Books you'd never let your kids read....

[KendallPenn]

I wouldnt want my children (unconceived at this point) to read crappy children's literature. By that I mean, Goosebumps, Sweet Valley Twins, anything based off of a gimicky television show like Bratz (I dont even know if those are books). I am against literature that talks down to children.

I'm all for books well-written and contemplative, or funny: Anything Roald Dahl, Louis Sachar, Harry Potter Series, Boxcar Children, Madeleine L'Engle...good stuff like that!

Kendall

 

[abecedarian]

I wouldnt want my children (unconceived at this point) to read crappy children's literature. By that I mean, Goosebumps, Sweet Valley Twins, anything based off of a gimicky television show like Bratz (I dont even know if those are books). I am against literature that talks down to children.

I'm all for books well-written and contemplative, or funny: Anything Roald Dahl, Louis Sachar, Harry Potter Series, Boxcar Children, Madeleine L'Engle...good stuff like that!

Kendall

I've heard the type of crappy stuff you're talking about referred to as "Twaddle" and that 's a pretty good label for what it is worth.

 

[ValkyrieRaven88]

I wouldnt want my children (unconceived at this point) to read crappy children's literature. By that I mean, Goosebumps, Sweet Valley Twins, anything based off of a gimicky television show like Bratz (I dont even know if those are books). I am against literature that talks down to children.

I'm all for books well-written and contemplative, or funny: Anything Roald Dahl, Louis Sachar, Harry Potter Series, Boxcar Children, Madeleine L'Engle...good stuff like that!

Kendall

Hmm. I agree with you about things like Sweet Valley Twins, but having amassed a large collection of Goosebumps books in my childhood, I don't think they "talk down" to children. Although, come to think of it, I read most of those between first and third grade, and most of the characters were about 12-14 years old.
The others I agree with you on. I baby-sit for an eight-year-old, and some of the stories this girl reads/asks me to read to her shock me. I feel like the quality of children's literature has gone downhill since I was eight. I'm only seventeen. The girl is seriously reading SIMPLE books for three-year-olds about farting and things like that. If I were her mother, I would totally be going out and buying her The BFG.

 

[veggiedog]

If I was to have a child (which I'm certainly not ready for yet!) I don't think I'd restrict him/her/it (you can never be sure...) from reading anything. I'd trust him/her to make his/her own choices. Of course there are some books, 'crappy' books in particular, that I would rather s/he avoid, but I don't think I can make decisions for him/her regarding tastes in books. When I was little, I used to read The Babysitters' Club and (VERY occasionally) Sweet Valley Twins, although those was quite insipid, Nancy Drew, and other series that wouldn't be regarded as the highest quality of fiction. But I outgrew that stuff, and I think I turned out OK. Well, that last bit is arguable. The worst thing would be if the child didn't read at all. The horror!! I would commit suicide...or put him/her up for adoption . I could encourage the kid to read good stuff, but when kids are adamant, they always find a way to worm around these things.

 

[SFG75]

The worst thing would be if the child didn't read at all. The horror!! I would commit suicide...or put him/her up for adoption . I could encourage the kid to read good stuff, but when kids are adamant, they always find a way to worm around these things.

I'd prefer worrying about the reading of certain things than not reading at all. To me, it's the lesser of the two evils.

 

[veggiedog]

If there's any book out there that has everything--violence, sex, language, etc--it's the Bible. No, really. I wonder why it managed to escape banning while books like Where's Waldo? and Huck Finn got the ax.

 

[TheZeroGirl]

I wouldnt want my children (unconceived at this point) to read crappy children's literature. By that I mean, Goosebumps, Sweet Valley Twins, anything based off of a gimicky television show like Bratz (I dont even know if those are books). I am against literature that talks down to children.

I'm all for books well-written and contemplative, or funny: Anything Roald Dahl, Louis Sachar, Harry Potter Series, Boxcar Children, Madeleine L'Engle...good stuff like that!

Kendall

I have to say that as a young girl I read books such as Sweet Valley High, The Babysitters Club, and Christopher Pike novels. These certainly are not classics. However, I do not believe I would have the love of literature that I have now if these books had not existed. They allowed me to get involved in reading.

I loved Roald Dahl and C.S. Lewis too but I'm not sure I could have finished "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" without having the experience of reading that came from novels such as The Babysitters Club series.

I have even kept them for any future daughter that I may have.

 

[venusunfolding]

I have to say that as a young girl I read books such as Sweet Valley High, The Babysitters Club, and Christopher Pike novels. These certainly are not classics. However, I do not believe I would have the love of literature that I have now if these books had not existed. They allowed me to get involved in reading.

I DEVOURED Christopher Pike and RL Stine books. I read my fair share of classics too, but it was those that initially got me excited. So I'm right there with you,

 

[denny]

I certainly wouldn't be happy to find a child of mine reading 'A child called it'.

My son is 25 now, and I still wouldn't be happy to find him reading it!

 

[Thaibebop]

I am not one to stop my children from reading anything, but I think there is something to be said about reading things at certain ages. Books, like Silence of the Lanbs and all it's spin off, I would say that they would need to be at least 17 or 18. One book that I hope they don't read is The Story of O. What a horrible book, really bad.

