Mason LOVES books. We probably read at least 8-10 books a day. Sometimes the same book a few times, but I still love it that he loves books. He's just starting to pretend a little, and I know that books can only grow his already active imagination.
But some of these children's books are just a bit strange. Can any other parent out there relate?
For example, I was reading Corduroy Goes to the Fire Station for the 8th time the other day, and it dawned on me that I was reading about a teddybear who was visiting the fire station with his class, comprised of a stuffed pink gingham bunny, a couple bears who are blue and purple, a doll and a bear teacher. On top of that, the firemen at the firestation were a mixture of animals and people. In one picture a human woman is sitting at the table playing cards with a dog, an alligator is cooking spaghetti, a monkey is lifting weights and a bear is sitting on the couch reading the paper. Mason thinks nothing of this. He loves this book with its fire engines and flaps to lift, but I must say I find the concept strange.
Then there's I'll Love You Forever. I know many are familiar with this book. It's a classic children's book about how a mother's love never ceases through her child's whole life. But honestly it creeps me out a little. I mean, this mother is sneaking into her adult son's house in the middle of the night using a ladder at his window! It started to get a little weird for me when she was sneaking into her teenage son's room and rocking him "back and forth and back and forth and back and forth," but when she drove across town with her ladder, I got a little chill. I know, I know, I'm completely missing the sentiment of the book. Rather than noting the blessing of being a mom for life, I'm tucking away the lesson, "Keep appropriate boundaries with your children!"
Well, those are just two examples, but I know there are many more out there! The world of children's literature is a fascinating and fun and sometimes strange place. I have moments that I really hope Mason won't pick a certain book because it just doesn't make sense to me. Thankfully it's not about me... :)
If you've got any other weird chidren's book examples, I'd love to hear them! Happy Friday!
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4 comments:
So funny...Greg feels the same way about "I'll Love You Forever." He refuses to read it!
Amen, Beth. I can hardly contain my laughter re: "I'll Love You Forever."
On a related note, have you ever considered the craziness of nursery rhymes? Now there are some seriously demented rhymes out there ...
Thank you Beth for vindicating my disdain for the book "I'll Love you Forever." 'Creeps me out' is the exact terminology I would use to describe it. I think we can all love our children forever without climbing in their windows and rocking them back and forth...
Runaway Bunny is another strange one. It has a feel of the mother 'hunting down' her child. (again I know I'm missing the point)
In "The Going-To-Bed Book" I think they shower and put on their pajamas and then go exercise. Seems like the wrong order to me. (but at least it's not creepy.)
Agree on the nursery rhymes too. Poor Humpty dumpty.
Lol! Great post, Beth! I agree about the nursery rhymes! I'm not very up on children's books except for any that JP3 has me read to him ... which are generally about tractors!
I recall thinking "I'll love you forever" was a little strange, but I don't know that I thought enough of it to be creeped out as I read it to my nephew when he was small.
I loved the Corduroy books. I suppose, looking back, that they are strange. Perhaps that helps fuel the imagination!
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