AIBU to think that “The Wonderful Things You Will Be” is an overhyped, vomit inducing puddle of mawkish bollocks?

[saynotofondant]

“The Wonderful Things You Will Be” by Emily Winfield Mason, published in 2015.

It’s got a near-perfect 4.8/5 rating on Amazon UK, from almost 15,000 reviews. Only two people have ever given it one star. Ever.

www.amazon.co.uk/Wonderful-Things-You-Will-Be/dp/0241446953/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Am I honestly (almost) alone in thinking that this book is mawkish, unbearably cutesy, and actually more for parents than for children?

It takes itself so seriously, all the children look like unsmiling china dolls in ridiculous outfits (bow ties?), whenever they’re dressing up it’s in costumes clearly made by adults, not made by themselves. It’s all so idealised and how parents think children should be rather than what children actually like or are interested in.

Where is the gentle humour, the unruliness, silliness, irreverence, or unexpected turns? Not every children’s book has to have all those, but all the good ones have at least one. Like the tiger drinking all the water in the tap so Sophie can’t have a bath, or the Paper Dolls having silly names, or the bear at the end of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt trudging sadly home to his cave?

YABU - you are an unfeeling weirdo, please hug your child more

YANBU - I couldn’t read this to my child either without a sick bucket (perhaps for both of us)

'Love you forever' was featured in friends.

It is really creepy, I wouldn't read it as a bedtime book to a child.

Agree with previous posters and my favourites growing up were the Mog, Katie Morag and Shirley Hughes books. They showed life as it was to me - messy house, washing up piled on the drainer, dad taking his tie off after work, kids lying on the floor with books and comics and toys, half eaten tea on the table. Katie Morag books were treasured because they were visually similar to where I spent a lot of my childhood - the island farms and small communities and village halls were something I knew and recognised.

This book you've linked to OP looks like something that would make me feel guilty as a kid - where's the mess, the playing, the adventure and treasure of everyday life? I didn't want to be anything as a kid - I just wanted to play and read and explore and daydream!

Hi, I've written and self-published a light-hearted picture book, any chance you would review it?

I've never heard of it, but looking at the link it seems like it wants to be "Oh, the Places You'll Go."

Zombie thread, featuring a lovely piece of self-promo.

I do not know the story but it sounds twee. I hate twee so I'm gonna vote YANBU on that basis alone!

Oh for the days of Milly-Molly-Mandy!