 

[AceWCP]

I dont really understand the whole censorship and banning of books, television, movies or video games. Sure there was some things that my parents wouldnt let me watch or play at certain ages but that was them. Some things I look back at now and dont understand why they didnt let me anyway. I had a high reading level really young, something like a grade 7 reading level in kindergarten or grade 1 and in grade 2 it was a grade 9 or 10 level. and when i was in grade 2 or 3 i read some of my moms crime mystery novels and she didnt have a problem with it and I mean some of those crime novels can get a little gory but then her and my aunt wouldnt let me and my cousins watch ernest goes stupid because they said 'heck' one time in it. although now i understand that it was probably my aunt since my mom had let me watch other ernest movies.

reading is reading, video games are video games, movies and movies, tv is tv. As long as you teach your children right from wrong there shouldnt be a problem with what the read watch or play. none of these things turn ppl into anything it just pushes ppl who would do it sooner or later anyway

 

[SFG75]

I certainly wouldn't be happy to find a child of mine reading 'A child called it'.

My son is 25 now, and I still wouldn't be happy to find him reading it!

Never read it, but I've heard so much about it, I practically have read it. I work with some *troubled* youth who have undergone similar abuse as Pelzer did. I've always been surprised when we do an intake survey, at how often Pelzer's book is mentioned as a favorite book.

 

[abecedarian]

Never read it, but I've heard so much about it, I practically have read it. I work with some *troubled* youth who have undergone similar abuse as Pelzer did. I've always been surprised when we do an intake survey, at how often Pelzer's book is mentioned as a favorite book.

I would not worry about my older kids reading this one. I would encourage them to talk about the book, as I'm sure the abuse would bother them..at least I hope it would bother them. In fact, if they were not upset, I'd want to know about that too.

 

[SFG75]

I would not worry about my older kids reading this one. I would encourage them to talk about the book, as I'm sure the abuse would bother them..at least I hope it would bother them. In fact, if they were not upset, I'd want to know about that too.

Very true-for the girls that I work with, it's a therapeutic thing. They are constantly analyzing what happened to them and looking for similar stories of others and other stories of success. I just think it's sad that a lot of them have grown up way sooner than they should've had to.

 

[abecedarian]

Very true-for the girls that I work with, it's a therapeutic thing. They are constantly analyzing what happened to them and looking for similar stories of others and other stories of success. I just think it's sad that a lot of them have grown up way sooner than they should've had to.

I think it helps kids to develop compassion to read about such things. Of course a steady diet of it would be bad, but as students reach a certain age, they're wondering what to do with themselves and their lives, and I think books like this one might help a person find a calling. With books like this one, they might need a caring adult in the background to be a sounding board, and to provide balance and insight.

 

[jcsoblonde]

i am sorry, but this may be a RANT. about the oh so "sacred" harry potter. the one and only. *thank goodness* ok here we go! for one thing, some of these comments are dumb. no offence to anyone of course but does this make any sense? "im gonna let my kids drink cuz if i make rules they'll just get more curious and drink anyway. im gonna let my kids smoke...porn...etc" just whatever that philosophy can be used as an excuse for basiclly anything. its basiclly an excuse not to have rules. i wouldnt let kids read harry potter books. its not just the thing about witchcraft, though that is a big issue and stands as reason alone not to let them read them. so many people say "oh well, its gets them reading." so you give your kid something dangerous JUST because, it gets them doing something good? :O uh huh. one thing i noticed about harry is that he lies, cheats, sneaks around, is disrespectful and on and on...his "family" is seen through his eyes, and yes in the book they are mean and stupid and all that. but with kids, a lot of times they dont understand grown-ups, and when they read this some may think that if their parents do something they dont like, their parents are like harry's family, mean and unfair. so HEY! they henceforth shouldnt have to obey them! harry is rewarded at the end of the books for "saving the day" and sure he did. BUT, how did he do it? not honestly. this teaches kids that the end justifies the means, and that as long as they get what they want in the end, and if they think its a good thing, its ok to lie cheat sneak around disobey and basiclly do whatever to get it. and ive heard that part of voldemort is inside harry. oh that makes it even better doesnt it. AH....that felt good. rant over! and for all you harry potter die-hards who just live and or breathe harry potter. i. dont. care. if. you. hate. mail. me. or. not. cuz im right. but so many ppl are blind and in love with this kid that no one wants to see or admit it. there. and if this is offensive or anything well...no more offensive than everyone elses opinion! LOL oh and ps...as some ppl have said stuff about the Bible...well..thats because the Bible is offensive and ppl dont want to hear about it. its because its right. many evolutionists say that they only believe in evolution because they dont want to believe in God. sure the Bible has violence. thats because a lot of its about HUMANS. very violent creatures you know. but it also has love in it too and i laff when ppl call It hate literature cuz they dont wanna believe it. ahem. very off topic. but youve probly quit reading by now and well. yeah.

 

[Peronel]

Want...to...type...so...many...things....in...response..head explodes

 

[beer good]

head explodes

See what happens when you read books on witchcraft?

 

[SFG75]

How old should a kid be before they read something that Lenny would read? 16?.....17?...As conseting adults at 18, I'm for that, not sure about what to think about pulp stuff before then, though at least it would be encouraging reading as opposed to say...watching HBO or Cinnemax.

 

[mehastings]

How old should a kid be before they read something that Lenny would read?

I don't know. I suppose there is a point where they become old enough to understand that sort of stuff. I think I will let my daughter read a book like that when she is old enough to express interest and maturely discuss that interest with me. I read books with some rather adult themes at twelve. My parents didn't really know what I was reading, and it wasn't until a few years later that I really understood those parts scenes. I think I would have enjoyed the stories as a whole better if I had read it later and truly understood all of the action.

I suppose that growing up in a more enlightened home (and time period in general), that my daughter may be ready for mature stuff earlier. This doesn't mean I'm advocating books about spanking for a ten year old. I'm just saying I'll let her read the stuff when she's ready enough to want to.