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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU? Book clear out

31 replies

baracudaqueen · 05/06/2023 22:04

My other half has decided over the weekend that our 15 month old is too old for various books which I disagree with. Books in question include various Julia Donaldson books (Where's Zog, Stickman, Superworm etc) and Where's Mr/Mrs Digger/Astronaut etc. AIBU to think these books are still fine?

OP posts:
GrazingSheep · 05/06/2023 22:06

Of course they are.

Paq · 05/06/2023 22:08

Of course they are! Those books will keep them going for years. They will enjoy reading them themselves when they get to school.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 05/06/2023 22:09

Totally shocked here. You definitely need to LTB Grin

GwinCoch · 05/06/2023 22:10

If he wants to buy her the complete set of Dickens let him - but old favourites are old favourites, and if she still gets a lot out of them then why is he making it an issue? Is it a clutter thing as opposed to a literacy thing?

GwinCoch · 05/06/2023 22:10

Sorry meant to say them not her, my iPad tonight is on a weird typing delay for some reason.

Absolem76 · 05/06/2023 22:11

How odd what books does he think are suitable for a 15 month old?
They will be suitable for many years! And
having books a child is family with is comforting and helps promote a love of stories and reading also having a book they are familiar with it helps when they come to learn to read.

Azandme · 05/06/2023 22:11

What professional knowledge are they basing this on?

They're wrong.

SeeingSpots · 05/06/2023 22:12

What books is he proposing are suitable for her instead, I am very intrigued to know. If he truly believes a child of 15 months is too old for stuff like superworm then he's lost leave of his senses.

PuttingDownRoots · 05/06/2023 22:12

The only books a 15mo might have outgrown are the cloth books for babies.

However there is no harm weeding out any that are annoying or plain crap.

Pinkflipflop85 · 05/06/2023 22:13

Blimey. Better tell my class of 7 year olds that they're too old to listen to/read Julia Donaldson...

Oh wait. They're not. You dh is a twit.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 05/06/2023 22:13

And according to the Book Trust, Zog will be of interest for many years to come Wink

minipie · 05/06/2023 22:14

These are perfect books for when they start to read - will make a welcome change from Biff chip and kipper

Alittlesummeroasis · 05/06/2023 22:14

Nope, they’re fine. I read ‘Where’s Zog’ to my nearly-3-year-old tonight. As they get bigger they will enjoy the same stories in different ways, eg starting to lift the flaps themselves, then moving on to joining in with some words, before saying most of the story themselves. It’s fine to start adding in some more lengthy stories to the collection as they get bigger, but I’d say you’ve got a while yet before they outgrow the ones you mentioned.

Takeoutyourhen · 05/06/2023 22:14

When your child can start to read themselves, they’ll be able to let your partner know when they have had enough of The Snail and the Whale.

Hollyppp · 05/06/2023 22:17

My child is 2.5 and only recently enjoying zog, stockman, snail And whale etc.

I think he will be requesting these until at least 5+!!

NineOfNine · 05/06/2023 22:19

Julia Donaldson books are fine and age appropriate for children much older than 15 months.

The Where’s Mr/Mrs Digger/Astronaut books are a lot simpler, but my 6 year old is still choosing to borrow the books in that range from the library, so I’d say a typical 15 month old would still enjoy them!

Original poster
baracudaqueen · 05/06/2023 22:22

Loving the answers and confirmed what i'd thought - thank you all

OP posts:
alargeoneforme · 05/06/2023 22:26

Very experienced primary school teacher with own kids here. Your other half has literally no clue what they're on about. Not only are those books appropriate age-wise for many years yet, but it's thoroughly proven that revisiting familiar books over and over, for years of the child wishes, is a key part of learning to love books and enjoy reading.

alargeoneforme · 05/06/2023 22:26

*IF the child wishes.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 05/06/2023 22:28

Goodness me! We hadn’t even started on Superworm and Zog at 15months! He’d be disgusted to know that my 4yo still loves The Baby’s Catalogue…

NeedToThinkOfOne · 05/06/2023 22:32

Was that a typo and you meant your 15 YEAR old? Because if so, then yes, pass the books on to someone else…Otherwise, do keep them until at least the stage your child can read the words. 🤣

Pashazade · 05/06/2023 22:40

WTF?? We cleared out this type of book perhaps when ds got to about 8 and even now we've (well me really) kept some. I would be very clear that books culls can happen but not until they are at least five and even then it would only be the crinkly ones with no words!!

Robinni · 05/06/2023 22:55

My 7yo is still enjoying JD books - helping with learning to read!!

By all means let him dump them out, but he will need to repurchase for early reading!!

SnugAsA · 05/06/2023 23:09

Some adults like to read a book once or twice, then toss it. Young children aren't usually like that. They love the repetition and familiarity of books they already know. I wouldn't clear out anything for a good long while. Add to the collection, but don't cull the herd without good reason.

LoveBluey · 05/06/2023 23:33

Oh no, you can't get rid of Julia Donaldson for many years to come. My 6 year old still has a shelf full of those sorts of stories and while she will now often choose chapter books we still return to them fairly regularly, sometimes she'll practice her reading and other times she'll just want us to read her the full story.
We also kept the toddler board books and she now reads those to her 2 year old sister which is adorable.

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