The Boy in the Dress is not appropriate class reading for 8 or olds.

[Brightlightsbigcity]

Haven't read this myself, so am willing to accept that this may just be my dcs perception of it, but the feedback from kids talking to me about reading this in class appear to be:

1. The mum and dad fight a lot. Mum leaves.
2. The boy wears a dress. (I have no issue with this. Neither do DC. ) )
3. The dad hides rude, naked picture magazines under the kids bed/s.

I do have an issue with 3. Is it really appropriate for 7, 8 and 9 year olds to learn about naked pic magazines, which are rude, therefore dad hides them? (In the kids room, of all places. ) I'm not clutching pearls, but I don't think this is an appropriate subject matter for this age group, do you?

(I'm almost hoping it's a story from a friend, which got tangled up in the plot somehow... )

Ha. Obviously that title should read 'for 8 yr olds'!

Maybe you should read it and find out for yourself?

Why don’t you just read the book and decide for yourself?

It’s brilliant, my 11yo DS read it a couple of years ago so prob similar age. And whilst you might not like it, people DO hide stuff like that. I find David Walliams doesn’t shy away from reality but handles it in a child friendly way.

Moaning about. Book you haven't read? Okay then.

Haven’t read this myself

Yeah I haven’t read the rest of your post after reading that first line, I’m just going to say YABVU.

Brilliant book for 8 year old. It covers themes they will be able to understand and should be aware of.

I suggest if you think this, you avoid any books aimed at 8 year olds,

Read it then comment...m

Dd loved David walliams books maybe you should read it before you moan about it, Dw books are not twee but imo they are age appropriate.

Read it and then draw a balanced conclusion based on concrete evidence?

Oddly I just read it yesterday and it was okay, I'd let my 8 year old read it. Honestly I didn't think it was a particularly good book but fine for children.... Re the porn I think the older son keeps stealing it from the dad and hiding under the mattress if that helps 😁😁😁

My DCs of similar age listened to the audio version - I agree totally re: point 3 and luckily they didn't pick up the nuances of it. Point 1 & 2 were points of discussion and not inappropriate for their age.

Billionaire Boy has similarly inappropriate parts as point 3 - I can't remember exactly but along the lines of scantily clad, not very bright gold digger (think of all the usual non-PC, sexist cliches) - so I would read it yourself before your children do.
The actual underlying story is a good one and it maybe that they are young enough not to pick up on and retain the inappropriateness esp if you/the teacher focuses on the message/moral.

David Williams doesn’t dress up realities in our experience. I do think he’s age appropriate though. I’m happy for my 8,9,10 year olds to read boy in a dress

David Williams is so inappropriate. My sister thinks he brilliant and I started reading them to my kids and was disgusted at his books

Pixie

All three of my DC have read the book, as have I, and I had no issues with it.

I was more annoyed with a Julie Donaldson book that had smoking in it as part of the story, that's aimed at pre school kids and totally inappropriate.

Sorry. Disagree. Like Jaqueline Wilson it’s the reality of life for many 8yr olds. Giving them an “in “ to talk can’t ever be bad.

Wearing a dress - non issue

But no one hides rude books now 😂

What’s more appropriate for an 8 yo then? Harry Potter contained harrowing descriptions of child abuse in the first book which was aimed at a similar age group. Roald Dahl’s books consistently contain some very unhappy and uncomfortable bits, or are we forgetting that Willy Wonka basically murdered the unsuitable kids at his factory?

Read it then comment.

As others have said read the book and then comment. Lots of children’s books cover tough themes, I loved Jacqueline Wilson books as a child and they helped me a lot, it made me realise there were other families like mine who were not all hearts and rainbows all the time. Books can help children learn about tougher situations in life in a child friendly way.

I didn't read your thread, but some one told me it has sexually explicit material in it.

I think I will report this thread and you, because I don't think it's an appropriate topic for this board. I mean, I'm not a pearl clutcher or anything. But ... I just don't think it's appropriate...

My DC 8&9 love David Walliams books and so do I.
It's life in our society, a society our children will be growing up in. We can't really hide it from them.

Yabu. Maybe try reading it before having an opinion?

A great book to engage more reluctant readers. His books really helped my DD2 move on a stage in her reading.

Doesn’t sound like what I’d choose myself but I doubt I’d make a giant fuss out of it.

I agree. No eight year old needs to know about porn.

Read the blooming book!