking awful and lazy and selfish. Plus the term “pinkalicious” makes my skin crawl. On the other hand, Fancy Nancy is kind, likes school, hard working, learns from her mistakes AND is proudly a girly girl. Love you, Fancy Nancy!

Huh?

Read some Fancy Nancy and you'll understand. She is a great role model for kids that like fancy/girly things. She shows that you can be a substantive, smart, and true to yourself. She makes mistakes, but models good behavior (apologizing when wrong, being kind to siblings, working hard in school, etc.). She likes "fancy" words that have expanded my kid's vocabulary substantially (i.e., crestfallen instead of sad and disappointed). If you have a kindergarten + aged girl, you know that SO much media is either or - you're either a pretty princess type (Disney, ahem Pinkalicious) or a Role Model Girl who is brave and strong and smart (Paper bag Princess which I LOVE, don't get me wrong!), but is almost never "girly" (Princess in Black is a notable exception to that). I don't love love my girl's super girly phase, but I really don't want her getting the message that you can either be girly or smart and brave, but not both.

https://www.shopdignify.com/blogs/shopgoodblog/36120705-role-model-extraordinaire-fancy-nancy-my-unexpected-fave

Here's some examples that make me want to claw my eyes out, but my early reader loves. Seriously, Fancy Nancy is a breath of fresh air compared to these monstrosities.

https://www.amazon.com/Jewels-Princess-Disney-Step-Reading/dp/0736429085
https://www.amazon.com/Jewels-Princess-Disney-Step-Reading/dp/0736429085

TL;DR: you think baby books are bad, just wait until you get to early readers. Oh the humanity.