...to be cross that DD (6) brought home a Barbie book from school library?

[redrobin]

AIBU to expect that school libraries not to contain trashy books geared towards seeling stuff? To add insult to my injury the book is called "Barbie - Wedding Planner'. I utterly despair if the librarian actually chose this. so...aibu to expect higher literary standards within an educational environment?

[redrobin]

i meant selling btw

[aldiwhore]

I'd be miffed, but in my humble opinion those stupid Biffy books are just as bad..... in other ways.

When I was six I played in the mud, climbed trees and yes, daydreamed/role played about weddings, and princesses and Sindy was often torturing Barbie and driving around in Action Man's tank.

YANBU to expect something better.

[RedOnion]

higher literary standards? at 6? really?

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Maybe someone already had War and Peace!

[HeadfirstForHalos]

YABU.

School have a huge variety of books, if it takes a barbie book to inspire a child to want to read then so be it.

[ll31]

presume the point is to provide books that kids want to read - presumably she chose it from library. Overally the point is to teach/encourage how to read ...

[KeepInMind]

I agree she should have got the Bratz book, I think it is called how your body/boob size clothes, hair and make up equal selfworth

[banana87]

I'd be upset too but I hate Horrid Henry books and libraries seem to be stocked with them! I see what you mean about being a bit more educational, but at 6 is it really that important? Focus should be on getting them interested in books, not in the actual material they are reading.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Can she read well, OP? If so, perhaps you might like to suggest some books for her that you loved as a child - even take her to the library yourself.

I don't think 'Barbie' is the issue; your daugther's 6 and if that's what she would have liked to read then so what?

[PotteringAlong]

I'd be chuffed she wanted to read to be honest...

[LetThereBeRock]

YABU.

[Feminine]

YANBU ...but it wouldn't bother me.

Those type of things just don't...

You can control what books you buy for her though ,well for a few more years anyway

[KeepInMind]

May I recommend the selfish gene it is a good bedtime read

[BarmyBiscuit]

Yabu. Let her read what she wants. She is 6.

[Insomnia11]

I'd be worried if she was regularly bringing something like that as her main reading book, but otherwise as a one off or as a library book aside from her main reading book I wouldn't worry.

We have a Barbie book at home (bought for 25p second hand) and I'd say the language would be reasonably challenging for a six year old, similar to the chapter books DD1 brings home.

[Fimbo]

Children need all sorts of books to keep them stimulated. If a Barbie book does that, then so be it.

[minervaitalica]

YABU. As long as she reads a wide variety of books who cares?

I have always been an avid reader - sometimes I read classics/science books/heavy history books, sometimes I read Mills&Boon. I cannot see why children should always read "worthy" stuff...

[Whatmeworry]

You've lasted with perfect children till 6 :)

My number was up when the beautiful wooden toys were ignored for the garish plastic stuff, and the "my child will never watch crap TV" was overturned in the interests of an easier life and a lie in!

By 6 all I wanted is the little blighters should read - anything would do.

[EdithWeston]

At least it's come home from the library - not a second hand sale - so it will go back soon!

I take it your main gripe is not the trashiness, but the "selling". If so, then YANBU - the global licensing and marketing of goods to children is pretty dubious and the endless Barbie spin-offs are a particularly pernicious part of it (see also today's sticky thread about the UNICEF report on material goods and their effect on childhood),

[susiedotcom]

YANBU, but... Firstly, if your primary school has a librarian (and by that I mean a trained library professional) then you're very lucky. A very very small percentage of English schools have them. And those that are left are being made redundant fast (but that's another rant...)

I'm a school librarian in a secondary school and part of my role is to create a culture of reading for pleasure within our school. I don't just cater to bookish children of middle-class parents with high literary standards. I'd say I have fairly high standards and veer away from "trashy" books; I also baulk at Horrid Henry - but for many it's a familiar way into reading and the first step on the road to something "better".

If her school does have a librarian then they, along with her teacher and yourself, will be gently steering your daughter in the right direction. If the school doesn't have a librarian then the library will probably be stocked with trash (normally donated by parents) and the pupils will be left to their own devices when choosing what to read. A good case for lobbying for more school librarians in primary schools.

[festi]

yabu. if you protect your children from trash they will never form an opinion. and what is it geared toward selling?

[Insomnia11]

DD1's school has volunteer parents helping in the library. They don't choose the stock though, that's down to the teaching staff/governors.