to feel uneasy about my son reading Enid Blyton books

[frances5]

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.

have not read whole thread as is ridiculously long, but some of todays kids books are dreadful. I hear readers in school and could not believe the rubbish in some of them.

As for EB, I read her books, loved them, did not grow up to be racist or bigotted, and I knew kids did not go off across moors on their own catching burglars and spies and stuff. I loved malory towers though had never ridden a pony or been to boarding school. They are stories. I also know that my own girls now enjoying the books and DVDs of The 5 won't grow up racist either. They know right from wrong. They learn from the parents example, not from what they read. They thought it was stupid in a video that Aunt Fanny had been changed to Aunt Frances, when I explianed that some people used that name as a rude word

I loved EB, in fact I still do! My dd has my collection of Famous Five, and she read some of them. She enjoyed them immensely although she did question why everything was "jolly"!! She has never mentioned a class difference or anything like that. She just said that the stories were quite old-fashioned.

I on the other hand hate the Tracey Beaker stories. I think she is a horrible girl and would hate to think that any child of mine would want to emulate her.

EB books were of their time! I have a huge collection of Rupert annuals and one the stories in those was called "Rupert on Coon Island". The island was full of little golliwog men with corkscrew hair. My dc's have both read it, looked at the pictures and never commented on it. This has not made them rush into the street and start calling black men "coons". They know all about respect for other people, whatever race they are, but they are intelligent enough not to get old fashioned stories mixed up with real life.

Island of Adventure and the similar tales, with "Adventure" in the title, from Enid Blyton are really rather good. Albeit aimed at older children. Try one.

If it offends just change the name to stinky, he'll probably never notice

I loved her as a DC. Libraries tried to ban her books in 70's and failed. She tells a good story. You can use the parts that you don't like as discussion points.

I know this is a really old thread but...sheesh...can't believe so many parents are willing to censor their child's choice of reading material.

I'm not going to comment on the non-PC stuff as I think it's been done to death here but I do want to address some of the comments made about 'taste' and 'quality' reading material.

Quattrocentro said:
"But there really are some good books out there. Not PC books necessarily but really really good books. As a book worm, I hate to see children's minds fed with rubbish when you could be feeding them with good stuff."

But it's all subjective, isn't it? Who are you to dictate your children's opinions on what is or isn't tasteful. As an English teacher, I hope my children will develop their own skills of critical analysis and the only way to achieve this is to enable them to read a wide variety of texts, including those that we ourselves might not touch with a bargepole.

For the same reason, I allow my children to eat junk food sometimes and watch cartoons sometimes, rather than banning the stuff I'd rather they didn't have. Of course, I hope that they grow up to enjoy reading quality texts, watching quality TV programmes and eating healthy, good quality food but I accept that I can't control or dictate it.

Besides which, some people actually grow up to become adults who don't enjoy reading. (Shock, horror!) and that's perfectly fine. It doesn't mean they can't or they're uncultured or missing out on something. Some people just don't like it.

I agree Olifin. There seem to be parents who want to control every aspect of their DCs lives, down to what they read and what they think.
I think children's reading should be subversive-half the fun is reading things that adults hate!
Very often books come up that adults hate but DCs love them, which is all that matters.
I believe in encouraging good literature but DCs also like to switch off and chill out with an easy read and fun/exciting story. I don't think it matters what they read as long as it gets them reading.

Not Blyton, but I recently pulled out an old Tin Tin book that I had when I was a child. Tin Tin in the Congo. Seriously un pc, and not really appropriate. However, I never realised when I was younger. DS1 loves Tin Tin and "Blistering Barnacles", but I have quietly shelved the Congo.

Here's hoping you Enid Blyton fans have noticed 'Fledge' who revived this thread, is the rather extraordinary poster who is harping on about Katie Hopkins (ex reality tv star in the Apprentice) being made an MEP on other threads. Katie appears to be standing for old fashioned 'family values', and, fortunately for her, has discoverd God amongst other things.

I loved EB as a child and read her books avidly, although I do remember my teacher asking my mother - when I was nine years old, to curtail my reading of them. I can't remember the reason he gave her; I must ask her.
I loved them and I will be quite happy for my DC to read them when they are old enough to.
It's pathetic to claim your child will end up damaged by such books. I mean, do some parents not talk to their children about what they are reading and how they fit into today's society? They mustn't, otherwise they wouldn't be quite so worried about books having such a hold. {hmm). I certainly intend to influence my children's lives and discuss what they are reading with them, while pointing out how unrealistic some of the content is. Doesn't mean I'm going to ban them from reading them and enjoying them. How controlling to do so! I suppose these parents also ban them from from eating chocolate and all other things good in life. Poor kids.
A bit of a tangent from what I've been saying, but I have often wondered how the 'Fat Controller' in Thomas the Tank Engine seems to be acceptable in this holier-than-thou age in which we are living?

"I don't think it matters what they read as long as it gets them reading."

I meant to say this also.

I am moving house and as I am down sizing I have no room for my beloved Enid blyton books of which I have over 100 some very early ones and first editions and as a lot have no dust jackets I am finding it difficult to sell them so I think I will have to dump them ?

i am not sure that Harry Potter with all the glorification and awakening of interest in the occult is something I want to encourage. Mind you as a child I remember reading Tin Tin goes to the Congo and collecting Robinson's golliwogs

Back to the op question I wouldn't worry

THIS THREAD IS FROM 2007!!!

And I am from 1970

Some really incredible comments on here ('Poisonous Muck', really?). Enid Blyton didn't once mention anything about race with reference to Chinky. If you've interpreted the image as 'slanty eyed', then that is on you. Another thing to remember is that Blyton didn't illustrate the books.

My DC were still in primary school when this thread started and i was still in my 40s when i first posted on it , they turned 27 and 29 last week and I am 62 now!