Willard price books -DS (nearly 8) engrossed!

I loved them too, and have to admit that I have no recollection at all of the unacceptable attitudes, so I assume they made no impression on me whatsoever, as I'm not actually a raving racist or misogynist now.

In a way you could argue it was worse when I was reading them back in the 70s, because you could also many of those concepts expressed on TV and the world around you as well, so there was less of a counter-balance.

At least OPs son is reading them at a time when these attitudes are widely recognised as being unacceptable. The concepts of banning or censoring books always make me a bit uneasy. it is something that I associate with totalitarian regimes, not a civilized society.

Ds read lots of Willard price without absorbing the values. We always found it hilarious how Hal would be in the middle of being chased by an irate hippo or other scarey animal yet still would find time to deliver a 4 page lecture to roger about the animal in question.

I don't really agree with censoring what my DC read either, but (thinking out loud), would I want them to read this sort of thing if their father or I were black? Probably not.

I loved these books as a child and I don't think I internalised any of the more negative aspects (certainly don't remember them). However that's easy to say as I'm white and am not on the receiving end of racism.

Part of me thinks there are so many brilliant books being published every year, why not find an alternative.

I might re-read a WP to see just how bad it is. My eldest is 2 so I have a while to figure it out!

I loved the Willard Price books at around the same age and the only thing I took away from them as a child was a love of adventure books and an improved knowledge of wildlife.

Interestingly, my parents didn't censor my reading at all (I suspect it just never occurred to them) and I was very advanced. I'd read most of the Ian Fleming James Bond books by 10, plus some other lurid stuff. However, I did also read things like Jane Eyre, a shedload of Daphne Du Maurier, the bible, various biographies and a book about the Anastasia fraud, all of this when I was under 12. I honestly don't remember any of this influencing the way I behaved or thought, it was all just endlessly fascinating even if I probably didn't grasp some of the finer points.

I can't really see a problem with an 8 year old reading the books now if someone reminds them that the books were written in a time when things were different.

I also loved these growing up, but after reading this I'm not sure I will let my boys read them when they're old enough.

OP, has your son tried things like the White Giraffe by Lauren St John? It's an adventure set in modern-day Africa. I think there are a few of them.

I loved these books when I read them at about 8 years old. Though Whale Adventure felt pretty wrong even then. I will just certainly be encouraging my son to read them when he is old enough and then discuss all the crazy contextual issues.

I'm so excited to see this thread as simply loved these growing up. I definitely had a crush on Hal.

Interesting discussion. I don't know the books, but DD is similar age and reading her way through the famous five. I keep thinking I must check if they involve dodgy Enid blyton golliwog as I have vague childhood recollection of this. In which case serious talk needed but not sure if I would censor. Thank you for the prompt.

Really? Do you apply the same principle to films and video games?

Sorry- there is plenty else to read. Just let the racist sexist dinosaurs quietly die.

My DD read Leopard of Adventure, which had been rewritten by Anthony McGowan.

' Ds was particularly bemused about why the men who obviously were hugely superior in knowledge and age treated Roger as "master".'

because it's illogical? I'm pleased that they are having those discussions, and still enjoying the books.

DD2 read them at about the same age, and ds read them a couple of year ago (he's 7yo). For both of them it opened up interesting discussions about both wildlife and the issues you mention. Ds was particularly bemused about why the men who obviously were hugely superior in knowledge and age treated Roger as "master".
If anything they were indignant that anyone would consider that Hal and Roger were more in charge simply because of where they came from etc.

I suppose for them it's as much history (ds had been doing Rosa Parks at school, and he linked the two at the time) that time has changed, as the Swallows and Amazons setting off and camping on an island on their own. They don't take what happens and think it's right/expected/what everyone does.
Although dd2 did once stick two capital "S" up on our shed and ask if I could clear it for her to have meetings in it.

Hi Between

On a more positive note, I absolutely loved the Adventure books. Can't wait til DDs are old enough to read them. I remember my form teacher telling us about her son who had just finished the series and felt there was nothing to look forward to in life now. Everyone laughed except me because I completely understood!! I was 9.

On the racism, colonial stuff I really don't think it did me any harm. All I remember from them now is quite a lot of useful natural history knowledge (like don't try to escape a big cat by swimming because some love swimming ) and wondering how those 2 boys got to go off on their own. I don't think the rest has slipped subliminally into my outlook. However, it was 30 years ago I read them so I may be horrified when I reread.

I believe the Willard Price state commisioned Anthony McGowan to write some new books. Might be a good solution?

That's why you need to talk about it, becaiuse he doesn't have an understanding yet. Lots of us read Empire building stuff when we were younger, I'm an ardent fan of Kipling.

a prime age for being affected by what he reads IMO.
Sorry if I sound a bit right on or joyless OP

I suppose I read them and did not turn into a raving right winger, but on the other hand as a young girl reading them I think I might have internalised his rampant sexism.

I used them as part of my dissertation on overt and insidious racism in children's books.
I also used Indiana Jones, Charlie and the Chocolate factory, Asterix...so many possibilities.
Just ensure that he understands why those attitudes are unacceptable now, and that you talk about his reading with him. He could end up with a better understanding of racism and the anger and frustrations of ethnic minorities as a consequence.