The older kids have discovered a couple of series of books, which has turned them into avid (or perhaps rabid?) readers. Fabulous! Only one problem. I read them, and cringed.
Most notably the series Amie has discovered, Junie B. Jones, made me cringe and want to run for the red pen. Yes, it brought out the nit-picking editor in me. I get that the books are written in the same way the kid talks, and thinks . . . but geez! Some proper English would NOT be unwelcome!! Even my husband, who is much more laid back about grammar etc, than I am, can't stand those books. They are funny, and cute. I can see why so many kids like them . . . but they drive me nuts.
Brenden discovered Captain Underpants. The grammar and use of English is much better in those books, and I'm really happy that they've perked up his interest in reading (he'll read a whole C.U. book in an evening), but they're GROSS!! Okay, okay, they're designed for boys, and boys like gross stuff, I know. I think it might just be a little over the top.
I suppose not everyone can be like me, and get hooked on Nancy Drew when they're 7 years old. Of course, even those wholesome books drew disapproval from my mother, way back in the 1970's. I was told I wasn't old enough to read them yet. Funny, I was reading them. And I liked them. I'm trying to be a little more relaxed about our children's choice of reading material than Mum was, but it's hard when they make me cringe. The point is, the kids are reading and enjoying it. While the books are not what I would have them read, necessarily, but they're not bad, as such.
Maybe one day, some bright day in the future, my daughter will say to me "Hey Mum, I've got this Nancy Drew book and it's great!! Can we go to the library and get some more?"
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