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Original poster

Children’s books you don’t like?

274 replies

MagnaDoodle · 09/09/2018 19:36

Anyone got a book or two that makes them inwardly sigh and weep when DC asks for them?

I had to read my most disliked book today. Burglar Bill. Dirge.

OP posts:
Sandstormbrewing · 09/09/2018 19:38

Wibbly pig and the tookie. I don't know why but I hate it!

SofaHunt · 09/09/2018 19:38

I really dislike Roald Dahl. So much of a focus on looks and 'ugliness' as a sign of badness.

PawneeParksDept · 09/09/2018 19:39

My DM hates The Jolly Postman

😂

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Children's books
niceupthedance · 09/09/2018 19:39

Anything by David walliams is horrible with no charm whatsoever

OhBuggerandArse · 09/09/2018 19:40

Harry Potter. Simplistic, derivative, and poorly edited.

happyasasandboy · 09/09/2018 19:43

Bedtime, Billy Bear.

I hate hate hate it. Billy is left with a babysitter, and when he's scared his mum won't come back she basically packs him off to bed with a threat.

I hate it, and always change the words when I read it. Now my kids can read I keep meaning to throw it away before I'm caught out Angry

Mhw02 · 09/09/2018 19:44

Narnia. Just couldn't take to Lewis' writing style. Even as a six year old I found them preachy and patronising. (Funnily enough, I love the film of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, it's Lewis' tone that annoys me.)

Pascha · 09/09/2018 19:46

I used to loathe any and all Postman Pat because it was all so wordy and took an age to get through. Now I shudder inwardly if I have to read any more sodding Beast Quest. Even though DS1 is quite capable of reading by them to himself he does often choose it for us to read at bedtime. It's just bilge.

CherryValance · 09/09/2018 19:47

I'm past having to read these now but any Thomas the Tank Engine book or Mr Men books. Tedious smug engines and weird creepy creatures. Don't mind Boglar Boll, although it is a bit long. I always ended up putting on a ridiculous Laaandan accent for Bill and the lady burglar - 'a big BRAAAAN box? Wiv litt'l 'oles innit?'

Original poster
MagnaDoodle · 09/09/2018 19:55

Oh god we have all the little miss books. I hate them. They’re long and ridiculous.

OP posts:
ILoveDolly · 09/09/2018 20:02

My son was obsessed with Billy Bear! He still loves it.
I hate the Enid Blytons all of them. So smug and old fashioned

BikeRunSki · 09/09/2018 20:02

Horrid Henry is dire
Mr Men/Little Misses are formulaic and repetitive, I loved them as a child, nor I understand why my parents didn’t!
Narnia - scary when I was a child, still scary
Highway Rat - can’t make it scan, however many times I read it

newbosunset · 09/09/2018 20:06

Rainbow Magic Fairies. There's hundreds of them, and they are just dreadful, like they've been churned out by a computer programme.

Dadsbigsausages · 09/09/2018 20:10

I hate the dinosaur that pooped series and anything by Carl Hart and Ed Eaves (with the annoying kid Albie!!!)

Original poster
MagnaDoodle · 09/09/2018 20:12

Has anyone read the great dog bottom swap??

I know people will say it’s great because it’s very cleverly written but i thought it was disgusting!!

OP posts:
Kokapetl · 09/09/2018 20:14

Thomas the tank engine
The Captain Flynn and the pirate dinosaurs books just because they are too ridiculous.
Horrid Henry- I agree, awful. DH got CDs of them from the library for long journeys but I had to switch them off.
David Walliam's books, only read a couple but didn't like them
I don't like the horrible histories books much but am. It quite sure why because I love the TV programmes!

missyB1 · 09/09/2018 20:15

I had to ban horrid Henry books from our house! Never read such a load of drivel in my life.

flissfloss65 · 09/09/2018 20:18

Thomas the Tank Engine, sentences never seemed to flow easily.

elQuintoConyo · 09/09/2018 20:18

Thomas the Tank Engine.
Harry fucking Potter.

DS has just started showing interest in the latter shoots self

Scotinoz · 09/09/2018 20:18

Mr Men - yawn!
The Scarecrow's Wedding - it doesn't flow well, plus I dislike the sleazy scarecrow with the cigar

InezGraves · 09/09/2018 20:19

The Thomas the Tank Engine books are like some kind of fascist rationale for working hard and keeping your head down, because getting out of line gets you in Deep Shit. Which one gets walled up alive in a tunnel because he’s slightly vain about his paintwork?

The Five Find-Outers are currently giving me the rage, the way they patronise and correct the unfortunate sidekick Ern, whose only crime is being working-class and devoted to them. Grr.

Growingboys · 09/09/2018 20:19

My DC love every single of the aforementioned books, bar the fairy ones which I agree are dross.

I remember snobbery about Enid Blyton when I was little but I was a huge bookworm who loved all her books. I ended up with a very good English degree, so not sure what the snobs were on about.

Any book that makes a child wants to read, rather than say play PS4 or watch YouTube, must be a good thing.

I know there are loads of children's books I hated but I chucked out any that I hated if the DC didn't like them either as there are too many good books in the world.

Lucked · 09/09/2018 20:19

Beatrix Potter. Me and DH agree, worst children's box set we have had to read although nice pictures.

I hid some of the Mr Men/Little miss books because I didn't approve of the message,

GreenMeerkat · 09/09/2018 20:20

Julia Donaldson.

Massively overrated and a PITA to read. It just doesn't flow well at all!

Lauren0rder · 09/09/2018 20:21

The tiger who came for tea makes my teeth itch.

Most Michael Morpurgo books.