Normally I blog about books my kids AND I love, today is different. Today, I need to vent about a few books that I cannot stand. Every child has favorite books that fills his parents with dread. I'm not talking about books you have to read a gazillion times and are simply tired of, but books you reject from the moment you saw the first page. Maybe I am being a touch melodramatic, but we've all been there.
But please note, I do in fact read these books (exception: see #1 below) to my kids if they bring them to me. Over and over again. That doesn't mean I have to like them.
Here are my top 5.
#5 Elmo books. I have nothing against Elmo. Really, I don't. Well, except for the fact that he refers to himself in the third person. But his books are inane. New Kid is all over the Elmo books at the library. And he has never even seen Sesame Street.
#4 Andrew Lost series. This is a chapter book series that Kiddo picked out. All 18 of them. Although there are a lot of interesting science facts in the books, the stories read like a string of facts. There is also the most annoying robot character, Thudd, who talks like a baby and is impossible to understand. Each book ends with "to be continued" so you have to read the next one (and did I mention there are 18?). AHHHHH! I find them excruciatingly tedious.
#3 Clifford the Big Red Dog. I should begin by saying that I actually like Clifford. Every book has something a bit amusing in it. And they are a bit cheeky. But there are so darn many of them! Not only are there the original books, but there are easy reader versions, and Puppy Days versions and versions based on the TV show. It never ends! There is something nefarious about a series with a gazillion books. If there was just one, you could read it and move on. The worst of it is that the library keeps these books (along my #1 book arch nemesis), in a low bin at the front of the children's section. So the first thing Kiddo does is load up on these books. I don't have a fighting chance. I have learned to combat this by first going to the hold section, because there is nothing more interesting than a stack of books waiting especially for you with your name on them.
So, I can read a Clifford book now and again, but please don't bring a stack of them to the couch!
#2 Anything by Dr. Seuss. I hate Dr. Seuss. I know you love him. Everyone loves him. I don't understand. The ridiculous rhyming goes on forever. The pictures are boring and all the same. Gah! Kiddo is not as enamored with Dr. Seuss as I feared he would be, which is good because I would rather read Tip Tip Dig Dig
for an hour (and I think I have) than pick up a Dr. Seuss book. Fortunately, the Dr. Seuss section in the library is in the back corner. Easily avoided.
#1. The Berenstain Bears. The arch nemeses of my read-aloud existence. Not only are they moralistic and boring, but they are long! If these stories were short and quick, I might be able to stand it. But they are so loooooooong! And there are a gazillion of them. The Berenstain Bears are the only books I have actually refused to read. That's right. My child asked me to read a book and I said "NO." Can you believe it? Normally, I have a policy of always reading books Kiddo chooses, but after several marathon sessions of The Berenstain Bears, I banned them because I. Could. Not. Take. It. Anymore. Kiddo can still check them out from the library, as he frequently does. But I will not read them. In fact, he tells me -- when he chooses the book -- "I am going to read this, you don't have to." Truer words were never spoken. I cannot believe the good reviews parents give these soporific books. I guess people like books with an painfully preachy message and mind-numbing illustrations. But what do I know, I don't like Dr. Seuss, either.
And there you have it. Was I too mean? Did I overuse the italics and bold typeface?
What books do your kids love, but you hate?
For books I LOVE, visit the ultimate source for book lists:
Fairion says
Woohoo!! Thank you for posting this. It is time parents speak out against bad books. We only have so much time for reading, lets read quality stuff. My absolute least favorite is Bearenstein Bears as well. They are inane and the children are horrid. I hate to read Dr Suess although I don't mind listening to it which is good in this house since Daddy and Froggy both love it so it is special for them to share. Can I add one to your list - Aurthur? The series goes on and on as bad as Clifford and he is almost as awful as Bearenstein bears.
Me? A Mom? says
I second the Berestain Bears and the Elmo books!
I'm also going to add the Curious George books. I bloody hate them. I wrote a similar rant here: http://www.meamomblog.com/2010/07/open-letter-to-margret-and-ha-rey.html
Brimful Curiosities says
I'll admit to hiding Richard Scarry's "What Do People Do All Day." Not that it is a bad book; it's a great one...but when you're trying to get to bed in a reasonable time, it runs a tad too long and gets old after reading night after night after night.
