Big People Little Dreams - Princess Diana

SemperIdem · 2023-12-26T21:24:50+00:00

I’ve been buying this series for my child for years. They cover historically significant figures and the serious issues encountered. Everything from the suffragette movement, racial segregation, the Holocaust, homophobia, in a really thoughtful child appropriate way. This exert from the book about Princess Diana has however, left me utterly aghast. Am I alone in thinking this is wholly inappropriate for the young readers the series is aimed at and should be removed?

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 26/12/2023 21:26

inappropriate

festivepains · 26/12/2023 21:26

Hmm..what's the age range for the book? I had one in a mcdonalds happy meal so quite young? Seems a bit off making her life about her issues

ReindeerRider · 26/12/2023 21:27

That’s awful. I wouldn’t want my young child reading that and thinking they can eat as much cake as they want if they throw up after . That’s a really poor paragraph in the book with no explanation about it being an illness.

Original poster

SemperIdem · 26/12/2023 21:28

ReindeerRider · 26/12/2023 21:27

That’s awful. I wouldn’t want my young child reading that and thinking they can eat as much cake as they want if they throw up after . That’s a really poor paragraph in the book with no explanation about it being an illness.

Edited

4-7 according to Amazon

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Kitchenwitchery · 26/12/2023 21:29

What does the next paragraph say? If it talks about why bulimia is a really bad idea then that might redeem it somewhat, depending on how it's done.

festivepains · 26/12/2023 21:30

SemperIdem · 26/12/2023 21:28

4-7 according to Amazon

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Terrible then.

Original poster

SemperIdem · 26/12/2023 21:31

ReindeerRider · 26/12/2023 21:27

That’s awful. I wouldn’t want my young child reading that and thinking they can eat as much cake as they want if they throw up after . That’s a really poor paragraph in the book with no explanation about it being an illness.

Edited

It’s mentioned on the page before that she had an eating disorder called bulimia, but this page just seems entirely unnecessary.

They have books on Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, which presumably don’t explain how to shoot up heroin. Saying they sadly had an addiction is enough for children.

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ThewaytoAmarula · 26/12/2023 21:31

Yes, inappropriate for young children. An adult can read that and think "That's sad, she had an illness and of course the sweet food didn't actually solve any problems". I can't imagine my two grasping the subtlety of that message.

StephanieSuperpowers · 26/12/2023 21:31

She's an inspirational role model?

Mojolostforever · 26/12/2023 21:32

Why should it be removed? It's true. It's up to the parents to discuss the issue. I seriously doubt that most children would imagine that it applies to them.
What about that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory child who stuffs himself. Are children meant to think that it's ok for them to do it, because they've read about it?
In fact you could apply this logic to pretty much all reading material.

Original poster

SemperIdem · 26/12/2023 21:36

Mojolostforever · 26/12/2023 21:32

Why should it be removed? It's true. It's up to the parents to discuss the issue. I seriously doubt that most children would imagine that it applies to them.
What about that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory child who stuffs himself. Are children meant to think that it's ok for them to do it, because they've read about it?
In fact you could apply this logic to pretty much all reading material.

It’s aimed at young children?

Eating disorders are notorious for embedding themselves at a young age.

I’d also have expected a book about Princess Diana to focus more on her charitable work, than her mental health issues. As the series has done with the other titular figures. I’m not particular fan of Diana, I was a child when she died.

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Vistada · 26/12/2023 21:37

StephanieSuperpowers · 26/12/2023 21:31

She's an inspirational role model?

"There can be no doubt that Diana was responsible for one of the biggest shifts in public awareness of HIV and AIDS that has ever taken place." - national aids Trust.

She was also instrumental in expediting the ban of landmines

A perfect figure? No.

But have a day off sneering at the description of "inspirational"

Mojolostforever · 26/12/2023 21:52

SemperIdem · 26/12/2023 21:36

It’s aimed at young children?

Eating disorders are notorious for embedding themselves at a young age.

I’d also have expected a book about Princess Diana to focus more on her charitable work, than her mental health issues. As the series has done with the other titular figures. I’m not particular fan of Diana, I was a child when she died.

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Not usually because of something they've had read to them. It's more likely caused by mealtime stress.

And it's not even suitable reading for young children. Why on earth would a young child be remotely interested in Princess Diana? They're far more likely to be traumatized by fairy tales (although now I come to think of it, I 've never heard of any child being traumatized by any piece of writing.

Original poster

SemperIdem · 26/12/2023 21:55

Mojolostforever · 26/12/2023 21:52

Not usually because of something they've had read to them. It's more likely caused by mealtime stress.

And it's not even suitable reading for young children. Why on earth would a young child be remotely interested in Princess Diana? They're far more likely to be traumatized by fairy tales (although now I come to think of it, I 've never heard of any child being traumatized by any piece of writing.

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Why would a young child be interested in any historical figure?

Are you familiar with the series at all?

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