Worst Children's Books
I don't like The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I know that it's supposed to be about the selfless love of a parent to a child. But it's really about a very abusive, exploitative relationship, and it glorifies the tree for staying in it. This is a very bad message to give to children, and consequently, I don't allow it in my house.
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister isn't terrible, but I think that it could be misinterpreted by a young child. It's teaches the virtue of sharing, but implies that it's possible to buy friends by giving people your possessions. We have a copy in my house, but when I read it to my toddler, I change the words so that Rainbow Fish sells his scales, invests his earnings, and becomes "the richest fish in the sea."
What do you consider to be the worst children's book?
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister isn't terrible, but I think that it could be misinterpreted by a young child. It's teaches the virtue of sharing, but implies that it's possible to buy friends by giving people your possessions. We have a copy in my house, but when I read it to my toddler, I change the words so that Rainbow Fish sells his scales, invests his earnings, and becomes "the richest fish in the sea."
What do you consider to be the worst children's book?
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