Children's books good and bad.

I am starting to compile a list of good and bad children's books from the point of view of whether they push sexist, racist, political, aggression/subservience or other prejudices or stereotypes, of girls and boys.

The first two I have are two delightful examples:-

Princess Smartypants By Babette Cole 1986 Hamish Hamilton Children's Books
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch illustrated by Michael Martchenko
1982 Hippo Books Scholastic Publications Limited

I need some help, so if you can give me any information from first hand experience or from asking around family and friends, it would be a great help.

Sue

After this post I compiled this 'Kids Book List' part of which is a link to 'Catching them Young' Bob Dixon's seminal 2 volume work on the inculcation of prejudice and stereotypes. on sex, race class. in childrens fiction.
Quotation on language p31, biological evidence ??? see page 35

(Bob Dixon)

The first chapter 'Birds in Gilded Cages' deals with stereotypes of men and women, girls and boys, that are two sides of the same coin of women's passive subservience and men's aggression and dominance.


When I have time I will also added here links that I found prior to the May Feminism meetup.


I think this is one of the most important campaigns we should engage in, but do not have the time to repeat all the work that I have already done on the subject so I hope that anyone who agrees and wants to pursue it will pick up the ball and run with it.

As long as boys are brought up to be thoughtless, dominant and aggressive and girls taught to be passive and accepting, we will continue to have violent men and wailing women. 'Women of Troy'

1) I have put the notes I made from a few Internet sites prior to the May Meeting - onto the files section (see list left)

2) I would also like to make the point that although we can promote 'good' books from a feminist point of view, we must not rely on censoring their reading. By introducing children to all sorts of ideas, adults can help them to develop a critical faculty. Just censoring what they read could retard their ability to deal with or assess material that parents may not like as they grow up and read on their own.

This is why reading to children when they are very young is crucial, by reading with them can they learn to question and discuss the ideas and attitudes that are being presented to them in stories. This way, they will be less likely not just accept ideas at face value a skill that will serve them well life long.

3) Bedtime reading is known to be particularly important in its effect on various aspects of children's development, and I believe that ideas and thinking just before sleep is likely to impress more than at other times.

Sue