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cmmom
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| Posted: Feb 17 2011 at 6:04pm | IP Logged
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Can we start a thread on books to avoid? I have stumbled across some really, really awful ones & maybe we can compile a list of things that are not consistent with our Catholic values. I know of two: Uncle Bobby's Wedding and one that's not a picture book but is for 3-7 graders & is by Patricia MacLachlan (auther of Sarah Plain and Tall) - can you believe it? - cmmom
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MaryM
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As noted here, several posts from this thread were moved to a new thread in a more fitting forum since they had gone in a direction away from picture books. That part of the discussion is now continuing in the Living Literature forum.
It definitely is beneficial to discuss discernment of books for our students. Offering cautions and constructive reviews of books can help parents to make informed decisions on books to read - even picture books. I appreciate that picture books are really easy to pre-read quickly. It doesn't take a lot of time to check it out and see if it will be okay for our particular family.
Like you, cmmom I have found that sometimes an author I really like will write a book that I don't care for or find to have elements that are problematic. One can't just assume that everything a particular author writes will be okay.
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Christine
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I think that as parents we need to do more than just read the story; we also need to read what is written about the author (my children usually do).
Last year, I was disturbed when reading a picture book about St. Valentine because, throughout the story, God was written with a little "g". I read the information about the author at the back of the book and found that the author was living in a relationship that is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. I returned the book without reading it to my children or letting any of my children read it.
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JennGM
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Christine wrote:
I think that as parents we need to do more than just read the story; we also need to read what is written about the author (my children usually do).
Last year, I was disturbed when reading a picture book about St. Valentine because, throughout the story, God was written with a little "g". I read the information about the author at the back of the book and found that the author was living in a relationship that is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. I returned the book without reading it to my children or letting any of my children read it. |
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This is a matter of personal judgment, which is the point I keep returning to . One can't come up with a universal checkbox of good vs. bad books, there is much room for subjective comfort zones.
I judge a book by its contents. When I worked for Catholic Culture and we reviewed websites, that was the criteria. No matter whatever an organization had published or I knew about it, I was judging the content of the website alone. So it would be the same with books by different authors -- I have to judge each one alone, and even if I love an author, there might be a dud or two in their list, but I isolate my judgment to that title.
That same book you returned I think is well done. The sentence you reference with god as a small god is grammatically correct -- the Romans worship many gods while the Christians only worshipped one god. It doesn't refer to the One True God by name.
It's the level of comfort each parent decides for herself. I had to weigh whether the author's life would taint the book. To me, it didn't alter the truth of the story, so I kept the book. To others, like you Christine, it tainted how you looked at the book, so for your comfort zone, you returned it.
I do think it's important to be open and mention problematic areas, in case that might be a deal breaker for another person. I just recently had a friend asking me books about St. Valentine and I mentioned that book, but also mentioned about the author. She appreciated the heads-up, but that didn't matter to her. And for me, I find it a way to remember to pray for that author.
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Christine
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JennGM wrote:
| It's the level of comfort each parent decides for herself. I had to weigh whether the author's life would taint the book. To me, it didn't alter the truth of the story, so I kept the book. To others, like you Christine, it tainted how you looked at the book, so for your comfort zone, you returned it. |
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Thank you for your response, Jenn. It did not taint how I looked at the book. Rather, the author's bio at the back of the book brought something into my home that is completely foreign to my children and not something that they need to learn about at this time. They are still very innocent. I am happy to hear that you did mention the bio to your friend because based on various reviews of the book, I did not expect it.
I might be wrong on this, but since Christians during the time of St. Valentine believed in one God, I think that He would have been referred to with a capital "G". Even without these two issues, the book did not impress me enough to make it part of our library.
Thank you for the reminder to pray for the author.
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MaryM
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Christine wrote:
| I am happy to hear that you did mention the bio to your friend because based on various reviews of the book, I did not expect it. |
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I think that it is that idea of coming across something that we didn't expect is a reason cmmom started this thread. Christine, it's been many years since I first came across the book and it raised a yellow flag for me too. So I checked and found the same thing. It's helpful to know and a heads up would have been helpful too. I still read the book some years (though we don't own it).
Incidentally, awareness of this author's lifestyle has been mentioned here before (though in conjunction with another book). It is heartbreaking to me that I even have to consider this in making choices. It seems many talented artists often have less than upright and moral lives. A few years ago in doing some reading about popular classic picture book authors I found out things about their personal lives that I wish I didn't know. It can't help but color perspective. But I admire and enjoy their works.
It is a delicate balance between offering awareness and cautions constructively so that one won't be surprised vs. making blanket lists of books to avoid. I think it's a tough topic but I hope we can continue to discuss it without getting heated or judging each others perspectives.
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Christine
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Mary, thank you for your thoughtful response. You may have worded what I was trying to say better than I could.
