Each year I become more and more disappointed by the quality of books offered to children.
Movie and cartoon and toy character merchandising has become a virus that has infected every part of our children's lives, including their literature and learning tools.
Sure, reading SOMETHING is better than reading NOTHING. And sure, these merchandised versions of books make reading fun or more interesting to children.
However, these types of things are like the sugars and fats on the food guide pyramid. They should be indulged in sparingly.
Looking at the book order forms sent home with my kindergartener this year, I was dismayed to find that only a small percentage of the books offered were true books, written from original story ideas and featuring creative or beautiful use of language and art. And award-winning books were rare.
"Scholastic SeeSaw Book Club" wants me to buy a Dora the Explorer book two pack that comes with figurines. And I can't miss the special $3.99 price on My Little Pony's Missing Recipe. SpongeBob's recommending his Phonics box set, and Hello Kitty has a School Days pack with stickers and a doll. Madagascar, Yu-Gi-Oh, Strawberry Shortcake, Clickits, Finding Nemo, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Johnny Depp sticker book!) are all waiting to infiltrate my children's reading sanctuary.
And let's not forget the Dinosaur Building Kit, the Glitter Princess and Pony Pack painting kit, the Incredibles GBA game, Hot Wheels Stunt Track Challenge for PS2, and the Sonic X DVD.
Such quality reading for my family!
Firefly Book Club features Dora the Explorer (for those who don't want to learn their phonics from a buck-toothed kitchen sponge), Spongebob, Strawberry Shortcake, Scooby Doo, Rainbow Brite, Madagascar, Carebears, Pokemon, and Hello Kitty.
Scholastic's Beginning Reading is pushing The Fairly Odd Parents, Carebears, Dora the Explorer, Strawberry Shortcake, Scooby Doo, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Spongebob (what beginning reader's library is complete without a joke book?), and Disney adventures in regular (Lilo and Stitch, The Lion King, The Incredibles, etc.) or pink ("You can be a princess like Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, and Ariel"!).
It's become difficult to buy a book without having a puppy dog eraser topped pencil or glitter star key chain thrown at you.
My children have a fairly large and diverse library in their playroom reading area. They have about twice as many (or more ) books than most classroom libraries can offer. They have many choices for their reading. They can read non-fiction about animals or they can choose a silly story about a skeleton who has the hiccups or a Pirate who learns that it's ok to cry. There's not a holiday or an emotion or a funny cause and effect scenario that they can't find filling the pages of one of their many books.
Beyond working on basic reading ability and comprehension skills, I want my kids to read to think and learn and explore. I want them to read a story that makes them laugh. I want them to read a story that makes them ask me, "Momma, why would someone do that?". I want them to read a story that inspires them to write an alternative ending. I want them to read a story that makes them give someone a hug and an apology. I want them to read a story that sparks them to create an elaborate drawing.
I want them to read things that they can appreciate as beautiful and things that challenge them to consider life and all its pieces in ways that they hadn't before.
The silly adventures of Spongebob Squarepants make for entertaining TV. A Mr. Potato Head inspired Spongebob toy is lots of fun. Spongebob makes terrific undies. He makes a mean video game. He's an alright guy. I've got nothing against him.
Every aspect of my children's lives is filtered through a lense of pop culture. Is it too much to ask that my children's literature be a little safe haven where they can go and enjoy childhood without the pressure to buy something or "catch them all"?
At least I don't have a daughter asking me to buy the Bratz Sexy Slumber Party book series.*
*Not a real book series, but if it was, it wouldn't surprise me.