Bookish Questions – Least favorite kids’ book of all time?
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What is your least favorite kids’ book of all time?
I’ve heard horror stories about children who want the same story read to them over and over again. Obviously, I will eventually hate whatever book my child deems her favorite, just because I have to read it all the time. I’m expecting that, but I would like some warning if you have a book that you think is just terrible to start with. I can’t think of anything worse than having to read a book every night that I couldn’t stand to start with.
So, I want to know – what children’s book do you absolutely hate? Also tell me if you have discovered a children’s book that is problematic. Does it normalize poor behavior or incorrect stereotypes? I don’t want Spot thinking those things are OK.
TV tie-ins masquerading as “books.” Even as a child I hated those “books” that were just ads for the latest cartoon series or kids’ movie. The ones with no actual story. I remember being forced to read and re-read “Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch” to my four-year-old nephew in the seventies. (It was a tie-in for an awful Hanna Barbera cartoon that lasted one whole season.) All those Disney “books” with slick impersonal illustrations and no real story, whose only purpose is to expose the kids to the film characters so they will want Mommuy to buy more merch. Sesame Street is guilty of same and even the Snoopy characters have been sold out for “board books” with no real story at all. I grew up on Dr Seuss–fantastic pictures and a real story!! We got them from the library, and the battered corners of the large-format hardbacks were advertisement enough.
Also I don’t see that Lemony Snickett is actually for kids at all. Adults love it, but kids? I wonder. I tried to read the first book and hated it, and I was 50 at the time.
I could definitely see this. I am constantly seeing books about Daniel Tiger (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood), and other children’s tv shows. But, at least the ones I have seen the most are from educational TV shows on PBS.