Steph says
Ha! Love this post! I could probably come up with a nice, long list too, but there's ONE BOOK that immediately comes to mind: Arthur's Underwear. That book was the bane of my existence until it accidentally fell in the Goodwill bag.
Raising a Happy Child says
How fun! I agree with some of your selections, especially with Elmo, Clifford and The Berenstain Bears. I have "love-hate" relationship with Dr Seuss - I don't like tongue twisting books, but enjoy the imagination behind If I Ran the Zoo or Mulberry Street. I do believe they are somewhat more "boy books", that's probably why dads in general love them more than moms.
JDaniel4's Mom says
JDaniel is afraid of many of the Berenstain Bear books. They give him ideas that he doesn't like. He never picks any of the ones we have at home.
Fanny Harville says
I hate and my kid loves:
* all Dr Suess
* Berenstain Bears
* Tootle
* Corgiville Fair by Tasha Tudor
* Thomas the Train -- I hate these SO SO SO much!!!
* Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Mom and Kiddo says
@everyone: I am so glad to know I am not alone in my book-hating ways!
@Steph: I have also tipped a few books into the giveaway pile while Kiddo was at school!
@Fanny: I certainly could have added Thomas the Train books to this list. They are awful, esp. the ones that have several stories in them.
I've never heard of Corgiville Fair, but a book about corgis sounds horrendous.
Anna - Three Sneaky Bugs says
Amen to the Berenstain Bears comments!!!!!!!!!! Ugh. Not only were we given a full bag of them (which I managed to hide most of) but every blasted week Seth brings one home from school. I actually asked the media center specialist if they have books other than the Berestain Bears because I've never seen any other book come home from there. Double ugh!
I also cannot stand disney books or curious george.
PS Happy Birthday to your boy!
MaryAnne says
You sound like my mom in this post! Her list would have been very similar, I think.
I don't mind these (haven't read the robot series), but none of these would make my top reads list.
Laura Crawford Matulac says
Ditto on all of these as well. I would add Pete the Cat!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Oh, Pete. I actually liked the first book but then they just didn't STOP!
Laurie says
I think "hating" these books is a bit strong, though I can understand being frustrated if your kids constantly want to read books you don't enjoy. But kids have different tastes. I loved Clifford and The Berenstein Bears as a child but I moved on to other things as I got older. Even if a parent doesn't ban these books, kids still pick up on the negativity and I think that sends the wrong message about reading.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you for your comment. I agree that we should not send negative messages about reading to our kids. If you take a look around my blog you will see that my kids and I are avid readers, that we love books and IMHO I've done a great job of raising kids who love to read. I've never told my kids I "hate" their reading choices and you can also note above that I did say I like Clifford. The only books I've requested not to read are the B Bears and that was only AFTER my son was a fluent reader and could read them himself. I assure you I've also spend hours and hours reading LEGO Star Wars books in a dramatic fashion -- despite the fact that they are mind numbing -- just because my 5 year old loves them. My 9 year old currently spends about 2 hours a day reading, so I don't think I've managed to give him the wrong message about reading. On this blog, it's nice to be able to have truthful conversations with other parents, not only about the books I love to read, but about those I don't (but still read anyway).
Ana says
I actually like the Berenstain Bear books, sorry! But #5 on your list is one I couldn't agree more on. My least favorite books are TV and /or character books, like Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake. Is there anything worse than basing a book on a TV show?
Erica MomandKiddo says
That's a good rule of thumb, Ana. If it is based on a TV show... skip it! Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Lauri says
amen! lol TV show based = NO. Only if the book came BEFORE the shows. However, I do not love Curious George. LOVE Little Bear.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Yeah, I'm not the biggest Curious George fan, either. And yes, I love Little Bear!
TheBargainBabe says
Good gosh I hate Dr. Seuss too. And WHY does every single freaking school have to celebrate him for the entire month of January? I do not want to help my child make a damn Lorax cake or a Cat in the Hat costume! Nooooo!
