Sunday, October 12, 2008

Coming Soon: Wunchie Book Review


As Miranda and I read together throughout the day and before bed, I've been thinking about the messages she's receiving in the books she reads. With all the discussions about children and TV, I tend to think about the shows she watches more readily than about the books she enjoys. But there are layers of messages in even the simplest of tales, and we'll be exploring some of them in the weeks to come.

Are there any you'd particularly like to discuss? Let me know.

6 comments:

Lopet said...

how about all those "children's" stories our parents read to us? Hansel and Gretel with the wicked witch...I think there are definitely kids' books that we should read first...I've started reading a book to our own son and then wished I hadn't. I don't want to read a bedtime story to him that makes him scared. (Lately he's wanted me to read him a varied version of Red Riding Hood that has an alligator in it instead of the wolf. Then when the lights went out, he was afraid of the alligator coming to get him...I tried to reason with him that there are no swamps in his room, so he's okay...yeah, right.)

Janet said...

The one she's got there is one of our favorites. We love all the Boynton books. I've been considering letting the kids do "guest posts" on my blog about their favorite books and movies.

a said...

I think the one you are showing there is a particularly interesting one. I've never really been quite sure what to make of it. That somebody is always left out? Is it a warning to kids to pay attention because somebody is always lonely and in need of a friend? Or is it a bleaker tale that, yes, sometimes everyone else will be part of the group and you just may be the armadillo who's left out, even after the HIPPO of all people gets to join in the fun?

maria said...

I think I'll be starting a weekly post about books, and we might being with this one. I'll try to get it going by this weekend or so.

Marie said...

Lets see......I would love for her to review the Paper Bag Princess, Hilda Must Be Dancing and I Stink, just a few of my personal favs!

Anonymous said...

I feel conflicted about the fairy tails, too, but I've also read a fair amount of European thought on how children need fairy tales to help them work out their questions about good and evil in a safe environment. I definitely think timing is key, and waiting until a kid is old enough to not internalize everything.

I actually censor a lot of books for Clara. We had some Frances books out of the library (innocent enough, right? I grew up on those!) but one was about Frances being afraid of the dark and not wanting to go to bed (which Clara isn't, yet, so why would I want to introduce that to her?) and another involved corporal punishment, another concept I'm not too keen to introduce to my three year old.

I notice that lots of kids books have themes of kids being mean to one another and excluding one another, or of adults being mean and not understanding the kids. And many books simply have rude language in them, as far as I'm concerned. So, yes, I'm pretty choosy when we pick out books. I love books with seasonal themes, beautiful illustrations and uplifting stories. And I don't avoid books about death in a natural context.

I look forward to seeing your series!