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I was totally busted the other day by my nearly-three-year-old Willa while reading Amelia Bedelia.
“Daddy, you skipped a page!”
“Oops! You are such a good listener.” Grumble…grumble…
Yes, the skip was intentional, and I was hoping she wouldn’t notice. I just couldn’t stand it any more and had to get to the end of the story. Please know that one of my greatest joys as a parent is reading every morning and every night with my girls. But it’s all I can do to suffer through some of their books. I’ve resorted to hiding a few because I can’t face reading them again.
And here’s what I don’t get – I really liked Amelia Bedelia when I was a kid, and (as a word geek) I appreciate the lesson about language and the play on words, but it’s a one joke concept that drives me NUTS. (I feel the same way about my own music sometimes. As in, "What was I thinking when I wrote that?")
But Amelia is not the only one on my “hide” list. There are some Care Bear books and a book where everyone’s favorite teacher suddenly gets killed in a car wreck (totally didn’t see that coming) and several in the Curious George series.
I know that putting George on the list may sound blasphemous, but the books make me crazy. However, my beef is not with George – I love his adorable, curious nature. It’s the "Man with the Yellow Hat" who needs a good tongue-lashing from Nanny 911. You know the story. At the beginning of the books he takes George to a busy public place like a zoo, parade, toy store, beach, pizza joint, etc. He tells George to stay out of trouble and promptly disappears to God-knows-where, but then shows up at the last minute to eat the free pizza! What kind of guardian is he?
Little did I know that I would open a messy can of worms when I posted this subject on my Facebook page the other day. I received more than 20 “spirited” comments. That may not seem like much, but it’s the most I’ve ever had.
My own dear wife offered a dissertation on the “serious psychological issues going on in the Curious George story” since the Man with the Yellow Hat “took George home out of guilt after killing George's mother in the original book” and “was never prepared for the responsibility.” And the man’s lack of responsibility makes George “act out for attention.”
Wow. That’s heavy.
But then along comes my friend Jean, who is a librarian, to rain on our analytical parade. She reminds us that kids enjoy these books because they can live vicariously through George who can “explore, make new friends, be creative, sometimes be helpful, and all without adult interference.” George, she says, allows kids to explore independence from their parents.
And Amelia teaches kids “that making assumptions about what other people are thinking is not a good idea. She also subtly points out that adults don't know everything, even though they act like they do.”
Fine. Jean’s right. I know she’s right. So, the lesson here is to just suck it up and read with enthusiasm and let my girls enjoy the stories they love.
Pssst…but really, what books do you hide?
"A Fly Went By" is that book for me. I think because my son insisted I read it everyday for about a year.I don't hide books, but I have been known to hide favorite articles of clothing that I just can't bear to see anymore.Any book based on a Disney animated movie--PULLLEEEZZEEE!! Can we say B.O.R.I.N.G.!!!! And books involving cartoon characters in general (like Bugs Bunny). To me, the mark of an excellent childrens' book is one that both parent and child can read over and over again and never tire of reading. :-)My daughter's name is Amelia so we read those books a lot! She is 3 1/2 and I started reading her my favorite book as a child, Little House in the Big Woods. Rereading it now MANY years later the first 30 pages or so are all about hunting! Yikes! So I'm making up stuff because it's pretty gross. Problem is she's catching me. "What happened to the bear mommy?" um...he went for a long walk and never came back. I need to get more creative if I'm going to keep reading it!
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