Maia Foster says
As a frequently reading mom I had to comment on this post because it is wonderfully refreshing to get to rant and rave a bit. I actually give in to and semi enjoy Berenstein Bears and Clifford, mostly because of my children's enthusiasm for them; Clifford is just so darn good and although the moralistic and high handed tone of the Bears is wearing, I love the world that has been created. I spend my time looking at the pictures and enjoying the little details.
My annoying reads (besides any based on TV books which make my eyeballs bleed):
1. Skippy Jon Jones: I can't do the accent. It swerves all over the place and must feel confusing to my children...is he french...spanish....irish. Also because we have not had any encounters with a Siamese cat or a Chihuahua it never feels like they really get it.
2. The Dinosaur Books: "How do Dinosaurs say Good Night", "How do Dinosaurs eat their food", again my kids don't get these. And I would take moralistic over bossy behavior fixing at any point.
3. Dora: I know she is TV, but I just had to mention my dislike on its own because it is so strong. Do not ever request my children to yell things louder or over and over again.
4. The Llama Llama books: whiny and encourages bad behavior in my opinion.
5. "That's not my hat": I know, everyone loves this book, but it scares, confuses, and makes my children sad. I get the genius behind it, but not for a young children's book. And that is my last area of books I would choose not to read. Books that are beyond my children's comprehension, I am reading to them, for them, not for me to laugh. "Spork", SERIOUSLY, the conversation that it took to describe that, what its uses were, and why it existed....argh!
Anyways, thanks for giving me the chance to rant and rave a bit. I would like to add that my list for books that I love to read would be much longer and that I too rarely refuse to read a book, to precious a time to give up even if the story is banal and trite.
Maia
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks for chiming in Maia!! I am one of the people who loves "This is Not My Hat", but it's not for everyone, I know! Like Amy said above, it's a good thing there are so many books so we can all find something we like! I've never read a Dora book and I think, now that my son is 5, I am out of the danger zone, ha ha ha!
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
Oooh, what a fiery post! Love it! I hope you won't judge my book tastes too harshly if I tell you I like Dr. Seuss and the Berenstain Bears (as long as they're the older ones). But there are definitely books I refuse to read to my kids: Jon Scieszka's Trucktown, anything Star Wars, and many others. My kids have a right to their opinions, I have a right to mine, and you have a right to yours! That's what makes reading so versatile!
Erica MomandKiddo says
I am definitely in the minority, because most parents do love the Bears and Dr. Seuss. I have been reading a lot of Star Wars lately, but under duress!!! I have had to put the breaks on it quite a number of times. 🙂 And yes, there is something for everyone!
Donna Stewart says
I think we could be friends, Erica MomandKiddo 🙂
Erica MomandKiddo says
Indeed!
Lisa Dreisigmeyer says
I actually read once the books (or tv shows) like Berenstain Bears actually lead to children doing more negative behaviors because they spend so much time modeling it in setting up the plot. I know the loin is that kids see the problem resolved, but according to the study (and I hate to throw out an "I read a study sometime somewhere but I don't have a link to it" ) kids are not that sophisticated and they actually fight more with their siblings (or whatever) after reading these. So there. You are justified. Also I always found Dr. Suess's drawings to be disturbing. Lucky for me my son does too. Thanks for sharing!
Emma says
Oh, I am so glad to know I'm not the only one who isn't a Seuss fan! Fortunately my daughter hasn't taken to him either so we're good. We also had a series of Dora the Explorer books that were just...too long!
JW says
Wow I'm surprised, there were so many good books by Dr. Suess and the Berenstains. How could you not love Horton Hears a Who? or the Lorax? or I was so Scared? or the Sneetches? I loved the early reader books by the Berenstains, like The Honey Hunt, The Bike Lesson and Bears in the Night. For whatever reason my son memorized The Fly Went By, when he was a toddler, (by a different author), he loved rhyming, rhythmic text. I had noticed some books were conspicuously absent from your lists, well that explains it. I am not a fan of Caillou and the Wimpy Kid books make want to jump off of a bridge. I cannot describe how strongly I loathe them. Thomas does end up becoming very creepy once you delve further into it. I also cannot stand I Love You So Much or I Love You Forever by Munsch. If I could burn them all I would. I SERIOUSLY hate it.
Erica says
No book or author can be universally loved. 😉 Oh, I do dislike the Munsch book too!