Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To please check children's books!!

119 replies

MrsTermites · 29/12/2022 10:08

It seems The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase is being bought by some older family members for children in the belief it's a lovely story like The Incredible Journey. It is not a children's book - a fifth of it is about a prostitute who gives blow jobs and hand jobs and there is a LOT of other detail. None of this comes up in the blurb, which of course is fine if you know it's an adults book, but it is getting some very shocked young readers I understand.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Pinkflipflop85 · 29/12/2022 10:11

It's not sold as a children's book.

It is sold in the crime and thriller section.

You would have to be a bit dense to buy that for a child.

DuplicateUserName · 29/12/2022 10:13

but it is getting some very shocked young readers I understand.

Do you have a link?

I can't imagine why people don't realise it's an adult book?

Original poster
MrsTermites · 29/12/2022 10:13

Yes I'm warning those who have received it as a present. I won't comment on the density of those purchasing it, probably on the internet rather than in a book shop.

OP posts:
WeepingSomnambulist · 29/12/2022 10:15

How are people buying this for children?

Even if they're looking on Amazon, it is not in the children's section and tells you it is an adult's fiction book. Also tells you it is translated fiction which usually doesn't mean they are going to have some very "grown up" content. Not all books are translated. They need to have a lot of gripping stuff in it to reach that level.

MeJane · 29/12/2022 10:17

It seems The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase is being bought by some older family members for children
Says who? I mean I could understand if maybe one or two people had made this unlikely mistake but I don't see how this could be widespread enough to need a warning.

GlacindaTheTroll · 29/12/2022 10:17

There are some similarly named children's book. Which are of course offered for sale in the children's section of bookshops.

This is an adult book, not found in children's sections and probably not in teen/young adult sections either.

I suppose a mistake could be made if buying online, but it should be obvious even from the most cursory glimpse at layout and typeface, that this is not a children's book

Thesearmsofmine · 29/12/2022 10:18

Nobody is buying this for children. It is quite clear it is not a children’s book.

MrsWidgerysLodger · 29/12/2022 10:19

Wonder if they got confused with the Boy the Fox the Mole and the Horse which is popular?

fairislecable · 29/12/2022 10:22

Although from Goodreads it does sound pretty innocuous apart from the mention of “gritty”.

To please check children's books!!
Arniesleftleg · 29/12/2022 10:30

MrsTermites · 29/12/2022 10:08

It seems The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase is being bought by some older family members for children in the belief it's a lovely story like The Incredible Journey. It is not a children's book - a fifth of it is about a prostitute who gives blow jobs and hand jobs and there is a LOT of other detail. None of this comes up in the blurb, which of course is fine if you know it's an adults book, but it is getting some very shocked young readers I understand.

It's a bit like the time I saw the Boy in the Stripe Pyjamas in the childrens DVD section at the supermarket! Bloody harrowing film.

toocold54 · 29/12/2022 10:37

I’ve never heard of this book but I’ve just looked on Waterstones and it sounds like it would be suitable for children and I can see how easily someone could buy it for a child.

To please check children's books!!
To please check children's books!!
Original poster
MrsTermites · 29/12/2022 10:38

Yes exactly fairislecable, it looks fine doesn't it? When my son received it I checked with friends and he wasn't the only one! Glad it's not happened to anyone else 👍

OP posts:
NightTerrors · 29/12/2022 10:41

The amazon description doesn't have any mention of anything too awful so I can see why it might be bought for a child. There should definitely be more of a warning on the descriptions online.

Ihatethenewlook · 29/12/2022 10:43

toocold54 · 29/12/2022 10:37

I’ve never heard of this book but I’ve just looked on Waterstones and it sounds like it would be suitable for children and I can see how easily someone could buy it for a child.

Going by that I agree. With 2 of my children with far above average reading ages, it’s the sort of ‘adult’ book I’d buy for them. There’s nothing there to suggest any sexual content

Pinkflipflop85 · 29/12/2022 10:47

toocold54 · 29/12/2022 10:37

I’ve never heard of this book but I’ve just looked on Waterstones and it sounds like it would be suitable for children and I can see how easily someone could buy it for a child.

Did you fail to notice the bit at the top of the page where the book is located in the adult crime and thriller section?

Original poster
MrsTermites · 29/12/2022 10:48

MeJane · Today 10:17

I could understand if maybe one or two people had made this unlikely mistake but I don't see how this could be widespread enough to need a warning.

Why is it okay for one or two unsuspecting children to read this? Your children?? I will warn about this if I choose thank you.

OP posts:
WeepingSomnambulist · 29/12/2022 10:51

Arniesleftleg · 29/12/2022 10:30

It's a bit like the time I saw the Boy in the Stripe Pyjamas in the childrens DVD section at the supermarket! Bloody harrowing film.

Show quote history

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has 2 different book covers. An adults cover in the adult fiction section and a children's cover in the 9 to 12 fiction section.

Exact same book inside, just different covers. It is sold in the kid's section, albeit the older 9 to 13 area.

My 10 year old read it. So it makes sense that the dvd is also sold in the kid's section.

toocold54 · 29/12/2022 10:52

Did you fail to notice the bit at the top of the page where the book is located in the adult crime and thriller section?

Nope because it doesn’t say ‘adult’ anywhere.

It comes under ‘crime and mystery fiction’ which is the sort of genre my DD enjoys.

There is no mention in the synopsis or reviews that it is for adults only.

toocold54 · 29/12/2022 10:54

Most books that has a child as the main character are written for children.

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 29/12/2022 11:12

Lol!!
<Buys adult book>
<allows child to read said book>
<Is outraged a child read an adults book>

WeepingSomnambulist · 29/12/2022 11:26

toocold54 · 29/12/2022 10:52

Did you fail to notice the bit at the top of the page where the book is located in the adult crime and thriller section?

Nope because it doesn’t say ‘adult’ anywhere.

It comes under ‘crime and mystery fiction’ which is the sort of genre my DD enjoys.

There is no mention in the synopsis or reviews that it is for adults only.

Children's fiction is "children's fiction" regardless of genre. Then you sometimes get subdivided categories depending on the bookseller.

If it is separated as simply "crime and mystery" or whatever then it is adult fiction. A regular book buyer would know that. Even an occasional book buyer should know that as all booksellers do the same.

Original poster
MrsTermites · 29/12/2022 11:26

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · Today 11:12

Lol!!
<Buys adult book>
<allows child to read said book>
<Is outraged a child read an adults book>

This thread was to try to avert a child with a PRESENT in a Christmas pile, not bought by the parents 🙄, whose cover looks like a children's book, which may not all be checked thoroughly, reading very adult material. Lol!!

OP posts:
WeepingSomnambulist · 29/12/2022 11:30

toocold54 · 29/12/2022 10:54

Most books that has a child as the main character are written for children.

It doesnt have a child as the main character.

Original poster
MrsTermites · 29/12/2022 11:38

It has as dog who is searching for his child owner

OP posts:
toocold54 · 29/12/2022 11:42

It doesnt have a child as the main character.

It is called ‘the boy and the dog’ and Waterstones has said it’s about a dog searching for his boy owner.

If you buy a book called ‘James and the giant peach’ it would be safe to say it’s about someone called James and theres a giant peach.

So you would assume that this book is about a boy and a dog.

It is not clear from the synopsis or title that it’s not ok for children and so OP is just giving people, who like myself haven’t read the book, a heads up.