Firstly sorry about any typos - keyboard and/or screen gone v weird and being a tota PITA.
DD has just turned 6. She is way ahead on reading age so is already a Free Reader and has been since January. Today she bought home the first Tracy Beaker book as her school book . She has read a couple of the "younger" Jacqueline Wilson's already. I am concerned as a couple of threads I have read on here have suggested that some of JW's books can be a bit much for younger children . I asked around a little and unanimous decision has been not way 6 is too young for Tracy Beaker.
So what to do? Just sat down and read the first half of the book and tbh it has not helped. I can understand why some people have said "it's just a book about a slightly naughty little girl, it will be fine". Another part of me thinks hmmm, do you know what, some bits of this are a bit much. My DD is still at the delightful "wanting to please , loving teachers , the world is largely a lovely place "stage. Do I want to introduce her to some of the themes in the book and some of the behaviours? She barely watches any television - if it is on it mostly has Cbeebies because of DS - the odd bits of CBBC we watch are Horrible Histories/Junior Bake off - Tracy Beaker does not get a look in .
My whole adult/moral/political being cries out not to censor books. But then my protective being kicks in and shouts "NOOOO" leave my DD her innocence a bit longer. I am the parent. II certainly censor her TV viewing. I do not have to like all the books she reads ( may hate Rainbow Fairies but DD loves them., and they are age appropriate) I want to turn back time so she had never chosen the book and this issue could be delayed for several years.
Should I tell her not to read it and to pick something else? Read it with her to discuss the issues? Just let it be - not make a big thing and let DD come to me if she wants to talk about it?
Or do I say no and then be secretly proud if she sneakily reads it anyway?
WWYD?