Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Ginn 360...oddness...?

9 replies

mrshoneybee · 26/09/2014 23:00

Hello. My first post for a very long time...

A Ginn 360 Reading book has come home for the first time today, usually we have ORT...I'm a little shocked, because the book is, in my opinion, very very odd...

It's called "A special book for Jill" & is about a little girl (dressed in short shorts with the curves of her bottom emphasised, sometimes with her top flying up to show her belly button & torso, with very red painted lips) who is taken to see "daddy's friend" called "Mr Kay" (elderly, long white hair, complete with dodgy moustache) who paints her pictures of a gingerbread man who looks frankly like a naked child, and then:

"Is this how you want it?" asked Mr Kay.

"Oh yes, just like that" laughed Jill.

Something really off about it. We switched to a Jonny Doddle book midway through, but it's kind of making me feel ill. Having never had any experience if these books before, are they all like this??!
I don't think it's just the fact it was published in the 80's, the text and the pictures are just sinister...

Before I approach school, I'd really appreciate any feedback/experience of these books...bit apprehensive to do a google search.

Ginn 360...oddness...?
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Kimaroo · 26/09/2014 23:25

Well this book is definitely in our Green box and gets taken home regularly. No one has ever commented on the content afaik but I am intrigued and will have a look on Monday.

BackforGood · 26/09/2014 23:36

I think you are reading things that aren't there, into it.

mrz · 27/09/2014 07:06

Ginn books were written 30 + years ago so you are looking at them with a modern perspective not one of the time

harragirl · 28/09/2014 09:58

We complained re these books when my son was year 1 - now year 6. We're not complainers and we're not precious people, but he brought home two Ginn books with frankly inappropriate behaviour and horrific deaths - he was 5! The teacher was shocked when we showed her as they'd not been used for a while and they were removed from class. Saying 'well you're looking with modern eyes ' doesn't cut the mustard for me. By that token, women shouldn't be reporting historical assaults as that's how things were in the 70s? ORT may not be Shakespeare, but neither is it upsetting and inappropriate. There is plenty of good literature out there for children without having to resort to Ginn. I've not posted on here for years, but Ginn still pushes my buttons five years later. And yes, some may say from Ginn to Operation Yewtree is a tenuous link, but I'm not really bothered! That's how much I hated these books!

mrz · 28/09/2014 13:10

My question would be why are schools using books published 30+ years ago ...

BackforGood · 28/09/2014 15:06

Hey - I'm not in favour of Ginn generally - dire, and boring IMO, but we were commenting on the OP, not the scheme in general.

mrz · 28/09/2014 15:46

Even if it's relevant?

BackforGood · 28/09/2014 16:02

Sorry MrZ - I was replying to harragirl......I'm inclined to agree with your question Smile

AmeliaPeabody · 28/09/2014 19:01

I'm also wondering why they'd be using books published over 30 years ago.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread