Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 10:22     Subject: Children’s books I hate:

Anonymous wrote:Froggy books by Jeremy London.

I cannot stand the yelling. FROOOGGGGGY! WHAAAT?

And the sound effects of getting dressed. Zip! Zap! Zoot!

And the looking more red in the face than green.



I appreciate that my daughter loves them. I will read them to her. But I will hide them in the back of the bookshelf.


The sound effects are the best! I loved reading aloud so I could make up silly voices and over emphasize sounds.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 10:17     Subject: Re:Children’s books I hate:

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get Gruffalo. How is the mouse clever if the gruffalo is real?


I thought it was pretty clear that the mouse coincidentally dreamed up the Gruffalo without knowing it was real OR, even more likely-- that the mouse had heard tale of a Gruffalo but incorrectly assumed it was a myth.



Yeah but in either case it negates the mouse being clever for the first half of the book.


No, it doesn't at all. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

The mouse is clever, because he conjures up vivid, convincing details convince the skeptical other animals that the Gruffalo IS real and IS coming-- in order to protect himself and keep from being eaten. If you make the details of the Gruffalo's appearance sound really real, then saying that his favorite food is "barbecued owl" (or whatever) and that he's joining you soon also sounds more convincing than it would otherwise. And then he convinces the Gruffalo in the second half, etc. He's a clever mouse.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 10:16     Subject: Children’s books I hate:

I refuse to read Curious George or the Little Engine that Could.... just don't like them.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 10:13     Subject: Re:Children’s books I hate:

Anonymous wrote:No, David, no! A whole series of picture books. Ugh!


DD's kindergarten teacher read that one and she wanted me to read it at home. Hated it.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 10:08     Subject: Children’s books I hate:

Froggy books by Jeremy London.

I cannot stand the yelling. FROOOGGGGGY! WHAAAT?

And the sound effects of getting dressed. Zip! Zap! Zoot!

And the looking more red in the face than green.



I appreciate that my daughter loves them. I will read them to her. But I will hide them in the back of the bookshelf.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2020 09:40     Subject: Children’s books I hate:

I have always truly believed that The Giving Tree is a good book. It is read and perceived through the eyes of the reader. The boy is a taker, the tree is a doormat, the boy is a child and the tree is a parent, or something in between. The relationship in the beginning is loving, corrodes over time. The natural ebb and flow of life takes the tree and the boy down its currents.

People don't like The Giving Tree because it isn't easily understood, much like basically all human relationships it is portraying something complex and hard to understand. And much like almost all human relationships, it has aspects of great beauty and aspects of great sadness.

It is an adult book written for children, because children understand more than we give them credit for.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2020 22:30     Subject: Re:Children’s books I hate:

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Press Here. I hate this book. Clever, but there's no story and it's so painful to read after you've read it so many times.

I totally disagree with OP about Goodnight, Moon. I love that book. I never read it as a child, but it's a favorite in our house. It's so cute that the pictures get darker throughout the book, like it's getting later.


I know! I love the illustrations of Goodnight Moon.

Goodnight nobody.


Me too. I was ready for bed after reading it. I couple of times I just went straight to be at 7:00 pm.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2020 22:21     Subject: Re:Children’s books I hate:

Anonymous wrote:Press Here. I hate this book. Clever, but there's no story and it's so painful to read after you've read it so many times.

I totally disagree with OP about Goodnight, Moon. I love that book. I never read it as a child, but it's a favorite in our house. It's so cute that the pictures get darker throughout the book, like it's getting later.


I know! I love the illustrations of Goodnight Moon.

Goodnight nobody.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2020 22:11     Subject: Re:Children’s books I hate:

Some of my favorites are on this thread, but I am so glad that Corduroy is not. One of the best children's books written. I've read it to my kids I don't know how many times and I still have to dig deep not to get choked up on the last couple lines of that book.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2020 22:04     Subject: Re:Children’s books I hate:

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.


Agree. The pictures and language in Where the Wild Things Are and Mickey In the Night Kitchen (with nudity!) transfixed me as a child. My kids loved them too. They are both crazy perfect.

The Giving Tree is a complicated one.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2020 22:03     Subject: Children’s books I hate:

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.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2020 21:49     Subject: Children’s books I hate:

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.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2020 21:44     Subject: Children’s books I hate:

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.


Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? Spooky Old Tree? That book kicks a!
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2020 21:39     Subject: Re:Children’s books I hate:

Curious George. So un-PC.