Even without the author's bio, I would not have made the book part of our personal library. I have read various picture books about saints from early Roman times and they all refer to God with a capital "G". The fact that this book didn't and another element that I cannot recall, made me uncomfortable with the book. As I already shared, this is what made me read the bio.
Yes, there are authors who might not live moral lives or they might make decisions contrary to our beliefs, but they do not typically share those aspects of their lives in the backs of picture books, making them readily available to young children. The fact that this author did, was somewhat of a moot point for me because I didn't care for the book, but it added to what I was already feeling.
Why would an author share this information with children? What influence will such a bio (in a book about a saint) have on children who are still forming ideas about life? Will it possibly have a similar influence as a book that has been placed in some libraries about Heather's mommies?
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JennGM
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Christine wrote:
| Why would an author share this information with children? What influence will such a bio (in a book about a saint) have on children who are still forming ideas about life? Will it possibly have a similar influence as a book that has been placed in some libraries about Heather's mommies? |
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I'm not here for you to change your opinion, Christine, but I thought the way the information was presented it could go over many children's heads. There's no picture of the two together and it isn't spelled out. I think it says "companion" which isn't even the same as partner.
I'm a mother, so I'm ultra-sensitive to what is being presented. I catch the inferences and worry how they might affect. But there are some things, like the old movies that implied but didn't spell things out, that will go over the heads of the little ones.
So while I agree with you in indignation that he put that information on the cover, I also know that unless I point it out, that information is not going to influence him at all at this stage in his life.
I find it sad in another sense, because a back cover is a time capsule. Will his life change at some point? And forevermore this will be there, out there?
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JennGM
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MaryM wrote:
Christine wrote:
| I am happy to hear that you did mention the bio to your friend because based on various reviews of the book, I did not expect it. |
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I think that it is that idea of coming across something that we didn't expect is a reason cmmom started this thread. Christine, it's been many years since I first came across the book and it raised a yellow flag for me too. So I checked and found the same thing. It's helpful to know and a heads up would have been helpful too. I still read the book some years (though we don't own it). |
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I like full disclosure. I try to be candid and want a candid review given to me. So I want to say whether I like, love, hate, indifferent to a book, and if I had problems -- some might be just silly ones, like bad grammar, awkward writing, dislike the illustrations, or problematic areas regarding the Faith or lifestyle of the author.
MaryM wrote:
| Incidentally, awareness of this author's lifestyle has been mentioned here before (though in conjunction with another book). It is heartbreaking to me that I even have to consider this in making choices. It seems many talented artists often have less than upright and moral lives. A few years ago in doing some reading about popular classic picture book authors I found out things about their personal lives that I wish I didn't know. It can't help but color perspective. But I admire and enjoy their works. |
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I think Mary and I have talked at length about authors and their lifestyles. I was disappointed when I delved into the life of Tasha Tudor -- not by her lack of morality, but lack of Christianity. She seemed to be motivated by naturalist, almost pantheistic tendencies. But even knowing that, I don't find it in her books, and we still love them. But sometimes it's hard to talk about an artist or author knowing that there is a big following. Will people see that I just want to discuss, put it on the table, and not necessarily condemn?
MaryM wrote:
| It is a delicate balance between offering awareness and cautions constructively so that one won't be surprised vs. making blanket lists of books to avoid. I think it's a tough topic but I hope we can continue to discuss it without getting heated or judging each others perspectives. |
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Yes, I think that's probably the key. I don't want a "blanket list of books". I want it fleshed out a bit. Let me know if it's an Orthodox or Protestant or Mormon author or publisher, mention if there's something that might be a stumbling block. Even mention if it's just a personal thing, like "my son didn't enjoy it".
My sisters all know I'll recommend a book, but always list the caveats. I'm for full disclosure. 
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mathmama
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I wanted to add a book that really made me go "Hmmm". The kids didn't pick up on it (they are too young) and perhaps there is something I don't know about Richard Scarry characters that would explain things. Anyway, the book is Miss Honey's Busy Day. You can look inside it on Amazon if you are not familiar. The part that disturbed me is that Miss Honey lives with Bruno, but it doesn't really seem to me that they are married. And they are very obviously *not* brother and sister. It was pretty shocking to me  But maybe someone can shed some light on this for me.
Beth
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Michaela
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mathmama wrote:
It was pretty shocking to me But maybe someone can shed some light on this for me.
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I haven't read this particular book, but searched and found a list of the Busy World shows. Episode 10 is when Miss Honey and Bruno meet and 34 they announce they are getting married.
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stellamaris
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Wondering of this use of "Miss" is the way it is used down South. A married woman might be called "Miss....first name" by children, not really referring to her marriage status. My kids do this all the time. "Miss Lisa" had been married 15 years when we met her, but she was still "Miss". Actually, I never realized this until just now...kinda strange, huh?
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4Real Forums : Picture Book Discoveries
Topic: Picture Books- Being aware/cautious
