Y'know, I've been thinking...
May. 13th, 2004 06:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conuly
On the Amazon.com children's book reviews, a common theme is "I brought this home for my kid, and I was shocked at the content!!!!" Now, I can see this... kinda... when you're dealing with an older kid. Just because *my* memories are of having to steal my books back from my parents after they'd gotten engrossed in their reading doesn't mean that everyone else has parents who love to read, especially kid's books. What can I say, some people have no taste. *shrugs*
But picture books? How can you bring home a picture book without at least flipping through it to make sure it's something that will hold your kid's attention? How on earth is it that you can get all the way through a book with your kid before finding out that you don't agree with what it says? Especially if you have strong views on something. I don't get it.
I mean, honestly. If you're adamantly opposed to gay people, then read the friggin' book before you buy it! It's nobody's fault but your own if you end up with a kid who is a little less naive than before. Same thing if you're against halloween or monsters under the bed or non-christians or black people... READ THE DAMN BOOK FIRST. Don't go whining to the people at amazon.com that you disagree with whatever the book says when whatever the book says is blatantly obvious on the cover of said book.
My sister Jenn? She doesn't want any book for Ana that "promotes bottlefeeding". Which means no bottles in the book. So, when buying books for Ana, I try this novel concept... *gasp* I... read the book first! It works! No surprises!
I don't think that everyone has time to read every book their kid will get. I do, however, think that if you intend to censor your child's reading material, you should make an effort to find out what's in the books you bring home before they read them. Or, I guess you could try talking to your children, but that might be even more difficult.
But picture books? How can you bring home a picture book without at least flipping through it to make sure it's something that will hold your kid's attention? How on earth is it that you can get all the way through a book with your kid before finding out that you don't agree with what it says? Especially if you have strong views on something. I don't get it.
I mean, honestly. If you're adamantly opposed to gay people, then read the friggin' book before you buy it! It's nobody's fault but your own if you end up with a kid who is a little less naive than before. Same thing if you're against halloween or monsters under the bed or non-christians or black people... READ THE DAMN BOOK FIRST. Don't go whining to the people at amazon.com that you disagree with whatever the book says when whatever the book says is blatantly obvious on the cover of said book.
My sister Jenn? She doesn't want any book for Ana that "promotes bottlefeeding". Which means no bottles in the book. So, when buying books for Ana, I try this novel concept... *gasp* I... read the book first! It works! No surprises!
I don't think that everyone has time to read every book their kid will get. I do, however, think that if you intend to censor your child's reading material, you should make an effort to find out what's in the books you bring home before they read them. Or, I guess you could try talking to your children, but that might be even more difficult.
