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Original poster

to feel uneasy about my son reading Enid Blyton books

767 replies

frances5 · 22/06/2007 22:10

My son wants me to read him a book called the "Wishing Chair", I have read two chapters of it and it has a pixie in it called "Chinky". To make it worst the drawing of "Chinky" shows an elf like creature with slitted eyes. However I think my son is totally and utter oblivous to this.

Admitally Enid Blyton lived 50 years ago when people didn't know better. But do you think I am making a mistake letting my son enjoy this book? He is even trying to read it himself that he is so desperate to know what happens next.

When my son chose this book I had no idea that it had a pixie in it called "Chinky" other wise I would have diverted him towards something like Ronald Dahl.

OP posts:
Quattrocento · 22/06/2007 23:57

TA I don't think that people who let their children read EB are mouth foaming card carrying members of the BNP either.

But I do think they do it for sentimental reasons rather than trying to guide them to better and altogether nicer books.

MamaMaiasaura · 22/06/2007 23:56

I have censored a part of ds's reading tbh .. when in local shop he saw FHM type magazines, exclaimed 'look mummy, nakey layydies'.. I did usher him away and not indulge him in that reading material,

pointydog · 22/06/2007 23:56
TheArmadillo · 22/06/2007 23:56

My mum censored what I could read (she hates Roald Dahl - though we were allowed to read them once we hit about 10 or 11). She has a library of books she lends out to children (she teaches from home) and reads every one first and only passes on those she thinks are acceptable.

Though I had an advanced reading age, and once I got to 10 or 11 I was reading some reasonably unsuitable adult material (though not sure if she knew about it).

UCM · 22/06/2007 23:56

OMG, you don't think that my parents gave me 'Betsy' to read do you??

I nicked it off the shelf from Dads room along with the Pan Horror books.

pointydog · 22/06/2007 23:55

actaully, I don't control what stuff my kids read at all. They just happen never to have found chinky the fucking sliited eye elf.

UCM · 22/06/2007 23:55

TA, am laughing

Quattrocento · 22/06/2007 23:55

BTW there are no dirty bits in EB.

Unless of course you count the great unwashed children from the village.

Quattrocento · 22/06/2007 23:54

Shno need ta be scared pointy

TheArmadillo · 22/06/2007 23:53

So those who disagree with not letting your children read these books, surely you control to a certain extent what your children are exposed to?

I choose to a certain extent what my child is exposed to (hey its easy atm as he's only 2 ) that is part of parenting and teaching your child the moral lessons you want them to learn (not all of it but part of it).

Disclaimer: I also don't think that everyone who lets their child read EB is a foaming at the mouth racist and sexist pig.

pointydog · 22/06/2007 23:53

what, are you pregnenant?

UCM · 22/06/2007 23:52

If my parents had banned ANY books I would not have been as popular at school as I took Harold Robins 'Betsy' in so they could read the dirty bits.

I am just grateful to my parents for a lifelong love of reading.

MamaMaiasaura · 22/06/2007 23:51

does hugely hormonal count?

pointydog · 22/06/2007 23:51

lol @ awen being sober

slightly worrying though

pointydog · 22/06/2007 23:49

hey, watch it quattro. internet emotions scare me

unless of argumentative nature

UCM · 22/06/2007 23:49

There is a thread for over parenting by the way........

MamaMaiasaura · 22/06/2007 23:49

can I be smug and say I am sober

Feel like I am hungover tho (ms)

edam · 22/06/2007 23:49

Good Freudian slip there, Armadillo, censure for censor.

Balls · 22/06/2007 23:49

And another thing! EB is appealing IMO to young readrs becuase it concentrates on plot and is easy to read so they get quick wins and want to read on. They are so few books that fit that bill.

Quattrocento · 22/06/2007 23:49

Zooey - refuse to shoot someone looking after endangered animals.

nooka · 22/06/2007 23:49

But as libraries have limited space shouldn't they carry books that are good? There are plenty of good books that don't have dodgy messages. I wouldn't expect to see EB much in a modern library anyway, just because they are dated (and I still say crap). Re editing of books seems a pretty weird idea to me - more in line with censorship than any concept of "banning". Still there are so many of them (and that's one reason why they are not up to much) that I guess they must still make a fair bit of cash for the publishers. For me they are in the same sort of category as things like the Baby Sitter's Club, or all those awful fairies books, all written by numbers.

pointydog · 22/06/2007 23:48

har

pointydog · 22/06/2007 23:48

that was to awen not dillo

Quattrocento · 22/06/2007 23:47

Pointy, you are right. It's taxi time. Did not realise I was going to have to start doing a lit crit of EB after a drinks party. Snot fair

Twinklemegan · 22/06/2007 23:47

Thanks QC. I genuinely am interested. I would never advocate that kids only read EB or anything like that, but I do think they have their place. For one thing, we can't be stretching them all the time can we? And I'd much rather DS (who is only 10 months btw) sat and read an EB book than sat watching some crap on TV. And I will find some of those links (but I hope they don't put me off EB too much because I really did like her books when I was little).

Incidentally, I had a reading age far beyond my years for many years. I put a lot of that down to being captivated by EB from the age of 3 or 4.

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