Comments on: Eco-Propaganda in Children’s Books by Carl Hiaasen and Others — It’s Always Earth Day in Recent Fiction for Young Readers

By: 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom

1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:53:57 +0000

You’re very welcome. Many high-quality children’s movies or television shows are better than some of the lower-quality children’s books. So I think you’re right not to assume that books will always meet a higher standard.

By: coolcatholicmama

coolcatholicmama — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:01:28 +0000

I have been putting in a lot of hours researching good book choices for our library trips, as my daughter is almost ready for some series books to read on her own. As a parent I initially took it for granted that early childhood books would generally be “safe” choices and would not require as much pre-screening as television and movies, but alas the children’s publishing world has caught up with the rest of the media outlets in its attempts to shape young minds. You are doing all readers a great service.

By: 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom

1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:14:57 +0000

Right. There needs to be a mix. The problem with so many children’s books isn’t that they’re about the environment but that they’re moralistic and heavy-handed.

One of the great American children’s books, Charlotte’s Web, is about a young girl’s love of nature (in the form of animals and insects). It succeeds because E. B. White keeps his focus on telling a great story instead of preaching to children — something that, alas, many of his imitators don’t do.

Thanks so much for your comment.
Jan

By: markewaterfield

markewaterfield — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:05:49 +0000

I am not sure that there is something culturally impoverished that children join to learn and understand about mankind’s personal responsibility for the environment and the planet. However, you do give another perspective on the subject.

I fully agree that sparking imagination and creativity in children is what it is all about.

Perhaps – a mixture of the two is a solution. A touch of reality and lots of creativity.