I thought it would be a nice idea to write a post to celebrate World Book Day. At first I thought maybe I’d write something about my life as an independent bookseller, or why I really don’t mind Amazon. Then I thought maybe I should write about good, virtuous books to read with your kids. And then I thought no, everyone will be doing that, and besides, why not just be honest? We have a stupidly large amount of books for The Toddler but his favorites all make me cringe a tiny bit. So these are his favourite books right now. These are my Totally Inappropriate Books To Read With A Toddler, but hopefully by the end we’ll all agree it’s ok really? Hopefully?!?
Power Rangers Story Collection
We were given this book as a gift for The Toddler when his sister was born. He loves it. I love it. Really. I’ve learnt to embrace a love for the cheese of the Rangers, you kind of have to when you read it every night. Only one issue, this:
Yeah! So Emily’s fallen asleep and she might not wake up! And that light (“what’s that light mummy?”) is her soul. Do kids need to know about ill health, death and what happens when we die? Yes. Do I want to have that chat at five minutes to wine o’clock? Nope. Or it’s a two bottle night.
I love this book because it makes me laugh and my son knows almost the whole thing off by heart. It’s also the book that started him pointing at words and asking what they were. But I’m guessing this is why:
Let me tell you, there are no proud mummy moments when your child recites ‘BIG BUM!’ while you walk down the road or when you are with your in-laws (‘Who taught you that word?!’). Suppressed giggles, yes, but no PMM.
Yeah, yeah, so he’s three and he’s already on graphic novels and comics. Not my fault, I promise. Sigh.
Even if we ignore the less than classy picture of Huntress here (I really do know my Batman these days folks), some of the stories go way over my head. And where’s the plot? Oh, and yeah obviously lots of violence. Possibly a theme with fighting here. Sigh. And I get asked to read it every ten minutes which is killing me, but on the other hand I’m getting asked to read every ten minutes? Surely that’s ok? Right?!
And so ends my tiny tour of inappropriate books I’m currently reading with my toddler. Fighting, death, the afterlife and yelling out rude words at random strangers. But… he’s reading. Loads. And there’s enough in the books to keep me entertained too. And hopefully that’s enough to make this a good thing.
Is your child reading anything that makes you cringe? Let me know below so I can share it with my son!!
I think it is awesome that he likes Batman comics, so much more fun for you than Julia Donaldson on repeat! Syd has a penchant for demanding I read ‘I was a teenage Sex Pistol’ by Glen Matlock- that’s always the one he grabs off our bookshelf- he will find it pretty dull though, not as many cool pics as Batman!
We had The Gruffalo every night for about three months. I like it, but errr… Not that enough to read it every night. Good call to your boy on his book choices!
Fab post! Our boy’s favourite is Who’s in the Loo!!!!!!!
Ooh, I haven’t heard of that one! Sounds like our kind of thing though!!
I like his choices, one of our funny ones was The Mole who knew it was none of his business, it’s about poo!
That sounds brilliant 😀
I bought this one for my friends son. Read it first, I loved it, I think he enjoyed it too.
Ha! My chum has four girls. I sent them from amazon for crimbo four books. All revolving around bums and poo. It made me laugh. Don’t know about her mind! xxx
I would rather have one book about poo than 100 about Fifi and the flower tots 😉
I love this post! I often read books with my children where I have to do a double take. We also have a love of comic heroes in our house. A story that made me cringe was, “The Dinosaur that Pooed Christmas!” Lots and lots of giggles!
That sounds amazing! Will have to look out for it 😉
I love this. Our youngest, who’s 3, naturally enough just wants to keep up with the biggies. So we have Star Wars encyclopedias word by word, violence aplenty, and misheard Harry Potter spells. Nothing like a shriek of “smelliarmus” from the pushchair to make grannies recoil on the schoolrun….
That light in the first book freaks me out… and I’m a grown woman 😉
I’m trying to think if Oscar likes an inappropriate books but I really don’t think he does. He’s obsessed with numbers and letters so a lot of them have those in. He LOVES anything that rhymes, so we have a lot o Dr Seuss books. But nothing that makes me cringe (or chuckle) like you mention… perhaps leave it a few months when he’s a little bit older and I am sure I will have a list as long as my arm!!!
That light in the first book freaks me out… and I’m a grown woman 😉
I’m trying to think if Oscar likes an inappropriate books but I really don’t think he does. He’s obsessed with numbers and letters so a lot of them have those in. He LOVES anything that rhymes, so we have a lot o Dr Seuss books. But nothing that makes me cringe (or chuckle) like you mention… perhaps leave it a few months when he’s a little bit older and I am sure I will have a list as long as my arm!!!
My daughter is almost 6, and reads precociously, but sometimes she doesn’t understand the tone in which things are written, because she’s only 5, so there are some books I’ve started reading to her. One is Karlson on the Roof by Astrid Lindgren. It’s a HILARIOUS book, seriously, it’s SO MUCH FUNNIER now I’m an adult.. there is one part where Karlson talks about being the world’s best cock painter, which has me in stitches. Ruby asks why mummy has tears rolling down her cheeks and I can’t tell her. I think it’s the kind of thing that if it had been translated today (the book is swedish I think) they would definitely have used the word chicken.
Thanks for linking up!
Cock painter? Omg, I need that 😉
There is definitely a theme here isn’t there? Toddlers love all things toilet-related it seems (maybe because we are constantly asking them if they need to go?)!
Mine both love: The Little Mole who knew it was none of his business, Poo Bum, Who’s in the Loo?, Fungus the Bogeyman (Plop-up edition), Noisy Bottoms (with buttons to make different fart noises) and a story that MisterPodge made up about ‘the journey of a poo’, which is requested so often in our house that I think I may get him to write it down for illustration and get it published.
Would anyone else be interested in a copy..? 😉
Hilarious! The inappropriate ones are the best. We had to quickly grab a load of D’s adult graphic novels – Daniel Clowse etc – out of Austin’s hands once as some of the illustrations were pretty saucy! They’re now on the top shelf…..
Love Daniel Clowse <3 🙂
My son LOVES the Funny Bones books, and we have the pet shop book…and it is one of his favs, specifically because of the Parrot and his Big Bum…nothing like a bit of boyish humour is there…and why not I say! 😉 Thanks so much for joining the Parenting Pin it Party this week. xx
Can I just say that your toddler’s book selection is awesome. My toddler is not into reading but more into drawing. I think that at the end of the day what’s important is we guide them while they are reading/drawing so that we can explain things to them on parts that needs explaining.
#letkidsbekids
Good post! Often the most attractive things to a toddler/pre-schooler (and older if I’m honest) are the things we cringe at, bottoms, death and other things. These things are all part of life and if it gets them interested in books, it’s great!
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
A great post. I think as long as they are reading something it should be encouraged. My son loves anything with poo, bums or general mild rudeness in it. He is currently reading How to Embarrass Teachers and busy plotting ways to put the book into action! #Let KidsBeKids
Oh, this made me chuckle! My oldest has moved on to Harry Potter, so that’s not too inappropriate, and the 4yo will read anything and everything… You’ve got me thinking though, a review of their books is in order 🙂 #LetKidsBeKids
You are a better person than me. I quietly mislay any books that I hate reading. The ones that are written so badly that they are really difficult to read. I’ve found uncles are particularily good at giving inappropriate books. Don’t know why! I will get my revenge one day. #LetKidsBeKids