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Children's books

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Original poster

Thomas books. Anyone else lose the will to live/read to the end.

39 replies

dragonbutter · 30/01/2009 22:14

But my boys always want me to read them to them.

DH laughed as i was reading it to my 18m old and muttered 'i'm so fucking bored' as i turned the page.

Why are they so popular?
or maybe it's just in my house.

OP posts:
CurlyhairedAssassin · 30/01/2009 22:19

Oh god, we've got a houseful here too. Thankfully the 5 year old at last seems to be going off them. The downside of that is he's getting into Mr Men books, and the old Thomas books have been wholeheartedly embraced by my nearly 3 year old!

TheWheelsOnTheBusHaveFallenOff · 30/01/2009 22:20

ohhh I'm with you on this dragon. ds was given a whole bloody box set, with pictures featuring stills from the TV show, for his birthday and I just won't read them now, they are so effing dull. I think the originals may be better. just can't bear to look yet.

crokky · 30/01/2009 22:20

I love the Thomas books. I think they are excellent and I am especially thrilled when I recognise the storyline from an episode on TV

WilfSell · 30/01/2009 22:20

CANNOT. BEAR. THEM...

Such shite stories.

I think they were popular with parents in the 1950s trying to return to some proto-fascist world where people knew they're place.

WilfSell · 30/01/2009 22:21

they're??!!

their

wrinklytum · 30/01/2009 22:22

They are mind numbingly tedious.

Could you "lose" them?

Original poster
dragonbutter · 30/01/2009 22:22

Can you imagine what a bore old Rev.W.Awdry must have been in real life. I imagine him to look like the fat controller and sit in a chair droning on about dull train stories or privatisation strategy meetings.

And he seems to give up on every story. I understand they are for kids, but the end very abruptly and i'm left wondering what the point was.

Maybe i'm expecting too much.

OP posts:
WinkyWinkola · 30/01/2009 22:26

They are the most boring books ever. All those spiteful little trains. I was so glad when DS seemed to move on.

Only he loves Dirty Bertie now which I find annoying too. DH loves it of course because it's all about farts.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 30/01/2009 22:26

Ah yes it's true, Wilf. Seems to be a common theme. Isn't there one where Emily thinks she can have a go at being in charge and she fucks up and is all apologetic and back in her place by the end of the story. Not sure what message THAT is sending out to kids about women's abilities to reach the higher echelons of business!

Original poster
dragonbutter · 30/01/2009 22:27

and while i'm getting this all off my chest (i love mumsnet, it stops me having these conversations with myself).

The trains, are all cocky shits going on about how bloody brilliant they are and all competitive. Even when they seem to work together it always ends with one saying something like,'well you couldn't have done it without me'.

I try to make them more interesting for the kids by overacting things to sound more exciting as they really are, but i'm so tired of squealing 'PEEP PEEP!'

their shelves are laden with lovely books.
Gaaaaah.

OP posts:
CurlyhairedAssassin · 30/01/2009 23:06

I think the last straw came for us when DS1 started announcing "We're working together, aren't we, mum?" every time he played with DS2, even if they weren't playing with the effing engines!

Original poster
dragonbutter · 30/01/2009 23:09

i'm wondering if there is a weaning off thomas strategy we can try.
what would the next step be?

or just chuck them down the back of the bookcase?

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feedthegoat · 30/01/2009 23:15

The last few months we seem to be accompanied by Diesel wherever we go and he has to be consulted over numerous things each day. that i couple of times i have lost my rag and ranted that whether or not ds needs a wee etc has got nothing to do with bloody Diesel! Diesel also gets the credit for anything good that ever happens too (I'm getting jealous of an imaginary train!) The books drive me crackers too.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 30/01/2009 23:15

I think they just start to grow out of it. DS1 (5) has started taking down his once beloved Thomas posters off his bedroom wall and binning them without a second glance. In their place are going.....wait for it.....football posters!!! AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!

I don't know what I'd rather see.....I suppose it's going to be FHM lovelies after the footie players die a death.

Oh the joys of having boys.....

Original poster
dragonbutter · 30/01/2009 23:17

maybe this is why i'm bothered. DS2 is only 18m and follows me around with them until i sit and read them to him.
Him being 5 seems a long time away.

OP posts:
UnquietDad · 30/01/2009 23:19

The engines are all really horrible to each other.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 30/01/2009 23:19

Feedthegoat, you MUST be a troll. Even I know that Diesel is a very naughty engine and not to be trusted! Nothing good could possibly ever happen when he's around.

I hope your son doesn't call himself a true engine-lover - Diesel isn't even a steamie!

slaps faceblinks I think I've just been possessed by Rev Awdry.......Pass me the holy water, quick!

Original poster
dragonbutter · 30/01/2009 23:22

UnquietDad, they are all really arsey aren't they.

OP posts:
wrinklytum · 30/01/2009 23:22

When ds was 2 I discovered "Dig dig digging" and "Emergency" by Mayo/Ayliffe about,yes you guessed...diggers and emergency vehicles.If your dss are vehicle obsessed this may be a strategy to wean off Thomas.They can get tedious after the 7,00000000 reading but at least the language is more rhythmical:

twentypence · 30/01/2009 23:23

Ds loves them, fortunately he was a very keen and early reader and can now read them to himself.

I am currently reading him the railway children, now apart from one or two beautifully turned phrases it is the most boring book I have ever read.

Just wait till you get to Astrosaurs!

UnquietDad · 30/01/2009 23:23

Postman Pat is much nicer for boys. And girls, too, for that matter.

feedthegoat · 30/01/2009 23:25

Ah well curlyhairedassassin i think he may well have been encouraged by dh and friends there - they did lots of train travel as teenagers and a couple now drive trains but obviously not steam! Worringly ds (3.2) has abit of a baddie fixation, they are always his favourite!

UnquietDad · 30/01/2009 23:25

I know the guy who writes Astrosaurs, 20p...
Has anyone got any experience of Beast Quest? I fear it may be Rainbow Fairies for boys....

If so then
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaghhhhh

wrinklytum · 30/01/2009 23:26

Oh and I got roped into reading fireman f'ing Sam for a while too....also dire.....

Now ds is 5 it is MUCH better.We are reading Dinosaur Trouble by Dick King -Smith and it is fun.

twentypence · 30/01/2009 23:29

You have to tell me what Steve Cole is like, ds thinks he is a genius, sample review by ds

"you see it's clever because I like dinosaurs, and I also like space and this way I don't have to choose."

"Mum I have to stay up, this book has just got exciting I know who the monster is."

All the things ds loves, same characters, formulaic story where a similar thing happens in each chapter is what makes these books boring for adults.

The problem isn't Thomas, it's the fact that it's marketed to preschoolers - who were never the target audience.