to want to pull my fingernails out one by one rather than read the cr*ppy books my son keeps choosing?

[IlanaK]

I love reading to my kids at night. Ds1 is going through the whole of the Swallows and Amazons series and I am thoroughly enjoying reading them to him.

Ds2 however wants things like Astrosaurs and Cows in Action. I try, I really do! But by page 3 I want to stick my fingers in my eyes, rip my fingernails out and scream! Really, I just can't do it anymore!

Am I being unreasonable?

I love the mr men books

I don't think you have to do it, you don't have to feed them junk food just because they like it, do you?

YANBU at Astrobores at all. God awful!

DS2 has an obssession with Thomas and I seem to read them with the part of my brain I reserve for cleaning the toilet or mowing the lawn. I always drift off and even though I've read millions of them I can't remember a single character's name or any of the storylines (except vaguely that Thomas does something naughty, get's told off and then does something good)

obsession not obssession

"I seem to read them with the part of my brain I reserve for cleaning the toilet or mowing the lawn."

LOL junkcollector!

I used to just miss whole chunks out when reading Thomas, it seemed to make little difference, as there were other times I'd turn back a page, thinking I'd missed something out, but no, it was just that it didn't quite make sense.

Thomas is also quite nasty - trains constantly "paying each other out " for doing something. Very Old Testament, Rev. !

Ooh Screaming, I did that with Thomas too. And I hate Astrosaurs and Mr Men. I wheedle to be allowed to read any Roald Dahl. Luckily the DSs often capitulate but one night this week I had to do one of those dreadful Disney book-of-the-film things (these often get lost in our house.....)

Has anyone else fallen asleep whilst reading the very hungry catepillar for the umpteenth time only to be woken up by a very confused DD and my Brother ROFL!

I think it is important that they get a free choice-I used to trade off one of my choice if I read one of their choice.

I thought about Swallows & Amazons for dc but having to explain why a character is called "Titty" completely put me off. I use to like Topsy & Tim until I had to read them every night for 6 years and I really don't get Thomas at all

I hated Thomas! However DS1 loved him, which is all that matters. Luckily DS2 and 3 never took to him. I loved Swallows and Amazons as a DC but I think it is a book for reading alone, some are more suitable for sharing than others.It was just me and my imagination.

YANBU - Luckily ds doesn't like Astrosaurs because "dinosaurs don't talk!"

I can read Beast Quest without taking in a word of it, I just switch off. They're all the same.....

We have just started the Horrid Henry books which are very funny, but I know someone who stopped her ds from reading them as he's a bad influence!

Get yourself some Mr Gum books they're hysterical! DH and I actually fought over who got to read the next installment to DS

oh, I like Mr Gum books too! Also Molly Moon books are rather fun to read.

My DD likes Princess Poppy (Poopy) books - the turgid writing, the cute moralising - but a step up from Spot books ...

oh - I hate princess poppy - its like barbra cartland for children - it is truly awful - dd loves them - I keep trying to loose them when she gets them from the library

I hate the Mr. Men books; they make me want to pull my own fingernails out with tweezers.
Give me TtTE instead, any day .

SmallScrewCap I feel your pain also hate "Balloonia" but can't get rid of it as was a present from DDs Uncle who looks for it every time he comes over. My strategy is to hide it between visits.

Work2hard I'm glad I'm not the only bad mummy who loses books I can't stand.

Also having 2 DDs I'm going to encourage them to read ASAP so they can plough through those ridiculous series of books that are all the same. DB not currently forgiven for introducing Rainbow Fairies to our house which DD1 loves.

I clicked on this because DS has a thing for the Shawn the Sheep books (the ones you get with tokens from Weetabix).

They are appalling. I'd rather read Thomas than that badly written drivel.

How do people get jobs turning out such junk?

omni - oh, good. I won't bother sending off the tokens now! I suspected they couldn't be much cop...

UD - they're dreadful. The writer has a taste for alliteration - Shawn (Shaun?) that daft dancing sheep, jogged a jolly jig, etc. Don't send the tokens!

The worst we have is a Bob The Builder book. .

I am amazed at the 'Big' books your lot are reading.

Dc don't really like to be read long story books (lots of words, few pictures, like Swallows and Amazons or even Astrosaurs). They get bored without pictures, until they can read for themselves. TtTE is about the wordiest they were willing to sit still for.

BakewellTarts my sympathies on Balloonia. The story is bobbins, but the illustration is shameful.