Children’s books I hate:

[Anonymous]

All the elementary-grade books we read back in the 80s: Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, The Endless Steppe. All that animal death and political oppression....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious George books. George does whatever he wants and wreaks havoc due to his curiosity. Then twist, he saves the day because the annoying stunt he pulled happens to be fortuitous.

The early Curious George books aren't like that, though. The one where he goes to space, the one with him and the bunnies. He tries to be helpful and... well, he's curious... which inadvertently causes trouble. Kinda like kids, which is probably why they enjoy hearing the stories so much.

My DD used to get so frustrated with the Man with the Yellow Hat: “You know he’s going to get in trouble, he ALWAYS gets in trouble, why are you leaving him alone AGAIN? Doesn’t he ever learn anything, mom?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious George books. George does whatever he wants and wreaks havoc due to his curiosity. Then twist, he saves the day because the annoying stunt he pulled happens to be fortuitous.

The early Curious George books aren't like that, though. The one where he goes to space, the one with him and the bunnies. He tries to be helpful and... well, he's curious... which inadvertently causes trouble. Kinda like kids, which is probably why they enjoy hearing the stories so much.

My DD used to get so frustrated with the Man with the Yellow Hat: “You know he’s going to get in trouble, he ALWAYS gets in trouble, why are you leaving him alone AGAIN? Doesn’t he ever learn anything, mom?”

Oh, man, Curious George and the Bicycle, where the Man in the Yellow Hat drives merrily off to work, leaving his adoptive kid/pet in the front yard surrounded by hammers, nails, and broken wooden staves...

[Anonymous]

Goodnight Gorilla. Our DD was so scared a Gorilla was going to sneak in our house!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

I thought I was making a joke. Clearly not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

We were kinda addicted to this one when our kids were little:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stinky_Cheese_Man_and_Other_Fairly_Stupid_Tales

We still find ourselves yelling "Oh man, what is that funky smell?" everytime we smell something gross . ..

[Anonymous]

Once upon a potty. I hate the cutesy potty talk. My kid loves that book and I feel a bit guilty about it but I hid it up high in the closet, hopefully not to be seen until she outgrows the interest in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious George books. George does whatever he wants and wreaks havoc due to his curiosity. Then twist, he saves the day because the annoying stunt he pulled happens to be fortuitous.

The early Curious George books aren't like that, though. The one where he goes to space, the one with him and the bunnies. He tries to be helpful and... well, he's curious... which inadvertently causes trouble. Kinda like kids, which is probably why they enjoy hearing the stories so much.

My DD used to get so frustrated with the Man with the Yellow Hat: “You know he’s going to get in trouble, he ALWAYS gets in trouble, why are you leaving him alone AGAIN? Doesn’t he ever learn anything, mom?”

Oh, man, Curious George and the Bicycle, where the Man in the Yellow Hat drives merrily off to work, leaving his adoptive kid/pet in the front yard surrounded by hammers, nails, and broken wooden staves...

Haha, I have a love/hate relationship with Curious George. I loved them as a kid so am still somewhat fond of them, and my kid loves them, bu the adults in those stories? Not only totally negligent but also totally exploitative of George. Like when Curious George gets in trouble for knocking down an exhibit at a museum, and the museum director says "all will be forgiven if you just go on a dangerous mission in this rocket for me." Or when Curious George breaks his leg and the man in the yellow hat is all "keep him in the hospital and help him get well because I need him to star in this movie."

[Anonymous]

Fancy nancy. What a brat. I mean pick up your room Nancy and stop your whining....I used to change the words when my daughter was really young because the illustrations were beautiful....

[Anonymous]

Give a mouse a cookie. Teaches kids to be pushovers. No, Oliver, you don’t have to get him a glass of milk or any of the other crap he asks for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Give a mouse a cookie. Teaches kids to be pushovers. No, Oliver, you don’t have to get him a glass of milk or any of the other crap he asks for.

LOL! This is hysterical!!!

[Anonymous]

I can’t stand super saccharine heart-string children’s books. All the I love you forevers and Guess how much I love yous can stay away from my cold dead heart.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone mentioned the stupid goodnight (insert ridiculous thing here) books? Goodnight country store is a real actual book they came up with. Are we ready to share a wonderfullll day? God the animation sucks in those.

[Anonymous]

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.

Actually, I thought it was the other way around. There's one story called The Blame Game. The kids get in trouble and Mama becomes the stereotypical hysterical mom while Papa remains calm and comes up with the sensible solution. I find that part so annoying that I just scream and throw the book. Luckily DH is more relaxed and intervenes.

Lol!

Still don't like those BB books.

I do love The Lorax and The Giving Tree, though both are sad. I agree with pp that The Giving Tree is rather sophisticated.

And love Fancy Nancy for the reason a pp described. So much better than other early readers.

I don't like Dog Man or Captain Underpants personally, but appreciate that they get reluctant readers sitting down and reading an entire book. So they're great for that. And occasionally I do lol at the author's references to Dickens and whatnot.

[Anonymous]

The Eloise books. What a wretched little child.