Is this an inappropriate book for a 4yo?

[GreenCereal]

My mum has sent this for DS’s 4th birthday. It says on the front cover it is a road safety story, and is called the Rascally Hedgehog - a young hedgehog called Timmy keeps crossing the road to meet up with friends at nighttime. I’ve attached the last two pages where DH and I thought wtf?

I called mum to ask if she’d actually read it, and she said she thought it was a good book and I could just change the ending if I didn’t like it. Nevermind that DD7 usually reads to DS and I probably wouldn’t show it to her either?

AIBU or am I being too precious?

There are children's books out there that touch on the subject of death but in a much more subtle way. I'd not be keen on that one as a road safety book, I must admit!

Precious

WTAF???

That woukd find it's way into the recycling pronto!

That has made me burst out laughing - bloody hell, bit much for a children's book! Recycling bin for Timmy after his untimely death.

no, I wouldn't read that to a child

😂😂 That's hilarious

‘Timmy Hedgehog was DEAD! What a SHAME.’ Reads sarcastically to me and I can’t stop laughing

My (at the time) 4 yr old kept running out in the street despite me telling him to stop and why etc.So finally I told him that a car could hit him and that meant he could possibly die.And I would cry every day bc he would never come home.
He never did it again and no he wasn't scared from what I told him.
The book seems like a really great teaching tool to help keep your child safe.

Bloody hell! In the recycling it goes.

*scarred

I could see old Timmy maybe having a narrow escape, but sprawled out like roadkill is a bit much for a 4 year old, isn't it? And what does it say about me that I can't stop laughing??

Can't wait to read the author's book on water safety!

This is actually hilarious! What a shame! Amazing.

There is no way I'd show this to young children!

I don't actually think its an inappropriate book - but it's absolutely NOT a bedtime story. Running into the road IS dangerous, children need to learn that in a safe, just-scary-enough way.

I bet this was self-published.

I think it's OK but you know your kids. I wouldn't read it at bedtime though. Dead hedgehogs don't really induce sweetdreams.

I remember as a kid bring quite disturbed by Hansel & Gretal. I didn't understand why they were so desperate to go home to their parents who clearly didn't want them....so sad and pathetic. Wasn't worried about the witch, or red ridinghoods wolf. Didn't the gingerbread man get eaten?
I think death is fine....just not before bed

Well there’s my obituary written ‘knownthing is DEAD! What a SHAME.’ 😂

It’s maybe a bit blunt but I wouldn’t say it’s inappropriate and if it gets the point across that’s a good thing.

Awful and preachy. I wouldn't read that to mine either.

Please can we see the rest of the book! 😂

It's very funny, but I wouldn't be giving it to a 4 year old!

Snorted! 🤣Flaming hell. Poor Timmy. It’s an important life lesson, mmmm maybe not at 4.

Epilogue: Uh-Oh, here comes Vicky the Vulture! What are they doing to Timmy? What a SHAME!

It’s clearly a rubbish book but I wouldn’t worry about my 4 year old reading it tbh.

That made me laugh so much but no, I wouldn't read it to my 5yo 😂.

‘Sally has DROWNED! Oh dear, what a PITY.’